Chapter: 137On lui a lancé un paquet de chips qu'il a attrapé. En levant les yeux, il a vu son ami Frank.« Mec ! Tu sais toujours quoi apporter », dit Noah en ouvrant le paquet de chips et en commençant à les grignoter.« Bien sûr. Je savais que tu en aurais besoin. »« Ça fait une éternité ! Ça fait plaisir de te revoir », dit Noah en se levant et en serrant la main de son ami.« Ce que j'apprécie le plus, c'est que tu as meilleure mine maintenant. Tu n'es plus ce jeune homme terne et triste d'il y a quelques mois. Je suis content que tu aies guéri », déclara Frank d'un ton solennel.« Je ne veux plus
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-25
Chapter: 136« Ça va. Je vais bien », a-t-il finalement dit.« Merci monsieur. Liam, partez… » commença-t-elle, mais Noah l’interrompit.« J'ai dit que ça allait. Laissez-le tranquille. »« Oui monsieur », répondit l’enseignante, incertaine d’avoir bien entendu. La voyant toujours là, Noah lui fit signe de partir, ce qu’elle fit aussitôt.« Mon petit garçon. On va régler nos comptes avec la concurrence et on se revoit après, d'accord ? »« D'accord papa ! »Noah finit par se lever et ramena Liam à l'endroit où il deva
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-25
Chapter: 135Puis le garçon s'inclina et retourna à sa place.Noah se redressa, soudain intrigué. Un détail ne lui échappa pas: le nom de famille supplémentaire. Il supposa qu’Emily attendait que le garçon se réhabitue à Muxin avant de supprimer discrètement son nom de famille d’origine, qui était aussi le sien.Il ignorait que Liam participait à ce concours. Il comprit alors mieux pourquoi le garçon lui posait autant de questions de mathématiques ces derniers temps. Il l'avait inscrit au concours comme promis et l'entraînait sans relâche, quel que soit son humeur. Liam avait une tablette, spécialement dédiée à ses études, et c'est là que se déroulaient tous ses cours, en ligne. Noah n'avait gu&egrav
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-25
Chapter: 134Quelques mois s'étaient écoulés et Emily avait surmonté son divorce. Elle vivait heureuse avec son fils. Elle pensait que la vie lui avait enfin offert un conte de fées, mais non. La vie en avait décidé autrement et ce n'était pas encore le moment de faire une pause.Noah était assis dans son bureau aux États-Unis. Rentré la veille, il était déjà à son bureau ce matin-là, en train de boire son café. Après son divorce, Noah avait décidé de quitter le pays et de retourner au Royaume-Uni, où il avait vécu après son mariage avec Emily dix ans auparavant. Jones l'avait soutenu. Selon lui, il avait besoin d'une pause et il comptait bien profiter de cette occasion pour superviser une filiale de son entreprise là-bas. Il jeta un coup d
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-25
Chapter: 133Ils burent en silence et, comme Jones l'avait prédit, Noah commença à se sentir mieux et à avoir la tête qui tourne. Jones le laissa boire même lorsqu'il était ivre. Il voulait qu'il s'enivre pour pouvoir dormir cette nuit-là. Il connaissait très bien son ami et se souvenait de sa réaction lorsqu'il cherchait Emily plus de dix ans auparavant. Maintenant qu'il l'avait perdue, il craignait le pire pour Noah. Son ami aimait profondément sa femme et les trois années passées avec elle avaient été inoubliables.« Ça suffit. C'est bon, ça suffit, ça va t'aider », dit Jones en tendant la main pour lui prendre son verre de vin. Noah ne dit mot, comme à son habitude. Il remplit son verre une dernière fois et le vida d'un trait. Puis il prit ses clés de voiture e
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-24
Chapter: 132Emily fixa son amie Gu Yanxi, la bouche entrouverte. Gu Yanxi lui raconta alors en détail sa disparition.« Je suis sans voix. Je ne sais même pas quoi dire », murmura-t-elle, complètement abasourdie par la nouvelle.« Parlons d'autre chose, je ne veux pas y repenser. C'est démoralisant. Je n'arrive même pas à… » commença Gu Yanxi, mais les larmes brouillèrent sa voix. Emily la prit dans ses bras.« Ne pleure pas, tu ne devrais pas pleurer pour des gens comme elle, on ne peut pas leur faire confiance. Réjouissons-nous tous que tu sois saine et sauve. Désormais, méfie-toi d'elle. Essuie tes larmes, ma chérie. » Gu Yanxi essuya ses larmes et se redressa.
