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
Nicholas chuckled and wore a look of innocence.“Isn’t this a cafe? What else could I do here?”Zephyr watched him carefully, not missing even a subtle expression. The man was not as aggressive as he was the last time, but a conclusion could not be easily made if he was here with a kind or malicious intention.Zephyr went back to sling an arm around Cordelia’s shoulder, softly asking her to go home first and telling her he would take care of this.Cordelia was quite worried but could only walk out slowly upon his insistence. After Cordelia left, Zephyr looked at Nicholas with a ghost of a smirk.“Afternoon tea set, right? I’ll prepare it for you!”“Can you do it?”“Why not? I’m the boss here.”Zephyr returned to the back of the counter. His movements were practiced, but the pots and pans made a lot of noise. It made Nicholas wonder whether he really did need to make so much ruckus or whether he was trying to drive him away with it.A while later, a rather exquisitely plated
"Only Morpheus and Sephy aren't like that. They respect and understand me. Sephy told me once, 'One's appearance doesn't indicate anything. A clean heart is what truly matters!'"Rebecca chuckled dismissively."You're a psychologist, yet you fail to grasp this," Wynn said coldly. "Actually, I pity you. You could have stepped out, yet you insist on dwelling on the trivialities."Morpheus has psychological barriers, a consequence of returning from the battlefield. No one has cured his PTSD except Sephy... It shows that a true psychologist is never just a title."What truly heals everything is love!"-One particular morning a year later, sunlight streamed through sheer cream curtains onto the floor.Persephone was sound asleep when she suddenly felt something pressing down on her... Then, Morpheus' strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. She drowsily opened her eyes to find him sealing her lips with heated kisses.Over the year, his kissing skills had improved, and Persepho
With Morpheus' involvement, the police didn't slack off and quickly found Rebecca.That day, Rebecca was preparing to escape from a small port. The boat she had found was an illegally operating one.As she was about to board, piercing sirens sounded nearby.The boat owner, enraged upon hearing the sirens, grabbed Rebecca by her hair and pushed her into the water.Rebecca screamed for help, but he roared, "I didn't expect you to be sent by the cops!""I'm not..." Rebecca choked on water. "Sir, let's leave now. Your boat is fast. As long as we reach the open sea, no one will catch you!""Dream on!" The boat owner wanted to strangle her. "Do you not understand? These sirens are from the royal guards! Who did you bitch provoke?"Rebecca was dumbfounded. Being a foreigner, she naturally didn't understand the local affairs in the Southeast Aciatic region.The police and royal guards quickly caught up, armed, and surrounded them.Rebecca turned pale and trembled all over, her gaze gr
"You had no choice on the battlefield."Persephone looked at him with her crystal eyes. There was a magical power in them. Even if a devil was tearing him apart, her eyes would always bring him back to light.She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Though you killed your father, you saved the country.""Do you really… think so?"She nodded. "You're not at fault. He was the one who made a mistake. You were just fulfilling your job as a general to protect the country."But I also understand that he's your father who brought you up, after all. You guys must have had happy days before that happened, right?"Morpheus held his head low in silence."You did well as the protector of the country," she said softly. "But as a son, you can secretly pay homage to him."Persephone held his hand. "Reconcile with your father, Morpheus. You'll also reconcile with yourself by doing that, okay?"He was stunned for a long time and felt a lump in his throat.-Morpheus stayed with Persephone in the
"No way!" Christopher smirked, glancing at Morpheus. "To him, you're his only princess! I just got lucky for the princess carry, thanks to you!""Yeah, at least you're self-aware!" Persephone nodded, rubbing her chin."We've known each other for so long! What kind of person do you think I am?" Christopher laughed. "I can be a bit shameless at times, but..."But upon learning that the one she loved was the unbeatable god of war, he willingly stepped back, offering his blessings with a smile."Okay, okay. You two stop crowding around me!" Christopher waved his hand. "Sephy needs more rest, and I'd like to get some more sleep, too! Once we heal, let's go out and have some fun together!""You're still thinking about fun?" Morpheus' deep voice intervened with a wry smile. "With the factory explosion incident, the royal family is furious and will thoroughly investigate it. Many people will probably be coming to talk to you both in the next few days. After all, you two are the most direc
