Noel's intense gaze made Amora's cheeks flush with a soft blush. She could easily understand the meaning behind his stare. Although Noel hadn’t voiced his feelings, Amora’s heart knew well enough that he harbored affection for her.Yet, Amora never gave him even the slightest chance. She didn’t want to be an obstacle to Noel’s future. In her eyes, Noel Ritter was a man of impeccable manners and character.Noel had a bright future ahead of him and came from a well-respected family. Amora couldn’t bring herself to drag him down by starting a relationship with her—a single mother.Especially now, her status had changed. She was a married woman. Amora had no intention of creating any scandal that could disgrace her or Regis.Although her marriage to Regis hadn’t been publicly announced, Amora didn’t want to stir up any trouble.Her current life was much better than before, and she didn’t want to ruin it. She believed Noel would find the right woman who could love him wholeheartedly.A sof
"Congratulations, Miss Harrison. May your wedding with the young Mr. Rowan take place soon."The stream of congratulations continued as Chelsea entered the grand ballroom. She maintained a radiant smile, nodding her thanks while scanning the room.Chelsea was elated. Today marked a pivotal moment that would change her life forever.As the newly recognized fiancée of the Rowan family's heir, her status would elevate, and everyone would treat her with even greater respect."Do you see her, Glo?" Chelsea whispered to her best friend, Gloria Barclay, who walked beside her. Maintaining her smile, Chelsea waved at several guests who greeted her."She's over there, Chelsea," Gloria replied after spotting the person they'd been searching for.Earlier, the two had been in the waiting room, snapping photos with friends when Gloria received a call from Miranda. The emotional call, punctuated by Miranda's sobs, described an incident that had just unfolded in the ballroom.Gloria relayed the disjo
Amora’s hazel eyes widened in shock as she stared at Noel, who was smiling sweetly at her. She wanted to deny everything, but doing so would label Estelle as a liar and humiliate Noel.Her eyes scanned the room nervously. She was deeply worried that some press member might capture this moment between her and Noel. Yet, she had no choice but to play along with Noel’s act.Hearing Noel’s direct confession, Gloria felt like a fool standing in that ballroom. When her parents introduced her to a competent and handsome potential fiancé like Noel, she had already developed feelings for him and eagerly anticipated meeting him today.But she had never imagined that her hopes would be crushed before they could even take flight.“Why are you still going through with this arrangement if you already have a girlfriend?” Gloria asked, her voice trembling.“I’m sorry, Miss Barclay. I can’t go against my father’s wishes,” Noel replied apologetically.Then, with a gentle look at Amora, he continued, “I
“Estelle.”A man’s voice drew Amora and Estelle’s attention. A stylish figure with wavy hair dyed in blue ombre strode toward them, exuding confidence.Amora frowned slightly, impressed by the man’s radiant smile. His appearance stood out—he was wearing a striking silver suit that was impossible to miss.“Gino!” Estelle greeted him excitedly, embracing the man, who returned the gesture with a light kiss.“He’s… your husband?” Amora asked, barely hiding her disbelief at Estelle’s rather “unique” taste in men.“That’s right,” Estelle confirmed proudly, quickly introducing her husband to Amora.“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moonstone,” Amora said, shaking Gino’s outstretched hand.“The pleasure’s mine. Estelle’s told me so much about you,” Gino replied warmly.Amora found herself slightly reassessing Estelle’s judgment. Gino Moonstone radiated positive energy—completely unlike Regis, whose stoic demeanor often intimidated those who didn’t know him well.“Really? You’re exaggerating, Mr. Moo
"Is there no way to get through this mess, Mark?"Regis's cold and commanding voice sent Mark's heart racing.Traffic was at a standstill in front of them. A truck had veered into the wrong lane, stalling out and blocking the road entirely.The blaring honks from cars, including the one Mark was driving, only added to the chaos."I'm sorry, Young Master. It seems impossible," Mark replied, glancing at the surrounding lanes jam-packed with vehicles. Their car was stuck in the middle lane, wedged tightly between two others.Regis didn't respond, but his silence spoke volumes.Mark's face showed a mix of anxiety and frustration. He and his boss, Regis Lorenzo, had just returned to New York a mere thirty minutes ago after an intense, non-stop work trip that had drained them both physically and mentally.Eager to see Amora as soon as possible, Regis had rushed through all his meetings in Las Vegas. They were originally scheduled to return tomorrow, but last night, Albert informed Regis via
"Just name the price, or if necessary, I’ll leave my ID as collateral," Mark said, still trying to convince the girl.Mark could’ve asked another rider for help, but borrowing from someone he knew made him feel more at ease.Biana didn’t respond and pretended not to hear his request. She turned her head away indifferently, started her motorbike, and prepared to leave. But before she could, Mark quickly said, "This involves your best friend, too."The girl’s head snapped toward him in panic. “What happened to Amora?”“It’s a long story. I need to catch up with my boss right now,” Mark replied, gesturing for Biana to get off her bike as he handed her a few bills.Biana hesitated, still doubting his brief explanation and suspecting that Mark might be lying again.‘Hah! Does he think I’ll fall for it again?’ Biana grumbled internally."Miss? Is this not enough?" Mark asked impatiently, feeling the pressure of time. But Biana stayed silent, ignoring his request. Finally, Mark decided to lo
Amora turned and found Noel already standing in front of her.“Where are you going, Amora?” Noel asked.Amora gave an awkward smile, her eyes darting to Chris, who hesitated to approach her since Noel had reached her first.“I-I was… looking for you,” Amora lied reluctantly. She silently cursed her luck for being caught in such a complicated situation.‘What kind of day is this?’ Amora grumbled inwardly, letting out a subtle, frustrated sigh.“Amora?” Noel called her again, looking at her in confusion.“Yes?” Amora quickly looked up and met his gaze.She froze in surprise when Noel extended his hand to her. “Would you dance with me, Amora?” he asked, leaving her stunned.“Noel, I … I’m not very good at dancing,” Amora replied, trying to decline politely.“Don’t be so modest. I know you can dance well. Have you forgotten we used to practice together?” Noel teased, chuckling as he reminisced about their childhood.Amora smiled nervously. “But .…”Amora was about to refuse again when she
“Look at you ... You’re so good at dancing. Who said they couldn’t dance earlier, hmm?”Noel teased Amora with a playful smile as he guided her steps in the dance. Their movements matched perfectly with the soft melody of the piano filling the air.“Well, it’s been so long since I last danced. It’s natural for me to feel unsure,” Amora replied, trying to justify herself.A warm smile lingered on Noel’s lips. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the admiring gazes of others directed at him, but he paid them no mind.At this moment, he focused entirely on the woman who had captured his heart long ago. The closeness between them, their hands lightly touching, made Noel’s heart race.Still, Noel managed to keep his composure, savoring the rare moment. Amora, on the other hand, appeared visibly nervous.She occasionally returned his gaze and gave him shy, awkward smiles before quickly lowering her eyes again. Amora’s left hand rested on his right shoulder, while her right hand was gently
"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