HAPPY READING:)

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MAGGIE's POV

I almost flew towards the door when I heard the buzzing sound of the car that stopped in front of the house. I hurriedly went out. I was right. My family finally arrived.

"Daddy, mommy!" I squealed excitedly like a kid and ran towards my father's waiting arms and kissed him on the cheek. I did the same thing to my mother who looked emotional upon seeing me.

"I missed you, guys." My eyes slightly watered. Feeling their warm embrace made me emotional.

"And we missed you too, darling. Thank God, we finally got to see you." My mother answered before kissing my forehead and then hugged me tightly once again. I could feel the tension and worry inside her finally eased off upon seeing me.

"I'm sorry for making you worry about me. The situation—"

"—Don't worry, darling. Your daddy already explained everything to me and I understand. But next time, tell us when you're in trouble so that we could help you. You know that your daddy and I loves you and your sister so much. If something bad happened to one of you, it will surely kill us. Don't do this ever again, okay? Don't just keep everything to yourself. We're a family, right?" I bit my lower lip as guilt crawled within me.

I nodded my head. "Yes, mommy. I'll remember that." I hugged my mom tightly. My dad smiled and then enveloped mommy and I in his arms.

"What about me? Didn't you miss me too?" That familiar voice interrupted. It was my sister, Christine. She just came out of the van. She looked like she just woke up. I chuckled upon hearing what she said and then pulled away from my parents' embrace.

I coaxed her to come closer to me as I opened my arms for her. She happily gave me a warm hug.

"Of course, I missed you too. Well, just a little bit." I said while laughing and that made her pout.

"Whatever. Well, me too. I missed you too, just a little bit." I couldn't hold back my laugh and ruffled her hair amusedly.

"You're so cute."

"Hey, my hair!" She complained and took a step backwards away from me while fixing her now slightly messy hair. I shook my head at her full of amusement. I was about to speak once again when I noticed Marco, standing near the driver's door, watching us quietly.

He was the one who picked up my family from the airport. I wanted to go with him but he said that it would be dangerous for me to go out in public for now. He was right so I didn't insist and just stayed at home.

"Hey, I didn't notice you there." I uttered while smiling sweetly. The corner of his lips twitched as he shoved his hands inside the pockets of his pants.

Ever since he applied as a security guard at Super L, he never wore his usual corporate attire and I liked that even more. He looked more normal in this kind of outfit because whenever he was wearing his coat and tie, he looked so intimidating and I couldn't help but to remember his past self; the cold, jerk, intimidating and emotionless Marco.

"I thought you already forgot about me, my queen." He answered huskily. My cheeks burned when I heard his usual endearment for me. He called me that in front of my parents without even batting an eye.

"My queen, huh?" I heard Christine say teasingly and then poke the side of my stomach with her finger. I sneered at her and my reaction made her laugh. I approached Marco.

"Sorry. I forgot about you. I was just so happy seeing my family." I explained with a faint voice, didn't want my parents and Christine to hear it. He smiled and then pecked me gently on the lips.

"I was just kidding. It's okay. We've been together these past few weeks. I know that they missed you." That made me smile. I was about to answer when he continued. "I missed you." He whispered and my cheeks became redder than a while ago. I knew that my family were watching us but Marco didn't seem to care.

I didn't expect what he did next. He cupped my face and kissed me passionately. I momentarily forgot that we weren't alone. I was about to respond to his wild kiss but my rational part of me prevailed. He was about to deepen the kiss when I pinched his side in order to stop him.

"Marco! My parents are here!" I whisper-yelled at him and he laughed heartily.

"Sorry, my queen. I just missed you so much."

I rolled my eyes. "You've just been out for about two hours only." I whispered while on my tippy toes and then bit the sensitive area of his ear. I earned a groan from him.

"You'll pay for that tonight." He threatened full of need and lust. I could already see the shadow of intense desire in those amber eyes of his. He was about to give me one last peck on the lips when someone cleared his throat. My father.

"Aren't we going to go inside yet?" He asked with his eyebrows knitted together. There was a look of displeasure on his face all of a sudden when staring at Marco. I felt like my cheeks become redder than tomatoes. I momentarily lost myself there. I groaned inwardly.

"S-Sure, daddy." I tried to sound as casual as possible but I failed miserably. I gave Marco a glare but he just smirked at me proudly.

The household helpers took their suitcases and then brought them to the guest rooms.

"Margaret, I want to have a talk with you and Marco." My father said with a strict tone when we reached the living room. My heart thumped faster but when I felt Marco's hand hold my hand, I instantly calmed down.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine." He whispered, assuring me. I nodded my head in response.

"Sure, daddy, but I think it's better for you to rest for now. I know that you're tired from the long flight. We can always talk later." I answered.

"Yes, daddy. I think we should rest first. I couldn't sleep during the flight because I kinda felt nervous." Christine voiced out and that made me furrow.

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, while we were on our way to the airport, a group of men tried to ambush us, but thankfully, Marco's men arrived and protected us." I gasped and looked at Marco. I was about to ask him when he spoke ahead of me.

"You don't have to worry about anything. I told you; everything's going to be fine and I was right. I already knew that Apollyon would do this so I made sure to protect your family whatever happens. Thankfully, I sent my men to guard them. They managed to kill his men. Falcon also made sure that Apollyon's men would never trace your family." My eyes brimmed with tears.

