Duke’s voice faltered and the room fell silent. The only sound was the rustle of wind outside the window.Adina stared at him. “You disappeared on our wedding day,” she said slowly. “He came to the Winters family’s mansion pretending to be you. He lived in your house, was a husband to your wife, was a father to your children, took charge of your company… You were chased out here, having to carry responsibilities that were not yours...”Her voice rang in Duke’s ears. A fractured memory surfaced in his mind. The past emerged in his thoughts one by one, like fleeting scenes from a train window.Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.“Duke, what’s wrong?” Adina rushed toward him and took his arm.“The back of my head hurts...” Duke closed his eyes. “A lot of repressed memories… but I can’t remember anything…”“Don’t worry…,” said Adina softly. She held him. “You only need to remember that you are my husband, a father to your children, and you have a full and happy family. So, hu
He had seen these four children before, but it had been less intense than them appearing simultaneously before him in this way.He slowly regained his senses, stood up and walked towards them. “I’m sorry I neglected my duties and couldn’t protect you all, just like how I couldn’t protect your mommy.”“Daddy, you meanie!” sobbed Melody as he lunged into Duke’s arms and burst into tears.Harold was also almost choking on his tears. “Daddy, will you disappear again like before?”Duke shook his head. “No, it’ll never happen again.” He would never leave his wife and his children in danger ever again. George’s eyes were a little red. “Daddy, when can we go home?”“We need to wait till I settle things here first, then Daddy will take you all home.” Duke scooped the children up in his arms in one sweeping motion.Alden squirmed. “Daddy, Mommy’s been through a lot, you have to treat Mommy better from now on.”Duke stroked his head. “Of course!”Seeing her husband hugging the children,
“How many subordinates does Elder Maurice have?” Terry asked coldly.Isabelle clenched her teeth and said in a low voice, “eight high-ranking officers, twenty-three mid-ranking officers, and over two hundred military personnel.”Duke’s eyes turned cold. The number of people were only one-third of the people on the list Adina had given him. It seemed that some people were very good at hiding themselves.These people were always ready to attack him, it was time for him to take them all down. “In three days, bring these people to the Soux River. I will bring Elder Maurice with me,” he said icily. “Deal.” Isabelle nodded.It was not until the man’s figure had disappeared into the entrance of the mansion did a deep hatred surface in her eyes. She was the eldest daughter of the Black Party’s head, there was no way she would willingly serve under someone else.She got into her car and took out her cell phone. “Gather my subordinates, we will meet at Soux River in three days. Remembe
Mavice’s hand pressed down on his arm. “No, I just thought you resemble someone...,” she said softly.Duke pulled his arm away from her grip, avoiding Mavice’s touch.“I’m sorry, I forgot myself.” Mavice looked away and lowered her head to take a sip of coffee. She regained her composure.The rest of their meeting went smoothly. The two agreed on the venue of meeting, their course of action and how to perform the handover.“I shall see you the day after tomorrow then, Queen Mavice. Goodbye.” Duke bowed respectfully, put on his mask and left the opera house.Mavice stood at the stairs, watching as his back slowly disappeared from the entrance, and tears suddenly pricked her eyes again.It was shocking to think that the newly appointed Black Party leader’s face matched so strikingly with her late husband’s. Even the scar on his face was the same.When she was thirty years old, her husband had died protecting her. Her husband’s face from so long ago had always stayed in her mind. H
Wearing a mask for a photograph was quite inappropriate. So, Duke raised his hands and took off the black mask he had on.The cameraman crouched down and took a photograph. He felt a penetrating gaze sweep over him.A long scar stretched across the face of the man in the camera, making his face look terrifying and ferocious. Even his eyes shone with a cold glare that was as sharp as daggers.‘These eyes... This man looks like someone I saw on TV. The leader of Black Party, Terry North, had the same eyes! He was even dubbed the Eye of Death by netizens.’“Ahh!” The cameraman screamed and ran away, hugging his camera for dear life.The family of six looked at each other in shock.“Daddy scared the cameraman away.” Harold blinked. “The scar on Daddy’s face is a little scary. I was startled when I first saw it, too.”Melody nodded. “If I had magic, I could make the scar disappear.”George said coolly, “Medical technology is quite advanced now, we could find a plastic surgeon later
In two days, the chaotic Hestia Border settled down. The quieter it was, the more anxious people felt. There were hardly any pedestrians in the streets.The sun shone brightly, and the people set up patrol by the Soux River inside Hestia Border.Terry stood on the riverside. A golden mask covered his face, and his cloak rustled in the wind. It all made him seem very imposing.Beside him were Elder Maurice and Elder Dorien, all tied up. The two of them had been tortured in prison for five days, and they had long lost their initial edge.Louis walked to him from the roadside to report. “Boss, Isabelle is approaching with company.”Dozens of military vehicles slowly arrived, stirring up a cloud of dust. In the frontmost vehicle sat Isabelle. She pushed open the door and set her black leather shoe-clad feet on the ground.She touched the gun holstered at her lower back. She sneered inwardly, but when she looked up, all her mirth disappeared when he saw Elder Maurice heavily injured
“But you still fell for the trap, didn’t you?”Isabelle smiled brightly/ She took a step closer and raised her hand to take off Duke’s mask.Duke grabbed her wrist before it reached his face. “Miss Isabelle, do you really think that you have won?”Isabelle smirked. “Of course I have.”The two hundred officers here were all her men, and she carried more than one weapon. There was simply no way she would lose. She chuckled. “Terry, I fancy you. If you obediently become mine, I will consider letting you live.”“And if I refuse?” Duke asked coldly.“Then I’ll tie you up, tear down your willpower and torture your spirit until you give in…”Before she could even finish her sentence, the roaring sound of propellers resounded over the Soux River.Isabelle raised her head and saw the unexpected arrival of dozens of fighter jets. The atmosphere grew tense.Several people also appeared on the high ground south of the Soux River.The person who stood at the frontlines was a woman. Her
Mavice, in a creamy-white trench coat, walked to him. She smiled. “This cooperation between us has gone exceptionally well. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”She knew that no matter who Terry would have approached, they would have been more than willing to join hands with him. But he had chosen her. ‘This achievement will allow me to stay as a queen longer. My daughter’s status will rise as well.’Duke said calmly, “The main rebels of the Black Party have been captured, but there are still some remaining in the main city. So, Your Majesty, please deal with it in person.”It would only be a success if Mavice took it into her own hands. Mavice smiled. “The people in the palace have prepared a dinner banquet. After this place is… cleaned up, would you mind joining us for dinner?”Duke raised his wrist and glanced at the time.He had planned to finish everything here before sunset today and officially quit the Black Party. “Mr. North, I would like you to teach me a thin