Amora's eyebrows knitted further in confusion. She couldn't understand the reason behind her husband's drastic change in expression. She could see the anger mixed with anxiety in Regis's eyes, but she could not find the reason.Still overwhelmed with confusion, Amora repeated what she had said earlier, “I... I said I don't know him. But, I'm sure he's not a bad person.”“That's not it. I mean what did you say he was? Paralyzed?” Regis asked, trying to confirm he hadn’t misheard."Y-yeah. He was sitting in a wheelchair. Seems like he has some issues with his legs," Amora replied, trying to explain the condition of the man she helped earlier."So, I hope you don’t go around accusing people without understanding their situation first," Amora added, which Regis ignored.Regis clenched his fists tightly. His anger simmering. He glanced at Mark who also looked shocked at Amora's explanation.Although it was still just a hunch, somehow Regis felt that the strange man who met Amora by chance
“I just received word that Alejandro Volker officially announced yesterday that Cedric Volker will be the primary successor of Golden Snake. The news is expected to go public starting tomorrow.” Mark reported that he had read a fresh message from one of his contacts.A cold smirk curled at the corner of Regis’s lips. “Looks like he’s tired of sitting in that wheelchair and wants to play with fire, Mark.”"That’s what I think too. We can’t let him get away with this, Young Master," Mark replied, certain that Cedric was plotting something behind their backs.“Is our plan ready?” Regis asked.For the past few days, Regis had been meticulously preparing a surprise to deliver a crushing blow to Cedric Volker during the illegal transaction Cedric planned to carry out in the coming weeks.Regis was determined to show Alejandro that choosing his crippled youngest son as Golden Snake’s heir would only bring shame to the Volker name.“It’s ready, Air. All we need now is for Cedric to make his m
"Wait, you mean... Cedric Volker, the disabled son of the Volker family?"Xavier was stunned upon hearing that Alejandro Volker's son dared to approach Regis' wife at the café earlier.Regis nodded. "Yes, him. The café's CCTV was sabotaged by his men, but Mark managed to confirm through nearby surveillance cameras that it was Cedric Volker," he growled.Regis was still upset that Alejandro's son had managed to put on a mask of innocence and weakness to trick his wife. The thought made Regis want to punch Cedric's face and leave a few marks of his own.He hadn’t told Amora yet. Regis worried she wouldn’t believe his story about Cedric. Still, he planned to talk to her once she’d calmed down a bit."Wow, he’s bold. Is he trying to declare war?" Xavier exclaimed, his teeth gritting in frustration. He couldn’t believe Alejandro’s son would go as far as using Amora to put pressure on Regis."I’m not entirely sure of Cedric’s intentions with my wife," Regis admitted, exhaling deeply, "but I’
“Dad, do I really have to wear this?”Rayden asked his father who was watching his appearance in the full-length mirror that revealed his handsome and adorable figure.They were in an upscale boutique, where Regis had ordered a tailored suit for his son and a gown for his wife, both for the upcoming Royal Dragon anniversary celebration.Rayden was in the same fitting room as his father. His mother was in a different fitting room from them.Rayden is currently trying on a black tuxedo suit with a silver tie adorned with tiny diamonds. It was by far the most expensive outfit he had ever worn, and its weight was a bit much for his small frame.“You look incredibly handsome, son,” Regis complimented with a broad smile.“But it’s so heavy, Dad,” Rayden whined.Regis understood his son’s discomfort. The tuxedo was indeed a bit heavy—unsurprising, considering it wasn’t just designed by a renowned fashion designer but also incorporated cutting-edge technology that rendered it bulletproof.Reg
A wave of confusion swept over Rayden’s mind as he processed the question his father had just asked. He vividly remembered his mother asking him a similar question years ago, just before deciding to marry Regis.Back then, Rayden thought his mom was joking. After all, she had only asked for his opinion about Regis becoming his father, which made him happy since he had always wanted a father figure.This time, this similar question, with a different intent, certainly made Rayden think hard. He felt that Regis didn't just want to ask for his opinion, but there was another purpose that the man wanted to know from him.If he wanted to equate Regis with his biological father, of course, Rayden didn't like it. Although he had never met him in person and had no idea who his biological father was. In his mind there was only a negative assessment of the figure.Tilting his head slightly, Rayden fixed his sharp gaze on Regis.“Daddy is Daddy. There’s no way you’re anything like him,” Rayden dec
"Could he really be my biological father?"Rayden muttered to himself in front of the mirror. The thought had crossed his mind out of nowhere. Suspicion after suspicion began to bubble up, but he quickly shook his head.“No … no way. He’s not my real father,” Rayden mumbled, trying to push away his own analysis.“Where’s Mommy’s handsome prince?”Amora's voice interrupted Rayden's thoughts. He immediately turned his head and found his mother standing at the door of his fitting room.Amora looked stunning and elegant in a luxurious gown that highlighted her beauty.Rayden blinked, momentarily taken aback by her appearance.“Wow... my son is so handsome,” Amora praised enthusiastically. Her smile wide as she took in the sight of her son in formal attire for the first time.“You know, Ray, I almost thought you stepped right out of a fairy tale book,” she teased, giggling at her own imagination.Rayden gave her a shy smile as he walked toward her, gazing at her intently.“You’re beautiful