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-24
Chapter: 100Was it Karma or was the universe on her side? She received the news with mixed feelings. She was happy that he was finally paying for his evil deeds but on the other hand, she wasn't satisfied that this punishment wasn't dished out by her.Nelly received an email from her company the following day. They had a shoot and she was offered the lead role but she declined the offer. She wasn't leaving the country until she had set her father's company, which was now hers where it is supposed to be. Fortunately for her, her efforts were paying off, although bit by bit. The errors of the past generation were gradually giving way for the clean and decent methods of the new generation. Nelly was determined to set the company in transparent basis even if it would take time. Emma was a very sweet child who didn't give her mother any trouble. Her mother had ampl
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-20
Chapter: 99Nelly was in her father's room with Emma the following morning. She was looking for any document related to work that could help her in what she wanted to do. Emma was there as a form of distraction and at the same time, company.“Mummy look at this,” Emma announced excitedly, raising a colorful book.“Yes, it's nice.”“Mummy, this is beautiful,” Emma called out again, pointing at the aquarium on the television screen.She called her mother's attention twice more until Nelly nearly lost it.“Mummy? Come and take a look at this.”“Emma, I'm busy and I don't l
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-19
Chapter: 98Ash shook his head, indicating a negative answer. There was nothing else in the phones and they had also completed the task they laid down to help Nelly track down her enemies.They weren't much but they were powerful men involved too. Easton Landers, Ivan Landers, Ethan Stratford and Aria Dean.“Including Amon,” her inner voice said.All these people deserved no ounce of pity. Easton was very meticulous in his dealings that he always escaped being caught even when his men were caught red handed. Somehow, there was always an escape route where he sneaks out of, unscathed. Aria was dead, she would take care of Amon when she travelled back to Germany.“And that's if he'll still be my neighbour. With his job done, he'll flee.” The n
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-19
Chapter: 97Somewhere in a part of the town was this popular family who didn't bother about the news. In fact, it was the least of their worries. That was the Landers family. The only thing that was set to bother Daisy and Ivan was what her mother had to say. Grandfather had informed them earlier that Lily wanted to speak to them that day.Seated in the living room, Daisy waited almost impatiently for her mother to speak but the latter didn't seem interested in saying anything in a hurry. Providence heard her when her mother cleared her throat and began.“Daisy, as you requested, I'll tell you nothing but the truth about all you need to know of your background.”“Anderson used to be nice and caring but he
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-18
Chapter: 96Frankly speaking, Ivan had not even the faintest idea that he was going after the Stratford group all these while. He only followed his grandfather and did no background check. Moreover, there was nothing to show that the Jace group was formerly Stratford. The name was changed leaving no trace of the former or any legacy related to the former.“Yes. I don't know. You have to understand that I'm not aware that it's the same company.”“I don't believe you. But whatever be the case, why are you after Startford? Why are you among those after my father's downfall? It was because of this company and my father's health that I got into a contract marriage with you. You have the whole of vintage but you wanted the little Stratford, you bastard!”
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-18
Chapter: 95Nelly stood in front of the imposing towers of Vintage Company again. She remembered the first time she was here. That was over five years ago when she came to plead with Ivan to give her some money. The only difference now was that the imposing towers were no longer imposing. They weren't intimidating. In fact, it fueled her determination to get in there and have it even with the CEO. She took a deep breath and walked in.“Good morning ma. How may I help you?” the receptionist greeted with a smile that didn't reach her face. It was only a professional smile. Nelly repeated the same words she used last year and somehow, that made her heart throb.“I'm here to see Ivan.”“You mean president Landers?” the receptionist asked. She too was shocked.
