The Emperor’s Temptation

CHAPTER 3: The Hidden Prince

Various thoughts were running through Seraphina's mind as she looked out of the window.

She was sitting in the car with Xander beside her, who kept ignoring her as he pressed his phone.

Seraphina turned from the window to peep at him again. Is he really from the King's family? If yes then who was he because she has seen Julian and Lucien and also the youngest grandson, Damien.

Was there another one she didn't know about or maybe he was just lying? He can't possibly be the ‘Xander Torrance’ everyone was looking for.

"Just ask" Xander didn't take his gaze from his phone when he said that. He noticed her looking at him countless times and he was sick of it.

Seraphina cleared her throat before looking at him properly.

"I just learnt your last name is Torrance so I was wondering if you are related to king Torrance " she asked slowly.

"Hmm" he nodded, still pressing his phone while Carter was stylishly watching them through the concave mirror.

Seraphina gulped nothing down her throat before opening her mouth to speak again.

"If you're from the Kings family then what is your name?" She kept her eyes firmly on his face.

"Xander " he didn't think twice before giving her an answer.

Seraphina eyes widened like it was about to pop out of its socket.

"Xander?" She repeated.

He looked at her and nodded.

"No I don't believe you.. your pulling my legs right now! How can you be Xander? Do you know who Xander is? He's the hidden billionaire prince everyone is looking for! How can you be him!!" Seraphina was starting to freak out.

She can't be married to the hidden billionaire prince, He was rumored to make good cloths with really cool designs and she admired him a lot so how could this man sitting here be him?

"I don't believe you" she shook her head.

"Carter, can you take a u-turn to any nearest mall? I can't bring my wife home dressed up like this" Xander ignored her as he instructed Carter on what to do next.

Seraphina's cheeks burnt when he called her his wife. The only person she pictured saying that was Cassian but she guess things don't work out the way people hope.

She was hoping to get married and see herself with kids, she was hoping to be called Mrs Seraphina Lockwood but now she was actually called Seraphina Torrance.

She sighed and looked out of the window, Now she was married to the hidden billionaire prince everyone are looking for, She wondered how life would be for her when people actually finds out she was now related to him.

THE MOON STUDIO

The strong arms of Noah caged Isadora to the wall, she tried escaping from the other side but he used his other hand to block her path.

"What sort of nonsense do you think you're doing Noah? I told you, I don't want you anymore" Isadora eyes were full of rage as she stared at him.

A smirk formed on his face and he began leaning closer to her while keeping eye contact with her.

His lips stopped at her ears.

"You say you don't want me but your body says other wise" his voice came out in a whisper, his hot breath fanning her neck.

His voice sent shivers down her spine.

"See what I'm saying?" He whispered again before bringing his face closer to hers, His eyes on hers and she could hear her heart beating faster.

This has never happened to her on set before, why was this happening now?

"You see, you want me" as he spoke, his hands caressed her exposed laps upwards, His hands moved slowly and steadily.

Isadora bit her lips hard, his eyes went to her lips and he began leaning closer while Isadora's eyes automatically went shut.

"Cut!!" Director James' voice sounded the moment Noah lips were about to touch Isadora and he stepped away from her.

"Princess Isadora, what are you doing? You're not supposed to allow him to kiss you, didn't you read your script? You're too push him away!"James complained.

"It's okay director, don't yell at her I'm sure she's hungry, we have been shooting for three hours now" Noah said with a smile.

James wanted to talk but he just sighed and shook his head.

"Then let's go on a lunch break then after that, the both of you will take some pictures for the film cover" James said and walked away.

Noah chuckled when he took his gaze back to Isadora, and she laughed with an unsure look on her face.

"You did well by the way" he smiled at her.

"You too, will you love to eat lunch with me in my van?" She then asked.

"I will love to but my girlfriend is coming over" he shrugged.

How could she forget! Noah Creed has a girlfriend named North West , a super model just like her cousin Valentina.

She knew North because Valentina always talks about the way she hates her and back then Isadora didn't care that Noah was dating her but now...

"Oh.. have fun" she mumbled and looked elsewhere.

"Babe" a tiny female voice sounded and Isadora raised her head to see a slim tall fine woman dressed in a mini green dress with glass heels. She was holding a white purse as she walked over to them.

