Despite feeling torn, Nile rose to his feet. Since he could not reach Jet, Nile was better off meeting with these people. Standing in front of the mirror, Nile straightened out his clothes and looked at his grizzled hair. He should make time to get his hair dyed. He put on his golden-framed glasses and walked out of the room. His secretary was there when he arrived outside the conference room. “Mr. Clayton, they are ready for you. “The woman belongs to the Frosts. The identity of the man remained unclear. “Can’t you find them in the system?” Nile was baffled. They would have a record of any influential and wealthy individuals who had been treated at Serenity 37.However, the system did not register the pair’s information. “They have not been here before, so we don’t have their details,” the secretary responded. Though confused, Nile did not dwell on the matter. He opened the door and walked into the conference room. “I heard you wanted to see me.” Nile did not
Kaze knew what Nile was up to. Nile wanted to fob Kaze and Snow off and transfer the patient out before they could get to her. “We only have one request. Just hand May over, and you’ll be safe.” Kaze’s cold voice boomed, and his piercing gaze fixed on Nile. Nile felt goosebumps. He looked up at Kaze, only to be overwhelmed by his terrifying presence. Kaze did not look at him any differently, but his gaze seemed to have a hold over Nile’s throat. “Who are you? Why should I listen to you? Though Nile sensed danger, it was unlikely Kaze and Snow would hurt him on his turf. Besides, the room was under surveillance. Nile’s security team would intervene the moment they were to try something. “You don’t need to know who I am. All you need to do is hand May over, or you will suffer the consequences.” Kaze narrowed his eyes dangerously at Nile. It was too easy to attack the guy. “What are you going to do to me? We are at Serenity 37. You’re no threat to me.“Even the
Kaze grabbed someone by the arm, dislocating it before stealing the individual’s weapon. Others were kicked out the door before they could launch an attack. The closed doors and windows were shattered. Everything happened too quickly, and the whole thing was over before it even started. Kaze pulled a chair over to sit down with grace. His presence left the crowd in awe. Armed with a gun, Kaze pointed the barrel at Nile. The situation that was favorable to Nile suddenly flipped. The smile on Nile’s face was replaced with horror. Nile tried to step away, but the weapon sealed his escape. It dawned on him that he had messed with the wrong guy. It never occurred to him that Kaze would be so powerful. It did not take Kaze much to bring down Nile’s security detail. “Who the hell are you?” Nile shakily sank his weight down, his voice trembling. He had no idea who Kaze was, but something did not sit right. “Where is she? When will she get here?” Kaze did not wast
“Jet acquired power through the Frosts, but he’s nothing if I take his place.” Snow’s reply reflected her decision. She had been reluctant to lead the family to be by Kaze’s side. However, her mother’s life was at stake now. Snow did not deserve her mother if she continued to run away from her family. Nile laughed out loud. “You’re just a woman. You can’t take over the family.” Nile chuckled in disdain. “You’re too dumb to believe anyway. Don’t forget that it takes leadership and connections to succeed in a family. “I have both qualities. What does Jet have over me?” Snow’s confidence stemmed from Kaze. With Kaze’s help, she could get anything. “So what? You’re just a woman. It’s only a matter of time before you marry off somewhere. Your family will abandon you either way.” Nile was still on Jet’s side. Rumor had it that Nile and Jet were business partners. It seemed like Nile’s loyalty lay in Jet. However, their friendship would not be the same again. Somethi
“I think Jet is calling the shots in the family now. Does this mean that May is dropped? The Bishops aren’t going to be too happy about this.” “Things can get complicated with these families. It’s just getting rid of one enemy for them.” “I didn’t expect drama at the institution. I better call someone up to give them the news.” An opportunity arose amid the chaos. Kaze was pleased with the outcome, but things were not looking up for Nile. “This is your plan. You caused a scene to attract everybody’s attention.” While Nile grilled Kaze, many whipped out their phones to take a video. Nile tried to stop them, but it was too late. Snow picked her mother up with a struggle and tried to leave. The moment was captured, but at least the public could see how devoted Snow was to her mother. “Things are messy at the Frosts. You have some kid trying to overturn the leader.”“Jet seems close to Serenity 37’s Nile.” “Jet was once one of the Riverbank Seven. Being an elite, he
Snow kicked herself for not being there for her mother when it mattered. “Alright. Let’s head back.” Kaze glanced back at Serenity 37.Things were chaotic there, but business would run as usual soon enough. Serenity 37 could just adopt a slight change in the rules, and the patients would swarm the place. Though Nile had upset Jet, giving up some resources would tide him over. Kaze’s mood turned sour. A man stood by a silver sedan, his expression devastated and helpless. In some ways, the man had made his choice. This was the reality of the average person. Their lives would be in safe hands, but they could stand to lose more. Without the power to change things, they had to adhere to the rules. As the car drove away, Kaze stopped thinking about the matter. Kaze could help the man, but his assistance would only fuel the vicious cycle. Faced with accusations, Nile fled back to his office. Back in the office, Nile ordered his people to kick the troublemakers out.
