With that, Cheryl burst into a triumphant cackle. None of the other Stones dared to step forward on Celena's behalf, not even Yafe. He stood amongst the crowd, staring at her calmly as though this was not his daughter being carried away. Sherah and Qemal, on the other hand, could not hide their smiles as they watched. The rest of the family would not dream of putting themselves in trouble just to save Celena. If anything, they were all trying to stand as far away from her as possible for fear they would get into trouble for simply being associated with her. Celena felt her heart sink. She gazed in despair at her family members but was met only by contempt and hatred. Even her grandfather, the kindest and gentlest person she had ever known, was staring at her with such a cold look that it sent chills down her spine. Celena wailed, "Grandpa, why are you doing this to me? I'm your granddaughter! Don't you remember how much fun we had together when I was a child?"However, before Re
Liam blocked the Jeep's path. He peered through the windshield and caught sight of Celena and Jovie's tear-streaked faces, etched with terror. His eyes narrowed, a lethal intent rising within him. His gaze turned frosty as he locked eyes with the soldiers stepping out of the vehicle and thundered, "Let go of my wife and kid! Do that, and maybe I'll let you live!!""Outrageous! To think you'd dare block a military vehicle in a war zone and interfere with official business! Someone, take him out right here, right now!!" The company commander was fierce, arching his brows challengingly. He gestured decisively to his men, signaling the command.No sooner had he spoken than the soldiers lunged at Liam, ready to subdue him on the spot.However, then!With a roar, Liam's presence exploded, a chilling aura of death emanating from him. Like a razor-sharp panther, he leaped into action. His blows sent the three advancing soldiers flying in an instant. Then, Liam stood before the company comm
The company ommander was pinned to the car's hood, his mind blank with terror. The crushing fear around his neck jolted him back to his senses. Despite being a seasoned soldier, he felt utterly powerless before Liam, like an ant squaring off against an elephant, with no will to fight back. The difference in strength was overwhelming.The man standing before him exuded a fearsome presence.Who was that man, with an aura so daunting, so bone-chillingly intense?He had only felt something similar once before, years ago at a Biskeland annual rally from Northern Biskeland's top brass, Cisco Quigg. Yet, that man's presence dwarfed even Cisco's, more startling, more terrifying."Just... just do what he says!"The commander's voice shook as he spoke, his eyes pleading with Liam, silently conveying that he had complied.No sooner had he spoken than the soldiers with him quickly stripped their pistols of their magazines and tossed the weapons to the ground.For soldiers, obedience was the
The company commander stumbled off the car hood, clutching at his bruised neck and heaving for breath. In a swift motion, he yanked his gun from his belt, pressing the icy barrel against Liam's forehead. "Damn you! Obstructing official duties, attacking a soldier? I should shoot you on the spot!"He cocked the gun, thumbing off the safety, finger trembling on the trigger.However, then, he froze. He could not move a muscle.Because Liam, with his fiery gaze locked on him, seemed to summon an onslaught of vengeful spirits. His aura was unyielding, crashing down on the company commander like a tidal wave.The company commander was petrified; his body was no longer his own. That single look from Liam made him feel like a mere ant before a battle-hardened general, an untouchable giant."Shoot? Go ahead, if you've got the nerve," Liam taunted.Liam's roar thundered through the air, a shockwave that made the company commander's hands tremble, and his gun nearly slip from his grasp. He
The company commander's face twisted in anger, his features contorting as he tried to muster a comeback. However, Andrews cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Take them all away!"With that order, the soldiers leapt into action, rounding up the company commander and his men, and marched them off into custody.Lieutenant Andrews spun on his heel, strode over to Liam, and snapped a crisp salute. "Mr. Cole, my apologies for our tardiness! You and your wife must have been quite alarmed. We're here under General Lynch's orders to ensure your safety. The General sent a message. For now, your security is our duty. You and your wife can breathe easy."Liam gave a slight nod, and catching the cue, Andrews withdrew with his squad.Quiet reclaimed the Stone residence in minutes, leaving Celena rooted to the spot, her face a mask of shock. She was still piecing together the sudden turn of events. Had Andrews and his team shown up for Liam?Andrews mentioned orders from General Lyn
Celena had lifted Jovie's shirt and was met with her little back, tender and swollen red. The memory of Jovie being flung to the ground by a soldier sent her into a panic. She turned to Liam, her voice trembling, "Liam, hurry! We need to get Jovie to the hospital. They threw her onto the floor!"Liam's face went pale, and he quickly scooped Jovie from Celena's arms, dashing to the hospital.Back at the entrance, the Stone family was in an uproar as Liam disappeared from view.Reginald stood rooted to the spot, his face a mask of conflicting emotions, lost in thought. The rest of the Stone family buzzed with anxious chatter."Now what? Liam's really done it this time, crossing Trevyn. We might all end up on the bad side of the Hughes family because of this!""Grandpa, what's our move? You've got to decide quickly. Celena and Liam have really done it this time, completely alienating the Hughes family. We, the Stones, are going to get caught in the crossfire!" The room was a cacophon
Then, a thunderous boom echoed through the air!Trevyn's foot sent the coffee table flying, his good looks marred by a scowl. His eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "Malcolm! Oh, he's playing it smart! Acting all buddy-buddy with Liam, but he's really just throwing his weight around, warning me under the guise of friendship! He wants all those high-and-mighty families in Drunham City and Roselle City to know he's the top dog!"I'll get back at them for every ounce of shame, just you wait till I'm in charge! Tell our guys to lay low for now, no more trouble-making for Malcolm to pounce on! And get someone on Liam and the Stone family, keep them under our thumb!"The soldier nodded and beat a hasty retreat from the hall, leaving Trevyn seething in a storm of rage.Just then, Patrick strolled down the stairs, took in the sight of Trevyn's fury and the chaos, and stepped up quickly. "What's got you so worked up, Trevyn? Didn't you send someone to fetch Celena and that brat? Where are
"Fiance? Yeah, right. Everyone knows you got dumped. Are you still clinging to that title? He wouldn't take you back even if you paid him!"The bodyguard laughed scornfully at Cheryl's outburst, throwing back a harsh retort without a second thought for her being a woman or Reginald's age. They pinned the trio to the ground and did not stop until they had thoroughly thrashed them.Yafe did everything he could to shield Reginald. Seizing a moment, they scrambled back to the car and beat a hasty retreat.Reginald's face bore the marks of the scuffle, and Yafe was battered, his back marked with the distinct imprint of shoes. Cheryl was a complete mess. Her hair was askew, her face swollen, a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth, and missing a shoe. She sat on a chair, hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.Reginald had his hand pressed against his throbbing cheek and roared with fury, "This is a complete disgrace! If it weren't for that Liam, I wouldn't be facing su
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