โBoss, Iโm sorry. I couldnโt stop him. That bastard took off with a huge amount of money,โ Omar reported, his face twisted with frustration as he addressed Ezra.Ezra didnโt react immediately. This kind of problem was nothing new, and the solution was simple. Yet, Omar insisted that he handle it personally.โOur accountant stole a hundred million, boss. He also took some important documents thatโโโShut up, Omar!โ Ezraโs voice cut through like a blade, stopping him mid-sentence. โThereโs a reason youโre my right-hand man! This is a minor issue. Do I have to figure it out on my own?!โEzraโs rage crackled in the air like a brewing storm. If he ever found someone as efficient and loyal as Omar, heโd likely fire himโand kill him for good measure. Right now, his patience was wearing dangerously thin.Sleep. Thatโs all he wanted. A rare, peaceful sleep. But his useless subordinates had disturbed him for something this trivial.He had been sleeping soundly just moments agoโno, not just slee
Ezraโs patience had long since worn thin.Anger wasn't the only thing burning inside himโhatred, fury, and an insatiable need to make the bastard in front of him suffer clawed at his insides. His jaw clenched, his grip tightening around the hilt of his knife as he stared at the trembling man on his knees.Ezra had blown up the yacht, expecting the traitor to go down with it. But somehow, against all odds, the f*cker survived. He shouldโve been dead. Ezra made sure of it. Yet here he was, caught again by his men after trying to escape. The audacity.The cellar was deathly silent, save for the ragged breathing of the man before him. The air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt flesh, the walls stained with proof of Ezraโs past punishments.His voice was a quiet storm when he spoke.โYouโve got some nerve.โ His tone was dangerously calm. โIs life so meaningless to you that you keep throwing it away?โThe manโs whole body trembled, his face already bruised and bloodied from the bea
The first thing Khione Louelita saw when she opened her eyes was a blurred vision of a grand chandelier, its golden fixtures reflecting the soft glow of warm light. Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to shut her eyes again, but they wouldnโt stay closed.A sharp, throbbing pain spread through her skull. She groaned, a weak sound escaping her lips as her senses slowly returned. The ache in her body was overwhelmingโevery limb, every inch of her skin felt battered.She tried to move, pushing herself up from the bed, but the moment she did, her muscles screamed in protest. She collapsed back onto the plush mattress with a pained gasp. Her hands roamed over her body instinctively, fingers tracing over the source of the pain.She felt something on her nose. Oxygen tubing.Her brows furrowed as she reached up and yanked it off. Her breath hitched slightly as she tried to remember what had happened. A bullet. Noโmultiple bullets.The fog in her mind started to clear. She sucked in a breath
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Do you have a death wish? Damn it! I went through all this trouble to save you, and now you're just trying to get yourself killed?!" The man's furious voice rang out, filled with frustration and urgency as he glared at Louelita. "You owe me your life, so you better stay alive and stay with me!"Louelita froze at the sudden outburst, her body stiffening in the stranger's strong grip. It wasn't just his loud voice that had her attention but also the striking features of his face-sharp yet refined, his expression hardened by irritation and anger. The contrast between his handsome, almost gentle appearance and his current rage was startling.Before she could react, the man turned to the trembling truck driver. "You! Get the hell out of here before I decide to crush your truck to dust!" His voice was filled with a dangerous authority, his sharp red eyes gleaming with a barely contained fury.The driver, already pale with fear, wasted no time. He h
โI canโt let other people see me, especially those who know meโฆ Iโll only put them in danger! I will drag them into this mess, and I cannot bear that in my conscience.โ She said, barely whisper.Louelitaโs voice wavered, her emotions cracking through every syllable. Her fists clenched tightly on her lap, nails pressing into her skin as she trembled. Her vision blurred with tears, but she didnโt care. A bitter sob escaped her throat as she shook her head, her mind spiraling into the depths of despair.โYou shouldnโt have saved meโฆ Those who want me dead will look for my body. They will make sure Iโm dead.โThe words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. It didnโt matterโno one cared about her well-being anyway. Only Sister Faith was concerned about her well-being. That was the only person she worried about, the only person whose life she could not afford to ruin.Her shoulders shuddered as she buried her face into her hands, muffling her cries. The overwhelming tide of help
Ezraโs patience was wearing thin. He was pissed at everyone.For the past few days, Louelita had been deliberately avoiding him, and he knew exactly why. Omar. His right-hand man had a way of saying things that made the woman uncomfortable. She was keeping her distanceโnot out of resentment, but because she wanted him to focus on his work.But how could he concentrate when she was constantly in his thoughts?โF*ck,โ he muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.The maids had been talking. He overheard them whispering about how Louelita had accidentally listened in on his conversation with Omar the day before.And now, she probably thought she was a burden to him.Ezra clenched his jaw. Thatโs not true. If anything, she was the reason he worked harder. The thought of herโher quiet presence, her careful way of speaking, her scent that lingered in his bedroom even when she wasn't thereโmotivated him to finish his work quickly and return
