"How much do you want? Name your price—" Jude gritted his teeth. He was prepared to part with a large sum when a harsh stomp on his back abruptly cut him short. "Shh … quiet."Hannah raised her index finger to her lips and smiled. She spoke to her phone, "Hello, 911? I want to report a crime.""You motherfucker! This is a gang dispute! How could you call the fucking cops?" Try as he might, Jude couldn't understand her intentions. "Do you know how many rules you just broke?" he grumbled as he was taken away. One of his eyes was swollen."I don't give a shit about your rules." Hannah clenched her fists impatiently. She delivered a swift blow to his other eye. Soon enough, both eyes had matching bruises. "To me, the law is the rules. Now go to the detention center quietly, dickhead!"Jude was an ordinary thug in the red-light district. Other than the protection fees he demanded, he wasn't involved in anything too serious.His trip to the police station was an opportunity fo
Darren was crippled, but the Winchesters relied on his reputation to thrive.To someone with ulterior motives, Kenneth sending flowers to Darren's wife might not be as simple as a gesture of goodwill. After all, scandalous news was prevalent in high society. Should anyone wish to create a stir in Hopeldon's financial world, this was the way to go. Beauty could often be dangerous, too.Kenneth's voice was cold when he spoke again. "I'm used to my carefree life. Serious financial newspapers hardly suit my temperament. "Have dinner with me tomorrow night, Mrs. Winchester. Now that would make for some juicy tabloid headlines." He would hardly lose anything from being at the center of some rumors with a beautiful lady.Hannah was about to speak when a faint, refreshing scent of pine brushed against her. Darren was seated in his wheelchair. His voice was icy as he suggested, "If dinner is what you want, Mr. Sorsby, how about the two of us dine together instead?"His words rende
The doctor adjusted his glasses again under her unwavering stare. "Excuse me, Madam?""Oh, it's nothing." Hannah smiled. "Thanks for everything you do, doctor. Mr. Winchester's legs are still bothering him. Does that mean he still can recover completely from his condition?"The doctor's hands trembled once more. He frowned. Then, after a brief pause, he said, "My skills are limited, Mrs. Winchester. I'm afraid I can't cure Mr. Winchester. If you don't believe in my expertise, you're welcome to consult a renowned specialist."His words seemed to carry his dissatisfaction toward her questioning of his abilities."Madam." Bryan nudged her softly. "We've consulted numerous experts when Mr. Winchester first had his accident. "Dr. Greydon received his medical degree from abroad. His achievements in the field of surgery are also exceptional." "I hope you're not offended by my casual remark, Dr. Greydon," Hannah said. Then, she exchanged a thoughtful glance with Darren. "If there
Hannah couldn't help but raise a brow. "What's wrong with my husband's legs, doctor?""Are you two waiting for his legs to deteriorate beyond repair before thinking of seeing a doctor?"The doctor was quite young. He had on a white coat and wore golden-rimmed glasses. While he appeared professional, his words were direct and blunt. "Judging from your clothes, you can't be short of money. So, what's the deal? Is having physical defects a trend now among the wealthy?"Darren clenched his fists. His voice was tight when he spoke. "Do you mean … does this mean my legs can still be saved?"He looked calm, but there was no hiding the tension and the faint hope in his eyes.Hannah laid a hand on his arm. She gave him a reassuring glance."It is possible." The doctor nodded. His confidence was unquestionable. He later explained as he wrote a prescription for Darren. "With a minor surgery, proper medication, and rehabilitation, you could be up and walking in no time."Darren's eyes g
It was Anthony, the second child of the family. Hannah glanced out the window. The moon hid behind dark clouds, and thunder rumbled with flashes of lightning from time to time. The strong wind howled. The rain was coming.The mountain road was also called "Death Route." It got that name because of its uneven surface and winding paths. There were steep cliffs on one side and a chasm on the other. There were many twists and turns. Many accidents happened on that road.Anyone who drove on Death Route during the day had to be careful. As such, racing on it in such a heavy rainstorm was almost unheard of.It was reckless.Hannah's expression darkened. She pulled her jacket tighter around her slender figure. "There's no need to wake Mr. Winchester up. I can handle it," she said coldly.Bryan hesitated for a moment. Then he said, "Madam, please let me drive." Rain began to pour at that moment. The wind howled, and the storm raged on. Occasional flashes of lightning appeared i
"Are you mad?" Anthony yelled. He finally showed a hint of fear. After all, he was facing death and in a clear line of danger. He reached out to grab the steering wheel. "Die if you want to, but don't take me out with you!""Sit still!" Hannah warned. She pushed his hand away and performed a difficult drift to successfully make the turn.However, Anthony did not have the time to admire her skillful maneuver. A sense of relief filled him instead. He had narrowly escaped death.Hannah did not look at him. She maintained her composure and kept up the pace. She skillfully made every dangerous turn ahead.Anthony's nerves were on edge the entire time. There was no guarantee Hannah would succeed every time she made a difficult turn to avoid danger.When they reached the finish line, the rain had stopped. The moon shone brightly behind the dark clouds. Upon seeing them approach, cheers erupted at the finish line.Anthony opened the car door and stepped out. His face was pale. His
Anthony remained silent. But his usually indifferent eyes suddenly seemed to light up with something."You're quite stubborn," Hannah said. She stopped after hitting him three times.Anthony refused to admit his mistake, but Hannah didn't seem angry. "Since you don't want to admit you were wrong, I'll give you time to think it over. Until you figure it out …" Hannah said calmly and trailed off.She shot him a faint smile and continued warmly, "Well, if you have any other activities in mind, you can come find me. I promise that we'll have a good time together."Anthony did not say a word. His hands curled into fists. He felt a slight burning pain as he tightened his grip. He was not used to such feelings.Hannah turned to the housekeeper, who had been frightened into silence. "Mrs. Tate, please make some chicken soup for Anthony. Don't forget to apply some ointment on his palm," Hannah instructed."Yes, Madam. Would you like a bowl for yourself as well? Why don't you go wash
"Mr. Welfare, Thomas has already done as you've asked. Please be patient for a little longer," Jerry Boyce said. He shuddered all over and did not seem to care about the pain in his forehead."You and your father should stay on your toes. You realize that once Darren gets back on his feet, I won't be the first one to die, right?" Robert said coldly. He calmly wiped his glasses and grinned. Jerry was covered in cold sweat. The threat sent chills down his spine. "Don't worry. Everything will go as you wish."After their encounter, Jerry learned just how ruthless the young man before him could be."Good. Now get lost."Robert smiled faintly and took a closer look at the cover of the gossip magazine. He tossed it into the waste-paper basket, effectively hiding the headline...."Hey Jane, take a look at this." Someone tugged at Jane Wilfare's sleeve. She was picking out a handbag at that moment. A strange expression flashed across her face. "Isn't that Darren and his wife?"