Amora's body froze in place, her eyes squeezed shut for several moments as her heart raced uncontrollably. She cursed herself inwardly for being caught by Regis before she could leave the scene. "Amora?" Regis's sharp gaze narrowed as he spotted her back, a smirk slowly forming on his lips. "What are you doing lurking over there, hm? Were you peeping on me?" Immediately, Amora turned to face him. "W-Whoโs peeping?!" she retorted, her eyes refusing to glance down. She was afraid of seeing something she shouldnโt. "Oh, really? Because that perverted look on your face says otherwise. Still want to deny it?" Regis teased, wiping the water off his face. Amora clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding in frustration at having given him an opportunity to mock her. "Your eyes must be blurry!" she shot back, her emotions boiling over. But she didn't want to linger there for a verbal sparring match with him. She stomped her feet and intended to head back inside, but in her haste, she bum
Amora could feel a shiver run through her body just from Regis's light touch. โDamn!โ she cursed inwardly.She quickly turned her face away from the tempting sight that was messing with her mind. โWell, I thought you werenโt wearing anything,โ she muttered.โWhy? Would you prefer if I didnโt wear anything?โ Regis teased, laughter lacing his words.โNo!โ Amora shot back, making herself sound even sillier. She rubbed her throbbing temples.Arguing with Regis only made her head spin more. โYou shouldโve closed your door, so I wouldnโt have walked in,โ she blamed him.Regis smirked. โThis is my room, Amora. Iโve never bothered with that before.โโBut now weโre living together, Regis. You need to get used to it,โ she reminded him.A small chuckle escaped Regis's lips. He stepped closer, backing Amora against the transparent glass door behind her. She turned her face away from his hungry gaze.One of Regis's hands rested on the glass door. The other hand grabbed her chin to turn her face to
โWhy does he have to show up at a time like this?โ Amora thought, her heart racing.Her eyes watched Regis anxiously, worried he might realize she had just seen something she shouldn't have.She gulped hard as she took in the sight before her. Regis had just showered, wearing only a towel covering him from the waist down.โC-can't you put on some clothes first before asking me anything?โ Amora stammered nervously.She tried to distract Regis from the item she was currently trying to hide with her foot.Amora hoped he wouldn't notice. Unfortunately, that wasnโt the case. Regis's sharp gaze easily read the situation. He looked down, his thick eyebrows knitting together when he saw what she was trying to hide.โWhatโs under your foot, Amora?โ he asked, stepping closer.โN-nothing,โ she replied, shifting her foot back and stepping on the soft package beneath it.Amora winced inside, cursing her luck. There was no way to escape now since Regis had bent down in front of her.He reached for
โPut me down, Regis!โ Amora screamed hysterically.She struggled as Regis carried her over his shoulder. Her head was spinning more and more from being upside down. She could see the black dragon tattoo etched across his back, mocking her.Regis kept walking, ignoring Amoraโs futile attempts to hit his back with her weak fists.โJerk! Put me down! You filthy dragon!โAmora screamed again, fighting back harder, but Regis paid no attention until he threw her onto the bed with a swift motion.โOw!โ Amora winced.She grabbed her forehead, the dizziness from the rough landing overwhelming her. But she couldnโt focus on the pain. Something more threatening was happening right in front of her.Regis had trapped her beneath him. A sly grin stretched across his face, mocking Amora like a helpless rabbit caught in a snare.โRe-Regis, Iโm warning you ... donโt try anything!โAmora stretched out her hands, pressing against his exposed, muscular chest right in front of her eyes.โWhereโs all that
โWhat does he mean? Is he indirectly confessing something?โ Amoraโs mind raced in confusion.Her face immediately lowered. She didnโt want Regis to see the blush spreading across her cheeks.Amora glanced at Regis from the corner of her eye. He looked so calm as if nothing was happening. โMaybe Iโm just overthinking this,โ she thought, sighing quietly.Amora hoped Regis would finish applying the ointment quickly.A few seconds later, Regisโs fingers stopped moving. However, he didnโt release his hand from Amoraโs fist. His sharp gaze fell on the left side of her temple, where an old scar was visible.Regis knew that the scar wasnโt recent; it was from a long time ago. Without thinking, his fingers brushed over the scar, causing Amora to flinch and pull away.She quickly adjusted her bangs and cleared her throat. โThank youโโโHow did you get that scar?โ Regis interrupted, clearly curious. He sensed there was more to the story behind the scar.โIt doesnโt seem like just a regular fall,
Amora furrowed her brow, confused. โWhat gift are you talking about, Regis? I donโt recallโ"โRayden is the most incredible gift youโve given me, Amora,โ Regis interrupted, leaving her speechless.Amora hadnโt expected Regis to see Rayden as a blessing, just as she did. As she opened her mouth to respond, Regis gently patted the top of her head.โThank you for holding on until today, Amora."Those words stunned her. The smile spreading across Regisโs face made Amora feel nervous.But his expression of gratitude touched her deeply. She never imagined he would say or do something so unexpected.For years, Amora had hidden the exhaustion and pain that came with seven years of ups and downs, constantly battling through hardships.Other than Emma, no one knew what Amora had gone through. Yet, Regis saw it all so clearly, even though she had never shared a word with him.Because of this, Amora's heart suddenly raced, and her hazel eyes started to feel warm.Regis was taken aback when he saw
