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
"Amora, you should get some rest. Let me watch over Ray."Noel's voice broke Amora's thoughts as she sat by Rayden’s bedside. Her son looked much better after receiving the best medical care. Exhausted, Rayden had fallen into a deep sleep, and Amora stayed by his side.Seeing the fatigue etched on Amora's face, Noel felt a pang of sympathy. She hadn’t left Rayden’s side from the moment they rushed to the hospital until the doctors finished treating him."It’s fine. I’m worried he’ll look for me when he wakes up," Amora murmured, her voice hoarse.Noel let out a quiet sigh. He grabbed a bottle of water he had bought from a vending machine earlier and handed it to her."At least drink some water. Your lips are dry," Noel coaxed gently.Amora turned to him, offering a small smile before accepting the bottle. She took slow sips, instantly feeling relief in her parched throat."Thank you, Noel. You must be tired too. You should go home. I can manage here," Amora said sincerely.Noel's lips
"Mr.Volker, I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Albert stammered, swallowing hard. He could see the anger radiating from the leader of the Golden Snake, but he couldn't quite understand the reason behind it.Hearing the commotion at the stern of the yacht, Mark Carter quickly approached and saw Alejandro intimidating his colleague."Damn it!" Alejandro growled, shoving Albert forcefully, making him stumble backward.Mark rushed forward, catching Albert before he could fall."Thanks, Mark," Albert exhaled in relief.Mark remained silent, his eyes shifting to Alejandro Volker, who was repeatedly tapping his cane against the helicopter pad, his frustration and disappointment evident.Summoning his courage, Mark approached the leader of the Golden Snake. "Mr. Volker, is there something wrong? This area is restricted. I must ask you to return inside," he said respectfully.Alejandro's sharp eyes narrowed at Mark, displeased by the audacity of his words. He knew his actions had drawn attention
"What’s going on?"Several guests were startled when they saw a twin-engine helicopter landing on the helipad at the stern of the cruise ship.The helicopter was significantly larger than the usual models, as it was a multipurpose type. The ship's helipad was spacious enough to accommodate such an aircraft. This grand and luxurious vessel had been designed precisely to meet its owner's needs.The unexpected arrival of the helicopter added to the lively atmosphere at the bow of the ship. At that moment, many guests were enjoying the spectacular fireworks exploding beautifully in the distant night sky, set up to enhance the evening’s celebration.Noticing the helicopter, the guests lounging in the area began rushing toward the stern, eager to find out what was happening."Isn’t that the woman Young Master Lorenzo acknowledged earlier?" One of the guests remarked upon seeing Amora walking toward the helipad.This guest had witnessed Regis' declaration earlier and instantly recognized Amo
Amora’s request was indeed bold. Though she never expected mercy from Diego, at this moment, she hoped Diego had at least a sliver of conscience to grant her request.Diego didn’t respond right away. He seemed to be deep in thought.“Father—” Regis was about to plead as well.But before he could continue, Diego cut him off and said, “Alright.”Amora’s face brightened. “Thank you, Mr. Lorenzo,” she said, slightly bowing.Regis clenched his fists tightly. He was frustrated, feeling powerless to stop his woman from lowering herself in front of his father. Instead of receiving approval or acknowledgment, she was forced to bow her head.Regis felt like he had failed to protect Amora as her husband. But for now, he didn’t want to escalate the situation.He ordered Albert to contact the necessary parties and arrange everything their son needed for the trip to the hospital.Not long after, Albert returned to the cabin, informing them that the helicopter was ready to land after receiving the o