That was North West , people classify her as one of the hottest models in California which made princess Valentina very jealous of her.

Noah turned to face her with a smile.

"I'm glad you made it" he smiled and kissed her lips which made Isadora blinked then he turned back to Isadora.

"Isadora my girlfriend North West, North my co star Isadora" he introduced them.

North gave Isadora a kind of fake smile.

"Nice to meet you Isa, I hope you can work in agreement with my boyfriend for the success of this movie" she refused to extend her hands for a handshake, she just kept hugging Noah's muscular arms tight like he was going to run away.

Princess Isadora forced a smile too and only nodded.

"We will see you later then, babe let's go I'm starving" she rubbed on her flat stomach.

"Sure babe, I'll see you later Isadora " he smiled at her once more before leaving with North.

Isadora kept watching them leave till they were out of tight.

"Isadora what did you wanna eat for lunch?" Diana appeared in front of her.

"I don't know, anything" Isadora mumbled and walked away.

AYRA FASHION•

Princess Valentina admired herself in the mirror. She was dressed in a short shiny dark blue gown that hugged her tiny waist together as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Sloane , do you think I'm slim enough to be called the hottest model in California this year?" She asked as she hugged her waist tight.

"You are a very hot princess, if you keep getting slim you might lose all your curves and no guy would want you" a man dressed up as a woman who was named Sloane, replied.

"I'm not talking about looking for a boyfriend here, I just want to be better than North " Valentina rolled her eyes and looked away from the mirror.

"You're still obsessed over that North girl? How many times do I have to tell you that you're more pretty than her?" Sloane also rolled his eyes, getting tired of her already.

"That's what you say but I see it all, I see what they say about me online, I see all the comparison and it's always on her favor! Gosh I hate her!" Valentina said hatefully.

There was knock at the door and it opened revealing a young pretty woman, dressed professionally.

"Good afternoon ma'am, Diamond empire's team has brought their skin care for you to try and the cameras are waiting" she passed the information to Valentina in a polite tone.

"Thank you, I'm on my way" princess Valentina rolled her eyes and the woman left.

She looked at Sloane and he rubbed her shoulders.

"For the last time Valentina , you look good" he smiled at her.

"I already know" she dusted his hands off her shoulders before cat walking out of the office with so much pride.

Sloane just rolled his eyes as he walked after her, his high heels making annoying sounds.

EXPENSIVE MALL

All eyes were on Seraphina as she stepped into the mall with Xander and Carter , Seraphina could guess that they were looking at her wedding dress and she was not wrong judging from the side comments she was hearing.

Is she just going back from her wedding or something?

The gown looks beautiful!

Why is she putting on that to the mall? Is she trying to grab attention or something?

Is the handsome man beside her, her husband?

He is cute!

I bet they will make some good babies!

"Let's go over to this side" Xander pointed to a place where some good looking gowns were kept and Seraphina followed him.

"Pick the one you want" he dipped his hands in his pocket as he stared at the gown.

They were not from his brand and they didn't look as good as the ones his family makes, Maybe when she gets home with him then she would get better cloths.

Seraphina picked a blue gown that had a golden zipper in front of it, The zipper was used to divide the thigh openings of the gown.

"A gold colored heels will match with it" he simply said and she nodded.

They went to the shoes section and Seraphina picked gold heels of her size and a small black purse that matched the outfit.

"You should test it and make sure it fits you well so we can pay and leave" he added.

Seraphina nodded as she went to the dressing room. She came out a few minutes later. She didn't have the best body but the gown fit her so well.

She stared at Xander who just looked at her from head to toes a few times before nodding his head.

"Looks good, take it off and also take some makeup along with you so Carter can pay for it" he said next.

She did as told and Caleb paid before she wore it again for the second time, They also got a bag she used to fix her wedding dress before they went back to the car.

"I want to call my mom, my phone isn't with me and I'm sure she would be worried sick about me" Seraphina muttered after a while of staying silent and looking at the road as the car moved at a steady speed.

"You can use my phone" Carter passed his phone to her.

"Thank you" she muttered and dialed her mom's number.

After some rings, Queen Margaux picked.

"Mom it's me Seraphina " she said and Margaux's voice began ringing out.

