Oh, you’re finally here!” exclaimed a man with a welcoming smile as he approached Sebastian and Damian’s family, who had just arrived at the private island. The family had traveled on a luxurious yacht that docked elegantly at the shore. As they stepped off, their eyes widened in awe at the breathtaking beauty of the island. It was a paradise of modernity and nature combined, showcasing cutting-edge architecture harmoniously blending with lush greenery. Everything—from the sophisticated facilities to the latest tech gadgets—spoke of a place that spared no expense in maintaining its elegance. The air was filled with the sweet scent of the sea, mingling with the fragrance of tropical flowers that adorned the pathways.
The staff and personnel lined up to greet them with warm smiles and polite bows. They exuded kindness and professionalism, making the family feel instantly at ease. While everyone on the island was aware that Sebastian’s friend wa"Wow!" Aleah gasped, her voice filled with wonder as they stepped into the room Hunter had arranged for them. The soft glow of the setting sun bathed the floating cottages in a golden hue, their reflections shimmering on the tranquil water below. Standing on the veranda, she gazed at the endless expanse of azure, her heart swelling with awe."Do you like it that much?" Hunter's voice was low and warm as he approached her, his presence grounding her in the moment."I do," she said, her eyes sparkling as they met his. "Aside from our trip to Sta. Lucia, this is the first time I've been somewhere so breathtaking." Her smile was radiant, a reflection of her unfiltered joy."You’re like a child seeing the world for the first time," Hunter teased, his lips curving into a soft smile. "You should see yourself in the mirror.""Sorry for being so simple," she murmured, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush. "It’s just that I’ve never been to a place lik
Aleah couldn’t stop contemplating what had happened earlier. Why had Hunter reacted the way he did to her actions? She bit her lip as guilt gnawed at her. Deep down, she knew she had been wrong, but a part of her had hoped—no, expected—that he might appreciate what she had done. Instead, his harsh words cut through her like shards of glass. They stung more than she cared to admit. She sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging under the weight of it all.“That sigh seems pretty deep,” a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.Startled, Aleah whipped her head around to see Dennis walking toward her, a kind smile on his face.“Senior!” she exclaimed, blinking in surprise.“You can call me Dennis. No need to be so formal,” he replied with a chuckle, lowering himself onto the sand beside her. His relaxed demeanor contrasted with the tension she was carrying. “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be
I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" the man asked, his voice calm yet unsettling, as he bumped into Claire. She was on her way to the wedding venue, her mind racing after Rafael's urgent call. He had said he had something important to tell her. But it wasn’t just Rafael’s call that troubled her—it was the relentless texts and calls from another man, a stranger whose messages had grown increasingly disturbing. She thought coming here might help her escape him, but the chilling photos and texts she received earlier suggested otherwise. He was close. Too close."It's okay. I'm fine," Claire replied, her voice trembling as she bent down to pick up her fallen cell phone. The man crouched down at the same time, their hands almost brushing against each other."We finally meet," the man said, his tone dripping with menace. Claire froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at him, her breath hitching as she took in his sinister grin. Panic surged through her veins
"Alpha, what’s wrong?” Rafael asked, his voice thick with concern as he noticed Hunter clutch his chest. It wasn’t just the sudden gesture that alarmed him—it was the way Hunter’s usual composure shattered, replaced by an uncharacteristic fear that flickered across his face like a warning.Hunter froze, his heart racing—not from exertion, but from the invisible thread of connection tugging violently at his soul. He could feel Aleah, and something was wrong. Danger lingered in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. Her heartbeat, unstable and erratic, echoed in his mind like a distant drum signaling distress.“Aleah...” Hunter murmured, his jaw tightening. The sun was sinking fast, bleeding hues of orange and red across the horizon, yet Aleah still hadn’t returned. He had felt her anger earlier, the sting of her frustration with him. But he never thought—never imagined—that she’d stay away t
Aleah woke up in an unfamiliar room, her head pounding and her surroundings hazy. As her vision cleared, her heart sank—Claire was lying on a dusty, old sofa, dressed in a pristine wedding gown that seemed jarringly out of place. The room was dimly lit, with a single, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Aleah’s gaze shifted to the walls, where dozens of photographs of Claire were taped haphazardly, like a twisted shrine. Panic gripped Aleah as fragmented memories of the events before they blacked out resurfaced.The air in the room was thick with a nauseating stench—a blend of metallic tang and decay that stung her nostrils. She instinctively covered her nose, the smell making her stomach churn. She stood up unsteadily from a wooden chair by the door, her legs feeling like jelly. As she took a cautious step toward Claire, something cold and unyielding tugged at her ankle. She looked down and froze. A heavy chain was cl
