Back then, Celeste had won 100 million dollars from Bryan, using it to leverage him into willingly becoming her spy and helping her topple Titus.Now, Bryan had become the boss of the Leopard Syndicate.Looking back, Celeste’s risky move had inadvertently helped him rise.Of course, he might not see it that way.After all, being outplayed by a woman with simple tactics and being manipulated so easily was hardly flattering for him.It was said that after losing one million dollars to Celeste, Marksville became Bryan’s Achilles' heel. Not only would he avoid the place, but his entire gang was also wary of mentioning going to Marksville for a game of cards.There were no secrets that time would not reveal. Bryan gave up gambling, and other gangs learned why, fearing they might be trapped as well.Gradually, the gambling trend in Taverdale declined over the years.Celeste did not expect her to reform the gangs of Taverdale single-handedly.Dana was from the Leopard Syndicate, but
That night, Damon unexpectedly suffered from insomnia.He tossed and turned, staring at Celeste's WhatsApp profile picture, which looked more and more like the cat he saw.Their demeanor was noble and aloof, and their eyes were charming and cold.He couldn't remember if it was Jasper or Nicholas who said that Celeste's aloofness made people feel vulgar in her presence.Now, looking at this cat, Damon suddenly recalled that statement.Such an aloof and beautiful woman was once his wife, once in his arms, and once beneath him, surrendering in such a way.They shared countless intimate moments, holding hands in the sunlight during the day and passionately entwined at night.They even dreamed of having a child together. But he failed to protect her, nor did he protect their child.If that child were still alive, she should be a girl, right? They wanted a daughter back then.Would she be as talented as Leo?No, he didn't want her to be a genius. He hoped she would be naive and i
Celeste ignored Damon and continued to count down silently.Counting down was one of Celeste's ways to distract herself. Without it, she might succumb to random thoughts and get lost in Damon's warmth.Since Damon couldn't control himself, she took matters into her own hands."15, 14, 13, 12... 3, 2, 1."As the countdown ended, she pushed him away.The comforting presence dissipated, leaving Damon feeling hollow in his arms and his heart.He awkwardly retracted his arms, bitterly smiling. How had he not realized she was so stubborn?Celeste was cold, distant, and guarded, yet... intriguingly contradictory."Oh, by the way, what did you find out yesterday?" Celeste spoke up, bringing him back to reality.Only then did Damon gather his thoughts and recount the events of the previous day to her."Bryan is still as petty as ever, even after five years," Celeste scoffed."You single-handedly got the big shots of Taverdale's gangs to quit gambling. That was quite remarkable ." Dam
When Damon left the hospital, he went straight to the Leopard Syndicate's lair.The gangs in Taverdale were mainly hidden in the seemingly simple factories in the industrial area.The signs hanging outside mostly read "Such-and-such Auto Repair Factory," "Such-and-such Cement Factory," or "Such-and-such Foundry," and indeed, some of them were engaged in these businesses, but once you walked in, it was a completely different world.The Leopard Syndicate's sign outside read "Fine Used Car Trading."The decoration was standard, the reception staff was normal, and everything looked no different from the places selling used cars on the market.Damon didn't bring bodyguards, only Liam. Both of them were dressed in black suits and wearing black sunglasses, giving them an air of mystery.They walked through the used car showroom and headed further inside. Behind them were the trading center and the repair workshop, with a sign hanging at the workshop entrance that read, "Employees Only."
Damon initially thought that Bryan was just someone hired to do tasks, not necessarily targeting Leo. He might not even have known the person intended to harm Leo. Damon had planned to have a good chat with him, hoping to gather some information. But who knew he'd be so self-righteous, practically slapping Damon in the face."Mr. Bishop, Bryan really thinks highly of himself," Liam vented as they walked to the parking lot. He was still indignant. He opened the car door for Damon, grumbling all the while.Damon's face betrayed no emotion. He sat down, leaning back in his seat, lost in thought."People aren't gods. Bryan has been suppressed for so many years, and now that he's in charge, it's only natural for him to get a bit hot-headed.""What do we do next?""Let's find something for Mr. Tucker to do."A hint of hostility flashed across Damon's face, but it quickly disappeared.On the other hand, Bryan had intended to keep Damon waiting for a while to humble him a bit. But see
"Everyone is responsible for their own life. Since you've decided not to go through the standard school process, you need to plan ahead and make good use of the extra 20 years you have," Celeste said to Leo as they walked hand in hand along the pebble path outside the kindergarten, after completing the withdrawal procedures.Celeste knew that this decision didn't just mean Leo didn't have to go to kindergarten anymore. It also meant that she silently agreed that Leo didn't have to force himself to fit in with his peers in the future or follow the usual path of studying and pursuing a career.If he wanted, he could pursue a university degree, a master's, or a doctorate. If he didn't want to, Celeste wouldn't force him."I know, Mummy. I just don't want to waste time here," Leo replied.Celeste knew that he was sincere about his words. She could clearly feel his relief from the moment they finished the procedures."If I had known you were so averse to kindergarten, Mummy should ha
"Is that so?" Damon's heart skipped a beat as he pulled Leo onto his lap."What did Mommy say?" "It's pretty much the same as what you said." Leo then repeated what Celeste had said to him earlier.For parents, thinking about their child's future was profound. Since both hoped for the best for their child, it wasn't unusual for them to say the same things. But with Celeste still in his heart, Damon couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.He spooned some soup and fed it to Leo. In the past, when he and Celeste were inseparable, he used to feed her like this. Now, feeding their child together, his heart softened with tenderness."Have you read Atticus's poetry?" Damon asked.Leo obediently drank the soup before replying, "Which one?""Celestial Night, Whispering Wind,'" Damon began."Painted tower to the west, fragrant hall to the east,'" Leo continued."Let's focus on eating," Celeste interjected awkwardly, trying to change the subject."What comes next?" Damon handed a
Everything happened too quickly, catching Celeste off guard and leaving her unsure of what was unfolding. It wasn't until she saw Damon's tightly pursed lips, a sign of pain, that she realized something was wrong.It was early autumn, and Damon was dressed in a black casual shirt. The glowing embers fell onto his shoulder, emitting a sizzling sound."Damon!" Celeste's face instantly turned pale.…"You just got out for a few days, and now you're back again. The Davidson Hospital is practically becoming your family's private property. Why not just buy it from me?" Nicholas was called from his office to the consultation room by a phone call from Damon, and as soon as he walked in, he couldn't help but grumble.But as soon as he saw Damon's stern but secretly proud face, along with Celeste's worried expression, he instantly stopped talking.Could it be... the hero saving the damsel in distress again?It must be. Otherwise, Celeste wouldn't care about his well-being at all.The e