"You finally admitted it, Amora."A triumphant smile curved across Regis' lips. He felt a huge sense of relief after winning the battle he had been anxiously waging since yesterday. He had successfully broken through Amora's arrogance and exposed her lies.Although Regis had always suspected that Rayden was the result of their heated affair, hearing the confession directly from Amora gave him a mix of excitement and relief.Regis wasn’t sure what kind of expression would properly reflect his joy. He figured he needed time to adapt to his new role as the father of a son he had just discovered."What do you plan to do now that you know, Sir Lorenzo?" Amora asked, her voice probing.She had no choice but to confess everything. She couldn’t hide from the undeniable evidence Regis presented. All she could do was hope that he wouldn't try to take Rayden away from her.If Regis had had any deceitful intentions, Amora would have already resolved to fight and never let him take her son from he
Amora’s sharp eyes glanced at Regis’ grip on her wrist. Eventually, the man slowly let go.A rough huff escaped Amora’s lips. She took a few seconds to calm herself before speaking again. “All this time, Ray never knew who his father was, and he believes that man abandoned him and me as his mother,” she said.She glanced at Regis to see his reaction, but he remained expressionless.“In a boy like Ray’s mind ... do you really think he can accept his father suddenly showing up and claiming him after years of fostering hatred for the man who left him?”Amora’s lengthy explanation left Regis in silence. He finally understood his significant mistake.However, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to meet the boy; he simply hadn’t remembered ever being with a woman, let alone getting one pregnant!Even so, Regis couldn’t use that as an excuse. As Amora had said, Rayden would not accept him easily. Abandoning him since he was in the womb was an unforgivable act!Regis thought he would need time to o
“Haaah…”A long sigh escaped Amora’s lips. She had no idea how many times she had sighed like that today.Rayden, watching cartoons on the hospital bed, turned to look at her. He noticed his mom seemed troubled by something.Since yesterday afternoon, he had seen his mom lost in thought without any clear reason. Even though Rayden had asked her what was bothering her, she refused to tell him.Rayden guessed it had something to do with Regis Lorenzo. Ever since she mentioned that she would take him home after visiting the hospital, his mom seemed to have lost focus on everything else.Rayden returned his attention to his show. He didn’t want to ask any more questions because he didn’t want to add to her worries.Amora didn’t realize that her son was concerned. She was still lost in the thoughts that had been weighing on her mind since the previous day.Her eyes glanced at the sky outside the window, which had turned orange, signaling it had been almost a full day since her meeting with
Rayden's hazel eyes blinked repeatedly. He tried to process the question he had just been asked."Mom ... you're not running a fever, right?" the boy responded, sounding unsure.He placed the back of his tiny hand on his mother's forehead, his expression serious with his brows furrowed. "No fever," he muttered.Amora smiled widely and gently lowered his hand from her forehead. "No, I’m not sick, Ray."The boy tilted his head and asked further, "Then why did you suddenly ask something like that?"Rayden cast a suspicious look at his mother. It wasn’t like her to talk about the idea of having a father with him, which made the whole thing seem strange. In the past, every time Rayden brought it up, his mom would always avoid the topic with a million excuses.And now, she was asking what he thought of Regis Lorenzo being his father. To him, it was an odd and unusual question."I was just saying... what if he were to be your father," Amora replied, her voice a little nervous."Oh, really?"
A luxurious car came to a stop in front of the hospital entrance. Mark quickly stepped out from the right passenger side and rushed to open the door for his young master.Regis got out, dressed semi-formally, wearing a black blazer paired with a white t-shirt and slim-fit jeans.“Have you prepared everything, Mark?” Regis asked, glancing at his assistant.“Yes, Sir,” Mark replied, handing Regis a neatly printed document inside a clear folder.“Help Albert bring in the stuff,” Regis instructed before heading into the hospital building.Mark nodded, then hurried to assist Regis’s personal driver, Albert Parker, with unloading the newly purchased items. He quickly followed behind his young master, who had already gotten ahead.Earlier, his young master had gone on a shopping spree, buying things for two new people who were about to become a part of his life.“Wait, Young Master!”Mark ran just in time before the elevator doors fully closed. Regis, already inside, pressed the button to re
Upon hearing Regis's command to his subordinate, Amora immediately rushed out of the bathroom and stopped Albert from leaving the room."Wa-wait a moment, Sir Lorenzo. I think the mistake isn't with the flowers, but with me," Amora blurted, trying to explain her situation.She hoped Regis would understand her condition and not blame others. However, Regis remained indifferent and said, "Of course, the owner of the flowers is also at fault."Amora furrowed her brows. "How can that be, Sir Lorenzo? What’s wrong with the flowers?" she asked, confused.Regis's eyes locked on Amora before he answered, "The flowers made my woman uncomfortable. I believe someone should be held responsible.""W-what?" Amora's eyes widened in shock. She thought Regis was being overly dramatic, but one thing caught her attention—the way he described her in his earlier words.'My woman?' Amora murmured in her heart, biting her lower lip nervously.Amora's eyes flicked to her son, who was engrossed in playing wit
