Sherah was having none of it when she heard Liam scolding Cheryl. She pushed her way through the crowd, jabbed a finger at Celena's face, and let loose a torrent of anger. "Celena, you've crossed the line! It was your fault Dad got sick in the first place, and now you want to go after Cheryl while Dad's fighting for his life?""Yeah, Liam! Dad's barely hanging on, and here you are, going after Cheryl like some kind of bully!""Right! Cheryl's just worried about the old man, so cut it out, Celena, and get Liam to back off!"With everyone rallying to her side, Cheryl's confidence surged. She fixed Celena with a glare, her voice thick with scorn. "What are you playing at, Celena? Grandpa's in there because of you, and now you're egging Liam on to take a shot at me while he's on the edge?"Celena's response was immediate, her head shaking vigorously. "No, that's not it at all. I'm really worried about Grandpa. The moment I got the call, I came as fast as I could.""Hmph!"Cheryl's sn
Walter's laughter rang out as Celena confirmed the news. He spun around to face Yafe, his smile vanishing into a scowl. "Yafe, I've got to say, I'm not on board with your earlier words. You're Celena's dad, for heaven's sake. How could you get it so wrong? You were way out of line, and even I can't just stand by. It's time I said something in her defense."And this nonsense about Celena making the old man sick with worry? Let's get one thing straight. Dad sent you and Cheryl to broker a deal with Mr. Black, and you botched it. Couldn't even get a meeting. You slunk back to the Stone family, and that's what got him worked up!"Teresa rarely ever made a scene, but today she broke her silence, stepping up with fire in her eyes. She glared at Cheryl and backed up the accusation, "Absolutely! It seems to me you're the ones who couldn't cut it, couldn't land the deal, and you've worked the old man into sickness. Now you're trying to pin it all on Celena, aren't you? Yafe, Cheryl, you've go
Cheryl was so angry her face turned beet red. She confronted those people right there and then, her voice shrill and grating as she scoffed, "Who's saying I'm jealous of Celena for being prettier? Please, that's ridiculous. Celena can't even put on makeup or dress up. Why would I be envious of her? And this nonsense about us being no good, not landing the contract? When it was time to step up, where were you? No use crying over spilled milk now."Yafe backed her up, saying, "Right! If you're so capable, why didn't you head to the hotel, why didn't you meet with Mr. Black? Now you're trying to play innocent and dump the blame on us? Fat chance!"All this brown-nosing Celena, it's just because she snagged the deal, isn't it? Do you think buttering her up will get you somewhere? Let me break it to you: keep dreaming. Celena's the one who got Dad so riled up that he ended up in the hospital. Think she's going to bother with you?"The argument escalated quickly, and it seemed like it mig
Reginald, with a trembling hand, reached out feebly toward Celena and murmured, "Ce- Ce-"Celena hesitated, unsure if the weak call was for her, especially with Cheryl right there. She bit her lip, torn between concern for Reginald and not wanting to overstep.Cheryl did not miss a beat. She swooped to the bedside, shooting Celena a smug look that screamed, "Grandpa doesn't even see you. I'm the one he truly cares about."She clasped Reginald's hand, hovering in the air, and cooed, "Grandpa, it's me, Cheryl, your favorite. Is there something on your mind?"However, Reginald looked desperate, his breaths coming in short gasps. He wrenched his hand from Cheryl's and reached for Celena, his voice barely a whisper, "Ce- Celena! Celena!"Cheryl's face twisted with shock and anger as she pulled back her hand, shooting Celena a venomous glare.Yafe looked equally displeased and snapped at Celena, who was still in shock, "Celena, snap out of it! Didn't you hear him? Do I have to spell it
Yafe looked a bit off, his face betraying his discomfort. Despite being her biological father, Celena took to calling him Mr. Yafe Stone, a formality that did not sit well with him. However, Yafe did not mind, he never truly saw Celena as his daughter anyway.With a forced cheerfulness, Yafe said, "Here's the thing, your grandpa just told you to share some of Mr. Black's deal with the Stone family. When can we sit down and hash out the details?"Celena's face was a mask of indifference as if she were addressing a stranger. "I'll keep my promise to Grandpa, Mr. Yafe Stone. Don't worry. If you're free tomorrow, we can go over the details at my office."At her words, Yafe's smile widened. "Great, that's settled then. I've got other matters to attend to, so I won't take up more of your time."He did not wait for a response, turning on his heel with that same too-bright smile and heading back into the hospital room.Celena and Liam did not stick around either. They turned and made thei
As Sherah's words grew more and more unpleasant, Celena's expression turned increasingly grim. She cut in, "Mom, Qemal, is there anything else you need? If not, we'll be leaving now."Sherah acted quickly, taking Celena's hand with a warm, reassuring smile. "Hold on, Celena, Mom's not done talking. You've just launched your own business, haven't you? There's a ton to do, I bet. And with Cheryl running things over at the Stone family's business, Qemal is pretty much free. Why not have him pitch in at your place? He's your brother, after all. You can't distrust your flesh and blood, right? Just find some kind of management spot for him in your company."Qemal's your brother, and he's got skills. With your company teaming up with the Stone family, you're going to need all the help you can get. It's perfect to have your brother on board, don't you think?"Sherah did not show a hint of embarrassment, as if she was only looking out for Celena's best interest. "We're family, Celena. Family
"Don't worry, Sis, I'll work hard and stay out of your hair. Just give me a shot, please!"Despite Qemal and Sherah's pleas, Celena stood her ground. She shook her head, her voice soft but unwavering, "Mom, Qemal, it's not that I don't want to help, but my company's just getting off the ground. We're not ready for more people yet. We're managing with the team we have for now, so-"Qemal, you should stick with the Stone family business for the time being. Once my company's more established, you can come on board. I promise I'll find the right spot for you then."Before Qemal could respond, Sherah piped up, her tone laced with discontent, "What's this supposed to mean, Celena? Have you gotten too big for your britches, just like the old man said, forgetting all about your Stone family ties?"Qemal chimed in, "Come on, Celena! After all, I'm your real brother. Sure, Mom, Dad, and Cheryl might have been a bit harsh, but that was on them, not me. I've never done you wrong, have I? I gen
Qemal's face was etched with sorrow, his eyes pleading as he looked at Celena. "Sis, I know I was out of line before, saying things that hurt you. I've seen the error of my ways. I want to lend a hand. We're blood, after all. You wouldn't turn your back on your brother, would you?"Celena listened to their tag-team plea, feeling trapped. With their expectant eyes on her, she gave a reluctant nod. "Fine, show up at my office tomorrow. I'll see if there's a spot for you."At her words, Sherah and Qemal's faces lit up with joy, their smiles so wide they nearly split their faces.Qemal was especially grateful, nodding like a bobblehead as he gushed, "Sis, I promise I'll work hard. Thank you, thank you for this chance.""It's getting late. If there's nothing else, we'll head out now."Celena brushed off their words and with a swift wave, flagged down a cab, whisking Liam away with her. Once they were home, she finally exhaled a heavy sigh, collapsing onto the bed, utterly spent. "Do
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