“But, Young Master … didn’t the leader of Levent and our Old Master already agree not to feud anymore?”Regis was taken aback by his assistant’s question. His mind flashed back to an event ten years ago when a major conflict broke out between Levent’s and Royal Dragon’s underlings as they fought over the region known for producing the best wine in Northern California.Back then, bloodshed became inevitable when the mutual agreement couldn’t hold. The two leaders finally took action to avoid heavy losses and resource depletion.They agreed to a truce, dividing the territory in half and promising not to interfere with each other’s businesses from then on.“You’re right. But Altan isn’t Murat. Haven’t you heard about how Murat Demir and his son have been clashing lately?”Murat Demir was Altan’s father and the current leader of Levent.Mark was taken aback, shaking his head slightly.Regis gave a bitter smile, patting his assistant on the shoulder. “Sounds like you need to extend your in
In Rayden's bedroom, Amora was chatting with her son, feeling relieved that he was perfectly fine.“Grandma Emma was so happy when Ray brought her all her favorite foods.”Rayden's cheerful chatter eased Amora's worries. Her son was enthusiastic, sharing about his day with Mark Carter and his visit to Emma Adams.“Did Mrs. Adams get a headache from all your talking?” Amora teased, playfully pinching her son's cheek.She chuckled when Rayden pouted. “I'm just kidding, sweetheart. I’m sure Mrs. Adams will recover faster, just from the joy of seeing you,” she reassured him.Rayden nodded eagerly. “Of course! Grandma Emma said next time I should bring you along. She’s lonely in the apartment and misses you.”Right now, Emma Adams was in her son’s apartment recovering. However, with her son working late hours, she often felt lonely, even with a nurse around. So, Emma was thrilled when Rayden came to visit.“When can we go see her again, Mom?” Rayden asked eagerly.Amora held her son’s hand
“Did you see my phone anywhere, Ray?” Amora asked her son, who had just come out of his room after she called him.She had just finished baking macaroni casserole for their dinner tonight. As usual, she prioritized her son's health by avoiding cow's milk ingredients in her cooking."Yes, I did, Mom." Rayden pulled his mother's phone from behind his back."You left it on my bed," he said, handing it to her.Amora hugged the precious gadget to her chest with great relief. "Thank goodness. Thank you, Ray," she replied. She couldn't imagine losing such a fantastically expensive device.Maybe Regis wouldn’t scold her if she lost it, but as someone who knew the value of money, the thought of losing such a luxury item was painful.Amora placed the phone on the dining table, then hurried to set the table and serve the freshly baked macaroni casserole onto plates.“Where’s Dad, Mom? Didn't he come home with you?” Rayden asked, noting his father’s absence.Amora's hands froze for a moment. She
"I just don't feel like talking. Is it wrong if I stay quiet? It's my mouth, after all."The sarcasm in Amora's voice made Regis’s expression darken slightly. She was the only woman bold enough to stand up to him. Until now, everyone—except his father—had always watched their tone when speaking to him.But Amora didn’t care about the flash of anger now apparent in Regis’s sharp gaze. She even shot him a sharp look, her face still sour.A long sigh escaped Regis's lips.“How much longer are you going to be cold toward me, Amora? You don’t want Ray to see us at odds like this, do you?”His question, tinged with a subtle threat, made Amora curl her lip in disdain. “Don’t bring Ray into this. I know exactly what I'm doing, Regis. Instead, I hope you catch whoever was behind today’s shooting. I don’t want Ray getting hurt,” she warned.After saying that, Amora rose from her seat. "I’m done eating," she muttered as she walked toward the kitchen. She didn't wait for a response from her husban
Amora pushed Regis's hand away from her lips. She was speechless, still reeling from how she’d given in to his touch, despite trying to resist him.Amora scolded herself over and over. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d fallen under his spell. She’d reminded herself so many times to be cautious, but Regis always managed to break down her defenses.‘Damn it! Why is he so good at kissing?’ Amora grumbled internally.She couldn’t deny that her kiss with Regis had been the hottest and longest she’d ever experienced with anyone.‘Amora, have you lost your mind? He’s not a man you can trust. Don’t give him your heart if you don’t want to be hurt even worse.’Amora’s thoughts warned her again. She was convinced Regis’s desire for her was only fueled by curiosity. One day, he’d leave her once he got what he wanted, bored with her.The pain from being abandoned by people she once trusted was still fresh in Amora’s heart. Even if it was her own fault, she believed that a man’s sweet words an
