Boom!The image of Jovie being kicked sent Liam over the edge. He kicked, striking Yaromir squarely in the chest and sending him crashing into an old, abandoned shelving unit, which toppled with a resounding crash.The force of the kick shattered some of Yaromir's ribs. He hit the ground hard, clutching his belly with his good arm and spitting out blood, his eyes wide with shock as he stared up at Liam.Liam picked up a long steel pipe from the ground and advanced on Yaromir, each step heavy with lethal intent.At that moment, Liam's rage seemed to pierce the heavens, and the darkening sky above Drunham City mirrored the storm brewing within him.Thunder rumbled ominously across the darkened sky.Liam stood tall, the steel pipe in his grip aimed at Yaromir sprawled on the ground. His eyes were icy as he demanded, "Out with it! Who's behind this?"Blood dribbled from Yaromir's mouth as he shook his head, panic-stricken. "I can't tell you! I just can't! They'd kill my family!"Ho
Inside, Quentin lounged on a sofa in the inner hall, eyes covered, encircled by a bevy of sultry women whose laughter tinkled as lightly as the rain outside.The room was filled with the allure of women who were the talk of the town, internet sensations, and lesser-known starlets of the entertainment world. They all had that same, almost manufactured beauty, but each boasted her own unique charm, from statuesque to seductive. They paraded their ample curves and long, pale legs with pride.Their intermittent moans were like a siren's call, impossible to ignore.Quentin, his face half-hidden by a sheer veil, held a cigar in one hand and cupped a voluptuous breast with the other. He drew the woman close, whispered into her shoulder, and let the smoke curl from his lips."My lovely, where do you think you're going? Come, sit with me. Let me cherish you tonight, shall we?"The woman, her body a plaything in Quentin's hands, blushed at his words and settled against him, half-reclined an
The men snapped to attention and said with the utmost respect, "Mr. Jacka, we've got trouble. The club in the south district's been shut down!""The clubs and casinos up north just got raided too, and the cops hauled all our guys away!""Jacobsmeyer's bars and KTV joints are locked up, and their people got carted off by the cops as well!"Boom!Right then, a clap of thunder shook the sky, and a flash of lightning lit up the whole inner hall, casting Quentin's dark scowl in stark relief.Quentin was livid!He had ruled Drunham City for years, and nobody had ever had the guts to challenge him so brazenly, much less shut down a swath of his operations!With fury etched on his face, Quentin glared at his men and roared, "Who is it? Who's behind this?!""It was me!"Out of nowhere, a voice as icy as the Arctic cut through the tension, sending shivers down the spine.Then, a figure cloaked in a deadly aura stepped through the front door.Malcolm, clad in battle gear, held a large
"Out of line!! Quentin, what if I'm set on tearing your empire apart?"Malcolm, who had been shielding Liam from the rain, glared at Quentin with a storm brewing in his eyes and a frosty edge to his voice that could cut steel.Malcolm was livid. Quentin's audacity was off the charts, especially in the presence of King Pendragon.Quentin, who had been preoccupied with Liam and distracted by the downpour, suddenly took serious notice of Malcolm. It was only when Malcolm spoke that Quentin really looked at him.Recognition dawned, and Quentin's face went white as a sheet. His body shook as he blurted out, "You... you're Malcolm?""Indeed, it's me!"Malcolm's reply was as frosty as the rain, his presence as imposing as a winter storm.Quentin's confidence shattered. He could never have guessed that the unassuming umbrella holder was none other than General Lynch, the esteemed mayor of Drunham City and a high-ranking officer in the city's garrison.How could that be?However, in a
Quentin watched with a composed smirk. He taunted Malcolm and Liam, "Take a good look, Malcolm. My guys have got this place covered. You really think your handful of fighters can take on my army?"Malcolm looked impassive as he surveyed the courtyard. They were completely surrounded by thugs, each one looking meaner than the last, brandishing their weapons in the storm.Malcolm's brow was furrowed as he took in the sea of easily a couple of hundred thugs filling the courtyard. Doubt gnawed at him. He glanced at Liam, his voice barely above a whisper, "Boss, what's our play? Do we take 'em head-on?"Liam looked as composed as ever, not a trace of fear in his eyes. He fixed his gaze on Quentin, who was smugly flanked by his goons, and asked sternly, "Quentin, you really think this is your win?"Caught off guard, Quentin's surprise quickly turned into a mocking laugh, his eyes twisted with scorn. "Liam, I didn't give you enough credit. Who knew you'd be chummy with Malcolm of the garr
At the same time, every exit of the courtyard was breached by more armed soldiers storming in.In a flash, the newcomers had the place under complete control."Everyone, drop your weapons, hands on your heads, and squat down!""Drop your weapons! Or we will shoot to kill!""Drop your weapons! Do not resist foolishly!""Everyone, hands on your heads and squat down!"Angry shouts sent a wave of panic through the gang members, clutching onto their long knives and steel pipes. They were terrified of law enforcement. When faced with the very thing they feared, most dropped their weapons and crouched down, hands over their heads in submission.A few tried to put up a fight, but they were no match for the trained officers. A swift kick sent the rebels sprawling, and guns were quickly aimed at their heads. "Try anything else, and you're dead!" came the fierce warning.Some, in desperation, charged with their weapons raised.Gunshots cracked through the air. The attackers were hit, col