Though Jet was filled with rage, the only thing he could do was suck it up. After a good chew-out from Jet, Nile gave an account of the incident. Nile felt like he was the victim. Still, he had to answer to Jet. Kaze and Snow settled May in bed and hired an experienced carer to look after her. After what happened, Snow would not leave her mother out of her sight. She stayed by her side. Kaze requested some ingredients and created an antidote for May based on Venom’s recipe. “This should do it.” Kaze watched as the medicine was injected into the drip. May should feel better once the drug was flushed out of her system. She would still feel fatigued in the first few days, though. It would take time before she made a full recovery. “Thank you, Chairman Lee.” Snow looked at Kaze through her teary eyes, feeling nothing but gratitude. “I don’t want to hear this from you. Of course, I’m going to help when you’re in trouble.” Kaze gave Snow a look of assurance. “What d
“This happened because Jet harmed your mother, but things are looking up. You are with your mother now. Only good things will come now,” Kaze said composedly. The smile on his face showed that Kaze was in a good mood. “You’re right, Chairman Lee. It’s not my fault. I shouldn’t blame myself.” Snow felt bad at first, but Kaze’s assurance pointed her in the right direction. “Are you planning to head there alone, Chairman Lee? Should I make sure you have backup? “Buffy is more than happy to go with you, but she’s not involved in the matter whatsoever. Maybe it’s best that she doesn’t get sucked into this.” Snow wanted to find Kaze a companion, but no one seemed to be ideal. She would make the best companion, but she needed to be with her mother. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll sort it out.” Kaze glanced at May, and the latter seemed to be in better spirits. Still, May needed time to regain consciousness. “Stay here and look after your mother. Call me if you need anything. I
“I have pointed you in a direction. If you still can’t trust your team, you can go to the Viper’s Den.“There’s one thing, though. Don’t rely too heavily on the Viper’s Den, or your company will be left without secrets.” Kaze’s suggestion gave Snow assurance. She considered tapping into the Viper’s Den’s resources. However, Kaze warned her against excessive dependence. “Why did you say that, Chairman Lee? Will the Viper’s Den stab me in the back?” Surely, the Viper’s Den took orders from Kaze. The Viper’s Den would always be an ally so long as Kaze was the branch leader. “I just don’t want you to put too much faith in others. You find loyalty by developing your own team. Those who revere me will never trust you completely.” Kaze analyzed the situation. Snow ate her supper and looked at Kaze in confusion. “You can only count on the people you win over. You can’t trust anyone else, and that includes me.” Kaze would never hurt Snow. However, he hoped that she would fin
“As you said, all is in the past. What’s the point of dwelling on it?” Leah perked up. Such was life, but it took her too long to understand the harsh reality. She guessed things were just not meant to be. “I’ll think about what to get Kaze. Rest well. We’ll visit him in a few days.” Taking the matter seriously, Katie wanted to get gifts ready ahead of time to thank Kaze. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do too. I want to be in touch with the outside world. I don’t care what they have to say. This is not my fault. I won’t blame myself.” Leah wanted her phone back to contact her former friends. Ultimately, she needed to move forward instead of backward. She had to face and fight back the rumors with courage. It was the crucial step to kick trauma in the face. The abduction was kept hush-hush for the most part, but Katie’s frantic search for her daughter at the cocktail party did not go unnoticed. Hearing about the incident, the influential people were keen to find out
“When did Kaze start setting it all up? I get the feeling that everybody played into his hands right from the start, and he had controlled every step of the way.” Leah realized that Kaze was an amazing man. Nothing could go past his eyes. “I don’t know.” Katie feared someone like Kaze. She would not be caught dead near him. Even when grasping the situation, Katie dared not look into Kaze for fear she would be targeted. Katie was careful not to show her face around Kaze. For all she knew, Kaze might get back at her. “But he came to Butterworth alone. We met at the train station, and he helped me out of a bad situation.” Leah felt warm and cozy inside just remembering the events. They did not know each other then. Kaze was kind to help a stranger out. From then on, Kaze could do no wrong in Leah’s eyes. Leah befriended him and found him nice. Her interest in him grew. They also got along well. Her memories of Kaze were sweet. Anyone could hurt her in the world, but
