A ROYAL SCANDAL

KARLIAH POV

When I woke up, I could feel the warmth of the morning sun on my face. I slowly opened my eyes and let out a little yawn.

Dylan was staring at me intently.

I sat upright.

"You came back."

"Karliah, did you spend the night out here?"

"I wouldn't have spent the night out here if you had just apologized to Aunt Lucinda."

He rolled his eyes at me.

"And that's never going to happen, Karliah, because that woman loves no one but herself. You already know how she treats her own children. She doesn't care about Era or her dreams."

I sighed deeply.

"I know that you deeply care about Era, but Aunt Lucinda is still her mother at the end of the day, and we can't interfere in their business."

"Gosh, you sound just like her. Did she brainwash you or something?" He taunted me, and I punched him in the shoulder playfully.

"Just come inside so that I can make you some breakfast. You must be starving."

I got up and removed some of the hay stuck to my clothes.

"Actually, Karliah, today I want you to take the day off because I want to make you some breakfast."

I cocked a perfect brow at him.

"Who are you and what have you done with Dylan?" I teased playfully.

He rolled his eyes at me.

"Don't be dramatic, Karliah."

His facial expression softened.

"Besides, you deserve it."

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, Dylan, but I'll stay with you in the kitchen because I don't want you to burn down the whole place."

"Have a little faith, Karliah, because you might just get surprised."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, never doubt my cooking skills."

"Come on then."

A few minutes later, I left Dylan in the kitchen and went to take a shower. After I was done, I combed my hair, tying it into a messy bun.

I decided to wear a blue dress. Era had bought it for me on my birthday.

Once I reached downstairs, I met Aunt Lucinda.

She stared at me keenly.

"Ah, so you came back?"

"Yes."

"One of these days your brother is going to ruin you, Karliah, because you can't keep him under control."

"Dylan is still a kid, and he's bound to make mistakes."

She smiled at me.

"You're truly your mother's daughter, Karliah, but let me tell you the bitter truth: kindness won't get you anywhere."

"In life, you'll have to become heartless and selfish because that's the only way to survive."

"Only focus on yourself because you'll never know if someone is going to stab you in the back."

"It sounds like you're talking from experience, Aunt Lucinda."

A wicked smile curved her lips.

"If I were you, I would work on keeping that smart mouth shut because it's going to lead you into a lot of trouble."

"Do the laundry and pick up your brother's medication at the store; it arrives today," Aunt Lucinda said softly and walked past me.

Sometimes Aunt Lucinda wasn't that cruel to Dylan and me, and maybe she did have a heart inside after all.

Once I was back in the kitchen, I found a stack of pancakes on the table, and they smelled very delicious.

Dylan was frying some bacon.

"You prepared all this?"

He smiled at me.

"I told you, don't doubt my cooking skills, Karliah, because I might just dazzle you with my magic."

I sat at the table.

"Yeah, right."

"It looks good, and I hope it also tastes delicious as well."

He cocked a brow at me.

"Then try it and find out, sis."

I took a bite of one of the pancakes, waiting for the horrible taste, but to my surprise, it was actually very tasty.

"Dylan, this is delicious."

"Ha, I told you so."

He placed some bacon and scrambled eggs on my plate and later poured me some orange juice.

"I'll be right back," he said quietly and excused himself.

DYLAN POV

Once I was in the bathroom, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and coughed up blood. My hands were trembling.

I opened the cabinet and took out my pills. I was about to take them but decided to throw them down the sink instead.

I drank some water and cleaned the blood stains. The truth was that for six months, I hadn't been taking my medication because it only made me feel more sick and weak.

This wasn't the way I wanted to live my life. I wanted to be better not just for myself but for Karliah as well because she was my only family.

SIX MONTHS LATER

I went back to school, did my homework, got good grades, stayed out of trouble, but my condition was still worsening, and I didn't tell Karliah what was happening to me.

I was roaming the streets, but I found myself heading in that direction again.

The dark alley.

"Dylan, long time no see," one of my friends muttered coolly.

"Yeah, I've been busy."

He handed me a cigarette.

"Here, take this."

"I don't smoke anymore, guys."

They all burst out laughing.

"You're acting like a pussy, bro. Anyway, you're missing out on life."

He waved a white substance in my face.

"As for us, we are going to become rich once we sell this magic powder."

"Drugs won't get you anywhere, Miko."

He glared at me.

"You're no better than us, Dylan."

He pushed me aside.

"After all, we all know that you can't do without this drug. Isn't that why you get the shivers? Because you don't take it anymore?"

I remained silent as Miko placed the packet in my hands.

"Let's go to the club where we won't be interrupted by anyone."

KARLIAH POV

It was getting late, and Dylan wasn't answering any of my calls; this just made me more worried.

"Dylan, this is Karliah, please call me back as soon as possible."

I kept pacing the room anxiously.

My phone started ringing.

It was Dylan.

"Dylan, where are you?"

"Kar-Karliah..." he stuttered in his drunk state.

I could hear loud music in the background.

"Where are you?"

Bullets were fired in the background, and I could hear screams.

"Dylan, what's going on?"

The call suddenly got disconnected.

"Dylan?!"