The morning sunlight peeked through the thin curtains in Amora's bedroom. She was still reluctant to open her eyes, burying herself deeper into the blanket. The room was still cold, even though the sun had already risen."Mom! Mom!"Rayden's shouts abruptly pulled Amora from her dream. She quickly opened her eyes and jumped out of bed. But then, her movements halted for a moment.Amora rubbed her temples to stabilize her blood pressure. Waking up too quickly had caused a sharp pain in her head."Good morning, Mommy," Rayden called as he reached her first. He climbed onto the bed and hugged his mother.Amora furrowed her brow, gently pulling away from the hug and staring closely at her son. "What's wrong, Ray? Did something happen?"A bright smile spread across Rayden's face. "I was just told to wake you up. If you donโt get up soon, Iโm really going to be late," the boy said sweetly.Amora's eyes widened. Her gaze shifted to the window covered by white curtains, where the bright morni
Amora's sharp eyes studied Regisโ face closely. The happiness radiating from him this morning made her feel uneasy. She clenched her clothes tightly, trying to figure out if something had happened last night while she slept soundly.โMom, let's eat!โRayden's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.Amora gave a faint smile."Go wash your face first, then weโll have breakfast together and get ready to take Ray to school," Regis chimed in.Amora shot him a sharp look without saying a word, then walked back to her room.Regis smirked, recalling their conversation from the night before.He had been surprised when Amora reluctantly agreed to his request to sleep in the same room as him.At first, he had only wanted to see her reaction, but to his surprise, she agreed, although she remained cautious around him.Regis realized he had dug his own grave by asking her to sleep in the same room. When Amora went into the bathroom to clean up, his mind wandered just by seeing her silhouette through
โH-How did you find out about this?โ Amora mumbled, still feeling dazed.She had tried so hard to hide her pregnancy complications from Regis. She didnโt want his excitement over the baby to waver because of it.โYou donโt need to know how I found out,โ Regis said firmly. โAll you need to know is that Iโm never going to let you go, Amora.โHis eyes burned with anger at his wifeโs deception. But a few seconds later, his gaze softened.Regis took both of Amoraโs hands in his and looked at her gently. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he saw the regret in her eyes.He let out a quiet sigh and spoke gently, โI hope you wonโt make the same foolish mistake again, Amora. I know my father crossed the line this time. But please, trust me โฆ Iโm going to stop him.โAmoraโs hazel eyes were still wet with tears. โBut how can you stop him, Regis? Grandmaโs already been taken to the airport, and .โฆโHer voice cracked as her sobs took over. Seeing his wife cry, Regis actually smiled.
โRegis, your father actually had a reason for doing all of this.โAmoraโs words made Regis frown for a moment, but then he let out a short, dry chuckle.โA reason? What reason could he possibly have other than wanting to control his rebellious son?โ Regis scoffed.Just like Amora once had, Regis had no idea about the real reason behind his fatherโs constant efforts to keep them apart.Seeing the hatred in Regisโs eyes whenever he mentioned Diego Lorenzo, Amora finally decided to share what Diego had once told her.She thought maybeโjust maybeโit would help lessen Regisโs hatred toward his father. She couldโve easily kept it to herself, letting Regis continue to resent Diego as payback for everything that man had done to her.But her conscience wouldnโt let her pretend she didnโt know the truth.โRegis โฆ your father did all this out of hatred and revenge toward my dad,โ Amora said, leaving Regis completely stunned and confused.โWhat do you mean, Amora?โ Regis asked, his gaze narrowing
Seeing the deep regret on Amoraโs face, Regis let out a sharp sigh. He hadnโt meant to scold her. He just wanted her to understand how her actions affected them both.Regis tried to keep his emotions in check, not wanting to lash out. He knew Amora was clearly torn and dealing with a difficult inner conflict.โHavenโt I told you time and time again not to carry everything on your own, Amora?โ Regis reminded her gently.Amora didnโt respond. Her head remained lowered until Regis reached out, cupped her chin, and lifted her face so their eyes could meet again.The look in Regis's eyes, which looked shady and sad, made Amora feel both comforted and hurt because she felt guilty for hurting him with the divorce papers sheโd filed.โIโm your husband, Amora. Didnโt we agree to face all our struggles together? Canโt you give me just a little time to prove that I can turn this around without asking you to sacrifice everything?โ Regis asked, his voice soft but full of emotion.He still believed