After finishing the fitting session, the sun had already begun its descent. Regis invited Amora and their son to dine at a restaurant his assistant had reserved.Upon arrival, a waiter and the restaurant manager greeted them warmly and escorted them to the private room they had booked.Rayden’s wide eyes wandered around the VIP room in awe. He took in the beautiful crystal chandeliers hanging elegantly from the high ceiling.His little feet quickly carried him to the large windows, which offered a breathtaking view of the city glowing with a myriad of twinkling lights.Mark followed closely behind, his duty being to accompany his young master’s son.“Do you like this restaurant, Little Young Master?” Mark asked, noting the sparkle in the boy’s eyes.Rayden looked up and nodded enthusiastically. His gaze shifted to the long dining table, where his parents were busy ordering food with the help of the manager.“Uncle Carter, can I ask you something?” Rayden whispered softly, as if afraid
“Do you remember what I mentioned earlier in the car? About the security detail?”Regis began the serious topic he had wanted to discuss with his wife.Amora gave a small nod.“Starting tomorrow, there will be someone escorting you and Ray. I hope you can get used to this arrangement.”Amora was stunned, staring at her husband in disbelief.“Tomorrow? Didn’t you say you’d only do that once our relationship became public knowledge?” Amora protested at his unexpected decision.“I’ve changed my mind,” Regis replied nonchalantly.Amora clicked her tongue in annoyance. She had thought life would stay normal until the Royal Dragon anniversary celebration.For the past few days, Amora had observed Regis, who always seemed to act with a clear reason. Even if he sometimes avoided explaining things outright, causing misunderstandings that led to arguments, they would eventually clear the air.Oddly enough, neither of them ever stayed upset for long. It had become part of their dynamic.Amora fe
“What are you doing here?” Regis demanded sharply, glaring at the elegantly dressed middle-aged woman in a matching blouse and midi skirt.The woman was none other than Liliana Ritter!Amora’s eyebrows knitted together as she glanced back and forth between Regis and Liliana, clearly confused.'Wasn't Mark supposed to come? Why is Mrs. Lorenzo here instead?' Amora wondered, still trying to process the situation.Liliana remained calm despite Regis's cold demeanor. She walked gracefully toward their table and pulled out a chair directly facing Regis and Amora.The tension between them was palpable. Regis radiated hostility, but Liliana's nonchalant attitude made him feel like a fool.“I came to see you, Regis,” Liliana said calmly, placing her handbag on the table.Regis let out a bitter scoff. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about,” he shot back curtly.Without waiting for a response, Regis stood up, grabbed Amora's wrist, and headed for the door.Though still confused, Amora q
After spending the whole day in the hotel room since yesterday, finally this afternoon Regis and Amora decided to go out with Rayden. They wanted to visit Emma Adams' residence, more precisely the apartment of Emma's son-Henry Allen.Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed by Emma. Amora introduced her husband to her.Emma was shocked. She never expected Regis Lorenzo to be Rayden's biological father. But after hearing Amora's story, she shared in their happiness."Thank goodness Ray's dream of having a father finally came true. And not just any father—his biological one," Emma said, glancing at Rayden sitting beside her.The boy simply grinned and continued enjoying Emma's homemade apple pie. It had been a long time since he last tasted her cooking, and before he knew it, he had already eaten two slices."That's enough, Ray. You've had too many sweets today," Amora said as Rayden reached for another slice."But Grandma's apple pie is so good," Rayden quipped, ignoring his mother's pr
"Hank, do you think this recording is real?" Alejandro asked after spending considerable time analyzing the audio he had received.Even though the voice clearly belonged to Altan Demir, Alejandro still found it odd. He questioned Altan's motive against Kenneth. He knew the two had never crossed paths before, and there was no apparent reason for Altan to murder his eldest son."I need to verify it first, Boss," Hank replied cautiously."If this recording is genuine, then Regis Lorenzo has been innocent all along," Alejandro murmured with a long sigh.However, Alejandro did not appear regretful for wrongly accusing Regis. After all, the Royal Dragon had caused him countless troubles. The rivalry between the Golden Snake and the Royal Dragon was well-known.Hank remained silent as his phone rang suddenly. It was a call from one of his contacts.After the call ended, Hank immediately reported to Alejandro. "Boss, there's information that Altan Demir was summoned to the local police statio
