Chapter 267 - Behind It

Johanna was still staring at the platinum access card that was given to her and there's a fancy DIY cardholder with it. Her fiance was currently setting up the things that she needed in case of an emergency. 

"It's beautiful," Connor said. "The access that they gave to you. Isn't it too fancy?" 

"Hmm," She only hummed. 

"Also the necklace. But still, you wore the one that I gave to you." 

"I think I have to put schedules on wearing the necklaces that you, my brother, and this old man's gifts." She removed the necklace and placed it in her mini-jewelry box. She stood and put her thick robe on. 

"Where are you going?" He asked and watched her go to the door. 

"I want to speak to my mother." She said formally. 

"It's too late, can't it be tomorrow." 

"I might not be able to sleep properly." She squeezed the door and went out. She went directly to Karmina and Henry's room. She knocked and the door opened quickly. 

"Jo," Karmina was surprised to see her. 

"I need to talk to you." She said and Karmina let her in. She looked at the old man in a wheelchair. They seemed to be discussing something although it was past bedtime. 

"What is it?" Karmina asked. 

"So, you are from the Rossie Royal Family?" Johanna asked, which made Karmina puzzled for a while. She never mentioned to them that she's from the Royal Family. But seeing the eagerness from Johanna's eyes, she knew that it might be because of her past. 

"I saw my father keeping a badge with the logo you have in the access card." She said, "I heard them talking about the Rossie Family, it seemed that when that Empire dies, they also leave to be safe. Does the experiment have to do with your family, mom?" 

Karmina changed her expression and looked at her softly. Even without telling Jo, she knew that they would find it out. But about the experiments that the Charles Empire held, Karmina didn't know anything about it until she was held captive at Charles's Mansion. 

"Yes," Karmina reached her hand. "I didn't know about it." 

"The experiment was only meant for the retired armies to help them heal their trauma and live again." The old man said as Johanna looked at him. "The scientists, your parents discovered something unusual, that's why the Charles Empire is after them. They haven't found the perfect one. You and your offspring are the perfect killing machine with both intellect, emotional intelligence, and physical. That is why they are after you and your brother." 

"Hmm," Johanna doesn't know what to say about that. But she won't blame anyone since it wasn't their fault. "So, I am safe in your hands? My baby is safe in your hands?" 

"Hannah Grace, we don't harm the family. You are already part of the Del Carlo and Rossie Family." Carter tried to stand but Henry stopped him. "You must not get caught by them and they must not know about your offspring. I gave you that access because you are family." 

"I understand." She held her round tummy. "I will go back now." She said and turned back. But Karmina was still worried so she held Johanna's arm. 

"Jo, baby." She called. 

"Mom, I'm fine," Johanna said. Karmina escorted her back to her room where Connor was waiting outside. 

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" Karmina caressed her hair as she nodded her head. "Good night," 

"Night." 

Connor opened the door for her and let her in first. 

"Night, mom," Connor said as Karmina nodded. 

Johanna went to the bathroom first while Connor waited in the bed. Somehow, he was curious and worried about her. He mostly doesn't know what's on her mind. The door shortly opened and she walked toward him, reached his face, and kissed him passionately. He responded while rubbing her sides from her slipped dress. 

"I love you." He whispered. 

"Hmm, I love you too." 

He gently bent down and kissed her round tummy. 

"I love you, baby." 

Johanna lovingly caressed his hair. He looked up at her with a big grin. 

"I can't wait to know our baby's gender," Connor said excitedly. 

"We still have to wait for a few more days." 

Connor quickly pulled the duvet to tuck her in. 

"Lay down, my love. I'll massage your feet." 

"It's a little swollen." She said as she carefully sat on the bed and lay down. He put her feet over the pillows, took the mint essential oil, and massaged her feet and calves. He did this every day since she usually cleaned, walked up and downstairs, and walked their pet, Hunter when she's bored. Currently, their puppy was left home. 

"It's indeed swollen. I think you need to walk less, my love. How about only a few minutes with Hunter?" he suggested. "I will do all of the cooking and all." 

"What if you got an assignment? Harvey will call you anytime." 

"Yeah," he continued massaging her calves. "That's why I put food on the second floor and a mini-kitchen just in case. Also, Hunter knows how to poop and pee outside." 

"I get bored easily." She said and yawned. 

"I know." There's a long silence until Connor asked. "Love, what did you ask your mom about?" 

Johanna didn't answer him as another long awkward silence.

"The Rossie Empire was connected to my late parents." She said that made him stop. "My memory was vivid and I know all of the details of their emblem. That's why I was curious and asked Karmina about it. It turned out that after the Charles Empire slaughtered my mom's family, they were also after the discovery that my parents made. That's why they were eager to train us and become a killing machine. To protect ourselves from that Empire." 

"I'm sorry for asking." 

"No." She shook her head. "You have to know. So you will be able to protect your baby from them. They are after offspring. That's why they were eager to get my brother pregnant, one of the women that they set up for him." 

"I will protect you and our baby, my love." He reached her tummy and caressed it. "You and our baby are my life now." 

She smiled a little to him, almost a force. She didn't want to worry but she felt so worried about the future of her baby while that Empire was still dominating the control of the government and other organizations. Although they have power now, the Dragon Empire and EPUA will only support them as they can't get involved further. 

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Tracey was woken up when the door opened. She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes as she watched Ian strip in front of the half-open door. He shut it and dragged his body to the bathroom. She slipped off from bed, picked his clothes, and put it on the laundry basket then, she put his backpack on the chair and then his shoes on the shoe rack.

"Babe," She called as the water was running inside the bathroom. 

She went to bed and waited for him. Shortly, the door opened and Ian wiped his wet body. 

"Babe, are you alright?" She asked as Ian approached her and patted her head. 

"Yeah, I'm tired." He answered as he dropped the towel and pushed the duvet. "I'm tired and horny." He whispered. She quickly removed her underwear and spread her legs for him. They kissed passionately and he did it quickly and after that, he collapsed over her chest. 

"Good that I came a little," Tracey grumbled and gently pushed him to her side and covered the duvet to cover his naked body. 

"I love you…" He whispered and grabbed her breasts. She smiled and hugged him like her big baby. 

He fell asleep quickly and quicker than she expected. He was also snoring a little and his warm breathing on her chest was somehow relaxing. She was happy and she didn't want to sleep thinking that it might be all a dream. She only looked down and carefully rubbed his ear and kissed it. She then looked at her ring and was so happy at that moment. 

"Love, sleep…" he grumbled. 

"I will sleep." 

"Tracey," he called. 

"Hmm?" 

"I almost punched your dad." 

She was silent but then, she kept her arms wrapped around him. 

"Okay, you should do it. I mean, I don't mind." Somehow, Tracey wanted her dad to get punched by her man. She hated him for ruining their family and for treating her mom as one of his whore and for using her mom's family money. She hated him for cheating and using the company to his advantage. 

Tracey caressed her man's face and noticed that he went back to sleep just like that. She giggled and kissed his cheeks. She lay flat down while hugging him and closed her eyes with one thought. She just hoped that they would live happily. She hopes that her mom will be happy and they will have a peaceful life without her father. She doesn't want her father to be at her wedding at all and finally, her dream wedding will come true with the man she loves.