Louelita bit the inside of her lower lip, her discomfort evident as the maids and guards continued to stand before her, waiting for her order. Their expectant gazes made her shift uneasily in her chair. Why were they treating her like she was made of delicate glass, something that could shatter with the slightest mishandling?She just wanted a safe place to rest, heal, and regain her strength. But Ezra had given her so much more. He was treating her as if she were royalty. The maids fluttered around her, their eyes lowered in deference. Even the armed men who guarded the estate seemed ready to bend over backward for her, waiting for the slightest hint of a command to fulfill. It was overwhelming.With a sigh, Louelita finally waved a hand, dismissing them wordlessly. She didnโt need anything. She just wanted to be left alone, but they hesitated, still lingering nearby as if afraid to turn their backs on her.Ezra must have given them strict orders.It had been Ezra himself who had car
โBOSS! The Queen is calling out your name!โ The man spoke urgently, fingers brushing the earpiece behind his ear as his sharp gaze swept the surroundings. He had been present at the auction, watching, waiting, and anticipating any move from their enemies.Across the dimly lit room, the one they called boss slowly lifted his gaze. His steel-gray eyes, cold and unyielding, gleamed like sharpened blades in the dark.โKill everyone inside that goddamn house,โ he ordered, his voice like ice. โIโm bringing my Queen back to our palaceโwithout a single scar.โโRoger, Boss!โ his men responded through the earpiece, their voices filled with unwavering loyalty.The mafia boss, his expression unreadable, took a slow, deliberate glance around, his blood boiling with rage within. How dare they? They had taken his Queenโhis atonement, his salvationโfrom him. She belonged at his sideโsafe, untouched, and revered. Yet these fools had dared to lay their filthy hands on her.Unforgivable.โBoss! Theyโr
Louelita bit the inside of her lower lip, her discomfort evident as the maids and guards continued to stand before her, waiting for her order. Their expectant gazes made her shift uneasily in her chair. Why were they treating her like she was made of delicate glass, something that could shatter with the slightest mishandling?She just wanted a safe place to rest, heal, and regain her strength. But Ezra had given her so much more. He was treating her as if she were royalty. The maids fluttered around her, their eyes lowered in deference. Even the armed men who guarded the estate seemed ready to bend over backward for her, waiting for the slightest hint of a command to fulfill. It was overwhelming.With a sigh, Louelita finally waved a hand, dismissing them wordlessly. She didnโt need anything. She just wanted to be left alone, but they hesitated, still lingering nearby as if afraid to turn their backs on her.Ezra must have given them strict orders.It had been Ezra himself who had car
Ezraโs patience was wearing thin. He was pissed at everyone.For the past few days, Louelita had been deliberately avoiding him, and he knew exactly why. Omar. His right-hand man had a way of saying things that made the woman uncomfortable. She was keeping her distanceโnot out of resentment, but because she wanted him to focus on his work.But how could he concentrate when she was constantly in his thoughts?โF*ck,โ he muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.The maids had been talking. He overheard them whispering about how Louelita had accidentally listened in on his conversation with Omar the day before.And now, she probably thought she was a burden to him.Ezra clenched his jaw. Thatโs not true. If anything, she was the reason he worked harder. The thought of herโher quiet presence, her careful way of speaking, her scent that lingered in his bedroom even when she wasn't thereโmotivated him to finish his work quickly and return
โI canโt let other people see me, especially those who know meโฆ Iโll only put them in danger! I will drag them into this mess, and I cannot bear that in my conscience.โ She said, barely whisper.Louelitaโs voice wavered, her emotions cracking through every syllable. Her fists clenched tightly on her lap, nails pressing into her skin as she trembled. Her vision blurred with tears, but she didnโt care. A bitter sob escaped her throat as she shook her head, her mind spiraling into the depths of despair.โYou shouldnโt have saved meโฆ Those who want me dead will look for my body. They will make sure Iโm dead.โThe words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. It didnโt matterโno one cared about her well-being anyway. Only Sister Faith was concerned about her well-being. That was the only person she worried about, the only person whose life she could not afford to ruin.Her shoulders shuddered as she buried her face into her hands, muffling her cries. The overwhelming tide of help
