"You ...."Chelsea pointed her finger directly at Amora's face, her head boiling with anger.Amora's sharp words had hit like a critical blow, doubling Chelsea's frustration and making her blood pressure soar even higher!Watching Chelsea's furious expression, Estelle's laughter grew louder. Seeing Chelsea at a loss for words to counter Amora brought immense satisfaction to Estelle.A cold snort escaped Amora's elegant nose. She ignored Chelsea's anger and walked past her.Stopping in front of the cashier, Amora decided to settle her shopping bills. She intended to leave the boutique quickly to avoid further souring her mood."How much is it?" Amora asked the cashier, who seemed visibly nervous.The cashier quickly tallied the amount and replied, "It’s $145 total."Suddenly, Estelle stepped up beside Amora, placing a few of her chosen dresses on the counter. “Include these with hers,” she said.Seeing this, Chelsea positioned herself beside Amora, her mocking tone dripping with disdai
"Let me go," hissed Chelsea, wincing in pain.She jerked her arm, attempting to free herself from Amora's grip. Yet her strength was no match for the woman before her.Despite Amora's slimmer figure, years of trials and tribulations had hardened her into someone much stronger than the average woman. While her strength might not measure up to men like Regis, taking on Chelsea was child’s play.‘Damn it! How is she this strong?’ Chelsea fumed internally.Desperate, she used her other hand to pull herself away, leaning her body backward. Just as she did so, Amora abruptly released her grip, causing Chelsea to stumble and fall backward. She landed right into a basket filled with unorganized clothes, sending everyone into stunned silence.Moments later, laughter erupted, filling the boutique. Amora couldn't help but chuckle at Chelsea’s misfortune, her previous anger dissipating into amusement.Even Estelle doubled over, clutching her stomach as she laughed uncontrollably. Gloria, meanwhil
"What are you looking at? Have you taken up spying as a hobby now?" Chelsea sneered nervously, quickly shoving her phone into her bag.Amora didn't respond. She turned on her heel and left the boutique, with Albert following closely behind. She paid no attention to the gazes fixed on her as she exited.Chelsea scoffed under her breath. "So arrogant for just being someone's mistress.""Your tongue really is like a venomous snake, Chelsea. Why didn’t you say that in front of that man earlier? I bet he’d have wiped you out completely," Estelle retorted sharply.Chelsea swallowed hard, nervous. The man's piercing gaze was still shaking her."Aren’t you afraid of karma for constantly bullying and insulting Amora?" Estelle pressed, her tone laced with disdain."Are you cursing me now?" Chelsea snapped, visibly angered."It’s not a curse; it’s just reality. Every good or bad deed gets its reward. I’m just worried you’ll end up dying a horrible death," Estelle replied with an icy smirk."You—
“N-no, Amora. Please don’t misunderstand me. That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to make sure the rumors I’ve heard aren’t true. I know you’re not the kind of woman who’d make rash decisions or give herself away just for money.”Estelle stammered, worried her words might backfire. She had come to speak with Amora to apologize, not to become her enemy.A soft chuckle escaped Amora’s lips before she said, “Seven years, Estelle. So much can change in seven years. The Amora Lysander sitting in front of you isn’t the same Amora Lysander you knew back then.”“And you, I can’t even be sure you’re the same Estelle Mauverick I once knew,” Amora added with a faint, bitter smile.Estelle gasped, biting her lower lip. “You’re right. Seven years isn’t a short time.”“Maybe I’ve become materialistic, but I’ve never stooped so low as to throw myself at sleazy men just to live a life of luxury,” Amora said, firmly emphasizing the principles she still held.Estelle fell silent for a moment, guilt w
A faint smile appeared on Estelle’s lips. She could understand Amora’s guarded demeanor and said, “It’s okay. I understand how you feel. You don’t have to rush to trust me again, Amora. But you’re truly incredible. I really admire you for managing to survive and hold on in your own way all this time.”The sincere compliment escaped Estelle’s lips. She genuinely admired Amora because, compared to what Amora had gone through, the challenges she faced over the past seven years seemed insignificant.“Thank you. I’ve made it this far because of my son and because God intervened in my life,” Amora replied, wiping the corner of her eyes that had begun to water.Amora couldn’t hold back her emotions. Reuniting with an old friend and revisiting her past was emotionally overwhelming for her.“What about you … is what Chelsea said earlier true? Did your father force you into marriage because of me?” Amora asked, trying to shift the topic of their conversation.Estelle gave a faint smile. Like Am
“What’s keeping you busy these days, Amora?”Estelle’s question snapped Amora out of her thoughts. She still hadn’t come up with any ideas for her business plans.Amora smiled faintly. “Right now, I’m a certified unemployed woman,” she joked.Estelle chuckled along. “That makes two of us,” she admitted.“You’re not taking over your father’s business?” Amora asked, confused.As far as she remembered, the Mauverick family still had a business. Being the only daughter, Estelle should have inherited it, even if the family wasn’t as prominent as it once was due to rising competition.“I sold my shares to my uncle, Amora. After my father passed away, I was appointed as his heir and expected to manage the company on my own. No one believed someone like me could handle it, and honestly, I wasn’t passionate about it either. Rather than letting it fail under my care, I handed it over to my uncle.”Amora nodded as she listened to Estelle’s explanation.Estelle’s gaze drifted to the diamond ring
On the way to pick up her son from school, Amora sat quietly in the backseat, lost in thought about her conversation with Estelle.A wedding organizer isn’t a bad idea. But ….Her eyes caught Albert Parker’s reflection in the rearview mirror as he focused on driving. “Mr. Parker,” she called.Albert glanced briefly at her before returning his attention to the road. “Yes, Ma’am,” he replied.“Could you help me investigate something?” Amora asked, noticing his sharp look through the mirror.“I mean, do you know someone trustworthy who can handle discreet investigations?” she clarified.Albert smirked faintly. “You can count on me, Ma’am. Even though I’m just a driver, I’m quite a skilled informant,” he said confidently.He wasn’t bluffing. Both Regis and Mark often relied on him to gather critical information. Albert had an impressive network.“Really?”Amora was taken aback but thought for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Then, could you look into Estelle Mauverick?”Albert raised h
