Love Game With The Rebel Billionaire

"Can you leave for a moment? I want to be alone," I requested.

Mason nodded and walked out of the room.

Alone, I let myself be vulnerable, tears streaming down my face. I leaned back on the couch and covered my eyes with one arm.

My sobs echoed through the empty room. Just when I thought I could have a normal life and return to him, the world slammed me with the reality that we could never be together. He hates me, and I can't change that. Not when what he believes is true.

Should I explain what really happened that night?

"Right. I should," I told myself as I reached for my phone and called him. But a realization hit me, like a bucket of cold water pouring over me.

It shouldn't be Ash I called.

It was Azrael.

Unbeknownst to me, I was already dialing Azrael's number using the one he recently used to contact me, but he wasn't answering.

Instead of calling again, I texted him to meet me at dinnertime. I planned when and where we would meet.

I had no dirty tricks up my sleeve. Now that I knew it was Azrael I was up against, I realized I needed to be careful.

He's a Coleman, after all. He knows the ins and outs of the mafia, has countless connections, and I'm sure he has many cards left to play.

***

Now, here I am at the restaurant. It's been ten minutes since I started waiting, but I trust my instincts. I know he'll show up.

"Here's the menu, ma'am," the waiter approached, handing me a menu.

"Thank you." My smile widened. "I'll call you when I'm ready to order. I'm waiting for someone-"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when someone interrupted.

"Fuck off," Azrael said coldly, yanking the chair in front of me as he sat down.

I still couldn't help but be amazed when I saw Azrael's face again. If I didn't know what he did, I might've thought the real Ash was sitting in front of me.

"I almost didn't recognize you," I told him with a smirk. "You look good with my lover's face... Prince."

It was a backhanded compliment, but he didn't seem to care.

"Technology is amazing these days," he said smugly, touching his cheek. "And I badly missed how you called me by that name, Sapphire."noveldrama

He glanced at his reflection in the window, and his grin grew wider as if he was utterly fascinated by what he saw.

"Is it effective, Sapphire? Do I make you feel a certain way? Like butterflies in your stomach?"

His words made me want to puke. Fucking narcissist.

"Just so you know, I didn't love Ash just because of his appearance," I answered, raising an eyebrow. "I loved him because of who he was." Azrael's body tensed and his fists clenched. He glared at me, his jaw tightening as if he was holding back his anger.

He might have Ash's face, but his presence screamed Azrael.

Before, it was hard for me to tell them apart, but now, it's as easy as pie.

"You can't be in love with him," he said pointedly once the waiter had left. "Ash is just my puppet. He's nothing but my servant, following my every command."

"Oh, really?" I widened my eyes, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. My lips parted slightly, and I caught him glancing at them.

"Is that the kind of man you want to be with? Someone who does nothing but obey me?" Azrael added to ask, his tone darker now.

He reached for my hand resting on the table, lightly caressing the back of my palm. I didn't pull away, and his grin grew wider, thinking I welcomed his touch. "Don't you want to be a queen?" he asked, his tone encouraging. "That's what you deserve. You'll be my queen, and you'll serve me... your king."

I scoffed, unable to contain my reaction as I pulled my hand away. "You're still as crazy as ever, aren't you?"

His eyes widened, stunned by my words. Did he really think I'll fall for his tricks like what I did back then?

"First of all, a queen is not a servant. A queen, like a king, has the power to rule," I explained. "And you're right-I am a queen. But I don't need a king."

"Shut up, bitch," he muttered and clenched his fists.

"You told me you loved me, and now you want me to shut up?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That wasn't love. That was an obsession."

He didn't love me. He wanted someone to add to his collection, someone he could treat as property.

Men like him shouldn't exist. They'd do anything to get what they want, even if it meant stepping on others.

"You know how much I wanted you... yet you fucked with my cousin?" Azrael asked in disbelief. "You even had children with him. Just thinking about those fucking kids makes my blood boil." Hearing that nearly made me lose my composure. "Don't you dare lay a finger on my children, Azrael. I'm not the Sapphire you once knew."

But Azrael didn't take me seriously. He played with his lips, watching me intently.

He probably thought his new face would change things-that it would make me his.

But it's still Prince. He hasn't changed. If anything, he's gotten worse.

"If I can't have you, then no one can," he said, his expression darkening. "Or maybe I'll kill him and take you for myself. So, choose."

"You don't control my life, Azrael," I answered, my gaze not leaving his. "Stop your madness while you still can."

Perhaps if he stopped, I could too. I'd realized revenge wouldn't get me anywhere.

All I wanted now was to rescue my mom from Simon, give my children a better life... and maybe fix things with Ash, or at least explain myself.

I knew Azrael wouldn't say anything good about me to him.

"I've waited too long for this moment, so why would I stop?" Azrael laughed sarcastically. "You don't love him. You hate him. Just leave him and come with me."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Who told you I hated him? I feel sorry for him-for having a manipulative cousin like you."

I stood, gathering my things. This conversation wasn't going anywhere, and I couldn't bear to sit with him any longer.

So, it's final. Neither of us will stop until one of us is gone.

I was about to leave when I noticed a man at a nearby table. His face was hidden behind a newspaper, but when he lowered it, my eyes widened in shock. It was Ash.

I nearly stumbled when I saw the intensity in his gaze-and the pain in his eyes.