Yafe let out a contemptuous snort, his eyes blazing with fury. "What are we doing here? Isn't it obvious? We're here to drag you back to the Stone family. Grandpa's laid down the law—you're coming home today, no ifs, ands, or buts about it."Celena stood her ground, responding firmly, "Go back to the Stone family? I've told you before, I'm done with the Stones. Their business is no longer my business."Sherah was just as furious, her voice shrill as she pointed accusingly at Celena, "You're out of control, Celena! When did you not listen to Grandpa? You're coming back to the Stones today with us. He's got things he needs you to do."Celena stared down Sherah with an icy look, her stance as unyielding as ever. "I'm not going back. I've already said it. The Stone family means nothing to me," she declared.Yafe's anger erupted in an instant, his eyes flaring with fury as he glared at Celena. "You won't go back? Fine. If you won't accept my offer willingly, then I'll just have to force
Yafe's face turned a sickly shade of purple, like a bruised liver. Barely able to get the words out, his eyes were bulging out in terror.Sherah saw what was happening and dashed over, trying to yank Liam back. "Liam, what the heck are you doing? You're committing murder; you know that's against the law, right? Let go of my husband, now!"Mid-sentence, Sherah reached out to slap Liam, but his icy stare stopped her cold, her hand hanging frozen in the air.Cheryl ran up too, her voice filled with panic as she yelled at Celena, "Celena, snap out of it! Get Liam to release Dad. Do you want to be responsible for killing your own father?"That was when it hit Celena. She saw Yafe, his face turning blue, and she bolted to Liam's side, tugging at his arm and pleading, "Honey, please... let go, you're going to kill him..."Liam looked down at Yafe with a chilling glare. "Stop testing my patience," he warned in a voice that sent shivers down the spine.With that, he let go, and Yafe crump
However, Reginald was not the warm, gentle grandpa he used to be. Since her return to the Stones, his actions had slowly chipped away at the last bits of affection she held for him.With a look of uncertainty, Celena stayed quiet for a beat. Yafe and his companions thought she was about to say she would go back to the Stones, but then her voice came out, icy and clear."Mr. Yafe Stone, don't bother mentioning Grandpa. I appreciate what he did for me back then, and I've paid back all those good deeds. After I came back to the Stones, did you ever really accept me as one of your own? Be honest."You never saw me as a Stone, so I don't want anything to do with the Stone family now. Please, stop disrupting my family's life. I'm done with the Stone family's business."Her voice was resolute, her stance commanding as she pointed to the door and said with a frosty edge, "Now, I'd like you to leave our house."Yafe's face was a mask of fury as he glared at Celena and shouted, "Wow, Celena
Yafe's stern look softened a little when he heard Cheryl's promise. He nodded and said, "Get on it fast, and remember, we need the best. This is crucial for the Stone family. After the mess you've made, we've been the butt of the joke. However, if we land a deal with Mr. Black, we will see who has the last laugh then?"Cheryl knew exactly what her father meant. Her face tensed, but she quickly managed a strained smile. "I've got it, Dad. Don't worry. I'll handle it, and it'll be perfect."Satisfied at last, Yafe nodded, and with Sherah and a few assistants in tow, he headed back to the Stone family estate to debrief.The moment Yafe and his crew were out the door, Celena collapsed onto the couch, a huge sigh escaping her as if she had been holding her breath the whole time. Her face was a picture of someone who had just woken up from a wild dream.She had stood her ground against Yafe on the phone before, sure, but shutting him and Sherah down to their faces? That was a first.Her
"Maverick Black? "Liam's brow furrowed as he struggled to place the name. After a moment, it clicked. "I think I remember him. If I'm not mistaken, he's got the famous Wendell Family from the West backing him. He's their point man for foreign investments, right?""That's the one, boss."Liam gave a nod of approval. "Alright, shoot me over the details of his project inspection in Drunham City. Get in touch with him. I want a meeting set up pronto once he hits town.""You got it, boss!"The voice on the other end of the line was all respect as they hung up. It was not long before a flood of documents hit Liam's inbox.That investment team was not new to the game; they had a foothold in Biskeland Athenapolis and had projects scattered across numerous Biskeland cities. However, then, their sights were set on Drunham City's ripe market, ready to pour cash into building a mega commercial hub.With the Maverick investment team's clout and the Wendell Family's deep pockets fueling that
