Yafe's expression changed at the speed of lightning. He was all smiles and gentle earlier, but that was replaced by a frosty look. He glared at Celena and Liam and said in an icy tone, "Your grandpa asked us to come and clarify Liam's relationship with Mr. Reath. Since we already got our answer, we'll be making a move now."Yafe left the room without any hesitation while Cheryl followed closely behind him.Before Sherah left the room, she turned to sneer at Liam and said, "Liam, don't think you're safe just because you were lucky enough to resolve the business partnership issue for the company. Don't you forget that Captain Hughes' induction dinner will be happening in three days? If you get the Stone family into trouble then, we won't spare you!"Liam was opening up the box of fruits. Without even looking up, he replied calmly, "The Stone family won't get involved. I'll take care of it."Sherah sneered before turning around and left the room.Once again, peace was restored in t
Everyone in the meeting room was surprised to see what happened, and they started to feel nervous.Eaden did not sit at the head of the table, but he stood next to it with respect instead? Could that mean that a big shot who was even more powerful than Eaden would appear later?Right as everyone was nervously making guesses, Calum opened the meeting room door and walked in with a frosty air around him.As soon as set foot in the meeting room, he exuded all of the formidable might he had on the battlefield. He gave all the others such a fright that everyone kept quiet. They were all trembling, not daring to even make a tiny bit of sound. Everyone was shocked and scared when they looked at Calum. He had such a formidable bearing that they were terrified.Calum walked over to Eaden's side and scanned the room with a frosty gaze. He did not sit at the head of the table either. Instead, he stood on the other side of the seat like Eaden.In an icy tone, he said, "I am Calum Chanter. Y
Those soldiers looked fierce and serious. Oh goodness!The thought struck the middle-aged man like lightning, draining the color from his face. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his knees shook uncontrollably.Then, his legs buckled, and he crashed to the floor, a yellow stain spreading beneath him—a clear sign of his terror.He was just a regular businessman, unaccustomed to staring down the barrel of a gun, let alone dozens.As he hit the deck, the others in the meeting room caught a glimpse of the scene outside and froze, panic seizing them. Those who thought to leave with the businessman were then rooted to the spot, too scared to budge.In that tense standoff, Calum's voice cut through the silence, composed as a cucumber: "Gentlemen, why don't you take a seat and let's continue, shall we?"His words had them scurrying back to their chairs in an instant, and the door to the conference room shut with a decisive click.Silence reigned. No one dared to raise their voice against
Calum surveyed the stunned faces before him and spoke with a calm detachment, "The Hughes family hasn't crossed me, but they've crossed my boss."It hit them like a thunderclap on a clear day, shattering any last hope they clung to.The Hughes family crossed Calum's boss?His boss, no less!!Sure, having a soldier on guard duty was one thing, but Calum there could be a General, at the very least a brigadier. And his boss had to be a Lieutenant General at minimum.A Lieutenant General!?The revelation that the Hughes family offended a Lieutenant General left everyone shell-shocked, struggling to grasp the magnitude of their situation.A Lieutenant General was no small fry, even Malcolm was a big deal to them. However, a Lieutenant General? It was on another level.The Hughes family stepped in it that time—how on earth did they tick off someone so powerful?The whole thing was downright terrifying.In the thick of the tension, a voice cut through the silence. " Mr. Calum Chante
However, when they finally got a good look at the man who entered, they were stunned. Who was that guy in casual clothes, looking like he shopped at a street market?Liam entered the conference room with an air of nonchalance, and amidst the crowd's stunned stares, he walked over to the head of the table and took his seat.Was that famed Commander-in-chief of Pendragon?That was the mysterious King Pendragon?How could such an ordinary-looking guy, dressed so plainly, be him?No way, that can not be happening! Is that him?Amid the crowd, heads bowed in deference, someone caught a glimpse of Liam and shot up, pointing at him in utter shock. "You, you, you, Are you Liam? The guy from the Cole family who leeched off the Stones, the black sheep?"Liam sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as he heard the accusation, but his eyes suddenly flashed with a deadly frigid fury.At that very moment, Calum and Eaden, standing by his side, lashed out in his defense."Ins
The attendees' gazes toward Eaden were filled with eagerness to please as they swarmed around him. With respectful nods and wide grins, they said, "Eaden, we had no idea you were so well-connected! Knowing someone as legendary as the Commander-in-chief of Pendragon and keeping it under wraps? You had us all fooled!""Seriously, Eaden! Rubbing shoulders with the big shots and you say nothing?""Eaden, did you know all along that Liam was the Commander-in-chief of Pendragon everyone's been whispering about?""And about Mr. Cole being King Pendragon, are we the only ones in the loop?"Questions flew from every direction, and even Eaden was reeling from the revelation. He greeted them with a polite nod and a smile, "Folks, Mr. Cole's identity needs to stay under wraps for the time being. You know why it's important. Plus, Mr. Cole isn't one for the limelight! He's got pressing matters in Drunham City, so let's all keep a lid on it, shall we?"And about Mr. Cole's recent directive, you
Liam chuckled and playfully pinched her cheek, feigning sternness. "What if you got hurt, huh? Imagine if mommy found out you got hurt while out with daddy. She'd be upset, you know."Jovie giggled behind her hands, squirming in his arms. "Oops, my bad, Daddy!""Alright, let's go have some fun!" Liam said, his voice warm with laughter.He carried her off toward the heart of the amusement park, where laughter and music filled the air.An hour later, they settled in a quiet corner. Liam gently set Jovie on a bench. "I'm off to get you some ice cream. Stay put, okay? Don't wander off, and don't talk to strangers. Got it?"Jovie nodded earnestly, the little ears on her headband sparkling. "Okay, daddy! Hurry back!"Liam gave Jovie's hair a gentle tousle and flashed a reassuring smile. Noticing a park employee nearby, he asked her to watch Jovie for a moment. Confident that Jovie was safe, he stood up and strolled over to the ice cream truck nearby.No sooner had Liam stepped away th
Calum did not waste a second after the call. He found Malcolm's number and hit the dial. The moment Malcolm picked up, Calum did not mince words. "Malcolm! Orders from the top! Lockdown, now! No one in or out of Drunham City! Get your troops on it!! Move, move, move!!!"Malcolm, in the middle of a meeting at the Drunham City garrison, was taken aback by the sudden call from Calum, and even more by his demand, a mix of shock and bewilderment on his face."General, why this sudden lockdown? What's going on? You know as well as I do, a lockdown's no trivial matter. It could spark a major panic."If Liam ordered that lockdown to hit the Hughes family in advance?Calum's voice crackled through the phone again, "Why? Malcolm, you seriously have the gall to ask why? This is Drunham City, your turf! In the middle of the day, our little princess was snatched right out from under our noses! You're lucky you're not already in deep trouble, and you dare to ask why? Let me tell you, the boss is
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