Kendrick strode up to Celena with the eagerness of a boyfriend, while Liam might as well have been invisible."Celena, come on, come on! Let's get inside quickly. I'm gonna introduce you to someone really important!"However, just as Kendrick reached out for Celena, Liam stepped in, blocking his hand."Mr. Hyde, remember who you are. Trying to take my wife's hand right in front of me? That's not exactly cool, is it?"The friendly look on Liam's face was gone, his features twisted into a scowl, his eyes icy as they locked onto Kendrick.Kendrick snapped back to reality, flinging Liam's hand away. The thrill on his face was gone in a flash, replaced by a frosty glare."Liam, I let it slide just now, but don't think for a second I'll put up with your nonsense!"Kendrick's face was stormy as he jabbed a finger toward the armed soldiers. "Liam, see that? That's Mr. Rhodes, a bigwig from the state. I'm about to introduce Celena to him!"He sneered at Liam, "And you are a good-for-not
"And another thing, do you even know who we're talking about here? Celena meeting someone as influential as this can only be good for her. And you're trying to stand in her way? "Kendrick finished speaking and gave Liam the cold shoulder, not bothering to hold Celena's hand any longer. With a meaningful look, he said, "Celena, let's not dawdle. We should head inside.""Sure." Celena cast a lingering glance at Liam, then nodded to Kendrick and turned to make her way to the restaurant.Liam's face twisted into a scowl, his eyes icy as he stared down Kendrick. "So what if he's a major general in the state garrison? Think he's a big deal? My wife needs to rub elbows with the high and mighty, and I can introduce her to bigger fish than you!"Kendrick was caught off guard for a second, then his expression turned stormy, and he gave Liam a look of pure disdain. "Really? I must be hearing things."Liam, are you trying to be the comic relief here? I know all about you. You're nothing but
Kendrick had tried to maintain his gentlemanly front for Celena's sake, avoiding any serious confrontation with Liam.However, after hearing Liam's bold claims, he lost his composure.To Kendrick, a gem like Celena was way out of Liam's league—a total mismatch.He was determined to break them up. Celena might be married, but she was still as enchanting as ever.Celena was shooting Liam warning looks, silently begging him to dial it back and get out of there with Jovie.However, Liam was not paying her any attention.Just then, Yrian showed up with four bodyguards in sleek black suits, heading their way."Kendrick, what's the holdup? Let's move it. We can't keep Mr. Rhodes waiting!"Kendrick whirled around at the sound and gave Yrian a quick, respectful nod. "Mr. Lachman, my apologies. We're heading up now.""Mmhmm."Yrian's attention, however, was already on Celena, taking in her flawless figure, her striking features, and the elegant air about her. His eyes sparkled with a t
Kendrick did not even try to hide it when he laid his cards on the table about Celena, not caring that Liam was right there.He did not give Liam a second thought.To Kendrick, Liam was just a deadbeat who lucked out by marrying into the family. They are not even in the same league!Liam's face turned to stone as he listened, his brows knitting together, his gaze icy as it locked onto Kendrick.However, Yrian, the savvy businessman, was not about to let things get awkward. He laughed it off and steered the conversation elsewhere. "Let's drop it, folks. We're all friends here, right? Let's head on up and not keep Mr. Rhodes hanging."Without waiting for Liam's input, Yrian led the way to the already booked private room.Kendrick, with Yrian having spoken, could not really push it. He looked down at Liam like he was doing him a favor and said, "Alright, your lucky day. Come on, then."Celena hurried to straighten up her outfit, a flush of excitement on her cheeks as she followed t
Far from feeling awkward, Kendrick was actually eager to keep the conversation going.However, just as he was about to say something else, Lukas, seated at the head of the table, pulled out his phone and started scrolling, head down.Even Kendrick, who was not the most socially savvy, could see he was being brushed off.He retreated and turned to Celena, murmuring, "Celena, it's your turn to greet him."Celena, equally anxious, took a step forward and gave a respectful nod. "Mr. Rhodes, good day. I'm Celena from the Drunham City Stone family."Her introduction was poised and respectful, without a hint of sycophancy despite Lukas's stature.Celena's striking beauty and her sweet, enchanting voice made even a simple greeting stand out. Lukas looked up, clearly impressed. A smile quickly spread across his face as he responded, "Ms. Stone, a pleasure. I had no idea Drunham City was home to such a breathtaking beauty as yourself!"Celena had not given a second thought to Lukas notici
Watching Liam defeat the enemy commander filled Lukas with an overwhelming sense of excitement and reverence.Across Biskeland's battlefronts, Liam had become an icon. Countless soldiers aspired to follow in the footsteps of King Pendragon and serve under his command!King Pendragon was not only known for his formidable strength but also for his fierce loyalty to his troops. It was that unwavering care that drew people to him, and Lukas was among the most devoted of his followers.That was exactly why Lukas was over the moon when he saw Liam. Imagine a fan, glued to their phone, devouring the latest news about their favorite celebrity, and then, in a blink, they are face-to-face with their hero, even exchanging words. The rush was like a wild ride on a roller coaster.Kendrick and Yrian stood frozen, their faces a picture of shock, as they watched Lukas leap to his feet and salute Liam. Kendrick, who had always scorned Liam, was particularly floored, his jaw practically hitting the
