Carrying her personal belongings, Karine walked dejectedly in the company’s corridor.Everyone was looking at her with disdain, contempt, and mockery. Some of them nearly applauded, and they were very happy.None of them pitied her. As she was going down the stairs, she bumped into Cordelia. The latter was stunned for a moment. The memory of her being taken away by the police a week ago surfaced in her head. At that time, they had been walking down the same stairwell, and she met Karine in the same position. Although it had only been a week, she felt like a long time had passed since their position had changed now.Cordelia nodded awkwardly. She wanted to smile at Karine but couldn’t. As she was about to walk away, she saw Karine glaring at her furiously, and her heart skipped a beat.However, she noticed something different in Karine’s gaze this time. Other than hatred, she also saw a hint of fear in her eyes.‘Fear?’Cordelia did not know why Karine would be so scared of he
Marcus’ face was filled with confidence, and his eyes were glowing when talking about Cordelia. “Don’t think that Cordelia is the same as other women. She is more capable than you think and will never back down from challenges.“Therefore, I'm going to give her a seat in the middle of the audience, so she can watch how her man is beating the crap out of others!”At that time, she would be very proud of him and think he was her hero!Marcus’ face was brimming with happiness, and he was grinning triumphantly from ear to ear as the thought surfaced in his head. He pulled the door open and rushed back to his house.Josiah looked blankly at his departing figure for a long while. After regaining his senses, he looked at Robert and Fredric and laughed. “Did he take his medicine today?”“Finally!” The remaining two people let out a sigh of relief. Since Marcus was gone, they did not have to pretend anymore. They regained their true selves and joined Josiah to have fun together.“You
Cordelia was momentarily stunned. She was filled with surprise and exhilaration as she grabbed Xyla’s hands.“Mom, you can recognize me?”Xyla looked at her blankly, her gaze a bit dazed. “Mom!” Cordelia was so excited that she leaned on her lap. “You finally remember who I am… You couldn't recognize me for a while, and you could only recognize Carter. It made me so sad!” A smile appeared on Xyla’s pale face. She stretched her skinny arm forward and caressed Cordelia’s long hair.“Lia… You’re Lia…” she mumbled.Although her voice was low, Cordelia was satisfied.“Mom, the weather is nice today. Why don’t we go down and have a walk?”Xyla did not respond. She slowly raised her eyes and looked straight into the distance, her mouth mumbling a couple of words now and then.Cordelia was still squatting in front of her. A wave of disappointment gradually replaced the delight she had just felt.“Mom…”“Lia…” Xyla mumbled, “You’re my daughter… You’re Cordelia Jenner… You’re a Jenn
Seth had recognized her as well, and a smile broke across his face.“You’re Yelena, right? Wow, what a coincidence. What brought you here?”Cordelia lowered her head and chuckled.Seth was the one who had matched her and Marcus. However, he did not know that she had married Marcus on behalf of her sister. “I’m Cordelia.” She smiled and looked at him, “This is a long story. I’ll explain it to you afterward.“Seth was momentarily stunned and then grinned, “No matter if you’re Yelena or Cordelia, both of you come from the Jenners. I’m sure I didn’t fail my job as the matchmaker.“By the way, how are you and Marcus doing? After you moved to Jangasas, I went to further my studies at the medical school in Centrolis. It has been some time since we last saw each other!”“We’re doing fine,” Cordelia replied gently. “Why don’t you come to my house after work? It has been some time since Marcus saw you. I’ll make a few dishes, and you two can talk.”“I don’t think I can…” Seth waved his
Cordelia was dumbfounded.‘That person?’She looked in the direction where Linda was pointing and saw Oliver.Even though it was dimly lit inside the hall, she could still recognize him right away. “What is he doing here?” Linda asked, “Could it be that he’s one of your husband’s fans?”Cordelia bit her lips.Lately, Oliver had been acting weird. He had been going around and asking about Marcus' information, so she did not have a good feeling when he showed up here. Could it be that he had some sort of grudge against Marcus in the past?They were in a boxing match right now, so it was normal for boxers to get hurt. If he wanted to harm Marcus, this would be his best opportunity.The more Cordelia thought about it, the more anxious she became. However, the hall was filled with people now, and the match was about to start in a few minutes. She was not familiar with the place here, so she could not go to the back and warn Marcus. She hesitated for a moment and pulled her ph
“That's right. There's a chance that this fellow has taken some forbidden drugs. That's why he performed so well in the first few rounds. Now that the effect of the drugs has worn off, he's starting to lose it.”The suspicion in Oliver’s eyes was getting thicker.Josiah and Fredric were sweating for Marcus.Josiah couldn’t hold himself back anymore and shouted, “What’s going on with Z?”Fredric pushed him back down on his seat and looked around to search for Oliver.“Keep your voice down!” He said, “I’m sure Z has his own reasons for doing this. Just stop yelling!”“Could it be because Cordelia isn’t here to watch him?”As soon as he finished speaking, a gasp was heard from the crowd. Marcus was now kneeling on the ground. He had one hand covering his lower left rib cage as sweat mixed with blood slowly dripped down from his forehead.“Marcus…”Cordelia returned to the hall and was stunned by what she saw. In her memory, Marcus had always been a winner in every fight. She ha
Oliver was about to say something, but Seth took a step forward and blocked him. He offered him a gentle smile but did not move away from the door.“Mr. Jones…”Oliver and his men did not know what to do. Josiah and Fredric had been observing from the side. Then, they saw Oliver go away with his face filled with rage. After they were confident that Oliver wouldn’t come back again, Josiah wanted to go out, but Fredric stopped him.“Why did you stop me? I want to see Z!”“Don’t go.” Fredric said sternly, “Z should be fine with Cordelia and that doctor watching over him.”Seeing Josiah was still a little restless, Fredric patted his shoulder and chuckled. “If you really want to help Z, go and see what Oliver is up to again.”Josiah thought for a moment and nodded. After that, they left the boxing arena in a hurry. …When Marcus cracked his eyes open, the first thing he saw was a blanket of white.The air in the room was filled with the stench of medicine, and then he vaguely
Marcus’ heart skipped a beat. “Please don’t ever forget everything I said,” Cordelia said as she looked at him. “I just want you to be safe.“I don’t care about the rest.“I just want you to be safe, and that’s what matters the most to me!” Cordelia was a gentle woman. She rarely acted in such a demanding manner, but Marcus loved her nonetheless.He looked at her quietly as the corner of his lips turned up slightly. This was one of the very rare moments he smiled from the bottom of his heart. At that moment, he even wanted to tell her his true identity. After all, she had already said that he would always be her husband no matter what happened.If she learned that he was not Marcus but Zephyr, she would still treat him the same, right? He took a deep breath and forced down the urge. He was at war with Matthew. Just like a boxing match with an unknown outcome, he did not know how long his war with Matthew would take. Before everything came to light, he would not pull h
"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