LOGINThe Clayton family’s living room was filled with an unusual tension that night.The crystal chandelier above still glowed warmly, but the atmosphere beneath it felt cold. There was no light conversation. No laughter. Only restrained anger… and the truth slowly rising to the surface.Lucas stood in the center of the room, his face tense. Jonathan stood beside him, his breathing still uneven.Across from them, Henry sat in the main chair.Calm.Too calm.Meanwhile, Alex leaned casually by the window, both hands tucked into his pockets. His face was expressionless, as if he were merely a spectator in a conflict he had actually set into motion.“Grandpa, this has gone too far!” Jonathan’s voice broke the silence. “What Uncle Alex did at the office today is completely unreasonable!”Henry didn’t respond right away.He simply looked at his grandson in silence.Lucas stepped in.“That’s right, Dad,” he said in a controlled tone, though emotion seeped through. “I’ve devoted years to this comp
The main conference room at Altex Group’s headquarters felt different that morning.There was no scheduled agenda. No prior notice.Yet a single command from Alex was enough to bring every board member and division head into the room without question.Every seat was filled.A heavy silence pressed down on the space.Some exchanged glances, trying to guess what was happening. A few whispered quietly. Others stared at the table, uneasy. Some even flipped through their documents again, as if searching for something they might have missed.The conference room doors opened.The sound of firm footsteps echoed.Alex walked in.His black suit was immaculate. His face calm. Expressionless.And somehow, that made everything more suffocating.Without greeting anyone, he walked straight to the head seat at the end of the long table. Edward followed behind, carrying several thick folders.Alex sat down.His gaze swept across the room.“Start.”One word.Short. Cold.No formal opening. No small tal
After helping Emma into the passenger seat, Alex immediately took his place behind the wheel. He shut the door firmly, then turned to the side.His gaze fell on Emma’s face.Her wedding dress was wrinkled. Her hair was a mess. Her eyes were swollen. Her lips were pale. The girl’s shoulders were still trembling from the remnants of her tears.Alex looked at her for a long moment, his eyes filled with meaning.Without saying a word, he reached for the seatbelt and carefully fastened it around her body. But his jaw tightened, as if he were holding back something far greater than anger.Silently, he made a promise to himself.He would never let anyone hurt Emma again.He would never allow anyone to make her cry.As long as he was still here, he would be Emma’s protector.The engine started. The headlights swept across the quiet night road. The car pulled away from the Swan family home in suffocating silence.“Thank you, Mr. Alex…”Emma’s voice was so soft it was nearly swallowed by the si
“Where is Emma?”Alex’s voice sounded cold the moment the door of the Swan family’s grand mansion opened.The servant who had opened the door looked nervous. But before he could answer, a woman stepped out from the living room with graceful steps.“Mr. Alex?”Sophia smiled widely, as if she hadn’t expected the man standing at her doorstep.“Please come in,” she said quickly, her eyes gleaming with calculation. “What important matter would make you come here personally?”Alex looked indifferent.“I’m here looking for Emma. I assume you know where she is right now, Mrs. Sophia,” he said flatly, though his tone sounded far sharper.Sophia kept smiling, though inwardly she felt slightly annoyed that the man hadn’t even greeted her.“Come inside first. We can talk in there,” she said as she opened the door wider.Alex finally stepped inside. The Swan mansion, spacious and luxurious, felt unusually quiet tonight.Sophia walked ahead of him and casually sat down on the living room sofa.“I’l
The moment the hospital room door opened, the sound of sobbing filled the air.“Dad…”Alice rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Henry’s frail body on the hospital bed. An IV line was attached to his hand, and the heart monitor beside his bed beeped steadily.Henry startled for a second, then gave her a weak smile. His hand, still steady enough, lifted slowly to stroke his daughter’s back.“I’m fine,” he murmured. “Don’t cry. I’m just tired.”Alice shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably. “I was scared I’d lose you.”Jonathan stood not far from the bed, his face tight with tension. Lucas stood beside him, calmer, though his sharp eyes carefully studied Henry.Alice finally released her father and wiped her tears quickly. Then she looked at him anxiously.“How could this turn into a heart attack, Dad? What happened?”Her tone shifted—from worry to anger.“This must be because of Emma, right?” she snapped. “Because she ran away from the wedding and shocked you!”“That’s enoug
“Emma!”The shout cut through the late afternoon air outside the hospital.Emma, who had just been about to get into the car, froze. Her hand was still gripping the door handle. Edward stood beside her, ready to close the door once she was inside.William strode toward them, his face flushed red with anger. Shopia and Rose followed close behind, their steps just as hurried.“What do you think you’re doing here, Emma?” William barked without preamble. “Do you think this is some kind of joke? Running off on your wedding day!”Emma slowly closed the car door.Then she turned and looked at her father without fear.“Yes. I ran away,” she answered calmly. “And this time, I won’t let you destroy my future.”“You—”“My life has been ruined since the day you brought them home,” Emma cut in, pointing at Shopia and Rose. “And now I won’t let you control my life anymore. My future is mine to decide.”“You ungrateful child!” William snapped. “Who took care of you all these years if not Shopia? Ros
Emma’s consciousness returned slowly.Her head felt heavy. Her vision blurred. The faint scent of the room gradually became familiar—aged wood and an overly strong air freshener.She blinked several times.The ceiling… wasn’t unfamiliar.Her body went rigid.This was her room.The bedroom in her fa
Henry fell silent for a long moment after the confession slipped from Emma’s lips. The old man’s face went pale. The hand resting on the armrest trembled slightly. His gaze stayed fixed on Emma—as if hoping she would suddenly laugh and say it was all just a misunderstanding.“You…” Henry’s voice wa
“Let go of me, Mr. Alex!”Emma struggled to pull her arm free from the man’s grip. Her heels nearly slipped against the marble floor of the Clayton residence courtyard. But Alex kept walking without looking back, dragging her toward his car.“Mr. Alex, I said let go!” Emma snapped, trying to hold b
“You don’t need to come down. Thank you for driving me home.”Emma said it without turning around. Her hand was already on the door handle, her voice flat—too flat for someone who had just gone through the worst day of her life.Alex didn’t answer.He only watched Emma’s back as she slowly walked aw







