“Put me down, Regis!” Amora screamed hysterically.She struggled as Regis carried her over his shoulder. Her head was spinning more and more from being upside down. She could see the black dragon tattoo etched across his back, mocking her.Regis kept walking, ignoring Amora’s futile attempts to hit his back with her weak fists.“Jerk! Put me down! You filthy dragon!”Amora screamed again, fighting back harder, but Regis paid no attention until he threw her onto the bed with a swift motion.“Ow!” Amora winced.She grabbed her forehead, the dizziness from the rough landing overwhelming her. But she couldn’t focus on the pain. Something more threatening was happening right in front of her.Regis had trapped her beneath him. A sly grin stretched across his face, mocking Amora like a helpless rabbit caught in a snare.“Re-Regis, I’m warning you ... don’t try anything!”Amora stretched out her hands, pressing against his exposed, muscular chest right in front of her eyes.“Where’s all that
‘What does he mean? Is he indirectly confessing something?’ Amora’s mind raced in confusion.Her face immediately lowered. She didn’t want Regis to see the blush spreading across her cheeks.Amora glanced at Regis from the corner of her eye. He looked so calm as if nothing was happening. ‘Maybe I’m just overthinking this,’ she thought, sighing quietly.Amora hoped Regis would finish applying the ointment quickly.A few seconds later, Regis’s fingers stopped moving. However, he didn’t release his hand from Amora’s fist. His sharp gaze fell on the left side of her temple, where an old scar was visible.Regis knew that the scar wasn’t recent; it was from a long time ago. Without thinking, his fingers brushed over the scar, causing Amora to flinch and pull away.She quickly adjusted her bangs and cleared her throat. “Thank you—”“How did you get that scar?” Regis interrupted, clearly curious. He sensed there was more to the story behind the scar.“It doesn’t seem like just a regular fall,
Amora furrowed her brow, confused. “What gift are you talking about, Regis? I don’t recall—"“Rayden is the most incredible gift you’ve given me, Amora,” Regis interrupted, leaving her speechless.Amora hadn’t expected Regis to see Rayden as a blessing, just as she did. As she opened her mouth to respond, Regis gently patted the top of her head.“Thank you for holding on until today, Amora."Those words stunned her. The smile spreading across Regis’s face made Amora feel nervous.But his expression of gratitude touched her deeply. She never imagined he would say or do something so unexpected.For years, Amora had hidden the exhaustion and pain that came with seven years of ups and downs, constantly battling through hardships.Other than Emma, no one knew what Amora had gone through. Yet, Regis saw it all so clearly, even though she had never shared a word with him.Because of this, Amora's heart suddenly raced, and her hazel eyes started to feel warm.Regis was taken aback when he saw
The morning sunlight peeked through the thin curtains in Amora's bedroom. She was still reluctant to open her eyes, burying herself deeper into the blanket. The room was still cold, even though the sun had already risen."Mom! Mom!"Rayden's shouts abruptly pulled Amora from her dream. She quickly opened her eyes and jumped out of bed. But then, her movements halted for a moment.Amora rubbed her temples to stabilize her blood pressure. Waking up too quickly had caused a sharp pain in her head."Good morning, Mommy," Rayden called as he reached her first. He climbed onto the bed and hugged his mother.Amora furrowed her brow, gently pulling away from the hug and staring closely at her son. "What's wrong, Ray? Did something happen?"A bright smile spread across Rayden's face. "I was just told to wake you up. If you don’t get up soon, I’m really going to be late," the boy said sweetly.Amora's eyes widened. Her gaze shifted to the window covered by white curtains, where the bright morni
Amora's sharp eyes studied Regis’ face closely. The happiness radiating from him this morning made her feel uneasy. She clenched her clothes tightly, trying to figure out if something had happened last night while she slept soundly.“Mom, let's eat!”Rayden's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.Amora gave a faint smile."Go wash your face first, then we’ll have breakfast together and get ready to take Ray to school," Regis chimed in.Amora shot him a sharp look without saying a word, then walked back to her room.Regis smirked, recalling their conversation from the night before.He had been surprised when Amora reluctantly agreed to his request to sleep in the same room as him.At first, he had only wanted to see her reaction, but to his surprise, she agreed, although she remained cautious around him.Regis realized he had dug his own grave by asking her to sleep in the same room. When Amora went into the bathroom to clean up, his mind wandered just by seeing her silhouette through
"Good morning, Young Master," Mark greeted, already waiting at the entrance of the hotel.Regis gave a small nod. To Mark, his boss seemed unusually cheerful today compared to other days.As usual, Mark had come to pick up Regis for work, but today was different. He had another important task: taking Regis's son to school first."Looks like your new life is treating you well, Young Master," Mark said, full of admiration.One of Regis’s eyebrows shot up, and he gave Mark a sharp look. "It's not like you to be curious about my personal life, Mark. Why? Did my father ask you to report on me again?" he questioned.Mark quickly bowed his head. "No, Young Master. I haven't received any orders from him. I haven’t told him anything about Madam or the Little Master," he replied, defending himself.Regis smirked, patting Mark’s shoulder. "No need to be that scared. Do I look like I’m about to kill you?"Mark raised his head, though, despite Regis’s words, the smile on his face still held a dead
