After finishing his breakfast, Regis stood up from the pantry table and grabbed his cup of coffee. He didn’t bother to clear the dirty dishes because every day, a cleaning staff was hired to take care of the entire penthouse.Regis walked back to his bedroom. He picked up his phone, which had been left beside his bed the night before. His fingers quickly navigated through his contacts to find his assistant, Mark Carter, and he made a call.In less than three seconds, the call connected. Before Regis could ask anything, Mark had already started his report.Regis had anticipated that Amora would leave her residence, so the night before, he contacted Mark to keep an eye on her and monitor her movements from afar, especially if she left with only her son.Regis wanted to know exactly where she was. Even though Amora had refused his offer, Regis wasn’t going to let her go until it was clear whether Rayden was his son.“Sir, Miss Lysander just got off a bus with her son. It looks like she’s
While waiting for Rayden to return, Amora started thinking about what she needed to do today. She felt exhausted. She hoped that this time, she could get some help from someone, especially after her earlier attempt to get her compensation money failed.A while ago, Amora had just argued with the former owner of her rented house, but she ended up being thrown out by the security guards.“That old bastard!” Amora cursed angrily. Her voice caught the attention of those around her, but she didn’t care.Her anger was still boiling in her head. Amora was still upset, remembering how Jordan Franklin had broken the promise he had made to her the previous day. She had been hoping so much from that middle-aged man, but in the end, she left empty-handed.To make matters worse, Amora's phone was completely broken, so she couldn’t contact anyone, including Noel.When the security guard at Jordan Franklin's housing complex kicked her out, her phone fell and cracked.Amora had tried to reach Noel by
Realizing that she had been too emotional with Biana, Amora spoke again in a calmer voice. “I’m sorry, I got a little emotional earlier. But, what’s going on, Biana? Please, give me a little hint.”Amora tightly grasped both of Biana's hands, looking directly at her with hope in her eyes.Biana gave her a faint smile. She understood how Amora was feeling.Not wanting to scare her unnecessarily, Biana finally told Amora what she had heard earlier. As she expected, Amora's face immediately turned pale.Slowly, Amora’s grip on Biana's hands loosened. She clenched her fists tightly to steady herself. She glanced at Rayden, who was watching them with concern.“Bia, please look after my son for a bit,” Amora asked her.“B-but… Amora!”Biana couldn't refuse, as Amora had already left the changing room with an expression filled with disappointment and panic!***Amora was now in the manager's office, standing in front of Della, having just heard the same news Biana had told her.“Manager Hous
Amora gasped. The words from her store owner sounded strange, and a suspicion crossed her mind.“Mr. Ramos, do you mean… is someone threatening you?” Amora guessed.“W-who do you think could threaten me? Don’t just say things carelessly!”Charles's voice on the other end of the phone sounded nervous, making Amora even more convinced that her suspicion was almost entirely correct.“Leave my store right now, or I’ll fire Della too!” Charles threatened.Reflexively, Della grabbed her phone from Amora's hand, trying to calm her boss down. “Mr. Ramos, I’m sorry. I’ll have her out of here immediately.”After hearing his manager’s words, Charles abruptly ended the call.Della's face grew paler. She ran a hand through her hair roughly and sighed heavily. Her sharp eyes turned to Amora, who was deep in thought.“Amora, please don’t make this harder for me. I know you need this job badly, but you heard how angry Mr. Ramos was, didn’t you?” Della said wearily.Amora didn’t reply. The fiery deter
"Amora, have a drink first."Biana handed Amora a bottle of mineral water that she had just bought from a vending machine. But Amora remained motionless in her seat, gripping Rayden's hand tightly as he lay on the hospital bed.An IV bag hung next to the bed, with a tube connected to the back of the boy's hand. Rayden was currently sleeping soundly after receiving treatment from the hospital doctor where he was being treated.Biana sighed deeply. She understood Amora's concern, but Amora herself looked unwell. She worried that Amora would collapse if she kept pushing herself."Amora, you haven't sipped water since earlier. If you keep this up, Ray will be sad seeing you like this," Biana coaxed again.Finally, Amora turned to Biana. She glanced at the bottle of mineral water that Biana had been holding and took it, once again falling silent.Biana sighed softly, then gently patted Amora's shoulder and continued, "Calm down, Amora. The doctor already said there’s nothing too serious. L
"This place hasn't changed at all. Just like its owner. Stiff and annoying!" Amora sneered in her heart.Her hazel eyes stared sharply at the classic building standing in the distance. It had been seven years since she last set foot there. She still clearly remembered the minimalistic gate with the tall archway in front of her.It was there that she had cried her heart out, begging the head of the Lysander family to forgive her. With her head still wrapped in bandages from being struck by her grandfather’s cane, Amora knelt in front of that gate.She had pleaded with the middle-aged man to give her another chance so she wouldn’t be kicked out of the house. Unfortunately, her cries fell on deaf ears. Charlie Lysander didn’t want to listen at all.Back then, Julia immediately confiscated all of Amora’s valuables, her ATM cards, and her credit cards, claiming that they were bought with Lysander's family money.Amora was only given one ATM card with the smallest balance, supposedly out of
