RECKLESS LOVE
( When hearts defy rules....)
The ballroom of the Millions Estate looked like a royal fantasy exploded.
A song because *Zelia felt like it*.
Zelia Millions descended the grand staircase like a queen bored of her kingdom. Her floor-length designer gown sparkled under the lights, clinging to her curves and attitude alike. A tiara rested in her dark curls—not a fake party one, but real diamonds. Because why not?
"Don't let that redhead near me again," she snapped at a server. "She smells like budget perfume and desperation."
"Yes, ma'am," he stammered and practically ran.
She rolled her eyes and turned to her best friends. "Did you see what she was wearing? Yellow satin. At *my* party. I should've banned her."
"You did," Raye said with a laugh. "She just bribed the guard."
Zelia smirked. "Well, someone's getting fired."Then came Soren, sweaty and out of breath, holding her phone, touch-up kit, and a pair of backup heels like an obedient pet.
"Here, babe," he gasped.
"Finally," Zelia snapped, snatching the kit and tossing him the heels. "Wipe them. There's dust. I'm not stepping on germs."
Raye arched a brow. "You do realize he's not your maid?"
Zelia blinked. "He's my boyfriend. Same thing. Only with kisses."
Soren blushed but said nothing. Emily bit her lip to hide a laugh.
Then, *Jasper Millions* showed up, drink in hand, scanning the crowd. "Who's the guy following you around like a stray?"
Zelia froze for a beat too long. "Just a party planner's assistant," she lied sweetly.
"Hm." Jasper's eyes narrowed.
"Where's Roman and Damon?" she asked quickly.
"Roman's avoiding social interaction like always," Jasper said. "And Damon is glaring at every male under thirty-five. So, business as usual."
Speak of the devil—Damon Millions appeared by the bar, arms crossed, intimidating in his black suit and cold stare. His jaw clenched every time a man looked Zelia's way.
Roman stood a little away, sipping his drink silently, probably counting how many minutes he had to survive before disappearing to his books.When a guest—a young heir—got a bit too close to Zelia, Damon was there in seconds.
"Touch her again and you'll leave in pieces," he said quietly, without blinking.
The guy laughed awkwardly until Damon leaned closer. "I'm not joking."
Zelia just smiled sweetly. "You all act like I'm a helpless baby."
"You act like a baby," Roman called over, deadpan.
Jasper chuckled. "But you're our brat."
Zelia stuck out her tongue, then grabbed her champagne and twirled under the lights.
This was her world.
Expensive. Chaotic. Protected.
But soon... the storm named Alaric would walk in.
And Zelia Millions' perfect pink world would never be the same.
---
The ballroom still buzzed with laughter, but Zelia had stormed off the dance floor after a minor incident — someone stepped on her dress, someone else compared her to an "influencer." She wasn't having it.
Now she stood alone in her father's private lounge, kicking off her designer heels and tossing her tiara on the velvet couch like it offended her.
"Zelia."
She looked up, already annoyed. "Don't start, Daddy."
Sebastian Millions, stoic and immaculately dressed, stood in the doorway. The most feared billionaire in the country — reduced to a soft-eyed father when it came to her.
He stepped in slowly. "You left your party."
She huffed, arms folded. "Because it's boring. They're boring. And someone wore the same shade of lipstick. At my birthday. Can you imagine?"
He didn't respond immediately. He just sat across from her, crossing his legs with quiet authority.
"Do you ever stop?" he asked calmly.
Zelia narrowed her eyes. "Stop what?"
"Running from yourself."
That hit her like a slap. She laughed it off, of course. "Oh please. I like myself. I'm fabulous."
Sebastian studied her. "You're lonely."
She scoffed. "I have everything."
"You have things. You don't have peace."
There was a long silence. Her jaw clenched. "So what, Daddy? I ruin your fancy image? I'm too much?"
"No," he said softly. "You remind me too much of your mother."
Zelia froze.
Sebastian continued. "She was wild. Bold. Untamed. But she was also broken in places no one could see."
Zelia blinked fast. Her throat tightened.
"You're not her," he said. "But sometimes I wonder if spoiling you was just my way of apologizing for her absence."
Silence again.
Zelia whispered, "Don't stop spoiling me."
He smiled gently. "I won't."
Then, after a pause: "But someone will come into your life one day who won't bow to you. And I hope, when that happens, you finally grow into the woman your mother would be proud of."
