LOGINI chuckled, low and mocking.
"Mind?""What right do I have to mind?""Have fun, you two. Just don't bother me."Ethan Knight's throat tightened.An empty ache spread through his chest.She used to get frantic if he even glanced at Winnie.Now she could smile and wish them a good time?Winnie Carter's smile froze.Lisa's reaction wasn't in her script.This indifference was more infuriating than any scene she'd imagined."Let's go, Clara."<Gerald's pupils contracted sharply."Knight Group is massive,"Alexander continued, his voice steady."Strike at me alone, and the company survives."He lifted his eyes. Met Gerald's freezing gaze directly. Unflinching."But one move. And everything shifts.""If word gets out that I walk away with nothing, the stock drops. Competitors circle.""The family bleeds. For what? Nothing."His tone was calm. But every word cut.Silence.The sandalwood incense burned. Ash fell. Soft. Final.Gerald stared at him. Then slowly, he clapped his withered hands together. Veins standing out on his wrists.The silence stretched. Suffocating.Finally, a low laugh scraped from Gerald's throat."Good. Very good."His laugh was rough. Almost appreciative. But poisonous."Alexander. You're smarter than your father.""He knew how to protect his woman. But he only knew how to fight head-on. In the end, he lost everything.""Not y
I looked up at the courtyard lights swaying in the distance."Southwest China."My voice was quiet.I didn't avoid the question."We confirmed things after Yunqi Temple."Roy Shen went still for a moment.Then something clicked behind his eyes.Understanding."Of course..."He murmured it.Then a knowing smile crossed his face.Self-mocking."So that landslide. The road closure. You weren't on a business trip.""No wonder you fought so hard to get through the blocked zone.""I kept wondering what project could possibly be worth that kind of risk to you."He paused.His gaze dropped to the ring on my finger."The vibe was off back then. I just didn't see it."The night breeze stirred his hair.He turned to look at me.Studied my face."Lisa. I don't get it. What are you after?"His voice dropped.Something rare flickered in his eyes.Seriousness."The Knights.
Gerald paused.His knuckles rapped against the table. A dull thud."A piece of paper. Legal recognition. That's supposed to settle it?""I'm not dead yet. This family doesn't answer to you alone.""A wife is chosen for virtue. For the union of two houses.""You're running Knight Group now. You should know better. Know when to compromise.""Throwing away everything for a moment of impulse. Gambling the company's future on—this."His voice dropped. The last two words landed light. But they hit hard."Is she worth it?"The question hung in the air. Aimed at Alexander. Aimed at everyone watching.A challenge. And a warning.Warning Alexander. Warning them all.He didn't recognize this marriage.Knight Group's future was still in his hands.---My chest tightened.I felt Alexander's grip on my hand. Suddenly firmer.His knuckles went rigid. Veins rose on the back of his hand. But his face stayed ca
My heart slammed against my ribs.Under the weight of countless stares, I set down my glass and walked through the silent crowd toward him.My fingers found his palm, warm.He closed his hand around mine.Tight.The heat of it seeped into my skin, solid and grounding.He faced the room.His voice was steady, carrying to every corner."Since everyone's here, there are two things I need to make clear.""First. The engagement between Miss Voss and me never began. So what exactly did I betray?""Second. There is someone in my life.""She's not a mistress. And she didn't intrude on anything."Alexander's grip tightened.Our fingers locked together."She's my wife. Legal and formal.""We got married this morning.""The law recognizes it. I recognize it. And sooner or later, every member of my family will have to recognize it too."The moment his voice stopped, the world went silent.Like a bomb deton
Linda's face went white. She could barely stand.She whipped her head toward Alexander, her voice scraping through clenched teeth."You knew all along?"Alexander glanced down, adjusting his cuff."That's an interesting accusation, Linda. You're the one who played the video. How could I have known what was on it?"Linda's voice turned shrill, desperate to regain control."Gerald! Elena must have been forced!"Her composure was gone."Alexander. This is you. You set this up to save yourself!""Elena!"Her voice cracked. One last thread of hope."Tell the truth. Did Luke force you?"Every eye landed on Elena.She stood where the light met the shadow. Her slender back was straight, rigid.Her face was pale. The fabric of her gown was crushed in her grip. But slowly, she lifted her head."No one forced me."Her voice was soft. But clear."I wanted this."Edward Voss shoved away the hands holding hi
Linda's fingers curled into her palms, nails digging in.Alexander's unshakeable calm infuriated her.She hadn't expected him to be this direct.This unflinching.What gave him the right to stand there so steady?The videos and photos she had were enough to destroy Lisa White's reputation.Enough to drag him through the mud too."Alexander. You're determined to protect that girl, aren't you? To hell with the dignity of both our families?"She drew a breath, as if summoning her last ounce of resolve.Her voice lifted, carrying to every corner of the room."Fine. If you want to see, I'll show everyone.""Just don't come crying to me afterward, begging me to take it back.""Gerald."She turned to him, her voice heavy and cold."I didn't come here to cause trouble tonight. But Alexander has pushed me too far. He's treated my family like we're nothing.""If the Knights won't give the Voss family the respect we're
A lingering gloom hung over the White Mansion.Since the scandal at Nebula Hotel and the ten million ransom, the White family had been severely weakened. Chloe White stayed home all day, her former arrogance gone.Winnie Carter’s visit felt like an unwelcome intrusion."Chloe
Ethan's head spun. A vein bulged at his temple.She dared to call him that?He instinctively took it as a vicious insult, payback for the things he'd hurled at her back at the cove."Lisa!"His voice came out as a low growl. His fists clenched tight at his sides.He wante
Copying sutras?Last time, he’d done it with such ruthless focus because desire had burned inside him with no release.Copying scriptures had been the only way to force down the urge to pin her right on the pages and take her apart.But last night, she’d calmed that res
Every word I'd said hit Song right in the chest.She sucked in a sharp breath.Then she grinned, excitement flickering in her eyes."So we just sit tight? Watch her dig her own grave? Wait for her to show her hand?""Exactly."I leaned back in my chair."Winnie's the