"Phina, my baby, where are you? Give me your location, I'll come pick you up, I know you're hurt but don't do anything to yourself I beg of you!!" Queen Margaux sounded like she was crying.

"Mom, I'm fine," Seraphina muttered.

"Okay then tell me where you are, I'll come pick you up!"

"No mom I can't but I'm really fine, I might return home late or tomorrow morning but I really am fine" Seraphina tried to assure her.

Xander was just listening without saying anything.

"Phina!! What is happening?" Queen Margaux asked.

"I'll explain everything to you when I'm back but I really I'm fine, I need to return this phone back to the owner, I'll talk to you later, I love you" she hung up immediately after saying that.

She faced the window to hide the new set of tears that were pouring from her eyes, Xander let out a quiet sigh before passing her a tissue.

"You shouldn't look tortured on the way to my family Mansion, luckily we brought some make up, you should use them" he said to her.

Seraphina nodded and collected the tissue, she wiped her face before opening her purse to take the make up out.

LOCKWOOD CASSIAN PLACE

He was filed with so much rage as he paced back and forth throughout the living room.

The door opened and Maya stepped in, she blocked her nose immediately and looked elsewhere.

"You should limit the way you drink Cassian " she moved closer to him and before she knew it, a loud slap landed on her face.

Cassian just slapped her hard and she couldn't believe it, The slap was strong enough to cut her lips.

"Why did you ruin my wedding?" He looked at her with so much rage in his eyes.

Maya was still holding her cheeks, she scoffed and wiped the blood off her lips.

"Shouldn't you thank me? Where you actually ready to marry her?" She replied and slowly dropped her hands from her cheeks.

"For two and a half years, she has helped me with lots of things, Maya. She has had a great impact in my career, she was making me stand out and you think I'm ready to lose all of that?" He yelled at her.

"Phina isn't the only one good at making good designs, I can be of help to" she moved closer to him.

"f**k you!" He replied and took his phone then tried calling her again but he couldn't reach her.

"Damn!" He angrily threw his phone across the wall.

"Relax, Phina is gullible, she will forgive you later if you can look for a good lie, like maybe I drugged you into having s*x with me because I was into you or something?" She said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're the man, lying shouldn't be hard" she whispered, giving him seductive look.

Cassian's jaw clenched hard, he suddenly grabbed her and threw her on the couch.

"I should punish you" he said while taking of his belt roughly.

"Yes baby, I ruined your wedding so punish me" she winked at him.

"I really should" he smirked and hovered her then began tieing her hands together with the belt.

"I'll drill you so hard and you won't be able to walk for two days!" He unzipped his trousers and tore her skirt then he dived inside her without warning.

"f**k!!" Maya screamed out, trying to release her hands as he banged her mercilessly from behind.

KINGS MANSION

The car passed a big gate that automatically went open and Seraphina's eyes widened the view she saw next.

The compound was really big, decorated with beautiful flowers and they were some gardeners presently streaming the flowers.

Many expensive cars were packed in the parking lot before Carter parked the car they were currently in.

"Tensed?" Xander's voice rang in Seraphina's ears and she turned in to look at him before nodding slowly.

"My family don't bite so relax" he replied before opening the door and stepping down.

She didn't know how to open the door from her side, It was her first time entering a bugatti . If she was not wrong it should cost more than twenty million dollars.

Carter was about to help her get the door but Xander stopped him on time.

"I got it" he walked towards the car and opened the door for Seraphina to come down, he even stretched his hands towards her.

Seraphina was shocked because Prince Cassian had never done this to her since the last two and a half years of dating him.

She slowly accepted his hands and he helped her down.

"Let's go in," he said, his tone surprisingly gentle. He didn't let go of her hand, instead lacing his fingers with hers in a gesture that felt both possessive and strangely reassuring.

He began leading her toward the grand, imposing entrance of the mansion. With each step, Seraphina anxiety grew. This was it. The point of no return.

Just as they reached the enormous double doors, Xander paused and turned to her. His golden eyes held hers for an intense moment. "One last thing," he said, his voice a quiet murmur meant only for her. "No matter what you see or hear in there, remember our deal. And remember... you belong to me now."

Before she could process his words, he pushed the door open, leading her into the lion's den.