Zelia didn't respond. She didn't have words.
"Daddy when are you getting me the yatch?"
She changed the question and he chulked stroking her hair adorably
"My daughter is soo cute"
he said and she glared
"Seriously Dad I'm not a kid anymore that you will rub my head I'm 17 now "
She scoffed and pouted
"I will get you your yatch if you go back to your birthday party birthday girl"
he said and she quickly stood
"Yes sir "
she saluted and rushed out
★★★★★next day
The splash echoed louder than it should have.
A steaming cup of coffee poured straight onto the maid's arm, followed by the sharp crash of porcelain on marble. The maid shrieked in pain, clutching her scalded wrist.
Zelia stood over her, smug and fuming in her pink satin robe and diamond anklet, eyes blazing like a queen issuing a death sentence.
"I SAID ALMOND MILK!" she screeched. "Not cow juice! Are you people TRYING to poison me?!"
The door burst open.
Jasper Millions stormed in, tie half-done, fury written across his face. "Zelia, what the hell?!"
"Oh, here we go," Zelia rolled her eyes dramatically.
Damon entered next, fists clenched, followed by Roman, eyes sharp under his glasses.
The maid trembled, burned skin already red and swelling.
"You poured HOT coffee on her?" Jasper growled. "She could need a hospital!"
Zelia flipped her hair. "Well maybe she should learn the difference between oat and death milk."
"Zelia, are you hearing yourself right now?!"
Then she snapped.
"You always yell at me!" she screamed, voice breaking. "All of you! The one time I defend myself, and suddenly I'm the monster!"
Roman muttered under his breath, "Because you are acting like—"
"Shut up!" she shouted. "You three treat me like I'm some burden! Like I asked to be the only girl in this damn house!"
Jasper's voice hardened. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt people!"
Zelia's lip trembled. The tears came — big, dramatic, and calculated.
"You know what?" she whispered. "If Mom were here, she'd understand me. But she's not. She's dead. And I'm just this lonely girl in a house full of men who HATE me!"
Silence.
The air turned thick.
Even Jasper flinched.
Right then, Sebastian Millions entered.
"What's going on?" His voice was cool. Dangerous.
Zelia ran into his arms instantly. "Daddy," she sobbed, "they're ganging up on me again!"
Jasper stepped forward. "She burned the maid, Dad."
Sebastian's eyes flicked to the trembling maid, then back to his daughter. "Did she touch Zelia?"
"No, Zelia hurt her," Jasper barked.
Damon's voice rose. "Lower your tone. You don't yell at our sister like that."
"She's not a child, Damon!" Jasper yelled.
"She is the only girl in this house!" Damon shot back. "And we protect her."
"You call this protection?! You're enabling her!"
Sebastian raised his hand. "That's enough."
But Jasper and Damon were nose-to-nose now.
"She needs boundaries!" Jasper shouted.
"She needs respect, Damon growled.
Meanwhile, Roman, sighing, handed the maid an envelope. "For your trouble. Take a break for the week."
Zelia wiped her tears, her eyes peeking just enough to catch her victory.
She sniffled into her father's chest. "I just want someone to love me without yelling. That's all."
Sebastian kissed her head. "And you have that. You'll always have me, my diamond."
Jasper stormed out.
Zelia smiled into her father's shirt.
Queen. Checkmate.
"Daddy I'm going out with Raye and Emily,i want to carry your new limousine"
she blinked cutely
"Zelia you know it was bought to me by a business partner for a test it's a new car"
He said and her smile fell and she moved away from him
"You dont love me anymore Dad ....."
"Okay okay fine ,you can take it dont cry baby"
he pulled her to himself and a smile crept her lips and her brothers shook their head
"You are the best Dada,I love you the most in this world "
she jumped cutely forming an heart shape with her tiny hand and her father chulked like a proud father even her brothers couldn't hid their smile
she stucked out her tongue at them before running out
"She's too cute like her mom"
Sebastian smiled sadly and the brother nodded
"I wish mom was here,she would love her more than anything "
Jasper said
"That's why we should never let her feel her absense she never get to meet her, I heard from the maid she sometimes cry herself to sleep at night"
Ramon said
"we got her different nanny but she like none and those sly people only try to hurt her several times..."
Damon said his hand clenching same as his jaw
★★★
"I mean it,you think he can say no to me?"