After his spiel, Kendrick shot a sidelong glance at Liam, his eyes dancing with subtle scorn.Yrian noticed Lukas's expression shift with his praise of King Pendragon and knew his flattery had hit the mark."King Pendragon really showed them what we're made of! He's the hero we all aspire to be!"With a warm smile, Yrian beckoned everyone to take their seats and led the way by lifting his glass. "Folks, let's all raise a toast to King Pendragon, shall we?"Lukas, of course, was all in. He stood, glass in hand, and beamed. "Absolutely! A toast to King Pendragon!"Lukas raised his glass to Liam, his eyes alight with wild admiration.Liam just chuckled and raised his own glass in response, not bothering with words.Once everyone had clinked glasses and taken a sip, they settled into their seats.Yrian could not help but marvel again, "The Commander-in-chief of Pendragon is unbelievable, taking on an enemy force of 150,000 single-handedly!"I've heard that the Commander-in-chief o
Lukas' expression immediately changed, and he quickly looked at Liam.What did Liam just say? Did he ask Kendrick to bow his head? Did this loser know what he was talking about?"What did you say?"Kendrick's expression darkened. Glaring at Liam furiously, he bellowed, "Liam, who do you think you are? You're just a loser who's living off your wife's income. How dare you tell me to bow my head? "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you're the commander-in-chief of the Pendragon Warriors just because you were once a soldier in the Pendragon War Zone? You want me to bow my head to you? Would you be able to take it?"Yrian was looking very sullen as well. With a frown and a frosty gaze, he looked at Liam and said, "Now, Liam, you're wrong for saying that."He was criticizing Liam hard in his mind. Liam truly thought too highly of himself. How could he be so rude in front of an important figure like Lukas on such an occasion? He was nothing more than a soldier who was disc
Meanwhile, Celena and the group were taken out of the hotel and shoved forcefully into a couple of jeeps waiting at the entrance. They were whisked away to a nearby military base. Before they could even get their bearings straight, they found themselves being tossed into holding cells. Celena, on the other hand, was taken separately to a small, dark room, illuminated only by the barest sliver of light that peeped in through a tiny window. The room was entirely empty, save for a metal bed frame. A sour stench hung in the air, and it was clear this room had been abandoned for a very long time. A soldier shoved Celena roughly into the room, and before she could realize what was happening, the soldier slammed the door shut.The soldier had pushed Celena so hard that she fell onto the ground, but upon seeing that her captor was about to leave, she leaped to her feet and sprinted over to the door. "Sir, can you tell me what I did wrong? Can you please have mercy on me? Can you at least
Tristan seemed just as baffled as they were. He returned their puzzled gazes with an equally perplexed one of his own. "I… I have no idea…"The general glanced sharply in their direction, then gestured to his soldiers and declared sternly, "Take them away!"His soldiers obliged and stepped forward to restrain the members of the Drunham City Connoisseurs, who all shrieked in alarm, "Why are you taking us away?""General, what did we do wrong? We didn't do anything illegal, so why are you arresting us?""Mr. Xander, save us! They've got this all wrong!""What's going on here? Why are they arresting only us?"Celena's entire body was shaking like a leaf. She eyed the soldiers around her and asked, stammering, "General, what did we do wrong? Why are we being captured? Where are you taking us?"Tristan, stricken with panic, shoved a soldier aside and shouted at the general, "General, I'm the president of the Drunham City Connoisseurs, and I want to know why we're being taken away. Wh
Celena was utterly terrified by the sudden turn of events. She stared pale-faced at the soldiers around her, not daring to move even a muscle. What was going on?All of a sudden, a man in a uniform stepped into the room. The badge on his shoulder indicated to everyone that he was a general. The heavy thumping of his boots echoed through the silent room with every step he took. All eyes were on him as he stepped onto the stage.He carried himself with great authority, and clearly, this man was not one to be messed with. He scanned the room as if searching for someone. Finally, he announced in a deep, resounding voice, "Do not fear, ladies and gentlemen. We are here on a routine check after receiving a tip-off regarding your conference. We will release you all once we have carried out our investigation, and the process will be quicker and smoother if you all cooperate. "Now, I would kindly request you get your documentation ready so that my men may confirm your identity."Everyone
