As Lana, Mandy, and Romelius were ushered onto Adrian's cruise ship, Adrian had already placed his wine glass aside, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture."Lana!" Adrian advanced to embrace her, but she adeptly sidestepped him.A flicker of disappointment crossed Adrian's eyes, yet he continued to regard Lana with tenderness."Come on, I mean no harm. It's just a hug. Is that too much to ask?"Lana stared at him coldly, asking, "What exactly do you want?"Throughout the journey, Lana had assumed that the kidnappers targeted Mandy for ransom.It wasn't until she saw Adrian that she realized Mandy was merely collateral—Adrian's true objective was her.Adrian approached once again, his gaze softening. "It's been so long since I last saw you. I've been worried about you."Lana sneered, "Worried? I suspect you're more concerned about your standing in Balany!""You, bitch! What did you say?"As Lana's words faded, a robust figure beside Adrian promptly advanced. He seized Lana b

Emilia exited Lana's suite and lightly knocked on the adjacent door, which Adrian promptly opened.Confidently, Emilia met Adrian's gaze. "The person is inside."Adrian expressed his gratitude with a nod. "I appreciate your help this time."Emilia shook her head, a smile gracing her lips. "Truth be told, I merely placed my bet on basic human instincts. No mother could passively witness someone hurling curses at her child without taking a stand."Adrian remained silent, engrossed in his phone. "I've transferred the promised amount to your designated account. From now on, you're a free woman."Emilia's phone chimed with a timely notification sound as a message arrived. She casually waved her phone in her hand and said, "Thanks."Without sparing another glance her way, Adrian headed toward Lana's room.At that moment, Emilia drew closer. "However, I haven't decided to leave the ship just yet."Assuming Emilia hadn't secured a hiding place, Adrian chose not to dwell on it. Silently

Emilia sneered, "There's no antidote. Even if you kill me, it won't matter!"Adrian and his entourage didn't believe Emilia's bold assertion. A subtle nod from Adrian prompted one of his henchmen to stealthily close in on Emilia.In an instant, a sharp glint filled the air, swiftly followed by Emilia's harrowing scream of torment.Moments later, Lana saw two delicate, pink fragments falling to the floor before her—grim remnants of Emilia's severed ears.Overwhelmed by agony, Emilia clutched her wounds, momentarily succumbing to unconsciousness. Yet, her respite was short-lived, as Adrian's men promptly splashed her with water to revive her.The cold water intensified her pain, eliciting yet another anguished cry from Emilia."Do you wish to reconsider your stance?" Adrian's voice reverberated with chilling authority, causing Emilia to quiver uncontrollably.Terror distorted her face, and she gazed back at him with a look of utter despair.Now, she fully understood what Lana had

Romelius tenderly kissed Mandy's lips, handing her a bouquet of red roses. "My love, congratulations," he whispered.Nadia followed suit, intertwining her fingers with Howard's as they approached Mandy. "Mom, congratulations," she said, presenting another bouquet to her.Trailing them, Marion appeared, guiding a young toddler beside her. She too congratulated Mandy, completing the heartfelt gestures.Enveloped in Romelius' warm embrace, Mandy's face radiated a joyous glow. Her return home was nothing short of triumphant, especially after winning the International Best Actress award.The overwhelming reception from devoted fans and familiar faces had taken her by surprise.Yet, amid the celebrations, a subtle sorrow shadowed her gaze.Romelius sensed the thoughts weighing on Mandy's heart. Bowing his head gently, he murmured, "If Lana were here, she would be so proud of you."Emerging triumphant from a grueling health battle, Mandy's stellar performance in this global blockbuster

"Nonsense!" This time, it wasn't just Liam, even Mandy interjected.Lana had departed from this world, so how could she possibly be visiting Leonardo for a playdate?Moreover, Leonardo practically lived right under their noses. If Lana truly came looking for him, why hadn't they seen her?"Leo, you might be young, but that doesn't mean you can tell lies!" Liam took Leonardo from Mandy's arms, studying his eyes intently, attempting to discern any signs of dishonesty.Yet, Leonardo seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation, casually continuing, "Mommy used to say Dad was kind of a jerk and told me not to pick up any of his habits when I got older."This time, both Liam and Mandy were left speechless, a chill running down their spines.Previously, they might have dismissed Leonardo's words as mere childish fantasies, but now, those statements couldn't be casually brushed aside.Considering Leonardo's tender age and the distinguished upbringing in the respected Garrison, Ka