Nicholas paused and asked, “Who do you want gone?”There was an eerie silence before Yale uttered heavily, “The third heir of Hamertons, Zephyr Hamerton!”There was an icy glint in Nicholas’ eyes.“Come to Centrolis if you’re free. We’ll talk in detail when we meet!”…Cordelia looked at Linda, who was curled up on the bed, and could not help feeling the pinch in her nose as she patted her back softly.Since they came back, Linda had not said a word. She holed herself in the bedroom once she entered the house, and her eyes seemed to have lost their focus. She looked like a husk where her soul was sucked away.“Linda, you must be hungry?” Cordelia tried everything she could to strike up a conversation. “Seth and Marcus are outside. I’ll get them to make you something, okay?”Linda blinked, and a teardrop rolled off her eye.Cordelia felt her heart clench.The Linda she knew was feisty and carefree, like a seagull cruising through wind and riding on waves. It was as if there wa
Nicholas had been sentenced to eight years of jail time for intentional assault to protect Linda.Linda had gone to visit him in prison countless times during her university years, but the warden’s response would always be a cold, “He doesn’t want to see you”.Her last visit was when she graduated from university. She had gotten the company offer and wanted him to be the first person she shared the happy news with.…As she anxiously waited outside the visiting room, she heard the heavy noise of the metal door. Her tears were uncontrollable when Nicholas sat on the other side of the glass that separated them.This was his first and last sentence to her. “Don’t cry. It’s not worth it to cry over someone like me.”He looked at her deeply after that before getting up and going behind the metal door.Linda slammed the glass with all her might, and the prison warden stopped her. The news came from the inside a while later. The warden told her solemnly that Nicholas had asked her not
Zephyr wanted to pat his shoulder, but his hand froze in the air. He only put it down after a while.…Cordelia lay in his embrace when he went home that night as they slacked off on the bed.It was late, but she could not sleep. The dazzling stars shone through the photo frame in the dark room. She looked into the night sky. It felt like it had been forever since she could admire the night so peacefully.Knowing that she was warm, Zephyr fanned her while staring at her beautiful side profile with his head low. His heart jolted.He gulped, and a subtle surge of warmth rose.Cordelia looked at the sweat on the tip of his nose. She felt embarrassed that he would keep the air conditioning off to save money. “Hubby, turn on the air conditioner if you’re warm. It doesn’t cost much.”“Hmm… No need.” He licked his lips.The warmth they meant was completely different.Zephyr took a deep breath. He had his eyes on her fair neck and slightly opened small lips. He smiled, and his hand na
Zephyr’s expression changed. He said softly, “It’s all in the past… What else do criminals do when they’re together if not fight?”“Did you hit him?”“Hmm, you can say so.”Cordelia nodded.Everyone who was in prison before was abusive. It made sense that they were troubled mentally. Just like Nicholas, who always wanted to be on the top, would naturally be upset that Marcus hit him.However, Zephyr was different. Apart from his serious face and the fact that he hardly talked, to her, there was nothing wrong with him.Cordelia’s big, beautiful eyes were bright. She looked at her husband in silence. The more she looked, the more she thought she got herself a treasure.Her tiny hand caressed his chiseled face. He did not have the time to shave, so his stubs made her itchy.“Why are you staring at me?” Zephyr had an alluring voice as he patted her head.“Nothing,” said Cordelia softly. “I just realized not only is my husband fair, but he’s forgiving too!“Nicholas did that to yo
Josiah nodded firmly.“I was fishing at a creek last week. I happened to see him. I was shocked! Z, Marcus really looks like you…”Zephyr’s expression was turning grimmer.“But apart from your looks, there’s nothing else that’s similar between the two of you.” Josiah continued. “I was suspicious, so I got someone to investigate. I can’t believe we found out that Marcus didn’t die at all.“He offended a few gangs in Jangasas after getting out of prison. He even had a finger chopped off for not paying his debt. He was chased out of Jangasas.”Zephyr said nothing while Fredric widened his eyes in shock.“So…” Fredric snapped back to his senses. “Does that have something to do with Nicholas?”“Z! Perhaps he found out from the beginning that you’re not Marcus!”A fierce gleam flashed through Zephyr’s eyes.That was what he was worried about. He noticed that Nicholas was weird from the few encounters before, so perhaps he knew something.Josiah licked his lips and stuttered, “C-Can
The person in the photos shocked him!‘Marcus?’Nicholas snapped his head up to look at Yale. His eyes filled with disbelief.“What, you’ve met this person before?” Yale sneered.Nicholas put down the photos. His facial expression remained the same.“This is the man I want you to kill.” Yale stared into his eyes. “Memorize his face, N. Don’t kill the wrong man!”“What do you mean?” Yale’s laughter was strange. He laughed for a long time, so long that Nicholas almost lost his patience.“Okay, I’ll stop beating around the bush,” Yale said coldly. “This man is Zephyr Hamerton, the third son of the Hamertons! My grandfather had just flown to North Armania to meet a few dignitaries. He doesn’t have time for his family… This is the best time to do it!”Nicholas frowned.Never had he thought Cordelia’s husband was Zephyr!From the few encounters lately, she did not seem to know his real identity, yet she protected him. If he had really hurt Zephyr, perhaps that woman would have ma
Nicholas stared straight at Yale. He said nothing for a while.“I’ll handle grandpa’s suspicion,” said Yale while looking at him. “Nicholas, all you need to do is to kill the people for me. Let me handle the rest!”Nicholas was sure that he also wanted him to kill the old man, judging by his sneering tone.Yale got Marcus to leave. Subsequently, he took out a land plan and circled the best location in the center of Centrolis.“This place is crowded. It’s considered the golden area.” He chuckled. “After the deal is completed, I’ll talk to the relevant departments, and this piece of land will be yours! What do you think?”Nicholas pursed his lips but said nothing.Yale patted his shoulder. “Nicholas, you’re ambitious, brutal, and merciless. I like that about you!“This is beneficial to you and me, so please think about it carefully!”Nicholas looked at the land plan Yale’s finger pointed. The surface was huge, and the appreciation potential was great. It was too humble to be call
Nicholas had never thought that a man with such high social status like Zephyr would have such an ordinary side to him.One of the account entries was probably wrong, as Cordelia talked to Zephyr with a stern expression. The latter, more than six feet in height, hung his head like an elementary school kid who had done something wrong.The scene astonished Nicholas.Zephyr was just a homey husband when he was with Cordelia. He was scared of his wife, would get nagged by his wife, and had to give her the money he earned—like millions of men in the world, he did not have much say in the household.He did not long for the spot which tens of thousands looked up upon him in the past, but he was happy with days that he had to bow down to his wife.Shocked, Nicholas tightened his fists. He went closer. The cafe’s door was opened, and the husband and wife’s conversation could be heard clearly.“Darling, just listen to me. The price should be adjusted lower!”“But we’re selling good stuff