LOGINLucas spoke seriously.“Grandma, you just had surgery. You’re still recovering, so you shouldn’t be worrying about all of this. If there’s anything I can do, just tell me.”Ivy smiled and added, “He’s right, Grandma. You have us.”Warmth filled Gina’s heart as she looked at the two of them.They were both good kids, and they looked so right together.If she could live long enough to see their wedding, she would have no regrets.Her eyes reddened at the thought.Lucas had already been through far too much.Before he could even officially return to the Owen family, one disaster after another had happened.When Gina really thought about it, the Owens owed him more than they could ever make up for.She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.“Lucas, once the Owen family gets through this and your dad comes home, we’ll formally welcome you back and officially recognize you as an Owen.”She gave him a gentle look.“Of course, as far as we’re concerned, you’re already an Ow
Lucas had seen the bodyguard with Cherrie several times before.Every time, the man had been covered from head to toe, with his face completely hidden.There was something mysterious about him, and Lucas had only grown more curious.Cherrie glanced at the man beside her, then quickly came up with an explanation.“You know how it is, Lucas. With my family background, there are always people who might try something. My parents worry about me, so they spent a lot of money hiring a private security contractor from overseas to protect me.“He’s professionally trained and has been through plenty of dangerous situations. Taking care of someone as arrogant as Cole was nothing for him.”Cherrie delivered the story so smoothly that it sounded perfectly reasonable.Lucas immediately understood.So that was it.He had never met anyone like that before, but he had seen enough online to know that highly trained private contractors could be extremely capable.The Jones family was powerful,
Without another pill to boost his strength, Cole was completely spent.He didn’t stand a chance anymore.Thud!He hit the floor hard in a humiliating heap.The Sullivan bodyguards watching nearby were stunned.Cole had just been beaten into the ground.None of them had ever seen him get humiliated like this before.A few finally snapped out of their shock and rushed forward to help.“Come any closer and you die.”The man’s icy voice rang through the funeral home.The bodyguards exchanged uneasy looks and hesitated.One of them apparently didn’t believe the warning.He charged at the man with his fist raised.He never even got close.A tremendous force sent him flying backward.He crashed to the floor, his neck twisting at an unnatural angle.He died instantly.The other bodyguards froze.None of them had even seen how the man had done it.That was when they realized he was serious.The bodyguards immediately backed away.Cole was furious.“You useless idiots! Get
“Cole Sullivan, you are seriously the most disgusting man I’ve ever met! I’d rather die than marry someone like you!”Seeing Cherrie’s face flush with anger only made Cole want her more.Cole wanted everything Ethan had.His position. His status. Even the woman who loved him.The job was already within reach.And Cherrie?Cole was convinced she would be his sooner or later.The thought made him even more smug.He looked her up and down with a shameless grin.“Cherrie, just stand there and watch. I’ll show you what happens to anyone who thinks they can take me on.”He never got to finish.A fist slammed into his face.Cole’s head snapped to the side.He hadn’t even seen the punch coming.Before he could recover, the man attacked again.This time, Cole reacted quickly and brought his arms up to block.But the moment they started trading blows, he realized he had seriously underestimated Cherrie’s bodyguard.The man was fast.Almost too fast to follow.Punch after punch
After another dozen exchanges, Lucas was struggling to keep up.Cole’s fighting style was unpredictable, and the advantage Lucas had gained earlier through sheer strength was completely gone.Before long, bruises were forming all over his body.Cole showed no mercy.If anything, the excitement of the fight was starting to twist his expression.Other than Ethan, no one had ever given him this much of a challenge.Most people he fought were pathetic.One punch was usually enough to put them down.But Lucas could actually keep up with him.It was almost a shame.Lucas was strong, but against Cole, strength alone wasn’t enough.For the first time in years, Cole felt as though he were finally reclaiming some of the pride Ethan had taken from him.He wasn’t going to spend his whole life living in Ethan’s shadow.Ethan was dead.And soon, Lucas would be joining him.“Give it up,” Cole said with a vicious grin. “You can go keep your brother company.”He drove his right fist str
Lucas didn’t waste any time.He went after Cole again, throwing another punch.Lucas had never had any formal combat training. He relied almost entirely on instinct and raw strength.And that strength was enough to make Cole struggle to stay out of his reach.Sweat gradually appeared on Cole’s forehead, wiping away some of his earlier confidence.But before long, Lucas realized something was wrong.Cole was getting stronger.A few moments ago, Lucas had still been able to overpower him through sheer strength.Now that advantage was disappearing.Cole’s attacks became more vicious, and there was easily twice as much force behind every punch and kick as before.Lucas frowned.Had Cole been holding back this entire time?It was the only explanation he could think of for such a sudden increase in strength.But that theory didn’t last long.Cole suddenly drove a straight punch toward Lucas’s face.A vicious smile tugged at his lips.Just looking at Lucas’s face, so similar t
Fiona narrowed her eyes at Lucas, looking completely unconvinced.Pain stabbed through Lucas’s chest, so sharp he could barely breathe.So she knew.She had always known he had loved her for so many years. She had known he was willing to do anything for her.And still, she had thrown his love aw
After Fiona tore into him, Lucas had been too stunned to say a word.But the truth was, he had never wanted luxury gifts.He only wanted to know that she had thought of him while she was away.Even the smallest, most meaningless thing would have made him happy.But she had never given him even t
Lucas pulled himself out of the memory and looked coldly at Rachel standing across from him.“I made myself very clear on the day of the wedding. From now on, Fiona Shaw and I have nothing to do with each other.“So I suggest you leave right now, Ms. Tate. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.
Two weeks later, Fiona returned to the country after wrapping up the Hangelia project.At the airport, she saw the private car waiting to pick her up and frowned.“Why is it you? Where’s Lucas?”The night before her flight home, she had specifically asked her executive assistant, Rachel Tate, to