"Argh," groaned the man, clutching his neck as he woke up. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred momentarily as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He scanned the room, his eyes darting to every corner, only to realize Claire was no longer there. The door stood ajar, and when he peered outside, the emptiness confirmed his worst fear."What did you do?! Where's my bride?" he bellowed, his voice echoing with fury as he turned to Aleah, his eyes blazing with accusation."You never had a bride to begin with," Aleah shot back, her voice steady but laced with disdain. "She's already gone, so stop living in your delusion. Wake up! Can't you see you're terrifying Claire? Is this what you want—to push her further away?""What do you know?!" the man roared, his anger boiling over. In a flash, he lunged at Aleah, his hands wrapping tightly around her neck. His bloodshot eyes glared with a feral intensity, and his sharp nails dug into her skin, leaving angry red
"Claire!" Amanda’s voice trembled with worry as she rushed toward Claire and Aleah, who had just disembarked from the helicopter. The sun was beginning to rise over the island, casting a warm, golden hue on the scene, but Amanda’s mind was clouded with concern. Claire and Aleah had returned early that morning after spending the night recovering at the hospital.As Amanda reached her daughter, she immediately enveloped her in a tight embrace. Her hands gently cupped Claire’s face as her eyes scanned for any signs of injury. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" she asked, her voice laced with both fear and relief."I’m okay, Mom," Claire assured her softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Aleah saved me," she added, glancing gratefully at the young woman standing beside Hunter. Aleah’s presence radiated calm confidence, her stance poised despite the tension still lingering in the air.Amanda turned to Aleah, her expression shifting to o
Hunter was caught off guard when, upon stepping outside, he was greeted by the assistant of Aleah's grandfather. The man spoke with a tone of urgency, informing him that Sebastian and Damian were waiting for him in the dining hall. Hunter nodded without a word, his mind already racing with questions, and followed the assistant through the grand corridors of the estate.As they approached the hall, the assistant suddenly stopped and turned to Hunter. "I’ve been instructed to stand guard here. No one else is to enter," the assistant explained before opening the heavy wooden doors for him. Hunter stepped inside, his footsteps echoing in the vast, dimly lit room. His gaze immediately landed on the two elderly men seated at the long, ornate dining table. He noticed that no one else was present—a detail that only deepened his curiosity. The assistant closed the doors behind him, leaving Hunter alone with them.The young man hesitated for a moment, then strode c
During a conference, Hunter announced that a warrant of arrest had already been issued against the senator, along with solid evidence to prove the senator's crimes. Hunter also revealed that they would not only file charges for rape with murder, but would also include kidnapping in the list of cases stacked against the senator. However, the senator vehemently denied the allegations against him.The senator claimed that the prosecutor was merely doing this for attention. He also accused Hunter of aiming to make a name for himself. Furthermore, the senator denied the accusation that he abducted the family of Hunter's older brother.“Why did you bring us here?” Aleah asked in confusion when the senator and his men took them to the wilderness.“Your husband is too stubborn. He doesn’t care even though we told him we have you; he still pursued the case against me,” the senator snapped angrily.“He’s not a weak soldier, Mr. Sen
"Miss Aleah, there’s a client outside,” the paralegal said as she peeked into Aleah’s office. “He’s asking to meet you here.”“Alright, let him in,” Aleah replied without glancing up. Because of this, she didn’t notice the armed men quietly standing behind the paralegal, guns pointed at her. Moments later, the "client" entered her office.“Mrs. Bryant. Finally, we meet. And they weren’t exaggerating—Hunter’s one lucky guy to have such a stunning wife.” Aleah looked up, her eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t expected to see the senator in her office, of all places. With Dennis out handling a case, she was completely on her own.“Don’t even think about doing anything stupid, Mrs. Bryant,” the senator warned as she started to move. “See these men? They’re armed. One wrong move, and today might just be your last.”“What do you want from
"Zen!" Aleah called out, practically running to Hunter as they arrived at the Bryant mansion. She threw her arms around him, holding on tight. "What’s going on? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice full of worry. Hunter let out a sigh and began explaining the mess they were in—how Isaac, Aurora, and Francis had been kidnapped. He added that Bernard, his kids, and Clarisse managed to escape, with Clarisse leaving the island earlier. The kidnappers were demanding Hunter drop the case in exchange for their safety."You’re not seriously thinking about dropping the charges, right?" Aleah asked, her tone a mix of concern and disbelief."And what’s that supposed to mean?" Michelle chimed in, rolling her eyes. "You think it’s okay to just leave Francis, Aurora, and Isaac with those scumbags? Come on, Aleah, you of all people know what it's like to be in the hands of kidnappers!" Her words were sharp, cutting through the tense air."Guys, sto
