"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’s eyes carefully studied Amora from head to toe, making her feel like something was wrong with her.But the words that came out of his mouth next made Amora want to strangle him for making her worry too much."It looks like you need new shoes to complement your dress."Amora didn’t respond. She just rolled her eyes in annoyance.Eventually, Regis asked one of the boutique attendants to bring shoes that would match his wife’s dress.Not long after, Amora's appearance was completely perfect. She admired herself in the mirror in awe."Is this all real?" she thought, still in disbelief at the luxury surrounding her.“Oh no, I forgot to take off the price tag,” Amora muttered as she realized her mistake.She tried to reach for the tag on her back but found it hard to do by herself. Her eyes shifted to Jessica, who was busy packing up her tools. Just as she was about to ask for help, Regis suddenly appeared behind her.Amora glanced back briefly, her lips parting but quickly closing w
"But, this isn't our actual wedding ring." The words that escaped Regis' lips left Amora momentarily stunned. "You mean ... this is a fake ring?" Amora asked with a confused expression. "You're underestimating me, huh? Do I need to buy a fake ring when I can buy out an entire jewelry store?" Regis raised an eyebrow and gave Amora a sharp look. She cleared her throat softly and said, "Well, your words were pretty ambiguous just now." "That's why you should let me finish speaking first," Regis retorted, gently tapping her forehead with his finger. Amora rubbed her forehead, then pouted lazily. She shot a sharp glance at Regis. "This isn't our wedding ring because the one I ordered isn’t ready yet," Regis explained. This time, Amora began to understand what her husband meant. "I figured someone like you would want a custom-made ring. Making a ring isn’t as simple or quick as this," she replied. "Looks like you know me well," Regis teased, causing Amora to pout again at his playfu
“Isn’t that Young Master Lorenzo?” The shout from one of the reporters covering the news in front of Beth Jefferson’s art gallery immediately caught everyone’s attention, focusing on the couple who had just walked towards the building. “It is!” another journalist exclaimed. “Who’s that woman? Why is Young Master Lorenzo with her?” Another journalist chimed in. “Could she be his new girlfriend?” The reporters began speculating with their own analyses. “This is huge news!” The reporters' excitement caused a stir around the gallery. One by one, they raced to get the scoop first, prompting the gallery’s security team to intervene after seeing the situation getting out of hand. It wasn’t surprising that the reporters were so enthusiastic, as it had been a long time since they covered anything related to Regis Lorenzo. They acted l
A confident smile appeared on Amora's lips. "I'm very honored and touched that you can recognize me, Mrs. Jefferson," she said. "How have you been, Miss Lysander?" Beth asked, her expression full of concern. Of course, the elderly woman had already heard about what had happened to Amora. Seven years ago, Beth had listened to Gilda’s complaints about her friend’s beloved granddaughter. "I heard that you …." "I'm doing fine, Mrs. Jefferson. It’s wonderful to see you still looking healthy and even more beautiful," Amora interrupted, not wanting to discuss her past at the moment. Beth chuckled softly. "That sweet mouth of yours is still the same as before, Miss Lysander," she replied. "I'm getting old. You’re the one who looks more beautiful and mature, to the point that I almost didn’t recognize you," added the elderly woman. There were actually ma
Amora took a deep breath and said softly, "Maybe it would be better if you looked at this before I explained my problem."She opened her handbag and handed Beth Jefferson a few neatly folded sheets of paper.The elderly woman eyed Amora with suspicion but finally unfolded the papers, and her expression instantly shifted to one of shock.“This is ….”Beth’s voice trembled. She tightly gripped the papers, her eyes narrowing. Slowly, she raised her head again and stared intently at Amora.“Where did you get this, Miss Lysander?” She asked interrogatively. “And ... why are you showing this to me? Do you think I’ll just believe you?” Beth added coldly.The tension between the two women, from different generations, made the room feel ominous. However, Amora didn’t feel pressured at all. She had anticipated that the older woman wouldn't trust her easily, which was why she needed Regis’s support by her side.“I know you won’t accept this evidence without a strong reason. But would you believe
"Miss Lysander, Gilda should see you like this. Then she wouldn't worry so much, knowing her granddaughter isn't as weak as she thinks," Beth quipped after finally stopping her laughter.Amora gave a tight smile. From the old woman's words, she knew her grandmother always worried about her."Mrs. Jefferson, we should return to our discussion."Regis, who had been silently allowing Amora to speak with Beth Jefferson, could no longer resist. He had heard and seen how the old woman treated his wife.On one hand, Amora didn’t want a confrontation between them. But now, she wasn’t sure Beth would grant her request.“Will you take strict action on this or not? If not, I will handle it myself, but I can't guarantee you won't get involved," Regis said with an underlying threat.Beth's expression darkened slightly, seeing the seriousness in the rightful heir of the Lorenzo family. She was convinced Regis would follow through on his words.Not only did Regis’ statement shock Beth, but it also s
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