However, Miru would not give in so easily. She said harshly, “Aunt Fanny, I left Harrowdale the moment I was 18. I came to Lilyrose without the support of the family. No one knows about my family.“I built something of myself through my own effort so that I wouldn’t be made a sacrifice when the time came.” Clearly, she would not give up without a fight. “And? What have you made of yourself?” Fanny added sternly, “You’re the chairwoman of Lefteria Group and the kingpin of Melrose and Lilyrose. Is that something you should be proud of? “You’re too naïve, Miru. The Fowlers can very well wipe off your so-called achievement with just one word. “If I can be frank, what’s the point of being at the top in a small place like Lilyrose?” Fanny side-eyed Kaze and said in contempt, “Even a moocher holds sway in this city. “The limitation of this tiny city makes it impossible for you to achieve great success. “Your rule over the underworld is a joke.” Fanny held Lilyrose in di
Miru was overwhelmed by the feeling of despair. She knew Isabelle’s ruthlessness too well. No one could stop Isabelle once her mind was made up. The next minute, Miru could receive news of Alan’s passing. Would Miru watch Alan die? No. She owed her life to Alan for his undying guidance and support. Succumbing, Miru looked up and said blankly, “Aunt Fanny, I will meet—” A voice belonging to a man cut her off. “Kill Alan? You have to go through me.” Kaze suddenly spoke to Fanny, “Go back and tell Isabelle that Alan and I go way back. We are close. I often hang out at his place. “My friends are important to me. I won’t sit by and do nothing if anything happens to them. “If Alan dies, then I expect the Hidens to offer the lives of a hundred family members in return, and that number is small because of Miru and Albert.” The office fell silent. The silence was deafening. It was pin-drop silence. Even Miru cocked her head back and looked at Kaze in bafflement.
Still, Fanny had the means and power from the Harrowdale Hidens to behave in such a way. After all, she was born into privilege. She believed she was doing Kaze a favor just by talking to him. Kaze gripped the check and glanced at the number before letting out a faint smile. “Ma’am, this money isn’t enough for me to cut ties with Miru.” “Haha. Is the amount too little?” Fanny sneered, “I’m telling you now, boy. If Miru wasn’t here, you would have no right to talk to me, much less bargain for more. “I’m paying you 100 million dollars for playing the part of Miru’s boyfriend.“It’s hush money. Don’t go spreading rumors around. It’s embarrassing for the public to get the wrong idea that Miru is with a moocher like you. “I have said enough. “Take the check and get lost! I don’t ever want to see you. “Now!”Fanny pointed at the door without looking at Kaze. Kaze tore the check to bits and jeered, “Shutting me up with 100 million dollars? Aren’t you wealthy? “Does havi
Still holding the card against her face, Fanny shuddered in rage, her face ashen. Kaze had a point. Fanny was dead set on setting Miru up with Jerome to secure the mayoral position for her husband. Her husband, Jared Styles, was third in command at a governor’s office in some state down south. Yet, Jared wanted to join the race to become Lilyrose’s mayor. By right, Jared could get the position through his marriage to a member of the Harrowdale Hidens. Reality was a slap in the face, though. There were too many eyeing the mayoral position. The other competitors had just as impressive a resume as Jared. They were well-established, having friends in high places. Even Jared could not secure the position of mayor for sure. Meanwhile, the Fowlers expressed interest in uniting with the Hidens through marriage. Isabelle was on board with the idea too. Hence, Fanny came up with a way to gain the Fowlers’ support through the marriage. She believed Miru and Jerome were mad
“My loyalty is with the Hidens. “I won’t tolerate you since you’re an enemy to the Hidens.” Agar took a step forward. “No!” Startled, Miru exclaimed. The Hidens hired the best of the best as protection. Miru was familiar with Agar’s strength. “Get out of the way, Miru.” Fanny yanked Miru back from getting any closer to the conflict and looked indifferently at Kaze. “Agar, killing him will make your hands dirty. Just give him something to think about.” The way Fanny saw it, Kaze was too tactless to interfere in the Hidens’ affairs. He deserved some punishment. Agar got close to Kaze in a blink of an eye. “Yes, ma’am,” Agar responded emotionlessly. From their first encounter at the auction, Agar never took Kaze seriously. If Kaze had not gotten involved in the Hidens’ affairs again, Agar would not have wasted his talent on the likes of him. Wham! At the fling of his arm, Agar delivered a tumultuous blow to Kaze’s chest. Kaze would need to be bedridde
The Hidens only hired the best of the best for their protection. Agar might be advanced in age, but he once ruled the streets of Harrowdale back in the day. He remained unchallenged. Yet, Kaze delivered a slap so powerful that Agar crashed into the filing cabinet. If the Hidens had not witnessed the incident with their eyes, they would not have believed it either. Fanny grimaced harder. Kaze’s snob comment was meant for Agar and her. She had just signed a 100-million-dollar check for Kaze, only for Kaze to throw a centurion card worth 10 billion dollars at her face. “I was wondering where you got your cocky attitude from. So you can fight. You have some nerve interfering in my family’s matters.” Fanny said menacingly, “Still, I need to ask. Who are you to fight back?” Kaze replied callously, “What? Are the Harrowdale Hidens so entitled that I’m not allowed to fight back?” “Kaze is right, Aunt Fanny. This is not a fair match.” Unable to stand by anymore, Miru we
Agar pulled a punch, the blow rolling in the wind, toward Kaze’s cheek. “It has been years since I was hit in the face. “For that reason, I’m going to pulverize yours!” “Oh, really?” Kaze chuckled and took a step forward while launching his hand. Agar’s eyes widened. He realized that Kaze’s attack came on stronger than before. More devastatingly, he could not dodge the attack either. “Smack!” Agar was dumbstruck. Without time to unpack, he flew back and crashed into the wall with a loud thud. “I guess you have not learned your lesson, old fart. You’re still not taking this fight seriously. “Maybe you should put more effort next time.” Looking at the handprint on Agar’s other cheek, Kaze said with a sarcastic smile. “You!” Agar struggled to get back on his feet, his hand reaching his hot cheek. Kaze’s taunting only turned the shock in Agar’s eyes into rage. Why? Why could he not evade Kaze’s blow? He was on the Hidens’ payroll, once undefeated on th
“Smack!” Agar was sent flying in less than three seconds. “Smack!” “Smack!” The scene was on repeat. Agar kept getting back on his feet and charging toward Kaze, only to be knocked back. He tried every angle possible and heightened his speed of attack. Kaze remained unchanged, always one step ahead at hitting Agar in the face. That one maneuver was all Kaze needed to defeat his rivals. Reuniting with the floor once more, Agar was bloodied all over. His white beard was stained in red. Even Miru had enough. She said, “Stop Agar, Aunt Fanny. If you keep sulking about it, Kaze might kill him.” Fanny was outraged. Sulking? The word struck a nerve in her. Embarrassed and furious, Agar wanted to sink into the ground. He knew that today’s incident would ruin him. “Kaze…” Agar struggled to get up, his expression complicated. Kaze raised his hand, ready to whip another slap. “Stop!” Agar shouted and put both hands up in surrender. “I won’t fight you anym