Albert had just stepped out of the cabin and was rushing to find James Ritter, but his steps halted when he crossed paths with Noel Ritter in the corridor.“Young Master Ritter, thank goodness I ran into you. Can you help my young master?” Albert pleaded hopefully.Without asking any questions, Noel immediately responded, “I was actually planning to offer my help to your young master’s son. Take me to him.”Without wasting any time, Albert led him to the cabin. Upon arrival, Regis immediately questioned Noel’s presence.“Where is Professor Ritter?” Regis asked Albert.Regis's face darkened as he stared at Albert, demanding an explanation for Noel's unexpected arrival.“My apologies, Sir,” Albert said, bowing his head. “I happened to run into Young Master Ritter outside, so I—”“Isn’t it the same whether you’re looking for me or my father, Regis? The important thing right now is checking on Ray,” Noel interrupted Albert, aware that Regis was still upset with him over what happened week
Seeing Regis' disappointing attitude, Diego let out a harsh snort. Suddenly, Amora spoke up, drawing Diego’s attention to her."Mr. Lorenzo, it seems you don’t know how to judge your own son properly," Amora said, stepping in to defend her husband.Even though Diego Lorenzo was her father-in-law, Amora didn’t care. She thought his words toward Regis were too harsh. Regis had simply backed down to gain permission to change the ship's course, yet Diego saw that as unworthy behavior."What gives you the right to speak like that, Miss Lysander? I am his father, and I don’t think you have the place to talk to me this way," Diego replied, his tone filled with displeasure at Amora’s boldness.A sharp pain pierced Amora’s heart at his words. She knew Diego would never acknowledge her, even though she was Regis' legally wedded wife.Before she could respond, Diego cut in again. “I assume your son’s health hasn’t been like this just once or twice, has it?”His cold gaze shifted to Rayden before
"I'm sorry, Regis. I ... I didn't know it would turn out like this."Xavier expressed his regret to Regis, acknowledging his carelessness in looking after Rayden. He never expected the boy's condition to be this fragile.Amora had warned him multiple times to ensure Rayden never got hurt. Xavier assumed a minor impact wouldn’t affect the boy much, but he never imagined it could turn out to be so serious.Regis let out a harsh breath. He couldn't entirely blame Xavier since accidents like this were unpredictable."Forget it, Xavier."Regis gave his friend a light pat on the shoulder. Though he wanted to hold Xavier accountable, he reconsidered. There was no point in blaming anyone—it had already happened.Not long after, Albert entered the cabin, looking visibly panicked."Where's the doctor, Albert?" Regis asked, noticing that Albert hadn’t brought the doctor he needed."Young Master, I’m sorry … I couldn’t find him in his on-call room."Albert Parker’s report darkened Regis’ expressi
Ignoring the greetings from the other guests, Diego continued walking towards his son and the woman who had become the center of attention and the main headline at tonight’s Royal Dragon celebration.On his way to the hall, Diego had briefly heard about the young boy standing beside Regis. Xavier and Albert had no choice but to tell him what they knew.Now, standing before Regis and Amora, Diego examined the woman carefully.Amora forced a smile on her face. Even though she tried to present herself well, Diego’s overwhelming presence made her feel suffocated.Diego’s brow furrowed for a few seconds as if he had realized something, but he still didn’t say a word. Instead, he turned his sharp gaze back to his son.Amora gripped the crystal glass in her hands tightly. Her heart pounded wildly, waiting for Diego’s response. But unfortunately, he remained silent, only adding to her anxiety.Even though she had been trying to mask her worry with a smile, facing Diego Lorenzo directly made h
“Young Master Lorenzo, congratulations on your new chapter in life. I was truly surprised to hear the news today, but I’m happy for you.”Regis gave a faint smile at the congratulatory words from one of his business partners. He had already received plenty of similar remarks from the guests attending the Royal Dragon event that evening.Of course, Regis knew these well-wishes were nothing more than a formality. Everyone simply wanted to maintain good relations with him, even if some disapproved of his choice of wife—especially the fact that he had a child out of wedlock with her. It was something none of them had expected."When will you be holding your wedding ceremony?" asked a young man from the Brooklyn family.Regis turned to Amora, who had been standing beside him the entire time. She was doing her best to carry herself properly, even though Regis had told her to just be herself.Still, Amora didn’t want to embarrass Regis. She could feel the judgmental stares from some of the g