Emerald's POV

"I'm not a thief! We did not steal anything from the Petrakis Gems. It's our original design! Emerald Petrakis is a bitch! She's always jealous of me." Regina knocked the lady reporter's face with her elbow and screamed. "Get the hell out of my building you crazy people!"

My family and I watched Regina Stone's interview in the evening news at home. The controversy regarding my stolen Jewellery designs were out and the reporters were getting crazy again. I have to stay here at home to avoid the press. My lawyers answered their questions on my behalf.

"Don't worry, Emmie, we will win this battle." Dad gave me assurance.

I knew that we were at the right side but still, having a tooth and nail fight with Regina since we were kids was not healthy anymore. The competition between us should better stop, since we were grown ups already.

I went to my room after dinner and worked on some designs for the coming exhibit. The queen's crown was halfway done and revisions were made for the other jewellery.

Harry went out to see his twin sister London, who arrived this evening. She was staying in her apartment in Manhattan. He said they would have dinner and meet her friends afterwards. He wanted me to come with him, but because of the situation with the press, I would not take the risk.

There was a knock on the door and it immediately opened. It was mom.

"Hi, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, come in mom." I put the stylus down and turned to mom. "What's up?"

"I'm so worried of you, are you okay?" She sat down on an armchair, opposite to were I was sitting.

"Of course, I'm okay. I'm a tough girl." I touched mom's hand, caressing it briefly.

"You just want to appear tough but I know deep inside, you're hurting. I know you too well, Emmie. You don't want to talk about your feelings, you don't want us to worry."

Yeah, I am secretive and I don't want to talk about my feelings. I don't want pity from anyone, and I don't want to be a burden from my parents. They had a lot of things to worry about, the business, the employees and Crystal who got a medical condition when she was young. I did not want to add more to their problems.

"I can handle this, I promise."

"We love you so much, Emmie. Your worries are our worries too. You've been to a lot of things this past few days, the scandals in England and this with the jewellery designs. Tell me what you feel about it."

I stood up and transferred to my bed. Mom followed and hugged me.

"Tell me sweetie. We care for you a lot. Open up your feelings." Mom caressed my hair as I put my head on her lap.

"I just want to be with Harry."

Mom's hand stopped, then she asked. "You love him?"

I heaved a sigh, then looked at her. "Yeah, so much. Is there a problem with that?"

"No. Of course not." Mom smiled and stroke my hair again. "We love Harry, he's a very good man. He'll be a great king of England someday."

I nodded. "But dad doesn't share the same opinion. He doesn't like Harry for me."

I heard mom exhaled heavily, I looked at her and saw her lips twisted. "He'll come around, just give him time. He's just afraid that Harry will propose sooner and take you away from us."

"But I'm twenty three mom, I have to live my own life and someday, I'm going to be with the man that I would marry."

"Yeah, and we're not depriving you of that happiness sweetie. Your happiness is our happiness. It's just that, your dad... " Mom groaned, finding hard to explain.

"What is wrong with dad?"

"He's not ready to let you go, Emmie... I mean, the idea of you marrying Harry and to live in England. He said it would really break his heart if you will leave us soon. He's so emotional about it. You are his princess and now, a real prince will take you away from us."

"Awww, mom. Harry is my boyfriend. We're not planning to get married soon."

"Yeah, I know sweetie."

Our conversation went to the queen's crown and Regina Stone. I opened up my feelings to her and told her the story on how Regina and I started this feud between us. Then our topic shifted to fashion, celebrities and bags. It was around ten o'clock when mom left my room and I was ready to sleep.

Harry's POV

She was not answering my phone calls. But it's still ten in the evening. She usually sleeps at eleven or eleven thirty.

I just arrived home and I wanted to see Emerald, even for a few minutes just to kiss her goodnight. I suddenly felt lonely and missed her so badly.

I ordered Walter to check the gates of the Petrakis mansion if there were still photographers and press waiting outside. He came back and said it was all clear.

I changed my clothes and wore my black jeans and black hoodie sweater. Together with Walter, we walked to the Petrakis mansion.

Zion's bodyguard, Erickson was there, Zion and Claire spent the night in the mansion. He informed me also that everyone was in their rooms already except for Mr. Eros Petrakis who was watching the news in the living room.

Bloody hell! How can I see Emerald.

I pressed her number again but she would not answer.

I don't think she's already sleeping. Maybe her phone is in silent mode. She usually do that when she's working.

"Do you want to go inside, sir? I will inform Mr. Petrakis that you're here." The other guard asked.

"No. NO. Don't tell him that I'm here. I just want to see Emerald."

"Miss Emerald's room is just in the second floor, in that corner, sir. You can go up from the ledge in the balcony. We can get you a ladder if you want, sir." Erickson suggested.

I knew too well where Emerald's room was. It had been her room since she was young.

"It's okay, Erickson. I can jump up on that ledge."

Erickson accompanied me below the balcony and stayed there, while I hopped inside the balcony silently like a black panther. I was climbing the big concrete round post and just one step to the ledge when I heard a deep authoritative voice.

"What are you doing here, Erickson." Eros Petrakis went out and stood in the center of the balcony. Dammit!

I froze, like a lizard sticking on the wall.

"Just checking the area, sir." Erickson said trying to distract Mr. Petrakis.

"Good. There's a robbery last night at that neon house in the corner, they said it's a one man job wearing all black..."

I put my foot on the ledge and stopped when a small stone fell down to the balcony, almost hitting Mr. Petrakis.

Wheww!

Finally, I was up on the ledge and I was moving slowly towards Emerald's windows.

"I thought you're going to wake up early tomorrow dad, why you're still awake?"

Shit! It was Zion coming out to the balcony.

"We're just talking about the robbery last night. The guy was really smart. He took the jewelries..." Mr. Eros Petrakis continued talking.

"Yup, I read the news on Facebook. It said that the police got him already." Zion's voice was louder.

"Nope, Pete told me that they're still looking for him..."

I stopped at Emerald's windows and saw her on bed, already sleeping. I tried to open the glass windows, but it was locked. Shit!

They were noisy talking downstairs and I knocked at the window hoping she would wake up. The more they got noisier, the more my knock became louder. Great! But Emerald was still sleeping.

"If I see that guy, I'll shoot him right away." Eros Petrakis said.

What guy?

"You're very noisy, it's almost eleven."

Damn! It's Emerald's mom, she's also awake and in the balcony. What am I going to do now?

I leaned back on the glass window and suddenly it snapped open. I yelped and everyone in the balcony looked at me.

"It's him!" Eros Petrakis shouted, pointed a finger at me.

Bloody hell!

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