Regis's car stopped in front of a building surrounded by tall gates adorned with dragon heads carved at the center. He stepped out of the car without bothering to park it properly.He was currently at the Royal Dragon residence and headquarters to fulfill his father's order to meet him. As usual, the atmosphere around the residence was cold and quiet.A few subordinates greeted him briefly as he walked past them, continuing his way inside until he encountered Liliana Ritter, who had just stepped out of the elevator within the building.“Regis, why didn’t you let me know you were coming?” asked the woman, surprised. She hadn’t received any word about his return.“Are you staying the night here?” Liliana added.However, Regis ignored her questions and walked straight toward the elevator.“That boy ….” Liliana clicked her tongue in annoyance at being dismissed by her stepson and continued her steps out of the residence.Regis's sharp, hawk-like eyes followed her figure until the elevator
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
"Ray, look over there!"Kimmy exclaimed excitedly as they entered the playground area inside the cruise ship. She and Rayden were currently exploring every room on the ship."Whoa! This place is like a real treasure trove!" Kimmy exclaimed again.The little girl couldn't stop admiring everything she saw. Rayden could only shake his head at her enthusiasm."Come on, Ray. Let's play over there." Kimmy pointed to the bumper car area within the playground."What's so exciting about that, Kimmy? Haven't you played it plenty of times in other playgrounds? I don't see how this one's any different," Rayden remarked indifferently.Albert hid a smile. The little young master's flat tone and cool demeanor reminded him of Regis Lorenzo."Seriously, kid? Can't you just go along with it?" Xavier scoffed, ruffling the hair of Regis' son.Kimmy's face soured at Rayden's dismissive response."I’m just telling the truth," Rayden said, completely unaware that he had upset her. Kimmy let out an annoyed h
"I didn't hear wrong, did I? What did he just say? Daddy? That boy is Young Master Lorenzo’s son?"Rumors spread like wildfire as whispers filled the air. Camera flashes went off relentlessly, capturing the biggest scandal of the night."You can go, but only if Xavier and Albert go with you," Regis responded to his son's request.A small smile spread across Rayden’s lips, revealing his adorable baby teeth. Liliana was stunned. The boy’s face reminded her of Regis when he was little."Alright then, I’m going now, Dad," Rayden said cheerfully as he rushed toward Kimmy. The little girl had been waiting for him beyond the crowd, standing beside her parents. Xavier and Albert were already on high alert, ensuring Rayden’s safety."Young Master Lorenzo, is that boy really your son?" One of the guests, a close relative of the Lorenzo family, gathered the courage to ask.Just like before, Regis openly acknowledged Amora and Rayden’s status to the public. He had no intention of hiding anything,
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, a commotion erupted, shocking the guests, the entire Lorenzo family, and the top executives of Royal Dragon.The music came to an abrupt stop, replaced by hushed murmurs spreading throughout the room. Conversations buzzed as all eyes turned toward Regis, who had just entered the hall with a young woman—none other than his wife, Amora Lysander.The media crew, permitted to cover the celebration inside the hall, rushed to capture the moment, eager to turn it into tomorrow’s headline.“Oh, My God. Didn't I see something wrong? Is Young Master Lorenzo… smiling?”One of the guests exclaimed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. But as much as they wanted to dismiss it, they couldn’t deny the truth—they were just as shocked to see the rare sight of a smile gracing Regis’ lips.A smile that was almost unheard of since Regis rarely displayed it in public. And yet, here he was, looking at the woman by his side with an unmistakable gaze of affection.“I must
Alejandro scoffed. “You're trying to dodge again, Diego. I know you have the power to clear all the accusations against your son and turn the media in your favor. But I won’t forget the blood debt that you and your son still owe me,” he hissed.Diego felt no fear in the face of Alejandro’s threat—not because he thought Alejandro wouldn’t dare act on it, but because he was confident that both he and Regis could handle anything that came their way.More importantly, there was something Alejandro didn’t know, and Diego intended to reveal it now.Maintaining his indifferent attitude toward the hostility of the Golden Snake’s leader, Diego said, “Alejandro, I won’t make excuses for our past. But I strongly suggest you let go of your grudge—before it ends up choking you instead.”Alejandro let out a bitter laugh. “Let go of my grudge? Don’t be naive, Diego.”Diego responded with nothing but a smirk.“Don’t tell me you’re actually scared that I might do the same thing to someone you care abo
Murat's lips curled into a cynical smirk, followed by a low chuckle escaping from his mouth."Looks like you have no idea that Diego’s son orchestrated everything."The statement that left Murat’s lips made Alejandro’s expression shift. A flicker of anger flashed in his sharp, hazel eyes.Before Alejandro could respond to Murat Demir’s words, the cabin door suddenly swung open, revealing the person they had been waiting for.Diego Lorenzo stepped into the suite stateroom and took a seat on the sofa between his two guests. He glanced between them, immediately sensing the tension in the room."Did I come at a bad time?"Diego’s deep voice drew both Alejandro and Murat’s attention to him. There was no trace of warmth in their gazes as if Diego had just done something unpleasant to them.“Was the hospitality not to your liking?” Diego quipped, attempting to ease the tension. A faint chuckle, more of a formality than genuine amusement, escaped the lips of the Royal Dragon leader.However,