Cordelia paused her speech, followed by a sigh.“To be honest, I have no idea who Carter’s dad is either. I only remembered that when I was seven, my mom went out after dollying up. She got the neighbor to watch me before leaving, and she was gone for a month.“I thought she abandoned me. Just when I was in despair, she came back. She was as beautiful as she headed out, but there was no longer light in her eyes, l-like a zombie wandering the streets. She would not respond to me no matter what I said to her.“Then she gave birth to Carter.” Cordelia’s voice was getting lower. “Dad flew into a rage and gave her a scolding. The day they fought, I saw her laughing at my dad. The peals of laughter were terrifying. I feel a chill running down my spine whenever I recall it.“That day, dad left a check, and he never came back. We only had a rushed meeting before I got married.” Cordelia scoffed and chuckled. “I guess he gave the check to cut ties with me and my mom.”Marcus sat beside her
Fredric looked troubled sitting in his office after seeing Marcus off.Zephyr Hamerton was calm, decisive, and vigorous in everything he did. He had always lived like a cold-blooded animal.Meanwhile, this Marcus, who forced him to represent Cordelia, did not behave like Mr. Z at all.As an attorney, Frederic hoped that he would not be so emotional. After all, they would be separated in the future. How was it possible that the Hamertons of Centrolis would accept Cordelia?However, as his best friend…He released a long sigh. In the end, he decided to check the document thoroughly.He shared the result of his research with Marcus a few days later.“From what I see, I’m sorry that these documents do not help Cordelia.”Marcus frowned hard.“However…” Fredric coughed softly. “We can go from another angle.”“Go on.”“The community that Cordelia’s mother is living in used to be a village. It was made into a residential area after the urban reform.”Marcus glanced at him. “So?”
The corners of Marcus’ lips twitched.Cordelia looked at him in worry. She was worried that Marcus had gotten together with those dodgy inmates from the past and resorted to some dubious tricks to force William into buying this place for her.Even if they succeeded in coercing him for now, there would be endless troubles after this. She honestly did not wish for Marcus to get into unnecessary trouble anymore.“Are you worried about me?” Marcus’ gaze was deep, but his smile was carefree. “Don’t worry. It’s completely legit. I promised you I wouldn’t get into trouble, so I will keep my promise.”“But someone like my father…”“I got a lawyer,” Marcus said nonchalantly. “I got to know him since… I was in jail. He often gives legal assistance to inmates. He is a nice guy and has helped me a lot after I’ve gotten out too.”“Oh, I see.” Cordelia was finally relieved. “Then we should thank him properly! Why don’t we invite him home for a meal?””No need for now. Mr. Constable is kind
Marcus squinted and adjusted to a comfortable position to look at her with a smile.“First, you can’t give yourself too much pressure. I’m not the kind of person who must get rich. It doesn’t matter how much money you make as long as we make ends meet. What’s important is that you’re happy at work, understand?”He nodded seriously.“Second, don't do anything dangerous.” Cordelia pressed her lips together. “I’m referring to your contests and stuff. Don’t push yourself too much. We don’t need those cash prizes! Anyway, I can only support you 100% with the premise that you’re safe!“Third…”She looked up at him and said softly after stalling for some time, “If you have female students, you can’t let them feel your muscles!”Marcus failed to hold it in this time and burst out laughing.Cordelia was red like an apple as she buried her head into his chest and punched him twice.“I mean it!” She protested. “I’m a woman, so I know what the other women think! I… I forbid others from tou
Marcus paused and followed her gaze.Yelena had come to the same boutique somehow and was watching the two of them mockingly, occasionally scoffing.Cordelia tugged Marcus to leave, but Yelena was faster in blocking their way.“Oh, what a coincidence!” Yelena snorted. “Looks like you are having a good time at work. Gotten a promotion and a raise? That you could take my dear brother-in-law to a luxury boutique like this for shopping!“Oh yeah, does the new place feel great to live in? Hah, please, have a good time living there. Dad spent a lot of effort picking it out!”Cordelia could recognize the sarcasm in her words. When she looked up at Yelena, the hatred in the latter’s eyes was like she wanted to rip her apart.“Yeah, Mr. Father-in-law is pretty nice to us.” Marcus smiled and put Cordelia behind him. “Not only did he choose a good place, but the property deed also has Cordelia’s name! As for someone else, she probably has to look for a new place as her studio. One can’t pos
Cordelia’s ears perked up, and her guard was immediately up as well. She looked back and saw a woman who was dressed with thick makeup smile flirtatiously at Marcus. Her glass shook slightly in her hand, and when she went closer to Marcus, she pulled the slit of her dress to show her fair legs.Cordelia suddenly found the voice to be familiar.“Giselle?” She paused. It seemed that Yelena brought along her best friend wherever she went.When they were in school last time, Giselle Lawler would often bully Cordelia with Yelena. The school later dismissed her due to her poor grades and frequent reports of being found smoking in clubs.The comments about Giselle in the high society of Jangasas were not great either. She was only able to act brazenly because of Yelena’s support.Cordelia was annoyed. She forgot about networking with her clients and walked briskly to Marcus in her heels.“Handsome, isn’t it boring to drink alone?” Giselle approached Marcus swaying her hips. “Why don’t w
Cordelia assumed that Marcus would hug her and keep her in his warm and secure embrace, but seconds ticked by, and she did not get the sense of security she anticipated.She widened her eyes when she saw Marcus actually approaching Giselle and extending a hand!Cordelia’s heart thumped, and all her blood seemed to be rushing to her head.“See? Men are realistic too.” Someone snickered. “Ms. Lawler doesn’t have a good reputation, but she’s a real heiress. How could Cordelia compare to her?”“Sigh, her own husband’s helping another woman in public… Cordelia’s so pitiful. She treasures the man so much, but now…”“That’s why you can’t dote on men!”Cordelia’s mind went blank as she stood frozen, feeling a pang in her heart.“Honey, you—”“Darling, you nearly injured Ms. Lawler.” Marcus smiled and turned to Giselle. “Are you okay?”Surprised at the affection, Giselle quickly caught Marcus’ hand.“Of course, I’m fine now with your concern!” Giselle smiled widely. “Handsome, let’s d
The hall recovered its order. Everyone interacted as if what happened just now did not exist. In their talks privately, though, mockery about Giselle was made.Marcus pulled Cordelia to dance. The latter was not good at it, but no one could see that with the man’s lead. They gained a round of applause after the song ended.Giselle was shaking in anger while Yelena glared at her.“Useless!”“Yelena, you—”“Don’t you label yourself as a socialite? Don’t men buzz around you?” Yelena was fuming. “You can’t even take care of Marcus! Look at your cowardly response once he said that he had killed someone! What are you if not useless?”Giselle pressed her lips together. She was also disgruntled. She had agreed with Yelena that they would embarrass Cordelia at the dinner, only for it to turn out to be herself.When she first met Marcus, she was also attracted by the latter’s tall and handsome appearance. When he told her that he had killed someone with a smile, though, the dark sharpness
"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