Amora's eyes blinked nervously. She still couldn’t believe what she had just heard from Regis.His deep yet gentle voice made her heart pound wildly.There was no denying that Regis’s confession deeply touched her heart. She never imagined she could change his view on the value of marriage.“Aren’t you going to say something, Amora?” Regis asked, feeling like his confession had been in vain since she hadn’t responded.“I-I ... I didn’t know I was that amazing,” Amora mumbled, still reeling from the shock.She never expected to have such a big influence on Regis. Nor did she ever think he would be interested in her.From the moment they first met, Amora had always tried to avoid drawing his attention. If she could escape, she definitely would.But fate had other plans, bringing them back together in a different situation and drawing them closer for a very important reason.“You are amazing because you managed to get my attention. You should be proud,” Regis remarked.Amora pouted, but
Regis chuckled softly. "Are you really that scared of not being accepted?" he teased."It's not that, but I …."Amora hesitated for a moment. She didn’t know how to express her fear of being overlooked by the members of the Lorenzo family. She could already imagine the disdainful faces of the elders looking down on her.‘Just imagining it feels overwhelming, how will I face them later?’ Amora thought as she sighed in exhaustion.“You don’t need to worry. They’re not as bad as you think,” Regis said as if he could read her thoughts.In truth, it was easy for Regis to get the approval of the elders. With his position as the first heir in the family, they wouldn't make things too difficult for him, as long as Regis could give everyone what they wanted.However, the people Regis was most concerned about were his father and grandmother. Both were strict and picky when it came to choosing a wife for him.Amora’s current status made it difficult for her to be accepted by his family, but Regi
Regis had arrived at his penthouse. He entered the access code for the door and stepped inside as it swung open.The interior was dimly lit, with only a few lights casting soft glows in scattered corners of the room.“Amora? Ray?” Regis called out. But there was no response from either of them. The entire space was eerily quiet, the only sound being his own footsteps.‘Looks like everyone’s asleep,’ he guessed.He glanced at his watch, the face on his left wrist showing it was already nine in the evening. The drive to the penthouse had taken longer than expected, thanks to heavy traffic.After swapping his shoes for indoor slippers, Regis headed toward the living room. He stopped abruptly when a sharp pain flared beneath his chest.His hand instinctively reached out to steady himself against something. He bent slightly and leaned against the piano in the room. But his weight accidentally pressed down on the keys, sending an echoing note reverberating through the space.Regis let out a
"Leave your son’s problem to me, Regis. I’ll make sure he’s safe."Hearing Xavier’s assurance, Regis smiled and nodded. He trusted the young man wouldn’t disappoint him."What are you guys talking about? Can’t you discuss something I actually understand?" Gino chimed in, feeling even more left out of the conversation.Xavier chuckled. "It’s better if you don’t know—if you value your life," he teased.Clicking his tongue in irritation, Gino opted to sip his vodka rather than look clueless. He already knew Regis had deliberately kept him in the dark to avoid dragging him and the Moonstone family into dangerous matters.Even without asking, Gino understood that most of Regis’s problems were life-threatening. It wasn’t that Gino didn’t want to help; he just knew his limits. He’d only end up being a liability. Besides, he was confident Regis could handle things, especially with Xavier’s help."So, Xavier, what’s brought you here? Can’t you just talk things out with your father? I bet they’
Regis handed the bottle of vodka Gino had just opened to Xavier. “Done already?”Xavier nodded, grabbing an empty glass and accepting Regis’s offer of a drink.“What else do you have to do besides the task I gave you, Xavier?”Regis was curious about his friend’s busyness. All he’d asked Xavier to do was keep an eye on his son for a bit. To ensure Rayden’s safety at school, Regis had enlisted Xavier’s help.Regis couldn’t trust anyone else to protect Rayden because of the threats posed by Levent and Golden Snake, both of which required him to be vigilant about his subordinates.When Regis learned of Xavier’s arrival, he couldn’t think of anyone better suited for the mission.His trust in Xavier wasn’t based on instinct alone; their long-standing relationship had given them ample time to understand each other.After the jewel heist case was resolved, Regis hadn’t seen Xavier anywhere in New York City. However, fate had reunited them in a different place a year later.When Regis’s fathe