Hunter spoke to Francis, urging him to make time for his child and explaining why his child had been acting out. At first, Francis was reluctant to listen, arguing that it wasn’t Hunter’s place to interfere in their family issues, especially since Hunter wasn’t a "true Bryant." But Hunter didn’t let that stop him from making Francis understand his shortcomings as a father.Francis eventually promised to make time for his child. He said he would bring Isaac along on their next outing with Aurora, Bernard, Clarisse, and Bernard’s children for a chance to bond. However, this being the family's first vacation together, Francis struggled from the very first day due to the emotional distance between him and his son. Fortunately, Aurora stepped in to mediate, and Bernard and Clarisse also helped bridge the gap. Perhaps due to their experience with Aleah and her family, they found it easier to adapt to the situation.Francis felt unsure of what to say
“Why aren’t you and Dad more alike? He’s so harsh with me,” Isaac muttered, frustration clear in his voice. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder—did his dad even love him? All he wanted was to be the kind of son his father could proudly acknowledge, someone he could hold up like his other children.Hunter leaned against the bars with a small smile. “Trust me, your dad’s a lot kinder than I am. People don’t call me the Demon Alpha for nothing, you know?” He smirked. “I mean, let’s face it—I’m the family rebel. I went off on my own path, completely ignoring what they wanted for me. Your dad, though? He’s the golden child. He’s spent his whole life trying to protect our family’s reputation and live up to being the eldest. You’ve got to cut him some slack, kid.”Isaac stayed quiet, though the faint growl from his stomach betrayed him. Aleah, standing nearby, look
"Feeling any better?" Claire asked as she walked over to Aleah, who was lying on the hospital bed. Hunter had rushed her to the hospital when she passed out, but he'd stepped out for a bit to take a call from the Alpha King. He said he'd be back soon, though.When Claire walked into the room, she noticed Aleah was awake, staring quietly out of the window."A little dizzy, but I think I can handle it," Aleah replied, smiling faintly. "Where’s Zen?" she asked."He just stepped out. Rafael came to get him—something about the Alpha King wanting to talk to him," Claire explained, her eyes scanning Aleah’s face. Aleah caught the look and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?""I don’t know whether you’re totally clueless about what’s happening to you or if you’ve got this daredevil streak—but seriously, with that angelic face? Who’d guess?" Claire teased, smirking."What are you talking about?" Aleah asked, frowning
They really thought everything would be fine after the CEO got arrested and the data mine shut down. But nope—they were way off. The guy wasn’t done messing with Natasha. He found out all the video data sources were destroyed, and because of that, his company shut down and he lost his job. He blamed Natasha for all of it. He even showed up at the hospital, telling her that if she didn’t do what he wanted, he’d post the video from his cellphone online—and make sure her family saw it.“And you’re seriously just gonna believe him like that?” Aleah said to Natasha during her hospital visit. She walked into Natasha’s room just as the guy was heading out. He didn’t say a word to her, just stormed off. But Aleah heard every single thing he said—every nasty, threatening word.“Can you just leave me alone? I don’t need your lecture,” Natasha muttered, refusing to look at her sister. Aleah clenched h
Moments later, the screen lit up with a pop-up—it was the location of the data mine."Alpha Hunter," Joyril said, his voice steady through the earpiece connecting them to Hunter. "We found it.""Good," Hunter replied with a smirk. Without hesitation, he snapped the chains binding his hands. They were no match for his strength, which far exceeded that of an average Alpha. Even the specially designed chains meant to restrain his kind couldn’t hold him any longer."Why, Alpha Hunter? Lost your mind already, talking to yourself like that? If you want, I can hand you the first copy of your wife's video," the man taunted, his smile oozing arrogance as he stepped closer. "She’s young, beautiful... Heck, I might even start liking her myself," he added with a smirk that made Hunter's blood boil."Save your breath," Hunter said coldly, his piercing glare stopping the man in his tracks. "She’d never look twice at scum like you." His words cut deep, m
As Hunter dug deeper into the case, he uncovered that the website was owned by a company spreading explicit videos. Natasha wasn’t the only victim—there were countless others. Although they managed to shut down some sites, new ones kept appearing every day.Aleah and Hunter tried to shield Natasha from what had happened, but the truth got out. Daniella, furious after piecing everything together, stormed into their home with Melissa and Alfredo. They dragged Natasha and her baby back to the mansion against her will.Aleah wasn’t spared from the fallout. Her father gave her an earful, berating her for hiding the truth—especially the fact that Natasha had given birth to a child with no known father. No matter how hard they tried, Natasha wouldn’t reveal who the father was.“You want this family to accept you?” Daniella spat at Aleah. “Then stay out of our business. We’ll take care of Natasha and her baby ourselves,&rd