Regis smirked. "Your words wound me, Wifey," he said, holding his left chest.Amora could only roll her eyes lazily. ‘Could he have been involved in my firing?’ she wondered. But she couldn't question it in front of Rayden.Seeing his parents' interaction, Rayden could only sigh deeply. ‘How long will they act like cats and dogs?’ he thought.“Excuse me, Ma’am. We’ve arrived,” said Mark as the car stopped in front of the elementary school lobby.Amora was forced to set aside her conversation with Regis. She quickly stepped out before Mark could open the door for her.Rayden turned to his father and said, “I don’t mind if Uncle Carter picks me up, Dad. But next time, could you discuss it with Mom first?”Regis was stunned. He didn’t respond to his son’s words.“See you later, Dad,” Rayden said in a more cheerful tone than before. He hurried out of the car as Mark opened the door for him.Regis smiled slightly, shaking his head at how quickly his son’s mood changed, like the wind. He di
Amora walked Rayden to the school entrance, stopping at the drop-off point. She carefully placed his backpack on his small shoulders.Still crouching, Amora gave her son some last-minute advice. “Study hard, Ray. Listen to Miss Daisy, and don’t start any fights with your classmates.”“Okay, Mom,” Rayden replied with a wide smile.Amora couldn’t help but smile back and gently ruffled his hair. As she was about to turn away, she heard a voice calling her son’s name.“Ray!”Amora paused and saw a young girl, about Rayden’s age, running toward them from the main entrance. It was Kimmy Moonstone, Rayden’s classmate and the only one who still talked to him.After Rayden’s fight with the vice principal’s son, Benjamin Brown, none of his classmates had been speaking to him. This had been going on for a week, but Rayden hadn’t told his mother. To him, it wasn’t a big deal.Rayden didn’t care much about talking to his peers. If given a choice, he preferred being alone rather than listening to w
Amora's thoughts raced as she scowled internally. 'What’s he planning now? He better not ask for something weird, 'she mused, her eyes narrowing at Regis suspiciously.The subtle shift in Regis's expression revealed everything. His irritation toward Albert gradually faded, replaced by an idea—he saw an opportunity to make Amora owe him.“Well?” Regis prompted again when his wife didn’t respond.“What kind of reward are you thinking of?” Amora probed, her lips pursed.“Would you really grant it if I told you?” Regis challenged, making her feel even more wary.Amora knew Regis was scheming. Yet, with Albert and the others' lives potentially in grave danger, she didn’t have the luxury to deliberate long. Her immediate instinct was to ensure their safety, even if it meant taking a risk.“Of course, as long as you fulfill my request,” Amora replied, keeping her tone steady.She trusted that Regis wouldn’t demand anything harmful or malicious—not after his heartfelt confession the night bef
"Where’s my husband, Mr. Carter?"Amora interrogated her husband's assistant, who stood stiffly in front of her. She was considering seeking out Regis to plead for forgiveness on behalf of Albert and the others.She would feel guilty if she didn't help them, especially since Albert had been incredibly helpful to her over the past few days."I’m sorry, Ma’am, I .…"Amora let out a sharp breath. Seeing Mark’s hesitation, she sensed that he was reluctant to reveal her husband's whereabouts."Never mind. Leave and wait for me in the lobby," Amora ordered firmly.Mark nodded and quickly left the room.After he was gone, Amora picked up her phone and searched for Regis’s contact. Without a second thought, she initiated a video call. It didn’t take long for him to answer.Regis’s face appeared on the screen. Amora had chosen video call to ensure she could see exactly where her husband was."Regis," Amora greeted nervously. This was their first video call. They usually communicated via text o
"So you told them?" Amora asked, probing."Of course not. Why would you want to get involved with people like that again?" Estelle chimed in."Smart. But I don't see any harm in using this opportunity to introduce our business to them, Estelle," Amora said, a sly grin spreading across her face as she shared an idea that suddenly popped into her head."Brilliant idea. Alright, then, let’s squeeze some money out of them," Estelle replied, laughing heartily.Amora could only shake her head. "But don’t tell them I'm Regis' wife. This is still top secret. I don’t want to deal with people like them," she reminded her friend."Relax. I’ll keep my lips sealed." Estelle mimed locking her mouth."Alright, if there’s nothing else to discuss, I’m going to have breakfast," Amora said, intending to end the call."Okay. But have you contacted Mr. Ritter? He was really worried last night. Poor guy," Estelle muttered, remembering his concerned expression."I’ll try to reach out to him later," Amora re