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-12-18
Chapter: One hundred and sixVESPERCold sweat trickled down the back of my neck, soaking into the thin collar of my linen shift.I stared into Hayes’s golden eyes, trying desperately to read the unyielding stone of his face. Does he know?The thought screamed through my mind, loud and deafening. Can he tell? Is the scent wearing off? Did I miss a detail in the records?My mind raced in frantic circles. I had spent three years studying Ciara from afar. I knew the posture, the voice, the history, the ring on her finger. But standing inches from this towering male, feeling the suffocating weight of his Alpha presence crushing down on my chest, I realized I had miscalculated the raw power of a true mate bond.Hayes’s thumb was still resting over the silver wedding ring on my finger. He wasn't pressing down. He wasn't dragging me to the floor. He was just watching me, his golden eyes glowing with a quiet, lethal intelligence that made my stomach turn to lead."I asked you a question, Ciara," Hayes said softly, his dee
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-19
Chapter: One hundred and FiveHAYESI froze. My hands stayed clamped tight around her waist, my knuckles white against the thin linen of her dress.The heavy wood of the study door rattled again under the force of Marcus’s fist."Alpha!" Marcus shouted from the corridor, his voice sharp and breathless. "Open up! It cannot wait!"The woman on the desk beneath me stiffened completely. Her eyes widened in instant panic, her chest heaving as she shoved her hands flat against my chest to push me back. The hot, frantic haze that had filled the room just a second ago evaporated into pure ice."Don't open it," she whispered, her voice tight and trembling. She grabbed my wrists, her nails digging into my skin. "Hayes, don't answer the door. Tell him to go away."I looked down at her face. Her lips were swollen from my mouth, her hair messy, but her dark eyes were wide with a raw, sudden fear that made no sense."It's Marcus," I said, my voice low and dark as I let go of her waist and stepped back. "He wouldn't knock like t
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-19
Chapter: One hundred and fourHAYESI woke up slowly naturally reaching out to the left side of the mattress for Ciara. My arm swept over the heavy wool sheets, expecting to pull her warm, soft frame against my chest, but my palm hit a cold patch of empty linen.I opened my eyes, blinking away the sleep.Ciara was standing across the room in front of the tall vanity mirror. She was already dressed in her dark velvet skirts, but her silver shoulder guards were sitting completely crooked over her collarbones. Her dark hair was braided loosely, the weave uneven and messy—a small thing, but something Ciara had never done in her life"Ciara," I called out, my voice thick and raspy from sleep.She didn't answer. She didn't even turn her head. She just kept staring at her reflection in the glass, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to fasten the front iron clasp of her dress."Ciara," I said again, louder this time, pushing the heavy blankets off my chest and sitting up on the edge of the bed.She flinched hard.
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-18
Chapter: One hundred and ThreeCIARAI walked down the narrow dirt path toward the treeline with a small woven basket hooked over my forearm. Inside the keep, the twin pups were fast asleep in their wooden cribs, guarded by six heavy Gammas at the inner archway. Hayes was down in the lower armory inspecting the winter iron stock with Marcus, giving me twenty minutes of rare, quiet peace.I stopped near the old stone woodshed, kneeling on the cold earth to gather a bundle of wild mountain mint.A dry twig snapped in the thick brush behind my left shoulder.I didn't even have time to stand or call out for the guards. A thick wool cloth soaked in bitter, chemical-smelling oil slammed hard over my nose and mouth. Strong, calloused hands clamped around my upper arms like iron bands, pulling my back flush against rough leather armor.I thrashed violently, driving my elbow back with all my strength into my attacker's ribs. I felt the air leave their lungs with a sharp grunt, but two more heavy arms wrapped around my chest
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-18
Chapter: One hundred and TwoCIARAThe cold wind hit us the second we stepped out of the study and onto the high stone balcony overlooking the inner courtyard.Hayes was right behind me, his leather belt buckled tight around his waist and his dark hair pushed back from his face. His cedar scent was still heavy on my skin, warm and strong against the freezing mountain air.Down below in the courtyard, twenty of our Gamma guards stood in a straight line along the stone walls. Their hands rested on the hilts of their iron blades, their eyes fixed on the heavy wooden gates leading into the valley.Marcus was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, his face pale under the gray sky."They left their horses at the river bed like you ordered, Luna," Marcus called up to us. "They walked up the trail on foot. But they are not happy about dropping their weapons at the outer gate.""They can be as mad as they want," Hayes said, his deep voice carrying clear down the stone steps. "If they step onto my stone with steel in their h
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-17
Chapter: One hundred and oneCIARAThe desk was ruined.Black ink pooled in the center of the mahogany top, dripping slowly down the turned leg to stain the bear-skin rug below. The maps Hayes had swept aside lay crumpled against the stone wall, the dried red wax of the western seals shattered into tiny, brittle flakes.I sat on the edge of the wood, my dress pulled back over my hips, my breathing still coming in shallow, heavy hitches. My chest was flushed red, the silver shoulder guards sitting crooked against my skin where Hayes had torn them loose.Hayes stood between my open knees, his trousers pulled up but unbuckled, his bare chest slick with sweat as he leaned forward to rest his forehead against mine. His dark cedar scent was thick in the quiet air of the study, mixed with the sharp smell of iron from the spilled ink."We have three weeks before the high mountain pass freezes over completely," Hayes muttered, his rough thumb trailing down my collarbone, tracing the faint red mark where his teeth had graz
