“I am Regis Lorenzo, your husband and the father of your child.”Regis’s answer left Amora stunned for a few seconds, and then she rolled her eyes lazily.“Regis, I’m serious. This isn’t the time for jokes. You know I almost got into danger because of you, right? I think I deserve to know what’s really going on,” Amora exclaimed, her emotions flaring up.However, the dark eyes of her husband, shining sharply, made Amora’s courage shrink. Regis’s silence spoke volumes. He didn’t want to reveal the truth because he didn’t want Amora to get involved further, just as he had said earlier.A rough sigh escaped Amora’s lips. She turned her face away from him for a moment and said, “Please don’t involve Ray in danger with you. That’s all I ask.”Before Regis could respond, Amora had already walked into the elevator. She was tired of speaking with Regis, who provided no satisfying answers.Seeing his wife’s anger, Regis smiled faintly. He followed her into the elevator until they reached the p
“But, Young Master … didn’t the leader of Levent and our Old Master already agree not to feud anymore?”Regis was taken aback by his assistant’s question. His mind flashed back to an event ten years ago when a major conflict broke out between Levent’s and Royal Dragon’s underlings as they fought over the region known for producing the best wine in Northern California.Back then, bloodshed became inevitable when the mutual agreement couldn’t hold. The two leaders finally took action to avoid heavy losses and resource depletion.They agreed to a truce, dividing the territory in half and promising not to interfere with each other’s businesses from then on.“You’re right. But Altan isn’t Murat. Haven’t you heard about how Murat Demir and his son have been clashing lately?”Murat Demir was Altan’s father and the current leader of Levent.Mark was taken aback, shaking his head slightly.Regis gave a bitter smile, patting his assistant on the shoulder. “Sounds like you need to extend your in
In Rayden's bedroom, Amora was chatting with her son, feeling relieved that he was perfectly fine.“Grandma Emma was so happy when Ray brought her all her favorite foods.”Rayden's cheerful chatter eased Amora's worries. Her son was enthusiastic, sharing about his day with Mark Carter and his visit to Emma Adams.“Did Mrs. Adams get a headache from all your talking?” Amora teased, playfully pinching her son's cheek.She chuckled when Rayden pouted. “I'm just kidding, sweetheart. I’m sure Mrs. Adams will recover faster, just from the joy of seeing you,” she reassured him.Rayden nodded eagerly. “Of course! Grandma Emma said next time I should bring you along. She’s lonely in the apartment and misses you.”Right now, Emma Adams was in her son’s apartment recovering. However, with her son working late hours, she often felt lonely, even with a nurse around. So, Emma was thrilled when Rayden came to visit.“When can we go see her again, Mom?” Rayden asked eagerly.Amora held her son’s hand
“Did you see my phone anywhere, Ray?” Amora asked her son, who had just come out of his room after she called him.She had just finished baking macaroni casserole for their dinner tonight. As usual, she prioritized her son's health by avoiding cow's milk ingredients in her cooking."Yes, I did, Mom." Rayden pulled his mother's phone from behind his back."You left it on my bed," he said, handing it to her.Amora hugged the precious gadget to her chest with great relief. "Thank goodness. Thank you, Ray," she replied. She couldn't imagine losing such a fantastically expensive device.Maybe Regis wouldn’t scold her if she lost it, but as someone who knew the value of money, the thought of losing such a luxury item was painful.Amora placed the phone on the dining table, then hurried to set the table and serve the freshly baked macaroni casserole onto plates.“Where’s Dad, Mom? Didn't he come home with you?” Rayden asked, noting his father’s absence.Amora's hands froze for a moment. She
"I just don't feel like talking. Is it wrong if I stay quiet? It's my mouth, after all."The sarcasm in Amora's voice made Regis’s expression darken slightly. She was the only woman bold enough to stand up to him. Until now, everyone—except his father—had always watched their tone when speaking to him.But Amora didn’t care about the flash of anger now apparent in Regis’s sharp gaze. She even shot him a sharp look, her face still sour.A long sigh escaped Regis's lips.“How much longer are you going to be cold toward me, Amora? You don’t want Ray to see us at odds like this, do you?”His question, tinged with a subtle threat, made Amora curl her lip in disdain. “Don’t bring Ray into this. I know exactly what I'm doing, Regis. Instead, I hope you catch whoever was behind today’s shooting. I don’t want Ray getting hurt,” she warned.After saying that, Amora rose from her seat. "I’m done eating," she muttered as she walked toward the kitchen. She didn't wait for a response from her husban
Amora pushed Regis's hand away from her lips. She was speechless, still reeling from how she’d given in to his touch, despite trying to resist him.Amora scolded herself over and over. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d fallen under his spell. She’d reminded herself so many times to be cautious, but Regis always managed to break down her defenses.‘Damn it! Why is he so good at kissing?’ Amora grumbled internally.She couldn’t deny that her kiss with Regis had been the hottest and longest she’d ever experienced with anyone.‘Amora, have you lost your mind? He’s not a man you can trust. Don’t give him your heart if you don’t want to be hurt even worse.’Amora’s thoughts warned her again. She was convinced Regis’s desire for her was only fueled by curiosity. One day, he’d leave her once he got what he wanted, bored with her.The pain from being abandoned by people she once trusted was still fresh in Amora’s heart. Even if it was her own fault, she believed that a man’s sweet words an
"Tell me, Amora. Why are you ignoring me, and how long are you going to keep acting like this?" Regis questioned, crossing his arms.Amora scoffed. "Don’t pretend to be clueless. You know exactly why I’m ignoring you, don’t you?"Regis frowned. Of course, he knew, but everything he did was for her own good. So what was wrong with keeping things from her?Regis was beginning to realize just how complicated a woman’s thinking could be. He usually didn’t care much about the feelings of others, but he couldn’t do that with Amora—she held a special place in his heart."I just didn’t want you to get more involved, Amora. I wasn’t trying to hide anything," Regis said defensively, hoping she would understand his decision. But his defense only came back to bite him."But I’m already involved, Regis. I almost died back there!" Amora snapped, clearly frustrated.Suddenly, a wave of regret washed over her. She thought maybe she should never have married him. She couldn’t predict how many more dan
A long sigh escaped Regis' lips. Amora’s words were sharp, like thorns aimed straight at him. But Regis knew that Amora’s sarcasm was her way of trying to protect herself.“I-I can’t forgive you that easily,” Amora murmured, nervous.To be honest, Amora was shocked by her husband’s apology. She didn’t want to admit that her anger had already softened a bit. She scolded herself for almost melting just because he said he was sorry.A sharp exhale came from her nose as she turned away from Regis, who had been watching her intently. His gaze seemed to pierce right into her heart.“Of course, I know. And by the way, I didn’t apologize for kissing you,” Regis continued, drawing Amora’s attention back to him.“Are you just trying to provoke me, Regis?” Amora snapped, her anger flaring up uncontrollably again.A chuckle slipped from Regis’ lips as he reached out to t
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