Chapter Sixty-Nine
Antonio and Leonardo became fast friends after the wedding of their children. They were always together, doing one thing or the other. Alless and Scarlet were often amused but mostly happy that their fathers had found common ground. It was as if they could do nothing without each other. They looked for the silliest of excuses to be together.
It was as if they were trying to make up for lost time, which, in fact, may be true.
The families began to make jokes of them and even openly wondered if they missed their fated mates—each other.
The two kings could not be bothered by the rumors; they continued to be fast friends, awaiting when the gods would call them to rest. They have fulfilled their obligations in this lifetime.
Carla Rossi, like a true mate, was happy for her husband’s newfound happiness and could not begrudge him the time spent away from her during the day. She had her hands full running the house and keeping her grandchildren in check. But the nights of Antonio were entirely hers, and he understood that first, and they were both happy.
James and Elizabeth were growing up so fast. Alless made sure he began to teach James everything he knew about business and their other lives. They had decided to keep their bond secret from everyone for as long as possible. They were so in sync that Scarlet and even Eduardo never suspected a thing. And so James became his father’s little general before he even became an adolescent.
Elizabeth, the apple of everyone’s eye, was living her fairytale life as the little princess, dotted on hands and feet by her grandparents and all the people in Montgomery and Rossi Mansions. Nana became the unofficial grandmother of the twins; they were loved and pampered by all.
In all their busy schedules, Alless and Scarlet's love remained steadfast and unwavering. They found time to do all the things they had ever wanted to do, including travel, either for vacation or business. Their love became legendary; they were tagged the “Eternal Bonds Couple-EBC.” The name became synonymous with their official names. All social media platforms referred to them as such.
Scarlet and Alless laugh when they see such things on social media and even laugh when family members call out to them with the acronym.
“Hey EBC, when do we start on that project we discussed? We have been waiting, and you two need to sign the papers.” Eduardo called out to Alless and Scarlet one evening, when they were chilling out in the family foyer. Gone were the honorifics and the "highnesses." Alless and Scarlet looked at Eduardo, who was marching towards them with opened files in his hands.
Alless and Scarlet looked at each other and smiled. Eduardo looked at the smiling couple and realized what he had just done. He immediately went on his knees and bowed apologetically.
"Forgive me, your highness; I completely forgot myself."
“My God, how can I make such a blunder? I am done for.” Eduardo was shaking. Even though Alless was more of a friend than his boss, the blunder he had just committed was unpardonable. He had no idea what to do.
He continued kneeling in front of Alless and Scarlet, waiting for them to say something.
Alless and Scarlet burst out laughing so hard that Eduardo, who was still kneeling, lifted up his head skeptically. What was so funny? He thought.
"Oh, you fool, stand up from there. It's not your fault.” Alless told Eduardo jokingly.
“Everyone calls us that. And we don't mind.” Scarlet chirped in with a smile still on her face.
“You mean, you guys are not angry?” Eduardo asked, getting up carefully and assessing the couple's faces. The couple shook their heads in the negative, looking at the confused Alless fondly.
Now, what were you saying? Alless came forward and took the files from Eduardo’s hands, walking away from Scarlet with a wink. Eduardo quickly followed, giving a bow and a smile of gratitude to Scarlet. Scarlet looked on as the two men walked on.
She could not believe that just a few years ago she never met these men, but here she was, having two men who were willing to give their lives for her. How lucky can a girl get in one lifetime? No, two lifetimes.
"Stop thinking and get ready for our tryst tonight, lady. Don't you keep me waiting! " Scarlet suddenly heard Alless’ loud voice in her head. And she nearly yelled out loud.
"Yes, your highness, I will be there. All ready." Scarlet replied to their link coyly.
Alless laughed out loud at Scarlet's antics, and Eduardo looked at him quizzically. Alless looked at him in askance. In his mind, he was like, thank God, no one else could read him or Scarlet’s thoughts.
“Come; I have an important appointment, and I can't be late. By the way, have you seen the children? How are they?” He asked
"Yes, your highness, they seem to be doing okay. Nana and your mother, take good care of them,” Eduardo responded.
“I know that, but James needs to be guarded 24/7. Assign a trusted young guardian to him so they can begin to bond, and we need to consult Marilo asap as to who may be James' guardian. I hope his fate is not like my father’s.” Alless added thoughtfully. It would be nice for his son to have someone he could trust with his life, just as he had always had Eduardo.
They went into his study and shut the doors.
So was the everyday life of Scarlet and Alless, working during the day and secret trysts on most nights when the children were away at Montegomery’s mansion.
Scarlet quickly went to their apartment to get ready for her husband, a husband she could not get enough of. She prayed they could live out their lives in peace without problems from anyone.
Although they had powers, they have never really bothered anyone. She could not help remembering that she nearly lost Alless that year. Never again! If anyone dared to harm her husband or children, She would show her true self and damn the consequences. She did not care if people got to know that they were not entirely human; she didn't care at all. She, Dr. Scarlet Montgomery Rossi, was the queen of her clan, and she will protect her family and clan at all costs.
Waiting and watching, the scoundrel, Lorenzo Rossi, and his cohorts were biding their time to strike at Alless and Scarlet. They taste of revenge, was still very strong in their mouths. They had tried for so long to get close, but because the security measures have been tightened since the wedding, they could not get anywhere near them.
Lorenzo, once a handsome man, now looked haggard and unkempt. He was so changed that no one would recognize him as the once-dapper MD of the Rossi Empire. Always wearing a hood to hide his disfigured ear, he touched it constantly to remind himself that he must avenge all the wrongs done to him by Alless. If he cannot take revenge in this lifetime, then in the next, he will surely get his revenge. He laughed maniacally and disappeared into the night as always, a wandering, lost, and cursed soul with no clan and no one to call his own.