However, the reply that Zachary got was…The captain immediately gave Zachary a hard kick and ordered, "Take them away!"Zachary was being held down as he looked at Liam's back. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "Liam! I won't let you get away with this! Not even when I'm dead!" However, to no avail, Liam's silhouette was getting further and further. Half an hour after Liam had left the furniture store, another earth-shattering incident happened in Drunham City.The police chief of Drunham City had personally led a team to seize the furniture conglomerate, the Zelma family's mansion.It was in collaboration with the military.The incident stirred up a storm in Drunham City. Everyone was discussing which powerful giant the Zelma family offended to be struck by such misfortunes.When Liam had returned to the Stone mansion with Jovie, Celena eagerly rushed out. She pulled Liam and checked him all over again and again."Liam, what took you so long? I was worried sick! Did
Cheryl strutted in her high heels and slid into Wasyl's sleek sports car, peeling away from the curb with an air of superiority.Qemal, with a stoic expression, slipped into his car. He was silent as a ghost and took off down the road.Sawyer, with Anna in tow, climbed into his vehicle. As he rolled down the window, he shot a look of pure disdain at Celena, who was burdened with an armful of paperwork. "Celena, make sure you handle that. Tidy up those documents and shoot me a copy, will you? I've got drinks lined up with some buddies, so we're off," he said calmly.With those parting words, he zoomed off, leaving Celena to wrestle with her mountain of papers as she trudged toward the bus stop.Back in Wasyl's car, Cheryl lounged in the passenger seat. Wasyl's hand crept up her smooth thigh. Seizing a moment at the red light, he leaned in for a few quick kisses and asked with a grin, "Dear, you seem upset. What's eating you?"Cheryl shoved his hand away, visibly irked. "It's Celena
"Kolten," Liam said, his tone composed and detached, barely acknowledging the receptionist. His request seemed to take her aback, but she quickly regained her professional poise. "I apologize, do you have an appointment?"Liam shook his head.The receptionist mentally lumped him with the dreamers from small-time companies who sought an audience with Kolten, hoping for a partnership. She could not help but feel a touch of scorn, though her smile remained impeccable. "I'm sorry, sir! Mr. Reath is currently in a meeting. Without an appointment, I'm afraid he's unavailable to meet guests."Liam's displeasure was evident as he frowned. Unfazed, he said, "If he's in a meeting, then please call him. Tell him Liam is here to see him."The receptionist, usually the epitome of patience, was at her wit's end with the man before her. Anyone else might have snapped, calling security to escort the nuisance out. However, her training with Jerden Group kicked in, and she managed to stay composed,
Liam's brow furrowed as he heard Yale's biting words. Calum, standing behind him, lost his composure and barked, "Out of line?! You think you can talk to my boss like that? Try me, and I'll turn this place upside down!"Yale did not even blink, a smirk playing on his lips. He regarded Calum as if he were a fool, thinking to himself, 'This guy thinks he can take us on? Dreaming of a sit-down with our chairman? He's delusional if he thinks he's anything but trash.'"Ha, you've got some nerve! You think a few tough words are going to scare me? Look around, this is the Jerden Group, not some playground for your antics! You think you can just come in here and tear the place down? This is the renowned Jerden Group of Willoughby!" Yale mocked as he shot a challenging look at Calum, then turned to Liam with a sneer. "What's this? Does a guy like you have followers now? That's a surprise. Do you really believe having a sidekick by your side means you can waltz in to see our chairman?" Cal
A manager beaten and bloodied on Jerden Group's turf? That was a serious failure on his watch as the security captain.Crack!Yale spotted a security captain coming his way and his boiling anger found its vent. He smacked the captain right across the cheek, then glared at Liam and Calum with a snarl. "What kind of Mickey Mouse operation are you running here? They're causing a scene at our front door and you're nowhere to be seen! Are you blind that you miss these two hulking guys! Get in there and give 'em a good thrashing!"The captain, his cheek still stinging from the slap, did not hesitate. He barked at his squad, "Move it! Take these two down and make them grovel to Mr. Yale!"On his command, a swarm of security guards, batons at the ready, surged toward Liam and Calum.However, Liam's frosty words stopped them abruptly. "Think long and hard about the consequences before you make your move."That single sentence froze the captain and his men in their tracks, leaving them loo
Calum's voices were soft, but they cut through the silence, reaching every ear in the room.A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Was that guy for real? Spouting such lies without a care. Did he think he was in some action movie? Talking big about military squads?The receptionists, who had already ducked out of sight, could not help but sneer at Liam. The one who had just dealt with him was visibly annoyed. "Seriously? He's lost it! Thinks he's putting on quite the show, huh? Believing he's somebody important?""Exactly! Nothing but a poser, a total nobody. He nearly got Willa fired!""I've got to get this on video, put it up online! This kind of pathetic act is just laughable. I'll show everyone what happens when you try to play the hero!"The scene unfolding was not just drawing the attention of those nearby. It had become a spectacle for a bunch of other employees, who gathered around, buzzing with gossip about Liam's impending doom.Among the onlookers were two famili
