Mag-log inTae was walking upstairs, about to turn into the hallway that led to Sarah's room, when a voice called out, "Father."He stopped and turned toward the voice. It was Richard."Yes?" Tae asked, looking Richard up and down. His son was wearing a fancy suit with his hair styled for an event, even though it was almost midnight. "What are you doing dressed like that? You refused to go to your sister's wedding, so why are you still wearing that suit?" Tae stared at him, full of curiosity.Richard smiled. "Father, I know I was stubborn about not going to Sarah's wedding. That's why I'm here—I came to apologize to her."Tae's brows furrowed in disbelief. "You? Apologize to Sarah?"He found it hard to believe. Neither Tae nor his wife, Rose, was blind to the constant fighting between the siblings. Richard and Sarah had never seen eye to eye. As the firstborn, Richard was pampered as the heir to the Blackwood empire. But a few years later, Sarah was born. She stole her parents' hearts and quickl
Minutes dragged into agonizing hours, a suffocating silence hanging over the estate ever since the Blackwoods returned from the failed wedding.Ever since Rose was walked out of Sarah’s bedroom, a dark, heavy cloud had settled over her. She was deeply saddened by the bitter ache of her daughter’s cold rejection. It had gotten so bad that she flatly refused to take her medication.Tae stood beside the bed, holding a glass of water and the colorful pills prescribed by her doctor, his voice laced with desperate pleading."Darling, please... you need to take your medicine. I know you're upset, but if you skip these, your condition is going to get worse..."Rose didn't say a word. She kept her back turned to him, staring blankly at the far wall as she lay curled up under the sheets. The physical pain of her illness was nothing compared to the agony of knowing how cruel her own child had just treated her.Tae looked at his wife's sad silhouette, his heart aching with a mixture of helpless
"No, I'm not," Sarah mumbled, trying to stop her sniffling as she wiped her remaining tears away with the back of her hand.Rose sighed softly, walking closer to the bed and sitting down beside her. "You don't need to lie to me, baby. I know this is all because of Victor."Frustration and raw, exhausted annoyance flared up inside Sarah. Unable to hold her tongue any longer, she snapped, raising her voice at her mother in a desperate bid to get her off her back. "And who are you to tell me what I'm thinking?! It's not Victor! Just leave me alone, Mother!".Rose blinked at her daughter's outburst, a flicker of genuine surprise spreading across her face."Sarah..." she muttered in shock.Rose knew her daughter better than anyone. Sarah was naturally gentle and easygoing, a young woman who rarely raised her voice, let alone threw tantrums. Yet today, she had been at the center of absolute chaos, acting completely out of character.A firm frown settled onto Rose's face as the realization s
Tae stood rooted to the spot, his face an unreadable mask as he stared blankly at his wife. Rose felt a fresh surge of fury at his total lack of reaction—he didn't look the least bit remorseful for what he had put their daughter through."You..." she spat, raising a trembling finger toward his face.Suddenly, the room spun. Dark spots danced across her vision, and her knees buckled under her weight.Tae moved with blinding speed, catching her just before she hit the floor. "Honey!""Let... let me go," Rose gasped, weakly trying to push against his massive arms. But her strength was completely spent, her body refusing to obey her commands.Without a word, Tae lifted her effortlessly, pulling her tight against his chest as he sank onto the soft cushions of the couch. Rose lay collapsed against him, her chest heaving as she panted heavily for air, the intense stress of the night finally taking its terrifying toll on her fragile heart.Tae's face darkened with profound worry as he cradled
Mr. Reed stood frozen, drowning in utter shame. When Tae Blackwood had first proposed uniting their families through marriage, he had been ecstatic, nearly believing himself to be the happiest man alive. Who could have known it would turn into his greatest regret?.Having watched the entire scene unfold, Conrad approached his father as soon as Neil walked away. Mr. Reed turned when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder."Dad, what did he say?" Conrad asked, his voice tight. "What is Mr. Blackwood going to do about this?".Mr. Reed let out a long, defeated sigh. "They are going to compensate us, son. That is their decision."Conrad flew into a rage, completely ignoring the remaining guests still in the hall.". "Compensate us?! For the humiliation they put us through? They think money just fixes this?! This is bullshit, Dad! They have to pay for what they did!"He fumed, furious that after everything, his family was expected to swallow the embarrassment and act like nothing happened.Mr
Sarah gasped, staring at the red handprint on Conrad's face. "Mum," she whispered.She didn't want to marry Conrad anymore, he had broken her trust today. Even so, it hurt to see him humiliated; he had always been good to her.She tried to make Rose understand, but Rose refused to listen.Conrad held his cheek, the sting of Rose's slap still burning across his face. His gaze hardened as he stared at her."Bit—"The word nearly escaped his lips, but he quickly swallowed it.He was furious about being humiliated like this. Every instinct in him screamed to retaliate, to demand an explanation for why she had dared to strike him in front of everyone.But then he remembered exactly who stood before him.Rose Blackwood.The woman whose influence was almost as formidable as her husband's. The woman who, despite her illness, still commanded the respect and fear of everyone in the room.Conrad clenched his jaw, forcing his anger back down.He knew better than to act recklessly.Rose might hav
Ethan froze, disbelief rendering him completely silent as his mind struggled to process what he had just heard. Had the living Yama truly asked him to marry him? The words felt impossible absurd and unreal like something his broken mind had invented to escape the pain. He stared at Damien desperate
Metropolis Prison was the most dangerous prison in the country, a place where the most violent criminals were kept. Murderers, serial killers, and men whose names inspired fear lived within its walls. It was not a place meant for someone like Ethan Vale.Ethan lay on his bed or rather, what could b
A small smile automatically appeared on Ethan’s face as he relaxed, the heavy thoughts of Damien and the photo finally fading into the back of his mind. He was surprised to see Kai standing there. "Oh, you're here?"Kai nodded. "Yes. I was exercising and needed to... release some stress, you know?
Ethan woke up late, his head groggy from the late-night gaming session Leo had forced him into. Leo reminded him so much of his younger brother, Norman; it had been a long time since Ethan had felt so... human.He rushed to freshen up and was driven to school. As he stepped out of the car, a crowd