Quentin's eyes darted around the courtyard, taking in the sight of the armed figures surrounding him. His heart pounded with the realization that a single command could unleash a hail of bullets, shredding him to pieces.Liam stood before him, his gaze as piercing as the winter frost. Memories of his daughter hardened his stare into something even more unforgiving. "Quentin, you're the second man bold enough to harm my daughter. The first was the Walker family, and I've already dealt with them. What makes you think you'll escape my wrath?" Liam's voice cut through the air like ice.The name 'Walker family' struck Quentin like a thunderbolt, his face draining of color. The infamous Walker family massacre that had rocked Drunham City was Liam's doing. He was the shadow that had loomed over that grim tale.Fear gripped Quentin, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed, "Mr. Cole, please, I'm sorry... I made a mistake..."However, his plea was cut short as Liam's boot connected with
Liam had made it to the hospital just in time. Jovie had already been through her check-up and was then resting in a ward.Celena, upon hearing the news, had left everything at work and rushed to the hospital. She burst into the ward, breathless, and the sight of Jovie, safe and sound, laughing and horsing around with Liam, melted her worries away.Liam stood up awkwardly, caught off guard by Celena's sudden appearance. He looked regretful as he stammered, "Celena, I'm so sorry... I took Jovie to the amusement park this afternoon, and a kidnapper snatched her... However, thank goodness, with the police's help, we got her back..."Slap!Celena's hand struck Liam's cheek with a resounding smack. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she gasped for air, her voice thundering, "Liam! Is this your idea of keeping Jovie safe? Did you even consider what would've happened if we hadn't found her? What if the kidnappers had... I swear, if anything had happened to Jovie, I'd never forgive you. Not
Celena was utterly terrified by the sudden turn of events. She stared pale-faced at the soldiers around her, not daring to move even a muscle. What was going on?All of a sudden, a man in a uniform stepped into the room. The badge on his shoulder indicated to everyone that he was a general. The heavy thumping of his boots echoed through the silent room with every step he took. All eyes were on him as he stepped onto the stage.He carried himself with great authority, and clearly, this man was not one to be messed with. He scanned the room as if searching for someone. Finally, he announced in a deep, resounding voice, "Do not fear, ladies and gentlemen. We are here on a routine check after receiving a tip-off regarding your conference. We will release you all once we have carried out our investigation, and the process will be quicker and smoother if you all cooperate. "Now, I would kindly request you get your documentation ready so that my men may confirm your identity."Everyone
Derek nodded earnestly and replied, "Of course it's true. My sources have never failed me. I wouldn't have trusted you with this information if I didn't think you'd be interested."Celena stared at him for a moment, then turned to glance in the direction of the people he had pointed. She could not help but be tempted by the offer. She considered this for a few moments, then accepted his offer. "Alright then, Mr. Duncan. I'll go with you. Thank you for inviting me."The smile on Derek's face widened. He could hardly believe his luck—Celena had agreed to go with him! Taking that first step was always the hardest, but he had done it!Unbeknownst to Celena, Derek already knew her long before their first meeting at the conference. Her name was known far and wide in Drunham City, not least because of her beauty, but because of her—in the eyes of the public—tragic marriage. Celena had earned herself a reputation as one of the most beautiful women Drunham City had ever seen, and although
The attention they received, however, was large due to Celena and her young, handsome companion, who was a man named Derek Duncan. Their attractive looks, both individually and combined, were easily the topic of discussion that night. Everyone who laid eyes on them admired both their good looks and brains, for certainly only the cream of the crop were allowed to attend this prestigious event. What made this feat even more impressive was the fact that they were both so young!Aside from her beauty, Celena's name was already known far and wide in the business world, not just because of her strong leadership but due to her association with Liam and her company's connections with many international corporations. She had started her business from scratch, but within a few short months, she had single handedly built it up to become one of the top ten grossing companies in Drunham City.There were hundreds of people gathered there tonight, and their seats had been allocated according to t