Derek nodded earnestly and replied, "Of course it's true. My sources have never failed me. I wouldn't have trusted you with this information if I didn't think you'd be interested."Celena stared at him for a moment, then turned to glance in the direction of the people he had pointed. She could not help but be tempted by the offer. She considered this for a few moments, then accepted his offer. "Alright then, Mr. Duncan. I'll go with you. Thank you for inviting me."The smile on Derek's face widened. He could hardly believe his luck—Celena had agreed to go with him! Taking that first step was always the hardest, but he had done it!Unbeknownst to Celena, Derek already knew her long before their first meeting at the conference. Her name was known far and wide in Drunham City, not least because of her beauty, but because of her—in the eyes of the public—tragic marriage. Celena had earned herself a reputation as one of the most beautiful women Drunham City had ever seen, and although
The attention they received, however, was large due to Celena and her young, handsome companion, who was a man named Derek Duncan. Their attractive looks, both individually and combined, were easily the topic of discussion that night. Everyone who laid eyes on them admired both their good looks and brains, for certainly only the cream of the crop were allowed to attend this prestigious event. What made this feat even more impressive was the fact that they were both so young!Aside from her beauty, Celena's name was already known far and wide in the business world, not just because of her strong leadership but due to her association with Liam and her company's connections with many international corporations. She had started her business from scratch, but within a few short months, she had single handedly built it up to become one of the top ten grossing companies in Drunham City.There were hundreds of people gathered there tonight, and their seats had been allocated according to t
The moment Clifford left, Kastor turned to Liam with a wide grin, all hint of his hostility now gone. "Mr. Cole, thank God I arrived just in time."He raised his brows as he said this, and Liam took this to mean he was trying to claim credit. Truth be told, he would have been able to handle things on his own even without Kastor's help, but he decided this was a detail Kastor did not need to know. Instead, he returned Kastor's smile graciously. Kastor, like a child, burst into laughter at this. No further words were exchanged, but they understood the message nonetheless.Jeffrey also grinned. "Kastor, what brings you here all of a sudden?"Kastor replied, "Ah, you might not know this, Mr. Stein, but I actually own this very restaurant that you're sitting in right now. One of my employees called me for help, citing that a brawl was about to break out, so I rushed over immediately. I had no idea it would turn out to be you and Mr. Cole!""Ah, what a pleasant surprise, then!" Jeffrey
Clifford scowled upon hearing this. He cracked his knuckles menacingly as he stared at Kastor through narrowed eyes.Kastor did not seem at all intimidated by this. Instead, he brushed past him and approached Liam, smiling. "Mr. Cole, I apologize for the delay. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, but I was late anyway. I'm so sorry for the wait."Liam's expression eased up slightly. He tugged the corners of his mouth into a strained smile but did not reply. Clifford's expression turned even more sour when he sensed Kastor's tone. He asked sharply, "What is the meaning of this, Kastor? Are you intent on making me your enemy?"Clifford's reputation was known far and wide, and many feared him, but Kastor was not one of them. He shot Clifford a look of utmost disdain and replied, smirking, "Yes, Clifford, that's exactly what I'm going to do. So what if we will be enemies from now on? What are you going to do about it?"He was confident that Clifford would not dare to retaliate
One of the muscle-bound goons stowed his submachine gun and drew a hefty machete, nearly a foot long, from his side. He advanced on Liam with deliberate steps.Calum and Cirocco were poised for a fight, ready to jump in at Liam's command and wipe out the roomful of petty thugs.However, Liam had other plans. He remained seated, an unfazed smirk playing on his lips, watching the approaching thug with the machete.The thug, mistaking Liam's calm for fear, grinned viciously and raised his machete, aiming for Liam's arm.However, in a flash, the scene changed.A figure hurtled through the air, and with a resounding crash, the thug was sent flying into the wine rack. The rack toppled, bottles shattering, their contents spilling and perfuming the air with the scent of alcohol.The thug hit the ground, blood spurting from his mouth, his eyes wide with shock. He lay there, lifeless, staring at Liam, dead before he hit the floor.The room plunged into a deathly hush.Corie clapped a h
Corie was also shaken, her fists clenched tight under the table as she watched Liam with wide, fearful eyes, barely managing to whisper, "Liam!"Liam stood there, steady as ice, without a trace of fear. "Don't worry, I've got this," he assured.Corie, seeing Liam's calm dismissal of the threat and recalling his proven strength, felt her fear ebb away.She could not explain it, but she had an unwavering faith in Liam.Across from them, Clifford lounged back, his legs thrown carelessly over the table, his gaze dripping with disdain. "You don't know who you're messing with, do you?" he sneered. "Karpos works for me, Clifford. And yet, you've got the gall to attack my men in broad daylight? You're in over your head!"Jeffrey was about to chime in, but one look at Liam's icy demeanor and he thought better of it, choosing instead to watch the scene unfold in silence.He was curious to see just how Liam would handle that.Liam chuckled, a sound as cold as the winter wind, and fixed Cli