Maverick was scheduled to arrive in Drunham City in three days, but when he got the call from the Green Dragon Warriors saying Liam wanted a meeting, he changed his plans.He dropped everything, hopped on his private jet, and touched down in Drunham City, checking into a swanky house.After dinner at six, Liam exchanged a few words with Celena before leaving the villa to meet Maverick at his place.Four armed-to-the-teeth bodyguards stood guard at the mansion's entrance. As Liam approached, they straightened up, bowed respectfully, and chorused, "Good evening, Mr. Cole!"Liam gave a curt nod and walked into the grand house, styled like something from a bygone era. Inside, more bodyguards in sharp black suits and earpieces scanned the area with eagle eyes."King Pendragon!"Liam had barely stepped through the gate when Maverick sprang to her feet and hurried out of the house, her face lit up with excitement and awe. He walked up to him and gave a deep bow, saying with utmost res
Liam wore a small, knowing smile and said, "Well, it's my wife.""Oh, right, right, King Pendragon's wife, I..." Maverick's words trailed off as something clicked in his head. He froze, eyes wide as saucers, and stammered out, "Wait, did you just say... your wife?"Maverick's jaw dropped in utter disbelief as Liam gave a subtle nod. "Oh my God, King Pendragon, you're married? This is huge! Wait, does that mean I get to work with your wife?"When did the wedding bells ring for you, King Pendragon? There wasn't even a whisper about it. You know, if word got out, there'd be a whole parade of folks from our country lining up to celebrate with you!"And who's the lucky lady? She must be something special to catch your eye. Princess Ana from our neck of the woods has had the biggest crush on you since day one. She's gonna be crushed knowing you're off the market!"Oh shoot, where are my manners? Congratulations, King Pendragon! I'm sending all the good vibes for you and your wife to hav
In no time at all, they pulled up in front of a sleek commercial high-rise. Gazing up at the imposing building, Celena had a hunch about what was coming, though neither was completely sure.Liam found a parking spot and led Celena upstairs without delay. He ushered her into a vast, empty office space and, with a wave of his hand, announced, "Honey, this is the spot for our new company's headquarters."He then gestured to a particular office and added, "And that one's yours."Celena's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the deserted office area and the room Liam was pointing to. "Hubby, is this really our new company?" she asked, her voice tinged with wonder.With a grin, Liam nodded. "That's right, you're so sharp! You caught on immediately, but you haven't quite hit the mark."What?Was she wrong?A puzzled frown creased Celena's face as she peered at Liam, confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.Taking her hand gently, Liam led her further into the office space. He l
Liam saw Sunniva was up and wasted no time, saying. "Ms. Bristow, we've got gang trouble at the hotel. It's not safe. We're bailing to a new place," he said.Without skipping a beat, Liam and Sunniva were out of there, speeding off to another hotel in the car.Little did they know, as soon as they left, a convoy of black SUVs pulled up ominously at the hotel's grand entrance.The streets surrounding the hotel suddenly buzzed with the arrival of several new cars. Their occupants spilled out, pacing the perimeter with a clear intent to surveil.From the lineup of rugged SUVs at the hotel's entrance, a squad of men clad in black, brandishing weapons burst forth. They stormed the hotel, their presence ominous and unchallenged.The receptionists, staff, and patrons were petrified, cowering in corners, none daring to confront the intruders.The men made a beeline for Liam's last known location, only to find the room deserted.The ringleader cursed under his breath, "Damn it! He's slip
Each victim was marked with a triangle tattoo, a calling card that did not go unnoticed. Someone had snapped a picture of it before the hotel staff even showed up and had split.Liam passed the photo to Cirocco and Calum, and it hit them like a ton of bricks. Calum scrunched up his face and said, "Sir, this is Alpha's tag. They're big-time hitmen around Rasford City."They're known for their love of curved blades, and that triangle is their signature."Cirocco had been doing some digging too and came back with chilling news about Noel. "Sir, we got the why. Someone's put a three million dollar price tag on your head, right there on the hit list!""Moreover, the bounty was so colossal that it had all the shadowy players in Rasford City licking their chops. A coalition of forces was now banding together, plotting a takedown that had you in their crosshairs."Cirocco's face was a mask of ice as he spoke, and Calum's features were twisted in a scowl.Liam chuckled darkly, the quint
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