That turn of events had people mocking Liam instantly silenced, their faces etched with astonishment and fear as if trying to decipher the enigma that was Liam.Yale and the security captain were particularly incredulous, unable to believe the spectacle unfolding before them.They watched, wide-eyed, as the captain at the helm, exuding an air of noble purpose, strode in. He marched directly up to Liam, snapped to attention, and saluted with the utmost respect. "Report! Per the orders from our superiors, the Eighth Engineer Battalion, all one hundred and twenty-eight members, are present and accounted for! Awaiting your command, Mr. Cole!"The captain's gesture and words shattered any lingering doubts in Yale and the security captain. Those men were all there for Liam, and he was clearly not someone to mess with.The room was enveloped in shock.Liam gave the captain a measured nod, then turned his icy stare to Yale and asked in a chilling tone, "Do you think I have the means to ta
Then, to the shock of everyone watching, the tensed Kolten hurried over to Liam, bowed deeply, and said with the utmost respect, "Mr. Cole! My apologies for being late and making you witness this mess! I promise you, I'll sort this out to your satisfaction!"Liam was not interested in making a scene. He would not have even bothered talking to someone as insignificant as Yale if he had not insulted Calum by calling him a stooge."Mhm."With a nonchalant nod, Liam, followed by Calum, stepped into Kolten's usually private elevator, leaving the crowd's eyes wide with surprise.Once Liam had stepped into the elevator, Kolten spun around. His eyes burned with fury as he fixed his gaze on Yale, who was still in shock. With a swift motion, Kolten slapped him again and bellowed, "Get lost! You're fired! And don't even think about finding a job in Drunham City or anywhere in Willoughby ever again!"After his outburst, Kolten swept his steely gaze over the crowd of gawkers. His voice was icy
The new plan was a hit; every assassin in the room was on board.One of them, posing as a bellhop, stood at Liam's door, ready to knock.However, he never saw it coming. Before his knuckles could rap on the door, it burst open from the inside.Wham!The would-be knocker was sent flying, slamming into the corridor wall with a thunderous crash.The others barely had time to register what happened when Liam burst out, a quintuple-edged dagger in hand.He was a shadow among them, his blade a flash of silver that danced across their wrists, disarming them of their scimitars.In moments, the hallway was a cacophony of clattering blades and piercing screams that filled the hotel.The leader, clutching his bleeding wrist, stared at Liam in horror, leaning casually against the doorframe. Liam's dagger dripped crimson. He watched the fallen assassins with an unfeeling smirk."You think you can play assassins, skulking around in the dark?" Liam's voice dripped with scorn. With a casual f
Noel was a name that turned heads in Rasford City, especially since the Noel family ran a successful pharmaceutical business. In any place, those in the medicine game hold sway, and Noel was no stranger to the city's shadowy bigwigs. After all, nobody was immune to getting sick!Noel was quickly taken to the hospital for emergency care. Meanwhile, the assassin he had hired had pinpointed the hotel where Liam and Sunniva were hiding out.Sunniva was still visibly shaken when they reached the hotel. Too frightened to be alone, she could only gaze at Liam with watery eyes, silently pleading to stay in his room.Liam, left with little choice, let Sunniva take his room while he made do with the couch in the living room.After the night's earlier ordeal, combined with the alcohol and the drug slipped into her drink, Sunniva washed up and promptly fell asleep in Liam's bed.Liam, however, remained on the living room sofa, poring over the mysterious Arcane Manuscript.Out of nowhere,
"Thud!"Then, without missing a beat, Liam grabbed Noel by the throat and landed another punch on him. He struck him squarely on the chin, dislocating it and forcing a couple more of his teeth to fly out. "Ahhh!" Noel shrieked. His face was swelling up to twice its usual size, and he could not help letting out a cry of agony. Liam did not stop there, though. His fists rained down all over Noel without ceasing, his every punch striking where it hurt the most. "F*ck! You're going to pay for this!" Noel grunted. He would make this twat pay! What gave him the right to attack him? He was an heir of the great Noel bloodline, and he would make this cocky, self-righteous prat pay!Liam scoffed, then swung his fist and struck Noel squarely in his abdomen.Noel spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to utter another word from the sheer pain, but this did not stop Liam. The next moment, he grabbed Noel by the hair and bashed his head against the wall behind him.A sickening crunch alerted