“Ma’am, you’re awake? I’ve come to pick you up.”Mark Carter stood at the door of Amora’s hotel room. As instructed by Regis, he was here to escort her.“My husband has already left?” Amora asked as she scanned the area around Mark.When she woke up earlier, Regis was nowhere to be found in the room.“Yes, Ma’am. The young master had some matters to attend to this morning. He asked me to come and check on you,” Mark explained, his head slightly bowed. He didn’t dare look her directly in the eyes or even glance at her.Amora’s appearance was quite disheveled; she had just woken up and was wearing a kimono-style towel provided by the hotel.Of course, she wasn’t trying to seduce anyone. She had simply taken off her dress last night, finding it too uncomfortable to sleep in.Her body was modestly wrapped in the kimono, but still, for a normal man like Mark, it was hard not to notice the beauty radiating from her.“Come in. I’m still having breakfast,” Amora said casually, walking back in
"I've already explained everything. I’m not involved! Don’t you get it? Get me out of here!"A middle-aged woman with heavy, smeared makeup leaned her face through the gap between the steel bars of the cell she was spending the night in. She had been yelling for over an hour, and her voice was now hoarse.Inside the dark and damp cell, she wasn’t alone. Sitting in one corner, hugging her knees tightly, was a young woman dressed in a once-elegant gown that now looked disheveled and dirty.The two women from vastly different generations were Julia Brown and Chelsea Harrison.Both had been detained at the local police station after undergoing separate interrogations for their crimes. The filthy, cramped cell with thick, dusty iron bars only added to Julia’s frustration.Standing by the bars, Julia shouted again, “I’m innocent! Don’t you know who I am?!”She couldn’t accept being treated this poorly by being thrown into a foul-smelling, filthy prison cell. The dim lighting in the tiny roo
"Ugh!"Amora struggled to keep up with Regis' increasingly passionate kiss. She felt completely overwhelmed as Regis greedily claimed her lips, leaving her no room to resist.Amora’s back was pressed tightly against the headboard as Regis’ hand moved to cradle the back of her head, deepening the kiss even further.Regis’s tongue was relentless the moment Amora parted her lips. The room was filled with the sounds of wet kisses and muffled moans.Amora’s thoughts were a whirlwind. She couldn’t even process what she was doing anymore, but one thing was clear—she was thoroughly enjoying the kiss.Seconds later, her chest tightened as her lungs screamed for air. She tapped Regis lightly on the chest, signaling him to stop. He finally pulled back, giving her a moment to catch her breath.Amora glared at him sharply, wiping her now-flushed lips with the back of her hand.Seeing her do this, Regis immediately leaned in and planted another quick kiss on her lips. Instinctively, Amora wiped the
Amora’s eyes darted nervously, her mind racing but completely blank. Every word she had planned to say vanished in the shock of the moment. She had no idea how to respond to the question Regis had just asked her.Truthfully, Amora didn’t even fully understand her own feelings. She wasn’t sure if she had broken her own vow never to fall in love again—a promise she had kept for the past seven years, haunted by fear and pain from her past.Her previous experience had left a deep scar on her heart. Yet, after spending nearly a month growing close to Regis, she found herself feeling an unexpected sense of comfort—a sensation she never thought she’d experience again.Still, Amora had repeatedly reminded herself not to make the same mistake twice. She had ingrained it in her mind: loving anyone meant opening herself up to disappointment.“Do I ... have feelings for him?” Amora wondered silently.Amora had considered the possibility that her feelings for Regis were nothing more than temporary
A nervous smile appeared on Amora’s lips as she tried to clear her mind, which had suddenly gone blank because of a strange question that popped into her thoughts.“I-I thought our relationship has always been mutually beneficial. What do you mean by saying you’re hurt? Aren’t we both grown-ups who can accept the risks of our actions? Do we really need to make a fuss over such a small accident?”Amora tried to keep an open mind. She still wasn’t sure if Regis had any special feelings for her.‘Have I not made my signals clear enough?’ Regis thought as he let out a weary sigh. He wasn’t sure if he was being too dense or if Amora was just too oblivious to pick up on the signs of love he’d been giving her all along.Suddenly, Regis placed his large hand on top of Amora’s head, ruffling her long hair playfully.“Regis, stop it! What’s wrong with you?” Amora complained, trying to fend off his hand, which seemed determined to turn her into his personal plaything.“You must be feeling better
Seeing his wife’s confused expression, Regis suppressed a smile.“Are you playing tricks on me?” Amora asked, narrowing her eyes sharply.“No,” Regis replied with a small shake of his head. Then he added, “But earlier, you were mumbling in your sleep and called me ‘Oddie.’”Amora’s jaw nearly dropped in shock. She immediately looked away, guilt written all over her face. Her reaction only fueled Regis’s suspicion.Clearing his throat, Regis continued, “And … you hugged me because you were cold.”Amora was stunned again. She couldn’t believe she had said and done such reckless things while unconscious.Regis then recounted what had happened two hours earlier. He had just finished his bath and was ready to sleep, choosing to lie down next to Amora.But as soon as he settled beside her, Amora started mumbling, “Oddie…”Regis’s brows furrowed instantly, his expression darkening as she uttered the name of some mysterious “man” in her sleep.“Damn it! Who the hell is Oddie?” he muttered ang