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
“Crazy! This is really crazy!” Regis shouted in his mind.The kiss that was growing more intense with Amora stirred a powerful turmoil within him. He had pinned her against the wall, his lips never leaving hers, completely intoxicated by the connection they shared.The memory of that hot night seven years ago ran through her mind.Their breaths became increasingly heavy until Regis finally pulled away, but he didn't stop there. Slowly, his lips traced down the elegant curve of her neck.“Sir, please stop…”Regis ignored the woman's plea, his lips continuing to explore her smooth skin, fueling his desire to hold her tightly.Amora bit her lip hard, trying to push him away. Her nails dug into his shoulder as Regis grew more intense.Regis’s hands grew bolder, slipping under Amora's shirt and touching sensitive spots that ignited a rush of emotions within her.Amora's knees felt weak. If her hands weren't braced on Regis's shoulders, she might have collapsed to the floor at that moment.
Rayden's eyes widened, shining brighter. “M-Mom ... you’re not lying, right?”Amora nodded. “I’m not lying, Ray. But we might need some time to get used to each other. I hope you can do that too.”“So ... Uncle Lorenzo will be my dad?” Rayden mumbled, still struggling to believe what he just heard.“Yes, he will be your Dad after we ...,” Amora glanced at Regis for a moment, then continued, “... get married.”Rayden’s eyes sparkled. He found it hard to believe what his mother just said, especially since just hours ago, she seemed unsure when they talked about this.“Is what Mom said true, Uncle?” Rayden asked, looking directly at Regis.“Of course it’s true. I will be your father, Ray,” Regis replied, making Rayden so happy that he started to tear up.Amora rushed to hug her son. “Honey, why are you crying?” she asked worriedly.“It’s happy tears, Mom,” Rayden whispered, burying his face in her chest. He sobbed for a moment.Amora felt moved, realizing Rayden had worked so hard to hid
Today, Rayden was finally allowed to leave the hospital. As promised, Regis came to pick up his son and Amora.“Do you need help?” Regis asked Amora, who was busy packing her things.Amora shot him a sharp look. Her lips were pursed in annoyance. After all, she was burdened with the items Regis had bought for her.“You shouldn’t have bought all this stuff yesterday. You should have just left it at home,” she complained.Regis only smiled, carrying Rayden on his back.Seeing this, Amora immediately said, “Ray, get down. You’re a big boy now! Why do you want to be carried?”Rayden's cheerful face turned gloomy. But Regis quickly defended him, saying, “It’s not his fault. I wanted to do it. Besides, he hasn’t been carried like this before.”Amora knew Regis wanted to show his affection for their son. “Don’t spoil him too much. He’ll get used to it,” she replied.However, Regis ignored her comment. He continued to carry Rayden out of the room.Amora let out a long sigh.“Let me carry the t
In the lavish living room of a five-star hotel suite, Alejandro Volker sat on a plush sofa, slowly puffing on a cigar. He seemed lost in thought until the voice of a younger man sitting across from him snapped him out of his reverie.“Let’s cut to the chase. Why did you ask me to come here, Mr. Volker?”Alejandro’s gaze fixed on the young man seated in front of him — clean-cut and impeccably dressed. The look on his face was one of obvious impatience.A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Alejandro’s lips. “Young Master Lorenzo, you’ve changed quite a bit since the last time we met.”Yes — the young man with him was none other than Regis Lorenzo.Not long ago, Regis received an unexpected phone call from Alejandro. He had no idea how Alejandro got his number, but he knew it wouldn’t be hard for someone in their circles.Alejandro had invited him to meet in this very hotel suite. Regis hadn’t planned to accept, but Alejandro mentioned he might be able to convince Diego—Regis’s father—t
Diego’s lips curled into a faint smirk at the woman’s reaction before he added, “But, if you want to tell Regis, that’s fine too. I wouldn’t want to waste the Old Madam Lysander’s time. Besides, she probably doesn’t have much time left anyway.”Amora’s eyes widened in shock. She shot up from her seat and slammed her hand on the table.“Mr. Lorenzo, stop threatening me by using my grandmother! Is this how a leader of the Royal Dragon behaves? Don’t you feel the slightest bit of shame?” she snapped.Diego’s expression darkened at Amora’s criticism, but he didn’t respond to her outburst. Instead, he said coolly, “If you leave Regis, I’ll grant you one request. This is the last of my patience, Miss Lysander.”“That’s not fair, Mr. Lorenzo! Why are you being so selfish? Are you only thinking about your happiness? Regis is your son, but nothing you’ve done reflects what a father should be!” Amora shouted, her anger boiling over.She couldn’t hold back anymore—his words and attitude had cros
“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