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Do you have a death wish? Damn it! I went through all this trouble to save you, and now you're just trying to get yourself killed?!" The man's furious voice rang out, filled with frustration and urgency as he glared at Louelita. "You owe me your life, so you better stay alive and stay with me!"Louelita froze at the sudden outburst, her body stiffening in the stranger's strong grip. It wasn't just his loud voice that had her attention but also the striking features of his face-sharp yet refined, his expression hardened by irritation and anger. The contrast between his handsome, almost gentle appearance and his current rage was startling.Before she could react, the man turned to the trembling truck driver. "You! Get the hell out of here before I decide to crush your truck to dust!" His voice was filled with a dangerous authority, his sharp red eyes gleaming with a barely contained fury.The driver, already pale with fear, wasted no time. He h
The first thing Khione Louelita saw when she opened her eyes was a blurred vision of a grand chandelier, its golden fixtures reflecting the soft glow of warm light. Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to shut her eyes again, but they wouldnโt stay closed.A sharp, throbbing pain spread through her skull. She groaned, a weak sound escaping her lips as her senses slowly returned. The ache in her body was overwhelmingโevery limb, every inch of her skin felt battered.She tried to move, pushing herself up from the bed, but the moment she did, her muscles screamed in protest. She collapsed back onto the plush mattress with a pained gasp. Her hands roamed over her body instinctively, fingers tracing over the source of the pain.She felt something on her nose. Oxygen tubing.Her brows furrowed as she reached up and yanked it off. Her breath hitched slightly as she tried to remember what had happened. A bullet. Noโmultiple bullets.The fog in her mind started to clear. She sucked in a breath
Ezraโs patience had long since worn thin.Anger wasn't the only thing burning inside himโhatred, fury, and an insatiable need to make the bastard in front of him suffer clawed at his insides. His jaw clenched, his grip tightening around the hilt of his knife as he stared at the trembling man on his knees.Ezra had blown up the yacht, expecting the traitor to go down with it. But somehow, against all odds, the f*cker survived. He shouldโve been dead. Ezra made sure of it. Yet here he was, caught again by his men after trying to escape. The audacity.The cellar was deathly silent, save for the ragged breathing of the man before him. The air was thick with the scent of blood and burnt flesh, the walls stained with proof of Ezraโs past punishments.His voice was a quiet storm when he spoke.โYouโve got some nerve.โ His tone was dangerously calm. โIs life so meaningless to you that you keep throwing it away?โThe manโs whole body trembled, his face already bruised and bloodied from the bea
โBoss, Iโm sorry. I couldnโt stop him. That bastard took off with a huge amount of money,โ Omar reported, his face twisted with frustration as he addressed Ezra.Ezra didnโt react immediately. This kind of problem was nothing new, and the solution was simple. Yet, Omar insisted that he handle it personally.โOur accountant stole a hundred million, boss. He also took some important documents thatโโโShut up, Omar!โ Ezraโs voice cut through like a blade, stopping him mid-sentence. โThereโs a reason youโre my right-hand man! This is a minor issue. Do I have to figure it out on my own?!โEzraโs rage crackled in the air like a brewing storm. If he ever found someone as efficient and loyal as Omar, heโd likely fire himโand kill him for good measure. Right now, his patience was wearing dangerously thin.Sleep. Thatโs all he wanted. A rare, peaceful sleep. But his useless subordinates had disturbed him for something this trivial.He had been sleeping soundly just moments agoโno, not just slee
Ezra sat on the plush leather couch in his dimly lit office, the soft glow of the television reflecting off his sharp features. The news broadcast droned on in the background, but his focus was on the woman lying unconscious in the bedroom next to his.It was Omar who had insisted he watch the report. The screen showed an elderly nun in an interview, her face etched with worry."She's been missing for weeks now," the nun said, her voice trembling. She was a kind and quiet girl. She was always so polite and grateful. She never spoke of enemies. I helped raise her along with my sisters in the orphanage. We only want her to come home safely."Ezra exhaled through his nose and turned off the TV. So, someone had reported her missing. That was expected. But what truly disturbed him was what the nun had said-Louelita had no known enemies.That was a lie.Someone had tried to kill her.And Ezra intended to find out who.Omar, his right-hand man, remained standing by the doorway, his expressio
Louelita had no idea she was trapped in a nightmare.She stood frozen, staring at a heartbreaking scene from her pastโher younger self, a frail little girl, curled up on the cold, filthy floor, shielding her bruised body from the people who were supposed to love and protect her."Tatay, Nanayโฆ please, stopโฆโ The five-year-old sobbed, her tiny hands trembling as she tried to block the next blow.At such a tender age, she had already learned the cruelest truths about the world. The father who was supposed to guide her was nothing more than an addict who, whenever intoxicated by drugs, lashed out at her and her mother. And her mother? She was a gambler who, whenever she lost, directed her fury at her child.The poor girl had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Her body was so thin, so fragile, that if she were to break, there would be nothing left of her. The bruises that marred her skin were proof of the merciless treatment she endured. Her parents, if they could even be considered such, h