INICIAR SESIÓNNash kicked the door open.It slammed wide.The room was large and well positioned for natural light, but the curtains were drawn, leaving it dim.Viper stood by the window in a dark robe, his face devoid of expression, like a statue."Mr. Princeton, did you come to die?" Viper asked flatly.Alan said nothing. He only waved a hand backward.The bodyguards surged in.The first five men through the door were thrown back out before they could even register how Viper moved. They slammed into the wall with dull thuds and slid to the floor, unable to rise.Alan's pupils tightened. 'Too fast!'"Keep going!" he said through gritted teeth.The second group rushed in.This time, Alan saw it clearly. Viper's hands left afterimages. A palm struck the lead man in the chest, and the crack of breaking bones rang out.At the same time, Viper stepped aside to avoid two machetes, then drove his knee into another man's abdomen. The man doubled over and flew back, knocking down three others be
"Shut up!" Alan lashed out with a violent kick.Sandra, caught off guard, was thrown to the floor. She lay there, vomiting fresh blood, yet she kept laughing. The sound was frantic, her tears blurring her face. "Alan Princeton, Isolde is going to die... You killed her... Hahaha...""No... No..." Alan stumbled back to the bedside, his hands trembling as he reached for Isolde.Warm, sticky blood still poured from Isolde's mouth, staining his hands, his sleeves, and his chest red."Isolde... Isolde!" he screamed, his voice turning hoarse as panic pushed him to the edge of reason.Isolde struggled to open her eyes. When she saw his pained expression, she felt only deep disgust. 'If he had not been so foolish, why would I be suffering like this? Crocodile tears.'"Hospital… Quick, take me... to the hospital..."Alan snapped out of his daze, as if waking from a dream. He unlocked her chains in haste, lifted her into his arms, and turned toward the door."It's useless." Sandra could n
Alan gave a calm, bitter smile. "Saying all this is useless. No matter what I say or do, it won't change your decision. You don't want me anymore."I know you're stalling for time, waiting for Bruce to come save you. But am I not also waiting for you to save my life?"Isolde, just this once, forgive my selfishness. I'll make it up to you properly in the future."He reached out and pinched Isolde's chin. His grip was so strong that she could not break free. "Be good. Drink it, and love and hate will both start over.""Mmph!" The cold mouth of the bottle pressed against her lips, and the bitter liquid was forced down.Isolde struggled desperately. The chains clattered loudly.Still, the liquid slid down her throat.Alan withdrew his hand and looked at her with anticipation."Wifey, have a good sleep." He spoke softly, his face filled with an almost pious joy. "When you wake up, the first person you see will be me. We'll start over, and this time everything will be fine."Isolde
Alan sat at the edge of the bed and looked down at Isolde, his eyes tender, as if he were gazing at a long-lost treasure.Isolde felt only disgust. She strained against the chains at her wrists. The metal clashed sharply, the sound piercing in the quiet room."If you don't want to die, let me go immediately!" she barked.The smile on Alan's face stiffened for a moment, then returned to that almost pathological tenderness.He reached out to touch her face. "Isolde…"Isolde jerked her head aside and avoided him, her eyes fixed on him as if he were something filthy.His hand hung in midair. It paused, then curled into a fist and slowly withdrew. "Bruce can only threaten me because of you. Your heart and soul belong to him, and for his sake, you're willing to die with me. Isolde, I was afraid of hurting you, so I stood by and watched as he took you away."He looked at her, a burning intensity flaring in his eyes."But it's different now, Isolde. As long as you drink this…" He took
Isolde paused for a moment, then said, "Let them go in first to check for safety. Is that okay?""No problem, none at all!" Johnson looked as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly stepped aside and gestured toward the door. "Please, come in. Check whatever you need."The four bodyguards entered first and swept the office, scanning for any potential threats or hidden occupants.Their leader, Scarface, turned back. "Ma'am, we'll wait at the door. About how long will you need inside?"Isolde glanced at Johnson.He answered at once, "Half an hour. That should be enough.""Sync time." Scarface raised his hand.The four bodyguards immediately checked their watches and synchronized them in unison."Mr. Case, in 30 minutes, whether your testing is finished or not, we will enter the office."Johnson stiffened under their composed, authoritative presence and nodded quickly. "I understand. Don't worry. Ms. Vancrest is only testing a product. There's no danger. I'll make sure we fin
Viper lowered his eyes and set the medicine bottle gently on the table. "Mr. Princeton, are you interested in cooperating with me now?"Alan stared at the small vial, the longing in his eyes almost intense enough to burn through it. Even so, his spine remained rigid."If this is a cooperation, I need to know your lady's objective."This was the second time he had asked. The last time, Viper had refused to disclose anything, and Alan had withdrawn without hesitation. Now, he asked again.Despite the temptation, his posture made one thing clear: if Viper still refused to answer, he would walk away from the deal. Just as the rumors suggested, outsiders were indeed treacherous.Viper replied coldly, "She has her sights set on Bruce."Alan's brow twitched. He narrowed his eyes. "If she wants Bruce, wouldn't it be faster to give him this medicine and have him meet her the moment he wakes up? Why work with me?"If the goal was to make Isolde transfer her affections and separate her fro
"Alan, you still can't let go of Isolde, can you?" Sandra choked, her voice trembling. "When you're drunk, you go looking for her to make things right. Maybe we should cancel the wedding. You can go to her. I… I honestly don't care what happens to me…"As she spoke, she lowered her head. Her gaze d
Alan had run all over Rosta for Isolde, poured in 150 million dollars, and stayed awake for two days and two nights. Yet this was what he received in return. She treated him with utter coldness.He wanted to question her, but all he could see was her resolute, indifferent back.She crossed the dis
Just then, the doorbell rang.Bruce was not home. Isolde was alone and too lazy to cook, so she had ordered takeout.She assumed the delivery had arrived. She hurried over and opened the door, only to find Alan standing there.He held an elegant food container. "Isolde, takeout isn't healthy. I s
Bruce: [The child is not Alan's. A paternity test is useless.]Martin: [Two audio clips from Isolde are not strong enough. Alan is far too cautious, and there is a high chance we will never obtain direct evidence of adultery. (lighting-a-cigarette-in-melancholy.jpg)]Bruce: [If it does not exist,







