"Billie!""Dad... Dad, you're here at last. I'm so scared, it hurts so much… Dad, please help me, I'm terrified!"Billie was sprawled on the floor, tears streaming down her face. When she caught sight of Quim, her sobs grew louder, filled with the same desperate hope a traveler in the desert feels upon finding an oasis. She pleaded with him, her voice thick with the hope of survival.Quim's heart twisted at the sight of his daughter, so battered and bruised. A red-hot anger flared within him, making him want to tear Liam apart. That fool Liam hurt his little girl, his treasure, whom he had always handled with the utmost care. His blood boiled at the thought.He was a man of stature. His peers greeted him with nods and respect. Then, Liam had the gall to strike his daughter, to strike at his very honor!Quim's eyes blazed with fury as he locked his gaze on Liam, who stood smugly in the center of the room. "Bring it on! Show this punk what happens when you mess with my daughter!" he
Out of nowhere, the suited enforcers stepped aside, clearing a path. Eaden walked through, calm as a cucumber, stopping at the private room's entrance. He gave Quim a look that could kill, the dark threat in his eyes unmistakable. He said in an even tone, "Quim, you think you can just waltz into Drunham City and turn it on its head? Who do you think you are, going after Mr. Cole like that? You want to throw down, you gotta get past me, Eaden, first!" His words were calm. However, they carried a force that swept through the room like a tidal wave.Eaden's entrance made Quim's face fall.They sent a clear threat that Quim could not ignore. His eyes blazed with anger and a fierce fire as he snapped, "Mr. Wafer, that punk hurt my daughter and killed some of my men! There's no way I'm letting him off the hook today. I don't care what he means to you. Today, I'm dealing with him! Don't think your presence here changes anything, Mr. Wafer. Even if the king himself showed up, I'd make him
Especially after Liam pulled off that jaw-dropping hit on the Walker family that had the whole city talking.Then, Quim's got the nerve to step up to Liam, like he got a death wish or something, itching for an early grave!Then Eaden, with a chill in his eyes, gave Quim a look that could freeze fire. He sneered at Quim's cocky stance, thinking he could take on Liam like he was just some regular Joe."Quim, since we're all Drunham City folks, I'll throw you a bone. Tell your crew to drop their guns, and you better square things with Mr. Cole. Don't put up a pointless fight. To Mr. Cole, we're all just ants under his shoe!"Hearing that, Quim's face turned stormy, veins popping on his forehead. He roared at Eaden, "Don't think I'm soft just because I show you respect, Mr. Wafer! I've been around, and I don't scare easy! I've made up my mind about the kid, and if you're set on shielding him, then let's see if you can keep him safe!"Quim barked orders at his men, "Get the members on
Quim was in full-blown panic mode.He shot Eaden with a look filled with suspicion and confusion. "Was it you?""Did you conspire with Howard against me?"It was not just a question, Quim was convinced of it.The timing was too perfect.Eaden just chuckled at Quim's accusation and shot back, "Still thinking of taking down Mr. Cole, are you?""You really don't get it, do you? I couldn't possibly pull strings with Mr. Mosier. This was all Mr. Cole's idea."That revelation hit Quim like a ton of bricks. It was him! He spun around to see Liam, then lounging on the couch, leisurely enjoying his wine. Before him, Samara, Yanely, and the others stood in line, bowing deeply, their faces ashen and bodies shaking, too scared to even lift their heads.They were petrified, regretting why they ever agreed to come to tonight's party with Samara, why they had taken part in shaming Celena.They had never seen anything like that before. They thought they were just going to a party to give Cele
"Quim, you've got some guts, attacking someone right under my nose!"Howard stormed into the room, livid, and marched straight up to Quim, delivering a stinging slap to his face. Still seething, he swung back his hand and landed another slap on the other cheek.Those slaps knocked Quim for a loop!He was seething inside but did not dare fight back; not even a single word of defiance passed his lips.After giving Quim a piece of his mind, Howard strode over to Liam with a swift pace that caught everyone's attention. He bowed with deep respect and reported, "Mr. Cole, I'm here as ordered. We've shut down Quim's operations, and everyone involved is in custody!" Howard shot Quim a warning look before asking, "Any other orders? I'm on it." Quim, who had been ready to go down fighting, suddenly felt his knees buckle. He collapsed to the ground, his face a mask of terror and hopelessness. It was all over for him. Quim was seized by a terror so profound it felt like the sky itself wa
Ignoring her wounds, Billie crawled over to Liam, apologizing just as fervently as Quim while spilling all of Samara's dirty secrets."Mr. Cole! I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have let myself be swayed, to go along with them in tormenting your wife! Please, spare my dad and me! I was wrong to underestimate you and wrong to harm Celena! It was all Samara's doing, she's the one who brought us here, and told us to pick on your wife! She was about to rip off Celena's clothes just now... to throw..."Liam's eyes turned to ice, his piercing gaze fixed on Billie as he asked in a chilling tone, "Rip off the clothes... and throw what?""Samara vowed to strip Celena bare and toss her out for all to see, to reveal the famed beauty of Drunham City! Mr. Cole, it was all Samara's doing!" True friends, huh? Those were only true when it did not cost them anything. However, Billie, desperate for a lifeline, threw Samara under the bus!Already roughed up by Liam, Samara quivered on the floor. Billie's
Tucker's nerves were shot, his heart pounding against his chest. Unlike Quim, he knew when he was out of his depth. He had walked in with his head low, ready to show just how much he understood his place.Tucker marched up to Liam, bowed deeply with a look of utmost respect, and pleaded earnestly, "Mr. Cole, I've come to understand the situation, and it's clear my daughter has blundered. If you feel you must discipline her, I won't stand in your way. All I ask is that you spare her life. I won't cover for her mistakes. If it takes everything the Fabish family has to make it right with Ms. Stone, so be it. Please, just let her live."With each word, Tucker's tears streamed down his face as he begged for forgiveness.Samara, witnessing her father's deep bow and heartfelt apology to save her, was overwhelmed with tears and remorse, sobbing uncontrollably."Daddy... I'm so sorry... I was wrong to be so headstrong... I realize my mistake..."Liam observed the touching scene with a stee
Yafe was perched on the couch, furiously jabbing a finger at Celena, his voice laced with anger and his mind racing with worry. The Fabish family, a big name in Drunham City's hotel scene, was neck and neck with the Stones, and they had ties that ran deep.The Fabish family was not just any client; they were top-tier for the Stones. If they pulled the plug on their partnership, the Stones would take a serious hit.Celena, her face a canvas of makeup trying to mask last night's bruises, could not quite hide the damage. Yafe's outburst left her looking like a deer in headlights, fear and anxiety written all over her.Sherah let out a disdainful snort before laying into her, "Celena, you're nothing but trouble. Always rubbing people the wrong way! Lucky for us, Quim and Eaden, along with Mr. Wafer, are too busy with their own turf wars. Quim's behind bars now, thank goodness. If he weren't, with the way he operates, we'd be bracing for a storm of payback!"Reginald's face clouded over