Regis and Amora had just entered their rented house, but Regis was still gripping his wifeโs wrist tightly, causing her to wince in pain.โRegis, didnโt you hear me? Let go of my hand!โ Amora snapped, clearly annoyed at being dragged around by her husband.The sound of the bedroom door slamming made Amora jump. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the fury in Regisโs eyes.Amora swallowed hard and muttered, โThat hurts, Regis.โSeeing how helpless she looked, Regis finally let go of her wrist. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the red marks left by his grip.Even though guilt started to creep in, Regis didnโt say anything. He still couldnโt bring himself to forgive what Amora had done.His lips curled into a bitter smirk as he glanced at the small suitcase behind her. โSo youโre leaving, huh? Who told you to do that?โHis voice was laced with a mix of anger and disappointment. Amora nervously bit her lip, slowly lowering her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.โWhy are you quiet? A
โDid you bring what my boss asked for?โ Pablo asked, his expression completely unchanged.Amora looked down at the document in her hands, her heart heavy. The papers were divorce papersโsomething she had prepared at Diegoโs request, and a requirement to get Rayden accepted into the Lorenzo family.The truth was, she still wasnโt ready to divorce Regis. But the pressure and threats from Diego had completely worn her down. Unlike Diego, she held no power. And more than anything, she didnโt want to see Regis crushed under the weight of his own father.โMiss, my boss isnโt someone who breaks his promises. Heโll accept your son as part of the Lorenzo family, just like he said. Your sacrifice wonโt be in vain,โ Pablo assured her on his employerโs behalf.Hearing that, Amora felt something heavy lift from her chest. โIโm sorry, Ray. I know I made this decision on my own, but I believe one day, youโll understand this was the best thing I could do for you,โ she thought.Amora handed the docume
"See you later, Mom. Donโt forget to come, okay?" Rayden said as he said goodbye to his mother.They had just finished breakfast, and Regis was the one taking their son to school. Amora had claimed she needed to finish some housework first so she could fully enjoy the event Rayden was participating in later.Amora only gave a small nod to her sonโs words. She kissed his forehead lightly and murmured, "Take care of yourself, Ray."Rayden frowned. "Iโm not gonna hurt myself, Mom," he replied, assuming she was still worried about his archery performance later.Amora gave a faint smile. Her eyes shifted to Regis, who was looking at her with a meaningful gaze. But she quickly looked away and said, "Go on, or you'll be late.""Come on, Dad! Letโs go!" Rayden called out as he grabbed his backpack."What is it?" Amora asked, puzzled, when she noticed Regis still hadnโt moved from his spot, even though their son had already jogged toward the door."Arenโt you forgetting something?" Regis asked
โMaybe Albert and the others were right. The more I stay silent, the more Father will keep using his power to pressure Amora. I need to put a stop to thisโfast,โ Regis thought to himself.His face was filled with distress. His mind was racing with plans he had crafted with his loyal subordinates. Heโd originally planned to check in on his wife, but changed his mind and stood up, needing to confirm something first before taking any action.Meanwhile, Amora sat silently on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone screen, her thoughts consumed by the message she had just received.Tears streamed steadily down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with one hand to muffle her sobs so no one outside her room could hear her crying.She quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked again at the message on her screen. It was from Chris. He had saved her number without her knowing.[Amora, Iโm not sure if youโve found out yet or not โฆ but I just want to say congratulations. Accordin
The sky had already turned dark. Xavier had just left after having dinner with Regisโ small family.Now, Amora was cleaning up the dishes from their meal in the kitchen. Her body felt better after a full day of rest and some vitamins prescribed by the hospital.But mentally, she was still drained. Diegoโs threats continued to haunt her, clouding her thoughts with anxiety and emotional exhaustion.She felt trapped. She had no choice if she wanted to protect her grandmother, but the idea of leaving Regis tore her apart.Part of her wanted to tell Regis everything. But deep down, she feared what he might do if he found out. If he confronted Diego, things could spiral out of control. And the one thing she couldnโt risk โฆ was her grandmotherโs life.โWhat am I supposed to do? Should I leave Regis, just for a while, and make sure Grandma is safe first? But if Mr. Lorenzo finds out Iโm lyingโฆ he mightโ'Amora took a deep breath and shook her head hard. โNo. Itโs too risky to lie to him. That
"Albertโs still handling it. But there are a few things that need a deeper review," Regis replied, referring to something he had done behind his familyโs back.Yesterday, Regis held a closed-door meeting with several Royal Dragon subordinatesโat their own request. Albert was the one who arranged the secret meeting. Yes, that man had survived the pursuit of Diego's subordinates.Pedro had also made it out alive, but he wasnโt as lucky. Heโd suffered serious injuries and was still recovering. Both men were saved by loyal Royal Dragon members who still supported Regis. To them, Diegoโs recent actions had gone way too far.Lately, Diego had become increasingly authoritarian and ruthless, especially toward those who remained loyal to Regis. Many of them felt like they were living under constant threat.Eventually, they decided to take a stand. They begged Regis to return and reclaim control of the Royal Dragon. They just couldnโt stand watching Diego abuse their fellow members any longer.