I ran after Athena, determined to not let her go. We've been through a lot already and I would never let our relationship come to an end like this. The moment she turned her back on me and walked away, I knew that instant that I couldn't care less about anything else anymore.

Fùck everything that I've been trying to get back since I was a child because all those things would be meaningless without her by myside.

I've fought all my enemies not just because I wanted to obtain the justice for my mother but because I wanted to fix my life for Athena as well. I wanted to live a peaceful and happy together with her and our future children.

Now that I finally defeated my enemies, we could finally start over again but I wouldn't be able to do that without Athena. She's my life and I wouldn't know how to live life without her by my side.

"Mi hermosa, wait!" I called for her loudly but she didn't stop and continued running away until she reached the gate which was open at that time for some reason.

I picked up my pace. I knew that she just wanted to get away from me for the time being but not like this. I should make sure that she would be okay.

When I ran past the gates, I saw Athena getting near the road. Then, my eyes widened when I saw that a speeding car heading towards her.

"Athena!" I called for her with a loud voice as inexplainable fear crept within me. If I could only fly, I already did it in an instant. I heard the squeaking sound of tires and I felt like the beating of my heart stop when the car hit her.

"No! Athena!" I felt like my head became double in size. Everything became slowly motion and as I ran toward her, calling for her name.

"No, no, no! Athena!" I said with a trembling tone as I held her in my arms. I saw blood and it felt like my brain wasn't functioning at all. Tears ran down my cheeks. I felt so scared.

"Mi hermosa, please, don't leave me. Please, wake up." I cried like a child, didn't know what to do.

She slowly opened her eyes and then raised her hand to touch my cheek. "D-Dolce m-metà..." Her voice was faint. "I-" Whatever she wanted to say was cut off when she suddenly vomited blood.

"Mi hermosa!" The fear and panic within me doubled. I was literally shaking in panic and fear. I was about to shout for help when I saw an ambulance stop before us. It was the Palace's private ambulance.

"Let us handle everything from here, sir." One of the people who came out of the ambulance said. I watched them as they tended on Athena until they put her in the stretcher and into the ambulance.

"Make sure that the driver will not escape!" I ordered one of the PRGs and looked at the car. The driver of the car was still inside.

"Yes, sir!" Then, we took off. While inside the ambulance, I was holding Athena's hand the entire time, begging for her to stay with me.

"I love...you...so much, dolce metà..." I took her hand and kissed it.

"I love you so much too, mi hermosa. Please, hang in there. We're almost there."

"I'm...sleepy..." My eyes widened as my heart throbbed. I've never felt this kind of fear before and it was escalating with each passing second. Seeing her in this state felt like I was dying too.

"Please, don't, mi hermosa! I'm begging you! No! Fight for me, please!" I kept on begging her until we finally arrived at the emergency. While they were pulling her on the stretcher out of the ambulance, her eyes closed.

"Athena! Please, don't! Can you hear me? Please, fight for!" I felt like I was going crazy as I pulled my hair. My whole body was shaking as I cried like a baby.

"You can't come inside, sir. Just wait here." The nurse said before shutting the doors before me. I kept on pacing back and forth while waiting at the waiting area. Tears pooled from my eyes continuously but I didn't care. I knew very well that I was a tough guy until Athena came into my life.

She's my weakness and I know that I wouldn't be able to keep on living without her by my side. She's my life. For the first time in a long time, I begged for God's mercy. I prayed so hard for him to save the love of my life together with our unborn child for I didn't know how long.

It felt like an eternity. I poured everything in that prayer while my eyes were closed tightly until the doors finally opened and the doctor came out.

I was about to ask him how was Athena when I noticed the look on his face. Sadness...

"I'm sorry, sir, but...Her Royal Highness Athena and the baby...didn't make it." I felt like a bomb explode in front of me as another batch of tears fell from my eyes.

"N-No...You're lying..." I answered with a trembling voice while shaking my head.

"I'm so sorry-" Before he could finish what he was about to say, I grabbed him by the collar tightly.

"No! Don't say that! Athena and our baby are okay! Don't lie to me!" I shouted at him, unable to accept the bad news at all. I refused to believe!

"Sir, stop!" The staff tried to stop me but I didn't listen.

"Athena is okay, right?! Tell me they're okay!" I felt like I was losing my sanity while shouting in so much despair. I didn't care what I was doing anymore. All I wanted was to hear that the doctor was lying.

"I'm sorry, but we did everything we could but to no avail." The doctor said with a trembling voice. I felt like my strength left my body as I slowly let go of him. He tapped me by the shoulder. "I'm sorry, sir." He said before leaving me there.

I fell on my knees as I sobbed in so much anguish. It hurt so much. I couldn't believe it. If I've only known that this would happen, I would never have told her the truth and kept it to myself. Because I wanted to be honest with her, I lost her and our unborn child.

"Athena..." I cried, uncaring if people were watching me. The pain of losing both of them felt like killing me. Is this the payment for everything that I've done? Why did this have to happen? Just when I finally found the love of my life and this happened.

