Cheryl lost it, never imagining Liam would have the guts to strike her in front of an audience. She furiously stamped her foot and yelled, "Wasyl, look what he did! I've been hit. Look at what he did to my face!"Wasyl snapped into action, rushing over with rage written all over his face. He pointed at Liam and bellowed, "You had the nerve to hit my girlfriend? Who do you think you are? I can make one call, and you'll be run out of Drunham City! Apologize to her now, or else, none of you will get out of here alive!"With that, Wasyl turned to Celena and Jovie, his sneer turning into a lewd smile. "Celena sure looks nice, even tastier than before..."Boom!In the next instant, Liam kicked Wasyl with contempt, sending him sprawling at his feet. His eyes blazed with a killer's intent, like a grim reaper straight from hell. He sternly said, "Anyone who talks to me better show some respect!"Celena and Jovie were Liam's treasures, and badmouthing them was a surefire way to seal their f
When the crowd got a good look at Celena's gift, the room erupted with laughter and sneers."What the hell was that? It's so dark and smells weird!""Is that some kind of ointment? Cheryl gives a tea set worth several hundred thousand dollars, handcrafted by a renowned artist, and Celena brings out a jar of ointment? How embarrassing!""Seriously, it's just pitiful! You can tell who's more thoughtful. No wonder Reginald kicked Celena out in favor of Cheryl!"Celena, seeing her gift discarded, dashed over, ignoring the insults thrown at her. She picked up the jar of ointment from the floor. With tears streaming down her face, she pleaded with Reginald, "Grandpa, your legs ache! I know you're always in pain, so I got this especially for you! Grandpa, I do care... oh, Grandpa..."The scornful murmurs of the Stone family surrounded her. Their piercing stares cut deep, leaving Celena no choice but to crouch down on the floor, sobbing as she wiped away her tears.She had convinced hers
The Stone family and their guests were initially taken aback by Liam's answer. However, it soon turned to sneers as they eagerly anticipated the spectacle that was sure to follow.He was a man, a penniless ex-soldier, brazenly making promises. They were all curious to see how he would pull that off. His bold claim had set the stage, but could he deliver?The Walker family's lucrative deals were not low-hanging fruit. In Drunham City, every major family business had their eyes on the prize, yet none had sealed the deal. What chance did a down-and-out nobody from a disgraced family have?If Liam succeeded, it would be a slap in the face to the high and mighty who had failed.Reginald watched Liam's confident response with a sneer. "Remember, you said it yourself! Celena mentioned you've just come back from service. Anyone who returns at your age probably couldn't cut it. So what makes you think you can land a deal that's had all of Drunham's elite families at each other's throats?" h
Celena caught the impatience and hatred in Reginald's eyes. Her heart, already in pieces, shattered further. Tears streamed down her face. Liam stepped in."Celena, no more tears! Don't fret. Believe in me. This is nothing. I'll get that project.""However, you..." Worry and urgency painted Celena's face, leaving her at a loss for words."Nothing? You're delusional! I'm eager to see how a broken and beaten nobody like you will pull this off!" Qemal folded his arms, looking at Liam with venom and mockery.His arm was excruciatingly painful, and his hatred for Liam deepened.He made a vow to himself that one day, he would make Liam pay with his life. If he did not, he would not be Qemal.Wasyl shared the same burning hatred for Liam. Though the Abbott's were no top-tier family in the sprawling Drunham City, they were still a big deal, and people sought their favor! Normally, Wasyl, just like Qemal, basked in the adulation of others. However, after Liam had humiliated him in front o
The man did not answer Reginald. He just shot Liam a look and then rushed out of the hall with his entourage."I'm the one who sent this gift for Celena!"Liam broke through the murmur, causing all eyes to turn to him."You sent this?" Reginald's voice was laced with disbelief.His face quickly soured, and he glared at Liam. "Let's be real! A gift like this comes from someone with deep pockets or a fancy title! We all know who you are. Stop pretending this lavish present is from you."The rest of the Stone family chimed in with their own jeers, "He has the nerve to say he sent this gift!""Ha ha ha, right! Just wait. He'll be red-faced in ten days!""Poor Celena, saddled with such a dud!"Then, a woman in her forties called out to Celena with fake concern, "Listen, Celena! I'm not trying to be harsh, but we introduced you to so many great guys, and you turned them down! Now, you're with this. What were you thinking?"Celena, hearing the mockery and insults, tugged at Liam's ar
She watched Liam's face intently as she spoke, knowing all too well that once upon a time, Liam's love for Clora was the talk of Drunham City.Liam was busy tidying Jovie's windswept hair at the entrance. Celena's question did not seem to faze him, and his gentle smile remained as he looked down at Jovie's face with affection."It's not much of a connection. I just dug up some dirt on the Walkers and handed it over to the police station. They've been itching to clamp down on the Walkers for ages! The raid was just them dealing with years of the family's shady dealings."With that, Liam playfully poked Celena's nose. "Forget about Clora. She's gone, and that's that. The important thing is you and Jovie are safe. Let's head inside, away from this chilly wind. You need to rest and get better."Blushing, Celena followed Liam back into the warmth of the villa.Once he had settled Celena and Jovie in their room, Liam turned to Calum with a new task. "Get Malcolm over here. I need to see
Malcolm lingered with a question on his mind, his hand still dabbing at a sweaty forehead."What's on your mind?" Liam inquired."Commander-in-Chief! In three days, I've arranged a gathering for the Drunham City elite to celebrate our new alliance with the Walker family's legacy and our successful partnerships. I have here a few exclusive invites and would be honored if you and your lady would join us."Liam skimmed over the embossed invitation in his grasp and remarked, "Just set it down here. I'll attend when I find the time.""Understood!"Malcolm laid the invitation on the table, snapped to attention with a salute, and exited Jade Manor.Only after Malcolm had stepped through the grand gates of the manor and settled into his car did the weight on his shoulders begin to fade, his back clammy from sweat. The thought of how many sought an audience with the elusive King Pendragon. Here he was, holding an invite to dine with the man himself, stirred a quiet pride within him.Mean
"Dad, I've got it all figured out, and Wasyl is on board. We're meeting with Mr. Lynch tomorrow. Once I've got that partnership deal in hand, we'll bounce back from our recent setbacks," Cheryl said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.With that deal, Celena would not stand a chance of worming her way back into the Stone family. The title of the family's darling daughter was hers alone.Yafe's laughter echoed hers, filling the study. He savored a sip of tea, content with their plan.Sherah sat by the window in a softly lit room, her face etched with concern as she gazed at her son, Qemal, resting on the bed. She leaned forward and said worryingly, "Qemal, are you in a lot of pain?"Qemal let out a continuous moan. He turned to his mother with a plaintive look, pleading, "Mom! My arm's broken, it's excruciating! I can't stand it, and it's all Liam's fault. You have to make him pay!"Sherah's heart ached as if it were breaking into pieces. "Oh, Qemal, my poor boy! I knew that wretch
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