Alberta sighed deeply."A lot has changed since you left this house, Miss," said the loyal servant of Amora's grandmother.Alberta then told Amora about Gilda Orlena’s condition. Each word that came out of her mouth made Amora’s heart ache even more.Amora clenched her fists tightly, trying to hold back her urge to curse.It turned out that ever since she left seven years ago, Gilda had constantly missed her. But her son and husband had forbidden Gilda from going to see Amora. This took a toll on Gilda’s health, leading to a stroke after a heart attack.Now, Gilda was suffering from dementia, causing her to lose her memory and often hallucinate. Sometimes, she would call out to people around her, thinking they were Amora. Her son and daughter-in-law didn’t care much and just chalked it up to old age.Charlie Lysander, who was also elderly, couldn’t do anything. Now, the old man struggled to walk and had handed his company over to his only son, Mario Lysander, preferring to enjoy the r
"How did you end up here, Amora?"Julia Brown's voice echoed loudly through the room. Her eyes were sharp as she glared at Amora, who returned the same look.Julia had just come out of her room after her afternoon nap and was shocked to find Amora standing in the middle of her living room."It seems Aunt Julia isn’t happy to see me here," Amora sneered, deliberately provoking her."Who allowed you into this house?!" Julia snapped again. She glanced at several servants who approached after hearing her shout."Um, I think she came in with Mrs. Alberta," answered one of the younger servants.Amora had never seen her before. Most of the servants who had worked in the house had been dismissed by Julia, who felt they didn’t meet her standards, even though those servants had served Gilda Orlena faithfully for years.Amora’s lips curled into a sinister smile. She walked slowly toward Julia, then stood before the older woman with an air of arrogance."You don’t need to bother blaming anyone, A
“Do you want to meet your biological father, Miss Lysander?” Diego asked, his tone probing.He had considered arranging a meeting between them as a trade-off—if Amora agreed to leave Regis. “If you want, I can—”But Amora cut him off immediately. “That won’t be necessary!”Diego froze, caught off guard. He noticed the tears beginning to pool in her clear eyes, but there was something else there too—a sharp, almost predatory glare that made it clear she wasn’t someone to mess with.A faint, cold smile curved Diego’s lips. That side of her ... it was just like Alejandro Volker—and Diego hated that side the most.Even though he could see how angry Amora was with both Alejandro and himself, Diego couldn’t care less. In fact, he almost welcomed her hatred for Alejandro. To him, that was a win.‘Alejandro Volker … maybe the best punishment for you is your daughter’s hate,’ Diego thought with a twisted smile.He wanted Alejandro to feel the same kind of pain he felt now—being despised by you
"Are you criticizing how I handle my son, Miss Lysander?" Diego asked, his voice cold and piercing.The pressure in the air made Amora hold her breath. She quickly broke eye contact with the middle-aged man. That sharp gaze, almost suffocating in intensity, made her realize she might've crossed the line. Still, she didn’t believe anything she said was wrong.“I think you know what I really meant, Sir,” Amora replied, refusing to back down even a little.Diego scoffed. Her unyielding attitude both impressed and annoyed him. “If he hadn’t chosen a life with you, I wouldn’t have gone this far either, Miss Lysander,” he said as calmly as he could.Inside, though, rage was boiling in his chest. But he wasn’t about to let Amora see that she had managed to stir him so easily.Diego kept cornering her with harsh words, trying to make it seem like all his actions were her fault, as if she were the root of the problem. And that made Amora’s blood boil.‘No! I can’t lose it. He still has Grandma
“Mr. Lorenzo—”“Let’s talk over dinner,” Diego cut her off before Amora could say anything else. He signaled to one of his men standing by the door.Moments later, a server rolled in a cart of food that had clearly been prepared in advance. He placed a plate of beef bourguignon in front of Amora and Diego.The rich aroma of the dish made Amora’s stomach growl. She was starving—she hadn’t eaten a single thing since morning. But despite the tempting sight and smell in front of her, she held herself back.“I’m sorry, please take my plate away,” Amora said to the server.The man hesitated and looked toward Diego, whose expression had darkened at her refusal—clearly taking it as a sign of disrespect.Amora could sense the shift in Diego, too. Still, she stayed calm, projecting confidence as she stared him down. “I’m not hungry. So let’s just cut to the chase, Mr. Lorenzo.”Diego smirked. With a wave of his hand, the server quickly wheeled the food cart out of the room.“What do you want in