Why is life so cruel to me? First, it took my mother and now, Athena and our unborn child. Why? Am I not worth it to love? Am I a jinx to my loved ones?

There were many questions circulating my mind but I couldn't find any answers to all of it. I didn't know when did I have the strength to go inside the room to see Athena. The moment I saw her lifeless body, I another batch of tears brimmed my eyes.

"Mi hermosa...please, wake up. I c-can't live without you." I kept on pleading but she wasn't responding. I took her in my arms and embraced her ever so tightly.

"Please, God. Have mercy on Athena and our baby. I'm begging you." I wept so hard. Oh, God. My heart felt like it was about to burst. It hurt so much and I felt like I couldn't take it. How would I live life without her now?

I shook my head. I couldn't live life without her. It would be hell here on earth without her by my side. I closed my eyes and prayed again that everything that had happened was nothing but a dream. Please, one more time. Let me be with her one more time and I promise that I will treasure every minute of it. I will love her and treasure her until our hair turns grey. Please, one more time...

I slowly opened my eyes and saw the familiar ceiling. Then, my eyes widened as I sat up abruptly and frantically looked for Athena, heaving. Fear was consuming and I was on the verge of panicking when I saw her quietly sleeping beside me.

I gingerly checked if she was breathing and relief washed over me when I saw that she was. I couldn't stop myself and took her in my arms tightly.

"Hmmm...What's happening, dolce metà? It's still early in the morning." She whined sleepily with a husky voice.

"I'm sorry, mi hermosa. I had a very bad dream and it scared the hell out of me. It made me remember what happened that day." She heaved a sigh and then tilted her head to look at me.

"Shhh...I'm here. I'm alive. Forget about what happened that day. It has been so long. We're here, happy being together so let's not think about the past." My face softened. It has been more than five years since that day but I still dream about it sometimes.

Maybe because that was the scariest moment of my life that I dream about it from time to time. It was scary in my dream because there were additional scenes that didn't happen that day just like that moment the doctor declared Athena and our baby were gone.

Thankfully, it was far from what really happened in real life. Even though the driver managed to stepped on the break, the car still reached Athena. I really thought that I would lose her that day but thankfully, she survived.

"But you and our baby died in my dream and-"

"-That was nothing but a dream. Look." She took my hand and brought it to her cheek. "See? I'm here with you, right? I'm alive and nothing of that sort happened." I caressed her cheek and then stared at her lovingly.

"I love you so much, mi hermosa, and I thank God everyday because He gave me a second chance to be with you again. Thank you for all these wonderful years with you. You made my life wonderful and meaningful." Her face brightened up with a sweet smile.

"You did the same to me, dolce metà. I love you too, so much that I can't explain how much." My heart swelled. Hearing her say that ignited the fire within me.

"Ohhh. What are you doing? We're having a serious talk and now, you're doing this." She said as my hand began caressing her breasts alternately. We're still naked from making love last night. Instead of answering, I pulled her on top of me and began latching on her turgid nipples hungry.

"Oh, God. Haven't you had enough? We just made love last night."

"That was last night, mi hermosa. Today's another story." My breathing became hard as I began grazing my c*ck against her already drenched womanhood. Damn! We've been married for 5 years already but our desire for each other is incomparable. We're both insatiable of one another.

"Oh, my. You're already so hard. I can't believe you."

"Yes, mi hermosa, and I want you now." I declared throatily as I began entering her. We were about to kiss when we heard a knock at the door.

"Mamma! Papà!" Our bodies went still upon hearing our little one's voice. I grunted.

"He really has bad timing." My wife laughed because of what I've said.

"You know what to do, my dear husband." She teased. I groaned inwardly.

"But we're not done yet." I complained but she already got off me and laid down next to me. I grunted again and then raked my fingers through my hair in frustration.

She laughed. "You look like you haven't had your way for so long when in fact, we just made love last night. You haven't changed. Still as h*rny as ever."

"C'mon, mi hermosa. Have mercy on me." I begged like a fool. She kissed me on the cheek.

"Just get up and open the door. Your son is waiting. Don't worry. I'll make it up to you tonight." I got excited like a kid.

"Really, mi hermosa?" She laughed again.

"Yes. Now, go and open the door. I'm sure, he's already getting impatient." I chuckled and got off the bed. I was about to walk towards the door when she spoke.

"Hey! Are you planning to open the door without clothes on?" I looked at myself and laughed.

"I almost forgot." She rolled her eyes and then got up. She looked for her nighties and underwear and quickly put them on.

"Go get dressed and I'll open the door." I did as I was told in a hurry.

"Good morning, mamma, papá!" The merry voice of our son, Aemilius, as he entered our room. He's already four years old. Yes, it was a miracle that Athena didn't have a miscarriage that day because even though the impact wasn't that strong, she still got hospitalized for two weeks.

The doctor even said that there was a possibility that she would lose the baby but thank God, she didn't. Now, we're enjoying every day with our son. He's our joy and strength.

We greeted him back and he kissed us on the cheek before throwing himself into the bed.

"Don't you want me coming in here, mamma, papá?" He then asked, pouting.