The moment Clifford left, Kastor turned to Liam with a wide grin, all hint of his hostility now gone. "Mr. Cole, thank God I arrived just in time."He raised his brows as he said this, and Liam took this to mean he was trying to claim credit. Truth be told, he would have been able to handle things on his own even without Kastor's help, but he decided this was a detail Kastor did not need to know. Instead, he returned Kastor's smile graciously. Kastor, like a child, burst into laughter at this. No further words were exchanged, but they understood the message nonetheless.Jeffrey also grinned. "Kastor, what brings you here all of a sudden?"Kastor replied, "Ah, you might not know this, Mr. Stein, but I actually own this very restaurant that you're sitting in right now. One of my employees called me for help, citing that a brawl was about to break out, so I rushed over immediately. I had no idea it would turn out to be you and Mr. Cole!""Ah, what a pleasant surprise, then!" Jeffrey
Clifford scowled upon hearing this. He cracked his knuckles menacingly as he stared at Kastor through narrowed eyes.Kastor did not seem at all intimidated by this. Instead, he brushed past him and approached Liam, smiling. "Mr. Cole, I apologize for the delay. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, but I was late anyway. I'm so sorry for the wait."Liam's expression eased up slightly. He tugged the corners of his mouth into a strained smile but did not reply. Clifford's expression turned even more sour when he sensed Kastor's tone. He asked sharply, "What is the meaning of this, Kastor? Are you intent on making me your enemy?"Clifford's reputation was known far and wide, and many feared him, but Kastor was not one of them. He shot Clifford a look of utmost disdain and replied, smirking, "Yes, Clifford, that's exactly what I'm going to do. So what if we will be enemies from now on? What are you going to do about it?"He was confident that Clifford would not dare to retaliate
One of the muscle-bound goons stowed his submachine gun and drew a hefty machete, nearly a foot long, from his side. He advanced on Liam with deliberate steps.Calum and Cirocco were poised for a fight, ready to jump in at Liam's command and wipe out the roomful of petty thugs.However, Liam had other plans. He remained seated, an unfazed smirk playing on his lips, watching the approaching thug with the machete.The thug, mistaking Liam's calm for fear, grinned viciously and raised his machete, aiming for Liam's arm.However, in a flash, the scene changed.A figure hurtled through the air, and with a resounding crash, the thug was sent flying into the wine rack. The rack toppled, bottles shattering, their contents spilling and perfuming the air with the scent of alcohol.The thug hit the ground, blood spurting from his mouth, his eyes wide with shock. He lay there, lifeless, staring at Liam, dead before he hit the floor.The room plunged into a deathly hush.Corie clapped a h
Corie was also shaken, her fists clenched tight under the table as she watched Liam with wide, fearful eyes, barely managing to whisper, "Liam!"Liam stood there, steady as ice, without a trace of fear. "Don't worry, I've got this," he assured.Corie, seeing Liam's calm dismissal of the threat and recalling his proven strength, felt her fear ebb away.She could not explain it, but she had an unwavering faith in Liam.Across from them, Clifford lounged back, his legs thrown carelessly over the table, his gaze dripping with disdain. "You don't know who you're messing with, do you?" he sneered. "Karpos works for me, Clifford. And yet, you've got the gall to attack my men in broad daylight? You're in over your head!"Jeffrey was about to chime in, but one look at Liam's icy demeanor and he thought better of it, choosing instead to watch the scene unfold in silence.He was curious to see just how Liam would handle that.Liam chuckled, a sound as cold as the winter wind, and fixed Cli
With that command, he strode into the restaurant."At once, my lord!"His men obediently echoed, herding Wilson and the others toward the private room where Liam and his party awaited.Karpos strutted ahead, his arrogance restored. Despite a hasty bandage job, his appearance was ragged.As Karpos led Clifford and his entourage into the restaurant, the owner and the servers shuddered in fear, their bodies quaking.Clifford shot the restaurant owner a frosty look that sent him scurrying over with a forced, fearful smile. "Lord Clifford, I had no idea you'd arrived. I'm so sorry for not greeting you at the door," he stammered out an apology.However, Clifford just gave him another icy stare and strode past, following Karpos up the stairs to the private room.The owner, too scared to utter another word, followed them up, his heart pounding.They reached the private room in no time. With a commanding gesture from Clifford, a dozen muscular men in combat gear stormed in.Liam and hi
How could someone from Biskeland throw away their pride like that, groveling for mercy? It was downright embarrassing. They were the ones who started it all, picking on her. Why should she be the one to grovel?The more Corie thought about it, the more her disdain for Wilson grew. "Wilson, if you're so eager to leave, then go. I'm not budging. This mess started with me, and I don't care how tough those guys are—I'm staying right here with Liam to face whatever comes," Corie declared, her voice icy. She grabbed a nearby chair and sat down with a defiant thud."Corie, you!" Wilson started, but she turned her head away, dismissing him with a cold shoulder that only served to stoke his anger. "Fine! Have it your way! However, you'll regret it when Clifford and his goons show up!" he snapped. With that, Wilson stormed out of the room, his entourage trailing behind him in a rush.Corie watched Wilson and his crew scatter like scared rabbits, and with a sneer of contempt, she spat out, "