"Grandma ...."Amora’s whisper was soft and full of sorrow. She deeply regretted dragging her innocent grandmother into her mess.Clutching her phone tightly, Amora’s earlier resolve to avoid Diego completely shifted. Without a second thought, she bolted out of her rented house and rushed to the meeting place Diego had set.Thirty minutes later, she arrived. Amora glanced around before stepping toward the restaurant.Her brows furrowed when she saw the sign hanging on the restaurant’s door—it said closed. But the street outside still buzzed with activity like usual. A place like this shouldn’t be closing this early.Her heart pounded. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as her mind conjured all the terrible things that might be happening inside. For a second, she considered turning back. But then her grandmother’s face flashed in her mind, reigniting her courage.She took a deep breath, bracing herself, and pushed the door open. The silence inside sent a chill down her spine.The r
“Oh my God. What time is it?”Amora shot up in bed, completely startled to see the sun already high in the sky. She turned to glance at the wall clock and nearly panicked—it was almost ten in the morning. And she hadn’t even started prepping lunch for her husband and son yet.Running her fingers through her already-messy hair, she groaned, “Ugh, I can’t believe I slept this long.”She had only meant to lie down for a bit—but somehow, she ended up sleeping for three whole hours!Normally, no matter how tired she was, Amora never slept this deeply. Something felt off. She realized she’d been feeling unusually drained for the past week, and today it was even worse.“Am I ... actually sick?” she murmured, worry creeping into her voice.But a moment later, Amora shook her head firmly. She tried to shake off the fear with a positive affirmation. “No. I can’t be sick,” she said with conviction.She didn’t want to give Regis anything else to worry about—especially not her health. So she pushe
It had been three days since Regis, Amora, and Rayden moved into their modest rental home. A calm morning greeted them with warmth and cheer. The scent of freshly baked pizza mixed with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.“Morning, Dad,” Rayden greeted as his father walked out of the bathroom and joined them at the dining table.“Morning, Ray,” Regis replied, bumping fists with his son.Simple mornings like these had become a special kind of happiness for Regis over the past few days. A warm greeting and a genuine smile to start the day—no wealth or power could ever replace that.But deep down, Regis still carried a concern—he hadn’t secured any steady income yet. Over the past two days, he had applied to several companies, but not a single one had called him in for an interview.Regis suspected his father had a hand in that. Both Gino and Xavier had previously offered him positions in their personal businesses.But Regis turned them down. Their lines of work didn’
“Mad?” Amora raised an eyebrow.Regis gave a hesitant nod. “Aren’t you? I mean, you were completely silent on the drive here.”Amora let out a small laugh before replying, “I’m not mad. I was just a little annoyed earlier. I’m sorry.”Seeing how concerned Regis looked, she added, “But I’ve thought about it, and I understand—you were only trying to keep us safe.”Earlier, Amora had stayed quiet in the car, reflecting on Regis’s words. She realized that her stubbornness might’ve put them in danger. But Regis had misread her silence, thinking she was giving him the cold shoulder.“I was going to say sor—”Before she could finish her sentence, Regis leaned in and kissed her lips.Amora’s eyes widened in surprise. She quickly glanced around, noticing the agent who had accompanied them looked just as shocked. The agent immediately turned away, pretending not to see anything so as not to make Amora feel uncomfortable. But Amora's face had already turned bright red like a boiled lobster.“Reg
“Sir, are you sure you don’t want to rent it? If you’re not interested, I’ll pass it on to another potential tenant. Someone else is coming to view it this afternoon,” The agent said.Despite the agent’s subtle threat, Regis firmly declined. But before he could say more, Amora tugged on his arm and politely asked the agent if they could have a few minutes to talk in private.She pulled Regis aside to a quiet corner of the room and said, “Honey … I don’t think we’ll find another place like this for this kind of price, not with these specs. Don’t you want to at least think it over?”Regis paused, clearly seeing the look on Amora’s face—she didn’t want to lose this opportunity.They had to be careful with their spending right now. Offers like this didn’t come around often, and honestly, anyone would be tempted.But Regis had a gut feeling. Something about this just didn’t sit right. He suspected someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes, using the agent as a front.“But Amora … d
"Lysander Group Declares Bankruptcy! Charlie Lysander in Critical Condition!"That was the headline glaring back at Amora. Her face turned pale as shock washed over her.Oddly enough, she didn't feel even the slightest joy. She should've been happy to see the Lysander family suffer after they cast her aside seven years ago.But instead, seeing her grandfather lying helplessly in a hospital bed made her chest ache. She felt like he didn’t have much time left.Noticing Amora standing frozen with trembling hands, Regis immediately clasped her hands gently."What’s wrong, Sweetheart? What are you looking at?" Regis asked as he glanced at his wife's phone.Amora showed him the news article. "I had no idea the Lysander Group has been in financial trouble for a year now," she murmured after reading the details.Regis smirked slightly. He wasn't surprised in the least. "They had it coming, my love. Mario Lysander is a terrible businessman. He’s been running the company into the ground since h