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-08-17
Chapter: 137A pack of chips was thrown at him and he caught it. On looking up, he saw his friend, Frank. “Man! You always know the right thing to bring,” Noah said and opened the chips and began snacking on them. “Sure. I knew you would need that.”“It's been like forever. It's good to see you,” Noah stood up and shook hands with his friend. “What I like more is that you look so bright now. No longer the dull and sad young man of some months ago. I'm glad you have recovered,” Frank intoned. “I don't want to keep regretting. I only hope to find the answers soon. Once again, thanks for the chips. I so much needed it cos this work is a whole lot.”“Let's hang out later today, will you be free?”“Err…” Noah started but his friend interrupted. “Yes, you will. Clear your schedule. It's been a long time since we saw each other. Almost eight months, I deserve a better treatment. You are coming, right?”Noah laughed and threw up his hands in a mock surrender. As he promised, Noah arranged his schedu
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
Chapter: 136“It's fine. I'm good,” he finally said. “Thank you sir. Liam, leave…” she began but Noah cut in,“I said it's fine. Let him be.”“Yes sir,” the teacher said, unsure if she heard correctly. Seeing her still standing there, Noah gestured her to leave and she did so immediately. “My baby boy. Let's round up the competition and I'll see you after that, okay?”“Okay daddy!”Noah finally stood up and led Liam back to where he was to receive his prize. To everyone seated in that room, Noah was a perfect gentleman who took care of a child that ran to his arms. What they didn't know was that he was the boy's father. Only a few teachers who were from Liam's school knew that After the handing of prizes and the end of the competition, Noah and the other important guests filed out of the hall. Jones didn't make it anymore due to unforeseen circumstances. “Congratulations! Liam. You made our school proud!” Mrs Lane, the organising teacher for the competition in their school said to him.“Thank
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
Chapter: 135Then the boy bowed and walked back to his seat. Noah sat up, suddenly interested. One thing that didn't escape Noah's notice was the additional last name. He guessed Emily was waiting for the boy to get used to Muxin again before tactfully striking out his original surname, which was his too. He didn't know Liam was participating in that competition. It became clearer to him why the boy had been asking him so many questions in mathematics lately. He enrolled him into the competition as he promised and he had been coaching him relentlessly, irrespective of his mood. Liam had a tablet, specifically for study and that was where every lesson went on, online. Noah hadn't had much time to check his messages to attend to messages outside academic issues from his son. Liam asked the questions using his study tablet and his father responded. There was more or less no personal interaction between them in the study tablet. He took out his phone at this point and checked his messages. Truly, he
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
Chapter: 134A few months had passed and Emily had gotten over the divorce and was living happily with her son. She thought life had finally given her a happily ever after but no. Life has other plans and it wasn't time for a break yet. Noah sat in his office in the USA. He returned the previous day and was in his office that morning, drinking coffee. Following the divorce, Noah decided to leave the country and go back to the United Kingdom where he stayed after he got married to Emily ten years ago. Jones supported him too. According to him, he needed a break and he could use that opportunity to look after a branch of his company down there. He stole a glance at the clock and sighed. It was 8:30 am. He took up his phone and dialed a number. “Hey! You better start coming if you don't want me to kill you,” he said as soon as the call was answered. “It hasn't gotten to killing me, you brat! I know you love me too much to do so. Don't worry, I'll be there in no time, okay?” his friend, Jones, ans
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
Chapter: 133They drank in silence and as Jones predicted, Noah started feeling better and light headed with time. Jones allowed him to drink even when he was drunk. He wanted him to get drunk so he would sleep that night. He knew his friend very well and knew his reaction when he was looking for Emily over ten years ago. Now that he had lost her, he feared the worst for Noah. His friend loved his wife dearly and the three years he spent with her had been a memorable one. “Enough. It's okay, that's enough, this will help you,” Jones said and reached out to take his wine glass from him. Noahbdidn't say a word as was typical of him. Rather, he filled his glass one more time and gulped the contents. Then he took his car keys and stood up. This action caused Jones to raise a brow and look at him in surprise. “Noah? Where do you think you are going?”“Home. You asked me to stop drinking right now.”“Home? Like this?”“Do you think I'm drunk, Jones? No, I'm not and that's because I learnt how to drink
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
Chapter: 132Emily stared at her friend, Gu Yanxi with her mouth half open. To her alone, Gu Yanxi told the full details of her disappearance. “I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say,” she whispered, utterly dumbfounded at the recent news. “Let's talk about something else, I don't want to recall that. It's disheartening. I can't even…” Gu Yanxi started but the tears beclouded her words. Emily pulled her into her embrace.“Don't cry, you should not cry over people like her, they are not to be trusted. Let's all happy that you came out alive. Now, you will be very wary of her. Wipe your tears, dearest.” Gu Yanxi wiped her tears and sat up. “Tell me about yourself. How have you been all these while?” “Nothing really, it's been a busy…” Emily started but Gu Yanxi interrupted.“Your ring. Where's it?”“What?”“Emily? Did you lose your wedding ring?”Emily looked at her hands, bare of the expensive diamond ring. She didn't know how to explain to her friend that she has divorced Noah.“Say som
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-06-03
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