"Let's get out first!""Hey, wait..." Persephone pointed to the other side.In moments of life and death, it wasn't appropriate to laugh, but Morpheus still chuckled. The young Prince Christopher was sprawled on the floor in a very ridiculous pose, and they almost forgot about him!"Don't worry," Morpheus whispered. "I won't let anything happen to him."He had Persephone cling to his back and then carried Christopher.Christopher was a tall fellow, so it took some effort to carry them both to a safe place.Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars rushed in. Their sirens pierced the sky, startling a flock of birds.The fire was soon extinguished, and Persephone and Christopher received timely treatment. Luckily, their burns weren't too severe, and even more fortunately, their faces were unharmed.When Christopher woke up, he felt bandages wrapped around his head, and his skin had a burning sensation. His heart sank, and he was almost on the verge of tears."Tell me the truth! A
There was fire everywhere. Flames rushed toward Persephone like menacing dragons. Her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, but the searing pain coursing through her body became clearer. She struggled to get up, the agony almost unbearable.Despite several attempts, it was futile...Something was pinning her feet down, and stones kept falling on her. She couldn't even muster a shout.Many images flashed through her mind in that fleeting moment, each frame featuring Morpheus' face…She remembered the times they had spent together in Flinge, how he had initially distanced himself from her, then later had exerted every effort to protect her. She recalled how he would gently ruffle her hair and call her "silly goose"..."Morpheus, I'm afraid I might have to go first..."The fire grew fiercer, explosions resonated continuously, and she could no longer hold on.Christopher, who was nearby, wasn't any better.Amidst the roaring flames, he couldn't see anything clearly, only pulling
"No need, you can go back first." Morpheus glanced at him. "I'll wait here for her a little longer.""Prince Christopher wouldn't do anything to Ms. Hamerton...""Alfred, what are you thinking?" Morpheus couldn't help but chuckle. "I know exactly what Christopher is like, but I just want to wait here for Sephy. Christopher mentioned that she'd specifically designed these fireworks for me. Hah! I'm the useless one. I don't even dare to go inside and take a look.""Sir, don't say that.""If I wait here, will it count as accompanying her in her efforts?"Alfred nodded.Morpheus smiled and sent Alfred back. He continued waiting under the tree.The air in Southeast Aciatic was hot and humid. The shade of the banyan tree offered some relief, but it couldn't completely dispel the oppressive heat.Morpheus took a deep breath, about to move elsewhere, when he glimpsed a suspicious figure swiftly darting through the factory's side gate.The security at the side gate was lax, making it e
Christopher struggled to swallow the bite of the sandwich in his mouth for what seemed like ages. He gazed at Persephone, his mind wandering back…He didn't just know Morpheus. He had been close since childhood to the children of the two prominent military families in Southeast Aciatic.Compared to the Harrises, he preferred visiting the Ortons, especially when he got to spend time with Morpheus. He considered Morpheus a friend, a brother even, having engaged in countless mischief together, much to their parents' dismay.In his memory, Morpheus was someone who smiled a lot, radiating warmth and brightness like the Southeast Aciatic sun when he did.However, from the moment Kaiden betrayed the country, Morpheus never smiled again, gradually growing distant from Christopher as well.It wasn't until that evening at the gates of the palace that Christopher felt like it had been a lifetime."I... I don't know him." Christopher forced a smile. "Where would I have met your boyfriend!"
Morpheus wasn't just an ordinary person!Christopher wholeheartedly accepted his defeat to Morpheus."Then... I'd like to invite you to come over to my place for a while as a friend. That's fine, right?"-A few days later, Persephone finally ran into Christopher, who had been missing in action for days, in the classroom."Hey, you finally showed up!" She dashed over, plopping down in the seat beside him and handing him breakfast. "You haven't eaten, right? Let's eat together!"Usually, Christopher would readily accept, but he waved his hands now. "No, no, no!""What's wrong?" Persephone widened her eyes. "This breakfast isn't poisoned!"Christopher awkwardly smiled. "You have a boyfriend, so maybe... we should keep some distance."Persephone burst into laughter. Then she remarked, "Strange... Morpheus was right!""Uh, what?""My boyfriend!" She chuckled. "He made this breakfast. I asked if he could also make a portion for you, and he said sure, just worried you wouldn't tak