Amora's hazel eyes moved restlessly. Her lips trembled softly. Her mind urged her to refuse the man's request, but her body thought otherwise.When Regis's lips kissed hers again, Amora didn’t pull away. She thought perhaps she should give the man a chance to claim his rights because she was also aware that she needed the same thing at that moment.Slowly but surely, their lips connected again as before. There was no more resistance like before; everything flowed in harmony under the moonlight that radiated its softness.Amora’s eyelids slowly closed tightly. The gentle caress of his lips made her sanity pause for a moment.Both of Amora's arms had wrapped around Regis's strong neck. His hands had also moved to hold the nape of her neck, deepening their increasingly heated kiss.Regis greedily devoured her lips. He pushed his tongue into the mouth that had given him access to exp
“Ray? What happened?” Regis asked, confused.Regis tried to hide his disappointment and panic, feeling caught having engaged in behavior his son deemed shameful.Amora was equally shocked. She turned to find her son standing there in full pajamas, hugging his favorite pillow, which Rayden had carried since childhood.Immediately, Amora rushed down from Regis’s arms and walked unsteadily. “What’s wrong, Dear?” she asked anxiously.Rayden didn’t answer right away. He shot a sharp glance at Regis, making the man feel he had made a huge mistake.“Ray, are you looking for me?” Amora guessed.Rayden's attention returned to his mother. He nodded slightly.“What’s wrong, Ray?” Amora asked, worried. She still remembered how her son had peeked at her and Regis kissing outside earlier.“I want to sleep here,” Rayden blurted, his face downcast.Rayden’s words shattered all of Regis’s hopes in an instant.Amora furrowed her brow. She truly didn’t expect her son to act this childishly.“Ray, do you
The sound of water flowing filled the bathroom. Amora stood under the shower, the warm water pouring over her body. She tilted her face up, eyes squeezed shut tightly.She let the water wash away the tangled thoughts from her mind. Once she felt refreshed, she turned off the shower and reached for a robe to cover her bare skin.Now, Amora stood in front of the sink mirror, looking at her flushed face. There were still traces of a kiss and red marks on her slender neck. Memories of her passionate kiss with Regis replayed in her mind.“Oh, come on! Stop thinking about it,” Amora muttered, giving her cheeks a quick slap.She hurriedly grabbed a cream from around the sink to cover the kiss marks.Amora didn’t know if she should be relieved they had postponed their intimate moment or feel disappointed like her husband clearly had. For now, she needed to think clearly to make the right decision.She reflected again on the truth she had just learned from Regis. The background of the Lorenzo
Regis sighed heavily, trying to hold back his anger toward his son.“Alright, I won’t push you to answer. But I want to know ... did you hear about this from the media or …?”“Don’t worry, Dad. I didn’t hear it from the media. It doesn’t seem like it will get to the media,” Rayden interrupted.Yesterday, he’d looked up information about the shooting case, but none of the media had covered it. Rayden guessed that his father must have kept it quiet. He had a feeling his father had the power to block the news.Hearing his son’s response, Regis paused. ‘Could it be ... he overheard me talking to Amora last night?’ he wondered.A thin smile crept onto Regis’s face. He was genuinely surprised by his son’s actions and words.It turns out that behind his son's innocent demeanor lies an impressive, sharp intuition. Regis wasn’t sure whether to feel proud of his son’s spying skills, especially since he managed to deceive him so smoothly, leaving him at a loss for words.“You still haven’t answe
The words that escaped those small lips were like a morning thunderbolt, striking Regis’s mind all at once. He hadn’t expected to receive such a piercing response.Though Regis had already heard from Amora that his son didn’t have a positive view of his biological father, hearing it directly with his own ears was much more painful.“I will never forgive him,” Rayden continued, adding salt to the wound now opened in Regis’s heart.“Ray, I thinks maybe you—”Before Regis could explain to his son, Amora entered the room and interrupted their conversation, “You two are still relaxing here? Do you know what time it is?”Amora had just finished preparing breakfast for them. Seeing no one coming out of the bedroom, she assumed both were still asleep. But who would have thought they were lost in conversation, unaware that they were running out of time to get ready?“Ray, you still haven’t showered?” she scolded when she saw her son still in pajamas, looking sleepy.Rayden gasped. Seeing his m
“Mrs. Brown, is it true that Mr. Brown embezzled school funds?”“What’s your response to your husband’s actions?”“Has he already been removed from his position at the school?”“What about the Brown family business? Was the money used to cover last year’s massive loss?”Journalists bombarded Lisa with questions. She struggled to push through the crowd until school security stepped in to help her escape the onslaught of media.Lisa’s face was pale; her usual thick makeup was gone. She looked almost unrecognizable to Amora, who guessed Lisa had faced the same barrage outside her home that morning.From her disheveled appearance, it was clear Lisa had rushed out. She still wore house slippers, and her normally sleek hair was hastily tied back.“Looks like Mrs. Jefferson has finally taken action,” Amora murmured with satisfaction.Now she no longer had to worry about Lisa using her position as the wife of the school’s vice chair to undermine her.Amora smirked, wanting to remember Lisa’s