"Hey, Kid. We came here to celebrate your arrival. Could you at least appreciate me a little?" Gino quipped at Xavier, who was still engrossed in his laptop.The moment Gino called him "Kid," Xavier shot him a sharp glare. Even though he was much younger than the other two men, he refused to be underestimated. Not wanting to engage in an argument, Xavier simply ignored him.Gino let out a heavy sigh. Hearing about Xavier’s arrival from Regis yesterday, he’d been so excited. He caught the latest flight, even traveling from another continent, just to meet him. But now that he was here, he was being ignored."Why am I even friends with people like you two?" Gino grumbled, his face set in a look of exaggerated annoyance. Of course, he wasn’t serious. It was just his way of expressing frustration.Since the incident that had involved them in a case of theft and auction fraud, Gino had grown to admire both Regis and Xavier. When he found out Xavier was in London, he didn’t think twice about
Laughter echoed in the soundproof room, filling the space with an almost contagious energy. A man with ombre blue hair, reminiscent of ocean waves, held a wine glass in his hand as he strolled over to Regis.“If I hadn’t done that, I’m not sure I’d ever have the chance to meet someone as honorable as you, Your Highness,” he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.“Should I buy a lottery ticket today? I must be lucky if someone as busy as you managed to attend my invitation,” the man continued, slinging an arm around Regis’s shoulder as he guided him toward the plush seating area.Regis, however, brushed off the gesture and glared sharply at him. “I didn’t realize someone as carefree as you even existed. Maybe I should switch careers and become a gemstone tycoon instead of a mafia boss, Young Master Moonstone,” Regis shot back coldly.The stylish man from head to toe was none other than Gino Moonstone, heir to a renowned gemstone empire.One of the ten largest precious gemstone mines in t
Regis raked his hair in frustration. He quickly typed out a reply to his wife, his fingers moving fast across his phone screen.[Sorry, Amora. It’s not that I didn’t want to reply to your messages. The last one didn’t send. I’m doing fine now.]The message was sent in seconds, but waiting for her reply felt like an eternity. Growing impatient, Regis decided to call her.Unfortunately, Amora didn’t pick up.“Where could she be?” Regis muttered anxiously.He called again, and still no answer. Running out of options, Regis decided to call his son. Within moments, his son’s cheerful face popped up on the screen.“Hi, Dad!” Rayden waved with a big smile.Regis smiled back but skipped the pleasantries. “Ray, where’s your mom?”“Mom?” Rayden paused for a moment, his eyes darting around before he turned back to the camera.“I think she’s in the bedroom, Dad. Maybe she’s taking a shower,” Rayden said matter-of-factly.“Ah, I see.” Regis let out a relieved sigh. He’d thought she was mad at him
Mark was stunned. He shared the same thoughts as his boss, then said, “There’s information suggesting that Levent has recently been involved in human organ trafficking.”“Oh, really?” Regis raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.“Apparently, Altan Demir himself is handling the transactions, and because of this, he’s been clashing with Murat Demir. It seems Murat doesn’t approve of Altan engaging in such dealings,” Mark added.Regis smirked cynically. He found Murat Demir’s anger justified, as Altan was straying far from the vision and mission Levent had upheld under the Demir family.Levent had always focused on providing illegal services rather than dealing with tangible goods like Altan did now.Regis was certain that Murat disliked Altan’s actions because Murat had always chosen to work behind the scenes. He could only imagine Murat’s frustration upon discovering Altan’s endeavors.“Is the operation still ongoing?” Regis asked with keen interest.“It seems so, Sir. Our informants ha
Royal Dragon Office Building“This is the report just sent by Manager Sunny, Sir.”Monica Grant handed over a document she had just received from the finance division to Regis. The woman, dressed in a pink blazer and matching pencil skirt, stood in front of Regis Lorenzo's desk with a nervous expression.Her gaze lingered on Regis cautiously, worried about making a mistake, though her boss had said nothing for several minutes.“Just leave it,” Regis replied indifferently.Monica obeyed and placed the document on his desk. Her eyes darted to a neatly arranged lunch box that remained untouched.She had ordered the exact meal Regis requested earlier that afternoon, yet he hadn’t eaten any of it. Her thoughts were interrupted when Regis suddenly looked up.“What is it?” Regis probed.“N-no, Sir. I was just worried you haven’t eaten anything all day,” Monica stammered nervously.Regis’s sharp eyes narrowed. He glanced briefly at the meal and muttered, “I’m not in the mood.”“But you should
“You’re not even seven yet. I don’t want you carrying such heavy burdens on your little shoulders, sweetheart. I don’t want you to regret the time you’ve missed out on, Ray,” Amora said earnestly.“I know, Mom. I’m only doing this to fill my free time,” Rayden replied. “But, can I continue the programming class later tonight, Mom?” he asked, looking for reassurance.Earlier, he had to ask the instructor for a break, interrupting the lesson. Now, he hoped his mom would allow him to resume the session later.Amora considered refusing, but when she saw the eagerness shining in her son’s eyes, she relented. “Alright, but just for an hour, okay?” she said.A wide smile spread across Rayden’s face. He hugged his mom tightly and gave her a kiss on the cheek.“Thank you, Mom. You’re the best in the world!” he exclaimed joyfully.Amora chuckled softly, her face lighting up with her son’s happiness. Memories of the past suddenly came rushing back—when she first discovered she was pregnant.She