"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
"Are you sure you didn't make any mistakes, including challenging Levent?" Diego questioned sharply.Regis understood that his earlier actions were risky. However, he felt he had no other choice but to assert himself to Altan Demir, making it clear that he was not someone to be trifled with."Father, he started it first. I was only giving him a little warning," Regis defended himself."Oh?"Diego raised an eyebrow and fixed his sharp gaze on his son.Understanding the meaning behind his father's look, Regis recounted the events that forced him to confront Altan Demir. However, he deliberately left out any mention of Amora, not wanting to drag her into the conflicts between organizations."You haven't forgotten, have you, that we have an agreement with Levent?" Diego probed.Diego believed Regis shouldn't have meddled in the dispute between Altan Demir and Beth Jefferson, as it was outside their jurisdiction.He also thought that Regis should just simply block Altan's attempts to spy o
"What do you mean?"Diego's brows furrowed deeply, his shock apparent at his son's statement.Seeing his father’s surprised expression, Regis only smirked indifferently.“Altan Demir caused your accident?” investigated Diego with an incredulous look.Though the accident had occurred seven years ago, Diego could never forget the near despair he felt, almost losing his only son.At that time, Diego had done everything in his power, gathering the best doctors to save Regis’s life. Though Regis eventually fell into a coma, Diego had been relieved his son was alive.Now that Diego had suddenly heard that the accident that almost killed his son was Altan Demir's doing, it was enough to shock him."Is it true, Regis?" Diego asked again, his anger seething.If Altan Demir truly was behind the crash, Diego had no intention of letting him walk free.But Regis was not eager to elaborate. He got up and said, "Father, I have other matters to attend to."Regis began walking away but stopped in his
"Speak," Amora replied indifferently.Her nonchalant attitude made Regis boil with frustration. He didn’t speak immediately, observing how Amora deliberately ignored him by staying glued to her phone, as if disregarding his presence entirely.Finally, Regis snatched the phone from her hands.“Regis, give me back my phone!” Amora snapped.But Regis held the phone behind his back. “It’s late, Amora. Who could possibly be bothering you at this hour?” he questioned.Before Amora could respond, Regis checked her phone himself. The screen merely displayed a game she’d been playing.“No one’s contacting me, are they? Satisfied now?” Amora said lazily, brushing off his accusation.Amora knew she shouldn’t act so childish but couldn’t help herself. It reminded her of her son earlier that afternoon, who had thrown a similar tantrum.“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you,” Regis said, returning her phone. “I thought you were still mad at me and ignoring me on purpose.”“You must still be drunk
The ginger water Amora had prepared was now boiling. She poured it into a clear glass and carried it, placing a coaster beneath the cup.She also brought two boiled egg whites, something Noel once told her was helpful for reducing excess stomach acid.Amora walked to the bedroom since Regis was no longer in the living room. Upon entering, she heard the sound of running water from behind the bathroom's glass door.She placed the glass of ginger water and the plate with the boiled egg whites on the small table next to the bed.Amora thought about leaving the room before Regis came out of the bathroom. However, the sound of water had stopped, and moments later, Regis emerged wearing only a bathrobe.Amora quickly turned her face away. “The ginger water is over there,” she said, pointing to the glass she had set down earlier.Regis gave it a brief glance before turning his gaze back to her.“Drink it when it’s not too hot. I also made boiled eggs for you. Eat them before you sleep,” Amora
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