Luke hesitated momentarily, recalling that "Andersen" was the pseudonym Christopher had used overseas, but the voice on the other end of the line was unfamiliar to him."Karl, thank you so much for personally inviting me," Christopher remarked softly."No, no, Andersen. As I told you in Ciginia, drop the formalities. We're classmates and buddies, okay?" Karl's voice was lively over the phone. "Did you receive the invitation? I wrote it by hand. You have to come!"The company's affairs had piled up since Christopher was busy looking into his sister's affair and making sporadic trips to the hospital.Christopher was preoccupied with investigating his sister's situation and managing hospital visits, so it led to the neglect of his business responsibilities.Though he wanted to join, his schedule was full."Regrettably, Karl, I'm too busy these days, but I appreciate the gesture."Karl's reaction was a loud, mournful cry."Really, Andersen? After three long years, you're treating y
Surprised by her response, Amiya inquired, "And what would you have me do?""I expect an apology from you, here and now, to me and to all the women you've underestimated," Melody stated calmly.Amiya laughed derisively, "Wahaha, bring it on! You don't intimidate me!"With that, they were at an impasse.The members of the organization, who were previously enjoying their drinks and the music, now shifted their focus to the unfolding confrontation.Amiya, known as an unparalleled talent in HexKnights, was infamous for his pride and had bested numerous challengers. On an average day, a shallow beauty would not be eligible to spar with him.The crowd's gaze was now fixated on Melody.Taking in the spectacle, Albert felt discomfort at the unwelcome attention. His most precious treasure was being coveted by others.He and Irwin positioned themselves defensively on either side of Melody, warding off any malicious stares.Amiya requested that a computer be brought over."For the sake
Melody's performance captivated everyone in the room, and the tide of opinion quickly shifted. In light of her ability, she was now viewed differently by all.Once thought to be a beautiful face without substance, she revealed herself to be a woman of both beauty and brains.Albert looked at Melody with newfound respect. She deserved to be the one that caught his eye, as she had proven to be exceptional in every aspect.He addressed Amiya in a firm tone, "You've been defeated. It's time to honor your word."Amiya wore a complex expression, wrestling with his pride.Eventually, he rose and approached Melody with begrudging respect."Miss, I apologize. My arrogance led me to underestimate you," he confessed, albeit reluctantly. "I shouldn't have belittled you.""You're wrong," Melody responded coolly, dismissing him with a wave."You shouldn't make assumptions about women in general. Hacking is about logical reasoning and coding skills, not gender. Remember, if you continue to of
The woman's small red mole and the old scar on her wrist were unmistakable to him.The mole was a birthmark belonging to Melody.The scar was a reminder of a harsh winter. His mother had forced her to do the dishes in cold water without gloves. This led to her hands freezing, accidentally breaking a dish, and getting cut while cleaning up.This incident had once led to Jonathan reprimanding Christopher severely, filling him now with a deep sense of guilt.As such, he was convinced that he had recognized Melody.After ten seconds, the enigmatic man released Melody's hand. Silently, he thought to himself, "Melly, it's been a long time."Their hands had just parted when the venue echoed with the voice of the event's host."I appreciate everyone who made it to the HexKnights team-building event today. I hope everyone had a good time and that our organization continues to thrive."As ribbons and flowers fell from the ceiling amidst cheers and applause, the atmosphere turned lively a
The dark of night was beautified by a crescent moon and a handful of stars twinkling vibrantly.A soft breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees wafted around them.Melody, lost in the moon's glow, found her thoughts drifting.Perhaps the alcohol was influencing her. She thought she saw images of her late parents and uncle, which quickly morphed into Philip's face.His radiant, cheery smile broke her heart.Suddenly, she blurted, "Albert, what do you think lies beyond the moon?"Her whimsical, nonsensical question took Albert by surprise.She then whispered softly, "Do you think Phil is watching over me from the other side of the moon?"Her voice was so low. It was almost a whisper to herself.In Albert's mind, this was a bitter reminder of Melody's intense desire for Philip, a burning longing that was magnified infinitely in his mind.Feeling ashamed yet unable to contain it, he was having difficulty suppressing his powerful emotions, a subtle belated jealousy begin
"Come on, guys. We're here to enjoy ourselves. There's no need to fight.""Right, let's just talk this through. No need for violence.""Everybody just take a deep breath."...The crowd took turns intervening and eventually managed to separate Albert and Christopher.The men in the crowd could sense the tension in the air. When two men battled over a woman, what could the motive be? A tale as old as time involving romantic rivalry.They looked at Melody with a blend of ridicule and admiration, marveling at her allure, which ignited such a heated confrontation. No one had anticipated that the striking beauty could wield such influence.Noticing that Christopher had somewhat calmed down, a man with red hair gave him a pat on the shoulder, offering consolation."Dude, it's common for a hero to be a prisoner of love. I get where you're coming from, but violence isn't the way to win her over. You should..."Christopher moved away and sprinted off before he could finish.He moved s
Melody's straightforward words petrified Christopher on the spot.He was a proud man, accustomed to the woman's relentless pursuit, and had never experienced such rejection.Melody had already gotten into the car and was ready to leave by the time he managed to reply.Caught in a moment of panic, he extended his hand to seize her wrist, imploring, "Please, don't leave! Explain it to me! You can't just leave me like this!"Melody, having lost her patience, briskly freed herself from his grasp, declaring, "I've said all there is to say! Just let me be."And with those words, she walked away without looking back.Christopher remained the sole figure left behind, standing bewildered for a considerable amount of time.The moon glowed softly in the dark night. The highly lit bar absorbed the soft light that had seeped in.The sounds from the bar hardly made their way into the secluded room, yet Christopher could make out the distant laughter and conversation, adding to his irritation
Christopher unleashed a barrage of punches on Wyne, each punch crashing heavily into Wyne's flesh.Initially, Wyne was defiant, boldly threatening, "You'll regret this! I'll make Natasha suffer a tragic death. I'm going to make her—urgh!"With each threat, Christopher's punches intensified.Wyne, bound and unable to defend himself, could only curl up, writhing in agony.Amid the turmoil, he peered into Christopher's rage-filled eyes. Wyne understood this man was serious and could very well beat him to death.Luke felt no compassion for this scumbag, who was suffering from his own wrongdoings. He only stepped in when he felt Christopher had released enough anger."Mr. Bolton, please take a break. His audacity implies he might have someone backing him."Christopher halted, indicating for Luke to continue. "Go on."Luke spoke quietly, "Our guy has just sent a report. We've traced Wyne's contacts. His latest confession is that he's linked to Talia."Christopher's expression change