The words had barely left her mouth when Noel lost his patience, swung Sunniva around and slapped her hard across the cheek. "D*mn it, you f*cking sl*t! What the f*ck are you shouting for? Let me tell you this—no one will come to save you, not even if you cry yourself hoarse!"The slap came so abruptly that Sunniva was momentarily stunned. Her cheek soon swelled up, and a bright red mark in the shape of Noel's palm began to take shape. Noel had hit her so hard that the back of her head struck the wall behind her, and all she could feel was an intense, throbbing pain that reverberated through her skull. Blood seeped out of the cut on the back of her head, and she could feel the warm liquid trickle down her neck. She suddenly felt strangely faint and stopped resisting. Noel seized the opportunity to strip her naked, grinning. "Ms. Bristow, I suggest you stop wasting your energy. You're mine tonight, and there's no running now!"He had long since heard of Sunniva's beauty, and he was
"Mr. Noel? What is the meaning of this?" Sunniva shrieked in alarm. Noel was wiping his face with a towel when she spoke, and upon hearing her voice, he slowly moved toward her. "Ms. Bristow, do I really need to spell this out for you? You're a gorgeous woman, and I admire you very much. There's nothing to be afraid of, darling. We're all adults here, so there's no need to be shy. I promise that I'll make this the most memorable night you've ever had. "Ms. Bristow, do you know how many women would die to be in your position? Women everywhere bend over backwards to keep me happy, and most of them are willing to please me just to get my business. If you still want this partnership, you better be a good girl and keep me satisfied. If not…"Noel trailed off, for at this point, he had already reached the bed and was just inches away from Sunniva. His flesh quivered with his every move, and he was so tall that he loomed over Sunniva's tiny body like a beast eyeing its prey. "You… you
Noel was not used to being rejected so outwardly. Sunniva's indifference infuriated him greatly. He scoffed, then brought his hand up to his nose and took a deep breath as if trying to catch a whiff of any scent that Sunniva had left on his skin. He sneered. "Ms. Bristow, it seems you are intent on challenging me?"Sunniva replied curtly, "So what if I am?""Very well then! You like to do things the hard way, eh? Let me make this clear—the moment you step out the door, the partnership will be called off! I will no longer do business with Bristow Group!"The audacity!With a smug grin, Noel cast Sunniva one last look before returning to his seat. He watched her coolly and made no move to stop her from leaving again, for he knew he had her cornered. Sunniva stood rooted to the spot, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. Noel knew he had Sunniva caught in a dead-end situation. He smirked and raised his glass to his lips. "How about this, Ms. Bristow? Just one last drink with
A glimmer of annoyance flashed through Noel's eyes, but he continued to reach toward Sunniva, grinning. "Ms. Bristow, I really, really admire you…"Sunniva froze. The next moment, she leaped to her feet, still holding her wine glass, and ducked out of Noel's reach. She replied, raising his glass in an attempt to disguise her nervousness, "Mr. Noel, I greatly admire your success as a businessman as well. Cheers to our partnership!"Noel's arm hovered in mid-air, looking awkward and forlorn as it dangled out of reach of its target. A strained silence fell over them. The tension lasted only a few minutes, though, because Noel soon regained his composure and drew his arm back. He clinked his glass against Sunniva's as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The two of them had been drinking for quite some time now, and Noel was growing more and more inebriated by the minute. He was a pale man, and so the alcohol gave him an unnatural flush that made him look as though he was
"Thank you, Uncle Leonardo." With that, Liam and Cirocco left the manor. They returned to the hotel to meet up with Calum and Sunniva. Liam and Cirocco were waiting in the hotel's presidential suite, going over their plans for the upcoming days, when Calum burst in, looking flustered. Liam was the first to notice how strangely nervous Calum seemed. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"Calum explained hastily, "Sir, Ms. Bristow was just taken away by a group of locals. She claimed that they were the businessmen we were here to meet. Since you weren't back yet, she decided to go meet them herself. She wants me to inform you that they have gone to the Saint Louisiana Hotel and that you can meet them there."Liam furrowed his brows at this. Calum asked, "Sir, are you going to check on them?"Liam considered this a moment, then grabbed his phone and stood up. "I think I should. You and Cirocco should stay here and go over our plans. I'll pop by the Saint Louisiana Hotel. If Jeffre
"Unfortunately, I cannot reveal to you the identities of the remaining five yet, but don't you worry—when the time comes, you will find out soon enough."Just remember, Liam, you are not alone! No matter what happens, the six of us will be here to help you the best we can!" Leonardo said, squeezing Liam's shoulder in reassurance. His expression was solemn, but there was a spark in his eyes. Liam was even more stunned to hear this. What was going on? Had his grandfather planned this for over twenty years ago? Did he somehow know that Liam would come searching for him?"Uncle Leonardo, what's going on here? Is Grandpa still alive?" Liam asked nervously.Leonardo's face fell, and he shook his head gravely. "Truth be told, I am just as confused as you are. I've been trying to track your grandfather down for years, but the last I heard, he was still being kept on Wraith Island. I haven't heard any news about him since, but I refuse to believe your grandfather would die on Wraith Island