Zelia smirked proudly
she's on a video call with her friends as she dress up
"we are going to that new mall all bills on me I'm with Roman black card"
she waved the card and they gasped
"oh dear how does it feel to have a rich brother"
Emily said and Zelia fan herself
"it's heaven, but would you believe a maid served me poison today after telling her several times I'm allergic to it,i feel like she did it deliberately i just hate her"
She said in disgust
"tell me she's six feet underground right now"
Raye said and they laughed
"i pour the milk on her wretched existence hotly"
she smirked like a proud devil
"That's my girl"
they hyped her up
"Jasper can be soo annoying,he kept scolding me"
she scoffed
"You should just told them you are allergic to cow milk,he is jusg trying to ....."
"Don't complete that word and stop your silly crush on Jasper he has a girlfriend even though i dont like her "
She said and Emily pouted sadly
"you guys should head over I'm almost done"
she ended the video call and her door opened she look up to see Jasper she rolled her eyes turning back to her vanity space where she is wearing her jewelries
"Why are you here,to scold me again!!!,i see you dont love me anymore since you met that stupid actress girlfriend of yours, she's turning you against me "
She started ranting and Jasper signed
"I'm 30 already i need to make her family,i have been single until now cos of you, it's either you hate them or you dont like them Soo i kept breaking up but Dad is really getting on my nerves this days about marriage stuffs"
"are you blaming me for not having good eyes for girls!!,yoy always choose devils from the pit of hell you know my instinct never lie, it's either they love your money, approach you with bad intention or to make me ...."
she paused and Jasper eyes squinted
"Did they do anything to you??"
he quickly asked and she cleared her throat
"Im going out with my friends "
she said and walked out living Jasper in confusion
....
The black Porsche screeched to a halt. Too late.
*CRUNCH.*
Zelia's tires slammed into the sleek silver car in front of her, the sound of metal against metal echoing through the quiet street like a gunshot. Her two friends in the passenger seats gasped.
"Zelia!" Emily squeaked. "That's someone's car!"
Zelia tossed her designer shades onto the dashboard, u bothered. "Well, they shouldn't have parked like a drunk donkey in my way."
They all got out.
The owner of the silver car — a young man in his 30 s, clearly not in her tax bracket — hurried over, shock on his face. "Are you blind?! You hit my car!"
Zelia flipped her ponytail, sauntering up to him with that same entitled walk that made half the city tremble. "Excuse me? You hit me with your existence. Who parks like that in the middle of my street?"
"It's not your—!" he started.
"Shut up," she snapped. "You should be THANKING me. This car needed a facelift anyway."
The man looked stunned.
That's when another voice joined the scene.
"I'd say your mouth needs a tune-up before anyone's car."
Zelia froze.
She wanted to slap him
yes the one who said that ,he can't be talking to here right?
"Wow he is soo hot"
she heard her friends muttered
she chulked and turn to the guy, she stared.
For once, she didn't have a comeback.
Just the sound of her ego choking.
Slowly, she turned.
Leaning against a lamppost in a black hoodie and backpack was a tall figure — unreadable, disinterested, and dripping in sarcasm.
Alaric.
He'd been walking to his part-time bookstore shift when the crash happened. He hadn't meant to stop, but Zelia's voice? Like nails on a chalkboard.
"Excuse me?" she blinked.
He stepped forward calmly. "You drove into a parked car, insulted the owner, and now you're playing the victim. That's either genius manipulation or terminal stupidity."
Zelia gasped.
No one talked to her like that.
Not even her brothers.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" she snapped.
"Someone who actually reads the road signs."
Her mouth dropped open. "Do you even know who I am?!"
"I don't care."
Emily whispered, "Zee... let's go—"
But Zelia was boiling now. "You low-life, tight-chested, budget-wearing, nothing! You want to be famous? Is that it? Want to trend off me?! News flash: even my driver has more class than you!"
Alaric raised an eyebrow, expression still flat. "That's adorable. Now go cry into your daddy's credit card and leave grown-ups alone."
Her breath caught.
Something about the way he didn't flinch, the way he didn't bow down — it cracked something inside her. Confusion. Anger. A flicker of… fascination?
And Alaric?
He walked away.
Didn't even look back.
Zelia stood there, seething and shaken. "Who is he…?"
But deep down, a voice whispered:
*Someone not fooled by your crown.*
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