"Tell me, Amora. Why are you ignoring me, and how long are you going to keep acting like this?" Regis questioned, crossing his arms.Amora scoffed. "Don’t pretend to be clueless. You know exactly why I’m ignoring you, don’t you?"Regis frowned. Of course, he knew, but everything he did was for her own good. So what was wrong with keeping things from her?Regis was beginning to realize just how complicated a woman’s thinking could be. He usually didn’t care much about the feelings of others, but he couldn’t do that with Amora—she held a special place in his heart."I just didn’t want you to get more involved, Amora. I wasn’t trying to hide anything," Regis said defensively, hoping she would understand his decision. But his defense only came back to bite him."But I’m already involved, Regis. I almost died back there!" Amora snapped, clearly frustrated.Suddenly, a wave of regret washed over her. She thought maybe she should never have married him. She couldn’t predict how many more dan
A long sigh escaped Regis' lips. Amora’s words were sharp, like thorns aimed straight at him. But Regis knew that Amora’s sarcasm was her way of trying to protect herself.“I-I can’t forgive you that easily,” Amora murmured, nervous.To be honest, Amora was shocked by her husband’s apology. She didn’t want to admit that her anger had already softened a bit. She scolded herself for almost melting just because he said he was sorry.A sharp exhale came from her nose as she turned away from Regis, who had been watching her intently. His gaze seemed to pierce right into her heart.“Of course, I know. And by the way, I didn’t apologize for kissing you,” Regis continued, drawing Amora’s attention back to him.“Are you just trying to provoke me, Regis?” Amora snapped, her anger flaring up uncontrollably again.A chuckle slipped from Regis’ lips as he reached out to t
Amora only got a sour smile from him in response. "You can’t do it, can you?" she taunted.A mafia family like the Lorenzos must have committed countless crimes, including murder, all hidden beneath the surface. They would do anything for money, power, and pride—even staining their hands with blood.“Sorry. I guess it was naive of me to ask you not to kill. I just don't want Ray to find out his father is a ruthless killer. But, whatever ... forget it,” she muttered, looking down.“Alright,” Regis responded, making Amora flinch.She looked back at him, disbelief in her eyes. “What did you say?”“I said I won’t kill,” Regis repeated.“Are you … serious?” Amora asked, full of doubt.“Of course not,” Regis replied with a chuckle.She rolled her eyes. “That’s not funny, Regis. If you’re not sure, don’t promise me anything. I hate lies.”“I can’t promise you that,” Regis admitted, “but I’ll try not to kill—unless someone pushes me past my limit. That’s the best I can offer you, Amora,” he a
"T-That person ... isn't Grandma?!" Amora's mind reeled in shock.The woman who looked like an old lady was actually one of Diego’s men in disguise!Amora had been tricked. “So that means ... Regis ….”She bit her trembling lip hard. Regis had been right all along. This whole thing was a trap, set up by Diego’s men. Their one and only goal was to lure in Amora and Regis and eliminate them.Amora’s body trembled with dread as the truth hit her. Because of her stubbornness and ignorance, Regis had now become their main target.Several of Jack’s men, who had been lying in wait, finally stepped out of hiding and surrounded Regis, guns raised and ready.Back to Regis’s situation—Amora’s husband showed no sign of surprise at the ambush by Jack and his dozens of armed men.Jack, on the other hand, looked genuinely confused by Regis’s calm demeanor. “You already knew about the disguise?” he asked, aiming his gun right at Regis’s face.A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Regis’s lips. “That d
"A trap?" Amora whispered, shocked. Once again, she had nearly made a foolish move.Regis gave her a small, knowing smile as he saw her surprised face. "I think from the very beginning, my father planned to target you for breaking your promise," Regis explained, sharing his theory with his wife.Amora’s face turned pale. She realized that her mistake had caused everything to spiral out of control. “But Regis … if this really is a trap, what about Grandma? I—”"I’ll count to ten! If you don’t come out, I’ll take it as your agreement to send Old Madam Lysander to the afterlife!" Jack shouted again, his threat loud and clear.Amora’s eyes widened in panic, her mind clouded by fear. She was terrified Diego’s men might actually carry out that threat if she didn’t come out of hiding.But Regis held her hand firmly and shook his head. “Leave everything to me, Amora,” he said, still trying to calm her down."But Regis ...."Sensing what she wanted to say just from her eyes, Regis continued, “
"Aaaahhh!"Amora’s scream echoed through the forest, followed by a rapid burst of gunfire. Birds took to the skies in a frenzy, their alarmed chirps blending with the chaos as they fled their disturbed habitat.Her face went pale. For a moment, Amora thought she was going to die—right then and there. But she didn’t.“Re-Regis, you .…” Her voice cracked, disbelief evident in her eyes. She hadn’t expected Regis to throw himself in front of her, shielding her with his own body.Tears welled up in Amora’s eyes and started to fall. She thought Regis had taken the bullet meant for her—he wasn’t moving at all.But Regis was just in shock. His face was as pale as hers, convinced for a second that Jack had shot him. Yet, he didn’t feel anything aside from a small scratch on his arm.Slowly, Regis let go of Amora. He could see the fear in her hazel eyes, reflecting his own face. But now wasn’t the time for comforting words. His priority was making sure they were safe.As he looked around, Regis