"Thank you, Marco, for saving my family. Thank you because you really kept your promise."

"I will do everything for you, my queen." He answered and then kissed the top of my head affectionately.

"Marco, let's talk." My father suddenly interrupted us with a serious look on his face. I knew that look; the kind of look that no one could change his mind about something. My heartbeat became faster.

Marco cleared his throat and then let go of me. "Sure, sir."

"But, daddy—" I was about to protest but Marco silenced me with a gentle kiss.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just assist your mom and Christine to their respective rooms so that they could freshen up and relax." He assured me with a smile and then went inside the study room together with my father.

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MARCO's POV

Upon closing the door, I faced him and the punch that I was already expecting from him, landed on my cheek. I fell on the floor as my lips began bleeding. I wiped the blood with the back of my hand and then stood up.

"I'm sorry for what happened, Mantus. She was hurt by Apollyon and even tried to kidnap her. I was a little bit late, but thankfully, I managed to protect her." I explained but his face remained dangerous.

"I already told you, Unu. I don't care about anything else if my daughter's safety is already at stake. This game should end as soon as possible already so that we could finally be free. You know what to do next. If you failed to do just that then your right to my daughter would be forfeited as well." He emphasized the last sentence.

My hands balled into fists. "I will never let that happen. Maggie is mine and there are only two steps left for me to do before I finally finish everything. I will be the one to end this game."

Mantus chuckled with a hint of sarcasm "You're really determined to take back everything. I didn't know that you were this determined to have everything. I thought you would forget about it the moment you gain position in the ET VINDEX." He said tauntingly. I bravely met his gaze.

"Let me clear one thing, Mantus. Wahtever happesn, I will not follow the final condition of this game." I uttered through gritted teeth. His eyes turned into slits.

"Then, you will not gain everything that you've been wanting for so long. If you're worried that his/her life would turn just like yours, then you don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of him/her just like I did to you and Dui in the past." He assured me and that just made my blood boil.

"I will not succumb to their fùcking rule, Mantus. Everything is different now and I can't do that to Maggie. You know how much I love her so don't expect me to betray her and the fruit of our love just like my father did to me and Dui. This time, I will make a change. It has been a long time since we started this game and I will make sure that I will win; my way." I answered full of determination.

Mantus remained quiet for a couple of seconds. He then shook his head.

"I taught you everything that I knew but I couldn't change your heart. You just act like a stone-hearted guy but you're actually the opposite, and to tell you honestly; this is your weakness, Unu. I told you not to give your entire world to my daughter but you still did it. Now, you're even thinking of doing absurd things which you're very much aware to be impossible."

I shook my head. "There's no impossible to me, Mantus. I have my queen by my side and she's my strength. She's all I need so that I could fight for my rights with full strength. When I first learned about all these, I didn't have the desire to take back what was rightfully mine but that all changed when I learned what kind of person Apollyon was. I will take back everything from him."

"You know why I didn't do anything to stop you when I learned that you were planning on stealing my daughter from Apollyon?" Mantus asked.

"No. Why?"

"Because I already chose you for my daughter. You know that I have always favored you than Apollyon because I have high expectations of you. I am confident that one day, you will succeed. Even though I didn't want my daughter to be part of all these from the beginning, I didn't have a choice because I already gave my word to your father.

"Now, I will not do anything to hinder you from your plans but make sure to protect my daughter at all cost. If she would get hurt once again because of this fùcking game, I would withdraw from all these and take her away from everyone, including from you. Even if I value you father and I's friendship, I would make sure that no one from the Alessi clan could approach her anymore. Remember that." He threatened and judging from the look on his face, he wasn't kidding one bit.

I've known Mantus ever since he rescued me and Dui when we were eleven. He was the one who took care of us that was why I already knew him very well. I swallowed hard.

"Don't worry, Mantus. I will do everything in my power to finish this game as the winner. I will make sure that Apollyon won't get near Maggie ever again, I promise you that. Just a little more, and everything will fall into place. After the wedding, just one more step and it will finally end."

He huffed. "And what do you plan about the last step? You know that you can't escape that one because that's one of the conditions for you to finally take back what's rightfully yours." He asked wearily.

"When I went to Sicily almost two years ago, I discovered a secret of my clan and I will use that to spare us from the last written condition of the game."

His lips parted in shock. "You mean, you're planning to revive the lotta dei gladiatori? You know that it's dangerous, right?"

"I know but I will not back out. This is the only way for me and Maggie to finally live a happy life without anyone threatening our happiness." I answered determinedly. A strange emotion passed through his eyes.

"Are you sure? May I remind you that you will have to fight Dui if you really plan on reviving that dangerous battle."

"I'm aware of that, Mantus and I already have a plan." He shook his head.

"This is insane."

"I know but you know that we don't have a choice anymore. This is my last resort." I answered bitterly. He heaved a sigh and then tapped me on the shoulder.

"Make sure to survive then because if you die, Maggie will get hurt for sure and I will never forgive you for that."

I chuckled. "I am living for my queen and I will continue to live for her."

"Good." He uttered and then went out of the study room.

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What do you think of this chapter?

Did you expect that Mantus was Maggie's father?

What do you think is the plan of Marco?

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