Even though Katie was the CEO of the Northborn Group, many eyed her position. There were too many vying to replace her. Without dedicating herself to her work, Katie risked falling from grace. Katie had been too eager to find success to give her daughter the best life. Leah could not understand the pain Katie had to go through. “I understand it now. I explained the nature of my relationship with Kaze to you, but you just wouldn’t get it.” Leah stubbornly expressed herself in hopes her mother would understand. “I just couldn’t get it through my head that you have grown up. You make an easy target since you just graduated and have not stepped into the real world.” Katie would not always be there for Leah. Hence, Katie did her best to get rid of potential danger. Her overprotectiveness triggered Leah’s defiance. It was Katie’s fault for not realizing it sooner. “I’m not angry with you. I didn’t understand a mother’s good intentions, but I understand now. I will listen to
Leah’s face beamed, but her mother’s words threw her into a daze. In the end, she tried to squeeze a smile to assure her mother. However, Leah could not muster a smile. Those days lingered with her like a recurring bad dream. Whenever she recalled the incident, she felt trapped in that nightmare again. Leah wanted to let those memories fade away, but she just could not do it. She would get startled awake late at night and trace the scars across her skin. During moments like this, she resented Perry. Leah was rather cheerful during the day as if the past was behind her. However, it was simply a way for her to escape the pain. By the way Leah was behaving, Katie instantly regretted the question. She should not have probed. Even if they avoided the elephant in the room, they could pretend like nothing ever happened. Nevertheless, the act of asking brought up unsettling times for Leah. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked.” Katie gently held Leah, hoping to cast
When the ambulance door closed shut, Leah wailed once more. The reality of her rescue finally sank in, and she grasped that it was not just a dream. It was a pity that she did not have much time with Kaze. She longed to spend more time with him. “Don’t cry, young lady. You’ll get better soon enough. Don’t worry about the scars on your face. I can administer medicine to help you,” the doctor said while wiping her tears. “Thank you. I’m finally out of the hell hole.” Leah’s worst nightmare would be to be trapped in there forever. Kaze watched as the ambulance disappeared into the night. He then turned to face the villa. “Apprehend everybody in there. Perry should be punished for his crimes.” Kaze had not intended to go after the Duncans, but the family had crossed the line this time. Leah was an adorable and vulnerable woman. She was abused beyond recognition. It never occurred to Kaze that the Duncans could be so cruel. “Perry has passed out in there. Where should
With the secret out in the open, the housekeeper dropped his attitude. He pointed at the basement not too far away. “My employer is in there.” The housekeeper grimaced and kept his head down. Kaze laughed. Unaware of his impending doom, Perry was still living it up. It was absurd. Perry was playing with fire by hurting Leah. “About time you wise up.” Arthur smiled and patted the housekeeper’s face. He opened the door to the basement. Kaze walked to the bar counter and picked up the best bottle of champagne there. He fiddled with the bottle before carrying it to the basement. The other Viper’s Den members followed him. Kaze took a stride down the steps, to the basement. The noisy music was blasting before they reached the entry. Kaze was filled with a mix of emotions. Nevertheless, he said nothing. He opened the door and walked in. The light in the basement was bright, making everything perfectly clear. However, the people inside were not bothered by the
“You know him. It’s Perry Duncan, Leah’s ex-boyfriend.” Snow did not see the point of hiding the truth, so she laid everything out. “Leah must be feeling foul because she was unaware that she was being stalked. By the time she realized what was going on, she was taken into a vehicle. “We spotted the vehicle they departed in from the surveillance footage. They headed to the mountain up north.” Snow had a general idea of the location. “I got Arthur on the job. He’s putting up a team from the Viper’s Den.” Snow was uncertain of Kaze’s stance toward Leah, but now that she was made aware of the situation, the least she could do was help. Katie belonged to the Viper’s Den, so Snow was lending a hand to a friend in business. “Thank you. Please save my daughter.” Katie was nervous. The Viper’s Den was the people she could count on. “Arthur is good, but he’s slow. I’ll do it,” Kaze said. The whole thing was unrelated to him. Kaze was well within his right to stand on the si
Even so, Elsie was out to get Leah. Elsie could pick up on Perry’s delight when she took a swing at Leah. Poor Elsie was just trying to survive by catering to others. People like her learned to pick up social cues and read body language to please customers for money in return. Their income would double if their customers were happy. Leah was the obstacle. If the women could not get rid of her, they would lose their profit. They had no hard feelings for Leah, but they stood on opposing ends. “You should be fawning over Mr. Duncan, not begging me,” Elsie said while grabbing Leah’s hair to pull her up. Leah snatched Elsie’s wrist to try and break free. “Let me go. I never did anything to you.” Leah was no doormat. She did not want to cross these people or get involved with them. She still hoped that by waiting here, her prince would arrive to save her. However, all she got was a cruel beating, and she had enough. “This isn’t my fault. Blame Mr. Duncan for your cir