Old Madam Lorenzo had just returned to her pavilion after visiting her son’s headquarters. Her pale, aged face was still filled with anger. Her gaze landed on her daughter-in-law, who was already standing there to greet her."Mother," Liliana greeted."You still haven't left?" the old woman asked indifferently.Liliana shook her head. "I wanted to hear from you first," she replied.Winny Silverlake gestured for Rebecca to leave, and Liliana quickly guided the old woman to sit on the family room sofa in the pavilion."You look very pale, Mother," Liliana murmured with concern. She remained standing by her mother-in-law's side and asked, "Did something happen earlier?"Winny let out a long sigh and answered, "It’s nothing. Just an old ailment.""Did Diego still refuse to change his mind and upset you?" Liliana guessed.Winny let out a thin smirk and muttered, "It seems he would rather see me dead than listen to my request.""Mother ...." Liliana's concern became more evident. From the b
"Mother!"Diego called out to his mother again, but the elderly woman didn’t respond.Winny Silverlake's face quickly turned pale. Her breathing grew more labored. One hand gripped the arm of the sofa to keep herself from collapsing.Diego hurried to support his mother and shouted toward the door, "Rebecca! Pablo!"Both Pablo and Rebecca, who were just outside the room, were startled by the head of the Lorenzo family's urgent call. They rushed in immediately.Seeing their employer in distress, Rebecca quickly helped the elderly woman sit back on the sofa, making sure she was comfortable. She pulled out an inhaler from the small bag slung over her shoulder.Diego ordered Pablo to go and prepare the wheelchair, worried that his mother might need it soon. Meanwhile, Rebecca focused on administering first aid.As a trained caregiver, Rebecca swiftly helped Old Madam Lorenzo use the inhaler, gently spraying the medication into her mouth. After a moment, she slowly removed the inhaler. "Mad
“Do you even realize what you’ve done, Diego?” snapped Mrs. Winny Lorenzo angrily.The elderly woman still hadn’t forgotten the lie her son told two days ago. The memory was still vivid in her mind.After the chaotic ship party, Old Madam Lorenzo had been asked to return home and wait for good news from her son. She was extremely worried when she heard that Regis had run away and hoped Diego would handle it well.But instead of good news, she got the opposite. Diego had gone against Regis’s marriage.Winny also found out that Diego had issued an ultimatum to the Royal Dragon staff, stating that Regis would no longer be recognized as a Lorenzo if he refused to break things off with Amora.Winny Silverlake was furious at her son’s decision. She had only found out that morning when someone secretly tipped her off.Diego had previously instructed his subordinates to keep the news from her because he didn’t want her to show up and unleash her anger on him like she was doing now.Winny rare
"Forgive my insolence, Madam," Pablo reflexively lowered his head in front of Winny Silverlake.Finally, Pablo Varon stepped aside to let the old woman pass.Winny curled her lips lazily and hissed with disdain, "It seems my son needs to reevaluate his employees' attitudes. I can't believe you don't understand your place."Pablo knew she was merely bluffing. The Old Madam Lorenzo had no authority to fire him, and Diego Lorenzo wouldn't comply with her whims just because Pablo was doing his job.After all, Diego himself had instructed Pablo not to let anyone into the room. Still, the old woman's threat made him uneasy."I deserve any punishment, Madam," Pablo replied, keeping his head bowed.As expected, the old woman ignored him and proceeded inside once Rebecca was instructed to open the grand door before them. As the doors swung open, all eyes turned to them."Madam Lorenzo," everyone in the room greeted her, except for Diego Lorenzo.Winny ignored the greetings. Her sharp eyes focu
The morning at Royal Dragon's headquarters was unusually quiet. Everyone was busy with their tasks, but the silence was abruptly shattered when Old Madam Lorenzo arrived without prior notice.Usually, Old Madam Lorenzo stayed in a separate pavilion away from the main Lorenzo residence because she disliked the constant chaos that often erupted there, as it was connected to Royal Dragon's headquarters."Madam," greeted one of Diego's subordinates, clearly surprised by her sudden appearance. After all, Old Madam Lorenzo rarely stepped foot in the main residence before the servants had cleaned up any messes inside.Winny Silverlake had always disliked the smell of blood, so she insisted that the place be cleaned thoroughly before she arrived.Sometimes, Diego's subordinates were still covered in blood after getting into fights during their missions. Other times, it was because Diego had punished them for severe negligence.Violence was nothing new in the main Lorenzo residence. That was p
"I'm truly sorry, Young Master. If there's anything I can do, just tell me," Mark expressed with genuine remorse.If it weren't for Diego's threats, Mark would never have become a traitor. He felt awful and didn't know how he could face Regis later."What could you possibly do, Mark? If I asked you to unfreeze my accounts, could you do it?" Regis quipped with a chuckle.Of course, that request was impossible. Mark's weakness was firmly in Diego's grasp, leaving him powerless to act recklessly."Young Master, I—""It's fine, Mark. I know where you stand. You had no choice; you did it to keep your job and to protect your sister," Regis interrupted with a long sigh."Don't worry about it. I still have some savings to get by," Regis added confidently.In reality, he wasn't sure how long that money would last if he didn't find another source of income soon."Thank you for understanding me, Young Master," Mark murmured."Is that all you wanted to tell me, Mark?" Regis probed. He had a feeli