Yafe held back from saying anything too harsh, worried that too much pressure might backfire.Celena's expression turned stormy. Her own family, blinded by greed, were shamelessly pushing her into another marriage. The thought alone soured her heart, and tears of hurt cascaded down her cheeks. "No way! I won't have it! I refuse to remarry! If we can't see eye to eye, then I've lost my appetite! Liam, grab Jovie, we're leaving!"With that, Celena rose to her feet, scooping up the bag, while Liam followed suit, cradling Jovie in his arms.Kayson's worry spiked, but Sherah was already by Celena's side before he could move, gripping her hand with a gentler touch. "Okay, okay, let's drop it for now. We promised to share a meal today, and I won't press you any further. However, do give it some thought to what I've said. It's all logical. Mr. Wheeler went out of his way to invite you here to this fancy place. It'd be rude to just walk out now, wouldn't it?"Sherah realized she had been to
"Obviously, it's top-dollar wine, and the price speaks for itself. However, hey, I've got it covered, so drink up!" Kayson grinned, waving off the cost like it was chump change.He was laying it on thick, trying to show he was not hurting for cash. He figured Yafe and the rest did not know the first thing about fine wine, so he could spin it any way he wanted.After his spiel, Kayson watched everyone like a hawk, looking for any sign of disbelief. Sherah and Yafe kept their composure, so he let out a silent sigh of relief.Then his eyes landed on Celena, and seeing her unfazed expression, he could not help but scowl.What was happening there?Celena remained unfazed, a stark contrast to the other women he had escorted before, who would have already crumbled under pressure, their expressions mirroring Sherah's.However, Liam, who had been overlooked until then, suddenly chimed in. "Really? You're calling the Romanée-Conti the best? I thought the '87 Lafite held that title. And i
Liam could see right through Kayson's facade, recognizing the rage born from his embarrassment. Instead of biting back, he quietly pulled out his phone and shot a quick text to Kolten.Sherah and her group, who had been sitting off to the side, noticed Kayson's growing irritation and quickly leaped to his defense. Qemal, eager to make an impression, was the first to lash out at Liam. "Have you no decency, Liam? Spewing such drivel as if you could actually afford it! Do you have any idea what this wine costs? It was around 15 thousand dollars a bottle. Can you even cough up that kind of cash?"With a mocking laugh, Sherah chimed in, "Seriously, the nerve! Liam, you're just putting on airs. If you're clueless, it's better to keep your mouth shut than embarrass yourself.""Mom, Liam's got no shame at all!"Qemal chimed in again, his face twisted with disgust, yet internally, he was reeling with shock. He had just stealthily checked online with his phone and discovered that the informa
Qemal was quick to chime in, "You heard him, Liam. Make yourself scarce and get out of Quintessence Grill. You're not wanted here. You're an embarrassing excuse for a man!"After his outburst, Qemal turned to Kayson with a sycophantic grin, practically tripping over himself to show deference, "Mr. Wheeler, or should I say, brother-in-law, don't waste your time on Liam. He's all bark and no bite. You're above this. Don't let him drag you down."Sherah was even more direct. She stood up, pointed fiercely at the door, and bellowed, "Liam, I said get out. Now!"Liam took a look around at the company he was in and decided he had had enough. He knew if he stayed any longer, he might lose his composure, and things could get messy, especially for Celena. So he stood up to leave, and Celena rose to join him, but Liam gently held her back, saying, "It's been quite the ordeal, hasn't it? You must be starving. You stay here and enjoy your meal. I'll wait for you outside."With that, Liam walke
Kayson's gut told him Maksen had come specifically for him. In that crowd, no one else had the clout. Yafe and his crew did not even come close to earning a personal visit from Maksen with wine and food in tow.That left only Liam.However, Liam? No way.So it had to be Kayson. He was the one who had reserved the entire private room at Quintessence Grill for the evening. As the Wheeler family's golden boy, it made sense for Maksen to drop by for a chat.The thought of Maksen, the big-shot owner of Quintessence Grill, trying to butter him up sent a wave of smug satisfaction through Kayson. He could not help but let a self-assured smile creep across his face as his eyes darted toward Celena.Yafe, who had been all high and mighty, playing it composed, could not hide his thrill. He jumped to his feet, his face smeared with eagerness to please, and reached out for a handshake. "Ah, Mr. Luke! The one and only! I've been in awe of you for ages! Your name's been on everyone's lips, but w
Maksen glanced at the people in the private room after making his statement. By the time his gaze landed on Celena, his expression got much gentler, and he said, "Ms. Stone, since Mr. Cole isn't around, I'll take my leave. Please send my regards to him."Maksen looked at Sherah and the others again with a sullen expression. Displeased, he said, "I've brought this good food and wine for you out of respect for Mr. Cole. Know that you've got a bargain."He left with the servers upon saying that.The atmosphere in the room immediately became gloomy. Nobody said anything, and they all looked a little upset.Kayson looked especially sulky. He thought that the owner of Quintessence Grill personally served the food and wine to them because of him. However, the owner did not even know who he was. The owner came into the room for Liam, the man Kayson did not even take seriously.Sherah and Yafe had a sour look on their faces as well. They thought Liam was just pretending to be someone world
"Dad, Mom, why aren't you touching the food? This Romanée-Conti is delicious. As to be expected of a fine wine that's hard to come by. The food tastes good too. It's no wonder Quintessence Grill is such an expensive restaurant. It's worth the price."Qemal wolfed down the food and took a sip of the red wine, smacking his lips with satisfaction.He continued, "I wonder how did that loser, Liam, get Maksen to give him such a high honor?"Sherah's expression darkened at the mention of that. She became furious and barked, "Hmph! What can a loser like Liam do? Mr. Luke is flattering Liam because of Malcolm!"She saw how upset Kayson looked when he left. She was secretly praying that Kayson would not give up on Celena because of what happened that night. Where else would they be able to find such an outstanding person to collaborate with?"I hope Mr. Wheeler is not mad. What if he wants to take back the benefits he gave us?" said Sherah.As soon as he heard that, Qemal could not help b
Liam found Celena's serious expression a little funny, but he explained calmly, "We've already known each other seven years ago. Mr. Luke is quite close to my family."Celena still had a little doubt. She just had a feeling that something was off. With a questioning gaze, she looked at Liam and said, "You've known each other since seven years ago? You're not lying to me? Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me? Liam, I hate people lying to me the most. You'd better tell me the truth."Liam smiled helplessly. He was surprised that she was not easy to fool with. However, with an expression like he meant business, he said, "Of course, I'm not lying to you. We've truly known each other for more than seven years. I haven't even left Drunham City then. How would I have the guts to lie to you? I'm financially supported by you right now."Upon saying that, Liam put Jovie on his shoulders and walked off. He said, "Let's go, Jovie. You're riding a horse!"Jovie hugged Liam's neck
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