Finally, the taxi Regis was riding in came to a stop near a narrow trail that led into the mountains, surrounded by dense forest. Amora also asked her driver to stop, just a short distance behind the taxi ahead. She pulled out all the cash she had and handed it to the driver.“Sir, if you don’t mind, could you wait here for me? If I’m not back within fifteen minutes, please contact the authorities,” Amora said, her voice tense.The driver gave her a small nod after accepting the money. As soon as she stepped out of the car, the driver pulled out his phone and dialed a number.It didn’t take long for the call to connect, and a deep male voice came through the speaker—it was Alejandro Volker!That’s right—the taxi driver who had been taking Amora around was actually one of Alejandro’s men in disguise: Hank Watts.For the past week, Alejandro had sent Hank to tail Amora, using various disguises to monitor her every move and report back.Today, Hank happened to be undercover as a cab driv
Mark's car had just pulled up at the arrival gate. He glanced at his young master, who was resting his eyes in the backseat.Regis looked exhausted. For the past two nights, he’d been tied up in a series of private meetings with Royal Dragon’s subordinates, carefully planning the strategy to take over the power held by Diego Lorenzo.At this point, Regis and a few of his loyal aides had managed to secure the support of some underlings willing to serve him. However, there were still others who refused, afraid of becoming the target of Diego’s wrath if their plan was ever exposed.“We’ve arrived, Young Master,” Mark said, gently waking his superior.Regis slowly opened his eyes and took a moment to assess his surroundings before stepping out of the car. Standing by the departure entrance, he spotted Albert waiting to greet him.“Have you found Old Madam Lysander yet?” Regis asked bluntly.“Not yet, Young Master. We have no idea where she’s heading. My team and I had to split up to searc
The tension in the Royal Dragon leader’s office was palpable. Everyone’s face had gone pale when Pablo Varon returned with a report that darkened Diego Lorenzo’s expression.“What did you just say?” Diego asked, his tone cold and sharp.“I’m sorry, Boss. I failed to take Miss Lysander with me. The young master showed up and took her away first,” Pablo replied, bowing his head deeply.Diego stood from his chair and approached Pablo. He placed a hand on Pablo’s shoulder and gripped it hard.“How long have you worked for me, Pablo? And you still can’t handle a single woman? Are you trying to disgrace the name of Royal Dragon, huh?” Diego hissed, a cynical smirk curling his lips.Pablo could feel his boss’s rage and disappointment. “I’m truly sorry, Sir. I’m ready to accept any punishment,” he said, dropping to his knees in front of Diego.From the beginning, Pablo had known the risks of letting the young master’s wife go. He never once thought of escaping the consequences.“My ungrateful
“H-How did you find out about this?” Amora mumbled, still feeling dazed.She had tried so hard to hide her pregnancy complications from Regis. She didn’t want his excitement over the baby to waver because of it.“You don’t need to know how I found out,” Regis said firmly. “All you need to know is that I’m never going to let you go, Amora.”His eyes burned with anger at his wife’s deception. But a few seconds later, his gaze softened.Regis took both of Amora’s 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, “I hope you won’t make the same foolish mistake again, Amora. I know my father crossed the line this time. But please, trust me … I’m going to stop him.”Amora’s hazel eyes were still wet with tears. “But how can you stop him, Regis? Grandma’s already been taken to the airport, and .…”Her voice cracked as her sobs took over. Seeing his wife cry, Regis actually smiled.
“Regis, your father actually had a reason for doing all of this.”Amora’s words made Regis frown for a moment, but then he let out a short, dry chuckle.“A reason? What reason could he possibly have other than wanting to control his rebellious son?” Regis scoffed.Just like Amora once had, Regis had no idea about the real reason behind his father’s constant efforts to keep them apart.Seeing the hatred in Regis’s eyes whenever he mentioned Diego Lorenzo, Amora finally decided to share what Diego had once told her.She thought maybe—just maybe—it would help lessen Regis’s hatred toward his father. She could’ve easily kept it to herself, letting Regis continue to resent Diego as payback for everything that man had done to her.But her conscience wouldn’t let her pretend she didn’t know the truth.“Regis … your father did all this out of hatred and revenge toward my dad,” Amora said, leaving Regis completely stunned and confused.“What do you mean, Amora?” Regis asked, his gaze narrowing
Seeing the deep regret on Amora’s face, Regis let out a sharp sigh. He hadn’t 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.“Haven’t I told you time and time again not to carry everything on your own, Amora?” Regis reminded her gently.Amora didn’t 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 she’d filed.“I’m your husband, Amora. Didn’t we agree to face all our struggles together? Can’t you give me just a little time to prove that I can turn this around without asking you to sacrifice everything?” Regis asked, his voice soft but full of emotion.He still believed