Liam kept those details from Celena. She did not need to shoulder such burdens.He was determined to restore Celena's confidence, piece by piece."However, what if Grandpa does come to me, pleading? He's not young anymore. It breaks my heart to think of him straining himself at his age. I'm really worried about his health… "That was Celena for him, always too kind for her own good. Even after all the hurt Reginald had caused her, she was still caring for him, fretting over his well-being."However, Celena, do you really want to spend your life under the scornful looks of others? Don't you want to go back to being a Stone? Isn't that what you've dreamed about for the last seven years?" Liam pressed."I do!" Celena's reply came swift and determined, but then her face fell, tangled in doubt. "It's just...""There is no way about it. Trust me, I've got this!" Liam cut in, knowing her tendency to overthink.Celena took a deep breath, calmed herself, and nodded. "Alright, I'll trust
"Grandpa! Liam's got some nerve! He's demanding that our whole Stone family roll out the red carpet, go to Celena, and beg her to return to the Stone family!" Cheryl fumed. She paused, stealing a glance at Reginald. Noticing his face turning stormy, she quickly lowered her voice, saying, "And he wants me... to apologize to Celena and that little kid, and he even said... he even said...""What else? Out with it!" Reginald was fuming, his eyes blazing with anger as he slammed his cane onto the blue floor with a resounding thud!Cheryl jumped, a shiver running down her spine, but a surge of glee bubbled within her. She kept up her outraged facade, whispering, "He said you, Grandpa, should personally go and ask..."Boom!That was the last straw. The Stone family's members in the hall went off like a bomb! They bellowed with fury."Are you kidding me? Our family's elder is supposed to go and ask himself?""Liam stepped out of line, just a washed-up soldier, a nobody. He has the gall t
"However..."Sherah looked hesitant, and she tried to explain further, but the sharp tap of Reginald's cane on the floor cut her off.Reginald's expression turned stormy as he slammed his cane down hard, declaring, "That's enough! The decision is made! Walter is correct. Celena is your daughter, and you two are the right ones to go!"With that, Reginald rose angrily and strode out of the hall.No sooner had Reginald departed than Walter and his family looked on with barely concealed glee. "Yafe, Celena is your girl, and you're her dad. She'll listen to you. If you pull off this deal, you'll be the family's hero, and your place as head of the Stone family will be undisputed."Teresa's smile was bright as she added, "Exactly, Yafe. Dad's got faith in you, and so do we. You're going to clinch that partnership!"Hayden Stone's family could not hide their delight as they added, "Yafe, we'll be here waiting to celebrate your success!"The hall emptied as everyone dispersed to their re
Yafe walked in silence, looking indifferent. The opulent mansion before him did nothing to stir his interest as he made his way to the grand entrance.However, his emotions were a raging storm inside. He could not believe that his daughter, the one he had always dismissed, lived in a place ten times more luxurious than the Stone Mansion. The task given to him by Reginald then seemed daunting.Just then, Calum stepped out from the villa's gate, confronting the trio with a frosty demeanor. "Hold it right there! How did you get in?"Yafe was momentarily stunned by Calum's piercing presence and the deadly intent in his eyes. He stuttered, "I... I'm here for my daughter, Celena! I... came to bring her home!"Calum's eyes narrowed, his imposing demeanor briefly faltering before he doubled down, eyeing Yafe with renewed force. He glanced at Sherah and Qemal, who were peering around behind him, and retorted, "Oh? From the Stone family, are you?"Qemal quickly moved forward, all smiles. "E
Thud!Qemal was sent flying like a ragdoll, hurtling through the air before rolling across the ground and coming to a painful stop."Ah! Ouch! It hurts like hell! Mom, that witch Celena actually let that brute hit me! You have to make her pay!"Qemal's face was beet red as he clutched his stomach, sweat streaming down his face as if caught in a downpour. The kick to his gut had felt like a sledgehammer swinging at him.Sherah, hiding behind Yafe, rushed to her son's side when she saw him take the hit. She helped him up, gently dusting off his clothes where the dirt was barely visible.Her face flushed with fury, she spun to face Calum and bellowed, "You had the nerve to hit my son? Did Celena put you up to this? You think you're tough, acting like a big shot? Just wait, I'm calling the cops on you!"Calum looked at Sherah's clueless rage mockingly and stepped forward. He gave the mother and son duo a frosty look as they leaned on each other. He said icily, "Seems like you don't w
Reginald's heart clenched as he saw Qemal's battered form. He adored his two grandsons to bits, and it pained him to see one hurt. Furious, he exclaimed, "Celena has really crossed the line this time!""Reginald, you can't let this slide! Celena's got it out for our Stone family. She doesn't give a shit about us and even less about you! We didn't even get a foot in the door today before the security threw us out like trash! Reginald, you've got to do something..."Sherah's tears flowed, her face the very picture of sorrow. A woman in her prime, her beauty and style only made her distress more touching.Reginald's face darkened with anger as he turned to the silent Yafe and demanded, "What in the world happened?"Yafe let out a long sigh, a look of defeat in his eyes. "Dad, it went down just like Sherah said. We got to the villa's gate today and got stopped dead in our tracks. We didn't even see anyone, much less set foot inside! I bet they're playing hardball, wanting you to show u
"Wasn't Celena shacking up with Liam? However, Liam had hit rock bottom and broke! How on earth could he afford a palace like this? Has Celena cozied up to some other rich tycoon?"The Stone family, gawking at the grandeur of the manor, could not stop buzzing with gossip. They were gobsmacked. They had come ready to sneer at Celena, thinking she should count her lucky stars for getting back in with the Stones, and there she was, not just talking the talk but walking the walk!Turns out, her digs were leagues above anything the Stones had!Reginald took one look at the sprawling Jade Manor and felt a jolt of shock.Cheryl, who was helping Reginald, and Anna Stone had eyes blazing with jealousy. Cheryl, in particular, was biting her lip so hard it might bleed, muttering, "Celena acting all poor and pitiful, but she's holed up in this fancy estate! The nerve of that witch!"Jealousy gnawed at her insides. Why did Celena get to live in such a grand and beautiful mansion and not her? W
Cheryl, who had always lived a luxurious life, regretted wearing her sky-high stilettos today. Her legs were screaming in pain after just a while standing, and the relentless sun above was no help. She kept bending over to rub her aching knees and calves in frustration.Reginald was having an even tougher time, the heat nearly knocking him down. He had to be helped by a servant to a nearby flower bed where he could sit and catch his breath.That was when Liam showed up, smiling, with little Jovie and Celena in hand. The trio seemingly without a care in the world."Celena! Liam! You are finally back. How could you let us wait like this? Look at Grandpa. He's practically cooked! Did you do this on purpose, Celena? I get it if you're mad at us, but Grandpa? You're distant, ignoring Grandpa like that!" Cheryl's face was a mess as she spotted Celena and started yelling at her and Liam.The rest of the Stone family chimed in with their own barrage of complaints."This is unacceptable! T
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