A few pairs of eyes started to look at Amora with disdain and condescension. Inside, Amora was seething, but she knew Lisa wanted to bait her into a reaction with that sneering insult."Stay calm, Amora. Don’t let her get to you," Amora reminded herself.Gradually, a faint smile appeared on Amora's lips which were painted with nude-colored lipstick.“You really don't understand the situation, Lisa. Even after falling this far, you’re still wasting a golden opportunity. Is the lesson you received today not enough to wake you up, hm?”Lisa scoffed dismissively, still taking Amora’s words lightly.Amora could have easily lashed out, but instead, she replied to Lisa with a calm, composed expression, refusing to let her opponent get under her skin.“As I told you yesterday, you'd better make the most of your time. It might not be long before your status drops to what mine used to be. At least then, you’ll understand how hard it is to actually work for your money.” Amora’s words made Lisa’s
Lisa lowered her gaze, wringing her hands in worry, wondering how to salvage the situation quickly.“Did you leave the car because you were worried about me?” Amora asked, her voice as sweet as honey—Regis had never heard her sound like this before.She leaned her head against Regis’s chest, showing everyone how deeply he cared for her. This display impressed onlookers and made a few jealous.Amora’s playful affection made Regis’s heart stir. He smiled, knowing full well his wife was putting on a show to flaunt their relationship for Lisa, the wife of Johannes Brown. With an intense gaze, he looked at Lisa, who now seemed small and powerless.“Young Master Lorenzo, is she ... is she really your wife?” Lisa stammered, summoning her courage to look Regis in the eye.His piercing stare made her breath catch. The silent threat was unmistakable, sending a chill down her spine.Yet Lisa wasn’t ready to back down. She was determined to recapture Regis’s attention, convinced he must know all
"A woman like that?"Madam Lorenzo's eyes narrowed sharply. She clearly didn't like the cynical tone in her son's voice."And what kind of woman do you want for this family, Diego? Regis wants to get married and has found someone who suits him—isn't that something to be grateful for? You and Liliana have been searching for a woman for him all this time, but what have you accomplished?" Madam Lorenzo snapped, throwing a sharp glance at her daughter-in-law.Liliana Ritter could only purse her lips slightly, unable to refute her mother-in-law's words.However, Diego wasn’t about to back down so easily. "Mother, I know you want Regis to settle down. But we can’t just let him marry any woman."Madam Lorenzo scoffed. "Are you saying I don’t know how to choose properly?"Alicia held back a smile. She could see how powerless her father was every time he argued with her grandmother."That’s not what I meant, Mother. But we need to find a woman with a clear background. Did you know that she was
"Damn it! How long does he plan to keep me locked up in here?"A low growl, followed by a sharp wince, slipped from Regis' lips. He was still trapped inside the executive cabin, his current prison.Not a single drop of water had been given to him by his father’s men, leaving his throat painfully dry. His appearance was a mess from repeatedly trying to break down the door. Unfortunately, the door was sturdy, and all he had managed to do was injure himself in the process.The room had a balcony overlooking the open river. Regis could jump from there, but the risk was too high—especially with the strong currents rushing below on this late night.As much as he wanted to escape, he wasn’t about to throw his life away. He needed another plan."Young Master, I'm sorry. We should've been more careful earlier," Albert muttered from across the room.A while ago, Albert and Pedro, along with several others, had attempted to fight off the guards stationed outside. But they had been utterly defeat
'No! I can't give up just like that. I can't make Regis worry. He must be fighting on his own right now. Ray needs me too. There's no time for me to keep feeling sorry for myself.'The light in Amora's eyes, which had dimmed, sparkled once more. She quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and straightened her posture.Even though she had felt weak and helpless just moments ago, she reminded herself that she couldn't just sit there crying. At the very least, she had to find out what was happening with Regis.Worry was written all over Amora's face. She was sure Regis was in a powerless situation, especially since Diego had control over her husband's phone.Determined, Amora picked up her phone and searched for Albert’s contact. But he was unreachable.'Albert must be in trouble too,' she guessed.She then tried calling Estelle. She was certain her friend was still there and might be able to provide some information.It didn’t take long for Estelle to pick up. “Hello, Amor
“Have you heard from Regis yet?”Noel’s question momentarily pulled Amora out of her thoughts. She shook her head slightly and let out a weary sigh.“He might have been forced to stay there,” Amora guessed.“But he should’ve at least contacted you, Amora.”Noel’s words hit the mark. She had been waiting for any news from Regis or Albert, but neither had sent a message or called.She had considered reaching out to Regis first but worried that her call might interrupt him while he was busy speaking with guests.Amora had heard that the Royal Dragon’s anniversary celebration would last all night. The guests would only be disembarking from the ship the following morning, making tonight the event's grand finale.As the son and heir of the Lorenzo family, Regis was expected to stay. Even though Amora wished he could be by her side, she couldn’t afford to be selfish. At the very least, she felt relieved knowing that Rayden was in stable condition and only needed time to recover.Still, the s
"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