"Of course, not. Why would you ask that, tesoro?" Athena asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Because you never opened the door right away whenever I knock in the morning." Athena and I shared a look before we smiled amusedly.

"Come here, tesoro." She coaxed our son as she sat on the edge of the bed. Aemilius obliged and then sat on her lap.

"You're always welcome here in our room. Your papà and I were still asleep that's why we couldn't open the door right away." Aemilius' sapphire blue eyes brightened up in happiness.

"Really, mamma?"

"Of course, tesoro." She then looked at me. "Am I right, dolce metà?" I smiled.

"Your mother is right, figlio. You're always welcome here."

"Yehey! Then, I'll sleep here again tonight!" He happily said as if he just won the lottery. Well, he sleeps with us at least 3 or 4 times a week. But then, I remembered something.

"Figlio, I think it's best for you to sleep in your room-"

"-You don't want me here, papá?" He suddenly looked like he was about to cry. I sighed in defeat.

"Fine, you can sleep here with us tonight, but you sleep in your room tomorrow night, okay?"

"Yehey! I'm going to sleep with mamma and papá again tonight!" Aemilius stood up and then jumped on the bed happily.

"I'm glad, you said yes." Athena whispered to me. I chuckled.

"How would I say no to him with that face?" She chuckled.

"You're right. Such a cutie. He looks like you whenever he's pouting like that."

"Of course. He's my boy." I answered proudly and we both smiled.

"Thank you, mamma, papá! I love you!" Our son said and then hugged us both.

"You're welcome, tesoro. Mamma and papá love you so much too." After that, we went downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Are you excited, tesoro?" I asked I asked Aemilius while we were eating.

"Yes, papá! I want to see everyone especially my cousins. I missed them already." That made Athena and I smile. Three days from now will be Athena and I's 5th anniversary and we chose to celebrate it in Costavia.

Yes, we've been living here in Nuevo Imperio for more than five years now.

"Me too, tesoro, so let's finish eating so that we could get going." Athena said. After eating, we got ready for our flight.

"May you have a wonderful vacation with your family, Your Majesty." Romeo, the head butler said while we were at the living room, waiting for Athena and Aemilius.

"Thank you, Romeo. Take care of everything here."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Until now, I still couldn't believe that I am now the Imperial King of Nuevo Imperio. After everything that I've been through, I've finally managed to take back everything that they stole from me.

Everyone in our nation accepted me with open arms and fought by my side during the time that I had to prove in court that I was indeed the original Prince Maximus Zorion Santana Vázquez. I'm thankful too that Athena chose to stay with me and had forgiven me even after discovering all of the things that I've done before.

She served as my strength and because of that, I succeeded. If it wasn't because of her, I wouldn't surely have that strength to fight anymore.

Yes, she got mad at me but after the accident, she forgave me after I admitted to her that her mother was alive. I knew, I promised Xerus and Red Fox not to tell a soul about that but I didn't have a choice. I didn't want Athena to resent me and leave me.

But I didn't tell her about what really happened and how come their mother was alive because it wasn't my place to say. I made her understand that. She said that she wanted to see her mother and hear about that from her.

When I explained to Red Fox and Xerus about that, they understood my situation but not after telling me that I should make sure that Athena wouldn't tell anyone that she was alive.

It was chaos back then because of Xerus' enemies. Even though Athena was longing to see their mother, she couldn't for the time being. But now, everything's okay and everyone's finally happy.

"Are you ready, dolce metà?" I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard the voice of my wife as she descended the stairs with Aemilius. Damn. She looked so beautiful and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I smiled. "Hi, my beautiful wife." She sneered but there was a smile on her face.

"Flatterer." I was about to answer but our son spoke.

"Let's go, papá!" Athena and I chuckled. He's really excited. We were about to head out when someone came in.

"Buenos dias!"

"Abuelito!" Aemilius squealed and rushed towards him for a hug.

"You're so energetic as always, nieto." He hugged Aemilius and then ruffled his hair affectionately.

"I'm glad you decided to come with us to Costavia, papá. Aemilius here will surely be sad if you wouldn't come with us." I said.

My father chuckled. "Of course, I would come. I wouldn't want my only grandson to be sad. Anyway, sorry. I forgot to greet you two properly because I was so happy seeing Aemilius." He bowed towards us.

"You don't have to do that, papá." I said.

"My husband is right, papá. We're the only ones here. Besides, we're family." Athena said and my father, Manuel, smiled.

Yes, Manuel is my biological dad. Red Fox, who was my mother's best friend, knew all along. Even Xerus knew about it but they didn't tell me until Manuel finally confessed everything to me right after he helped me defeat Warren 5 years ago.

I became emotional upon hearing the truth and I remembered all those times that he protected me from when I was a child until I grew up.

Apparently, he and my mother hid their relationship from everyone because the law back then stated that a Queen or a King wasn't allowed to have a relationship let alone marry someone who wasn't a royal.

According to him, when my mother married Giuseppe, she felt like she died because the one she dearly loved was my father. Even so, they continued their relationship until her last breath. They were planning to tell me the truth but unfortunately, my mother passed away.