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
Rumors started circulating around Amora. However, Amora Lysander didn’t care at all and walked by indifferently.Unfortunately, Lisa still had no intention of letting her go. She grabbed Amora's wrist just as Amora was about to pass her."Sweetie, you go ahead to class. Mommy has a little something to take care of here," Lisa said to her son, Benjamin Brown.The chubby boy gave Amora a disdainful look, but he said nothing and headed to his class as the bell had already rung."Lisa, what more do you want to talk about? I have no business with you," Amora snapped, quickly pulling her hand away.But Lisa grabbed her again."Lisa, get your filthy hand off of me," Amora hissed coldly.Amora's sharp gaze cut through like a blade, as if it wanted to slice right through Lisa’s face.Instead of letting go, Lisa laughed."Filthy? I think you're filthier, Amora. Not just your hands, but your entire body is dirty," mocked Lisa.Amora knew Lisa was still angry about the warning she had given her y
Amora rolled her eyes lazily as she heard her husband’s teasing voice through her new phone.Before she could respond, Regis asked again, “Are you going to take much longer? Do you need me to come inside and get you, Wifey?"Amora paused for a moment. She glanced at Lisa and the other parents still waiting for something entertaining to happen.The thought crossed her mind to show off Regis to them, but in her current appearance, she didn’t feel like she was a match to stand beside him.Amora worried she might embarrass Regis instead. So, she decided not to accept his offer.“No need. I’m done here. I’ll come out now,” Amora replied, ending the call first.Seeing Lisa still waiting for her, Amora gave a sarcastic smile.“No need to stare so hard, Lisa. Your eyes aren’t deceiving you,” Amora teased, easily reading Lisa’s shocked expression.She knew Lisa was stunned by the phone she was holding.“Amora, how did you get that phone? Did you ... steal it from somewhere?” Lisa accused, stil
Amora was speechless. She couldn’t find the words to respond to Regis’s principle, which she found excessively cruel.However, what Mark said was true. Compassion was merely a weakness that enemies would exploit to turn the tide and bring them down again.But Amora couldn’t bring herself to use the kind of brutal methods Mark had described.“You don’t seem to like my approach, Amora,” Regis guessed, noticing her expression.“You’re right. I’m afraid I can’t do it your way, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let my enemies walk all over me, Regis,” Amora stated firmly, showing that she wouldn’t just stand by.“Alright, then what’s your plan?” Regis asked, his curiosity piqued as he stared intently at Amora.A sly grin spread across Amora’s face. She retu
The school bell had rung, and the students of Sunrise School had packed up their belongings, rushing out of class under the guidance of their homeroom teachers.Parents and guardians were waiting at the pick-up gate, and one by one, the students waved goodbye to their teachers after spotting their pick-up.Rayden scanned the crowd for his father’s assistant among the parents and guardians.“Looks like you’re not getting picked up, you bastard,” teased Benjamin when he saw the disappointed look on Rayden's face.Mark Carter still hadn’t shown up. Rayden thought maybe his father's assistant was busy or stuck in traffic.Rayden ignored Benjamin’s taunt, choosing instead to wait a little longer.“Ben, Rayden has a name. Can’t you call him by his real name?” Kimmy scolded Benjamin after hearing his earlier remark.Benjamin’s face darkened, but he didn’t respond to Kimmy. Instead, he went off to bother another classmate still waiting to be picked up.Kimmy pouted in frustration. “That fat B
"I didn’t expect you to change so drastically, Miss Lysander. Were you once the incarnation of an angel?"The makeup artist who had just applied the final touches on Amora's face complimented her with sugary words. Amora knew the woman was only being polite, trying to please her as a special client."You’re exaggerating, Jessy. This is all thanks to your magic hands," Amora responded with a smile curving elegantly on her lips, now painted with peach-colored lipstick.Amora gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was mesmerized by how she looked and by Jessica Meadow's skill, a renowned professional makeup artist.Jessica’s touch had made Amora’s face glow in a way it hadn’t for a long time. She couldn’t remember the last time she had paid attention to her own face. Her daily busyness left no time for proper skincare.But even if she had the time, she’d need money to buy quality skincare products or visit beauty clinics.Instead, Amora had always chosen to spend her money on more es
"This dress looks great on you too, Miss. The cut really suits your long legs."One of the boutique attendants explained the design of the dress she was holding to Amora. For the past fifteen minutes, they had been showcasing each dress from the boutique.Amora carefully examined each dress the attendants were holding. She had to admit that the fabrics and designs were exquisite, making it difficult for her to choose just one."Do you have a favorite among these, Miss?" the boutique manager asked politely.Amora gave a shy smile. Her hazel eyes scanned each of the dresses again. All of them were handcrafted by professional designers, and Amora was shocked by the prices on the tags."One of these dresses could pay my rent for a month," she thought, swallowing hard.Still, she didn’t want to reveal her shock. "I think... I'll go with this one," she said, choosing a simpler dress compared to the others. The off-shoulder midi dress, with a long slit at the bottom, felt more appropriate fo
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