“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
After dinner, Mark drove his young master, along with his wife and child, back to their penthouse.“Thank you, Mark. You should rest too. We’ll continue our discussion tomorrow,” Regis said as they stood at the entrance to his residence.Mark nodded. “Goodnight, Young Master,” he replied respectfully before heading back to the elevator and leaving.Regis shut the penthouse door, switched to his indoor slippers, and walked inside, scanning the room. He noticed neither his wife nor son were around. “They disappeared fast,” he muttered.The two had gone in earlier while he and Mark briefly discussed his schedule for the following day.Regis took off his suit jacket and tie, tossing them onto a bar stool. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water and then stepped into the gym to do a little physical activity.This was his nightly routine when there were no pressing matters. Burning off calories helped him drain his energy, ensuring a good night’s sleep without battling insomnia.He unbuttoned
Amora’s hand froze mid-air as she was about to unlock her son’s tablet. But after a moment of hesitation, she proceeded to try opening it. Unfortunately, she couldn’t—Rayden had set up a passcode on the device.She pursed her lips in annoyance and glanced over at her son, who was now doing his best to avoid her inquisitive gaze.“Ray…”Before Amora could ask further about the passcode, Rayden snatched the tablet from her hands and quickly hid it behind his small back.Reacting instinctively, Amora stretched out her hand toward him. “Give me the tablet, Ray!” she commanded.Rayden pressed his lips together tightly and bowed his head low, still keeping the tablet firmly behind him.Amora let out a long sigh. She realized she might be acting too strict, but she had to know what her son was trying to hide.Her concern wasn’t baseless. Amora feared Rayden might be caught up in something harmful. Technology had advanced rapidly, but online dangers had grown just as quickly. She didn’t want
Rayden looked back at his mother and asked, “Mom, is it possible for two people to look so much alike even if they’re not blood-related?”Amora smiled faintly. “I once read that every person has seven doppelgangers in the world, people who aren’t related to them at all. But honestly, I’ve never been sure since I’ve never seen it myself,” she replied.Rayden nodded thoughtfully. Earlier, he had read a similar article, but the question still lingered in his mind. Was his resemblance to Regis mere coincidence, especially given their significant age difference?Before Rayden could ask more, his mother preemptively addressed the question forming in his mind. “But you and Regis might resemble each other not because you have no blood relation, Ray.”The statement that fell from his mother's lips did not surprise Rayden too much. However, he was at a loss for words to express his feelings.A sigh slowly escaped Amora's nose as she reached for her son's tiny hands, which felt very cold when sh
Amora tossed and turned repeatedly on the bed. Even though her eyes were closed, she was still wide awake with unease. Finally, she got up and switched on the bedside lamp.She glanced briefly to her side. Regis still hadn’t come into the room, even though it was getting late—already half past ten.“Is he not sleeping here tonight?” Amora wondered to herself.Sometimes Regis didn’t sleep in their room, choosing instead to work late and rest in his study.Sitting on the edge of her bed, Amora looked visibly exhausted, yet her earlier conversation with Rayden still lingered in her mind.Worry over Rayden’s anger weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to fall asleep that night.“I hope Ray can understand that no one thinks he’s worthless,” Amora thought, reflecting for a moment. Then, she prayed silently, asking for her son’s heart and mind to be open to the truth, forgiving both her and Regis.After praying, Amora sighed deeply. Her throat felt dry, so she reached for the glass of
"Why are you stammering like that, Amora? That's strange," Regis said, narrowing his eyes as he studied his wife, who seemed oddly hesitant in front of him."Are you feeling sick?" he asked, placing a hand on Amora’s forehead again."No fever," Regis muttered after sensing her temperature was normal.Amora gently pushed his hand away. "I’m not running a fever," she replied.Her eyes darted to the floor that Regis had just cleaned. "Sorry for troubling you," Amora murmured softly."You don’t need to apologize, Amora. It’s just a small matter. Besides, isn’t it okay for a husband to help his wife?" Regis responded casually.Amora smiled faintly and nodded. "I felt a little dizzy earlier and accidentally dropped the glass. Thank you for helping me clean up," she said gratefully.Regis walked around the sofabed and sat beside her. "Are you still dizzy now?" he asked with concern evident in his eyes."A little. My stomach also feels a bit crampy," Amora admitted, her face slightly pale."H
“Amora.” Regis’s voice softly reached Amora’s ears.Amora slowly opened her eyes. Even though her vision was blurry, she could make out Regis standing there with several shopping bags in his hands.“Did you go shopping?” Amora asked in a hoarse voice.“I went to get you some pads and pain relievers from the pharmacy nearby,” Regis replied, placing the bags beside the bed.Amora was stunned. Was this man a divine answer to her prayers?Just a moment ago, she had thought Regis might not want to be near her because of her period. But here he was, quietly taking care of everything she needed.Tears welled up in Amora’s eyes again. She was deeply moved by her husband’s kindness and thoughtfulness.“Amora? Are you in a lot of pain?” Regis asked, mistaking her tears for discomfort.Amora didn’t respond, just nodded slightly.“Do you want to put on a pad first? After that, you can take the pain reliever and get some rest,” Regis suggested.Amora nodded again and got up from the bed with Regis
"Oh my gosh!"Amora was startled to see sunlight flooding her entire room. After sleeping soundly for what felt like an eternity, she had just opened her eyes.Her eyes widened in shock as her phone screen displayed the time—already past seven o'clock. Without hesitation, she jumped out of bed.Running a hand through her tousled hair, she paused when a sharp pang of pain struck her stomach. She stopped for a moment, steadying herself before continuing toward the bathroom.After rushing through her morning routine as quickly as possible, Amora stepped out of the bathroom only to find Regis standing in front of her bathroom door"Good morning," Regis greeted her with a bright smile, looking completely relaxed despite Amora feeling bombarded by the ticking clock."Morning," Amora replied, confused. He was still in his casual clothes when he should have already left for work."You’re still here? Don’t tell me Ray isn’t awake yet," Amora guessed, her tone growing anxious.Regis chuckled so
In the lavish living room of a five-star hotel suite, Alejandro Volker sat on a plush sofa, slowly puffing on a cigar. He seemed lost in thought until the voice of a younger man sitting across from him snapped him out of his reverie.“Let’s cut to the chase. Why did you ask me to come here, Mr. Volker?”Alejandro’s gaze fixed on the young man seated in front of him — clean-cut and impeccably dressed. The look on his face was one of obvious impatience.A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Alejandro’s lips. “Young Master Lorenzo, you’ve changed quite a bit since the last time we met.”Yes — the young man with him was none other than Regis Lorenzo.Not long ago, Regis received an unexpected phone call from Alejandro. He had no idea how Alejandro got his number, but he knew it wouldn’t be hard for someone in their circles.Alejandro had invited him to meet in this very hotel suite. Regis hadn’t planned to accept, but Alejandro mentioned he might be able to convince Diego—Regis’s father—t
Diego’s lips curled into a faint smirk at the woman’s reaction before he added, “But, if you want to tell Regis, that’s fine too. I wouldn’t want to waste the Old Madam Lysander’s time. Besides, she probably doesn’t have much time left anyway.”Amora’s eyes widened in shock. She shot up from her seat and slammed her hand on the table.“Mr. Lorenzo, stop threatening me by using my grandmother! Is this how a leader of the Royal Dragon behaves? Don’t you feel the slightest bit of shame?” she snapped.Diego’s expression darkened at Amora’s criticism, but he didn’t respond to her outburst. Instead, he said coolly, “If you leave Regis, I’ll grant you one request. This is the last of my patience, Miss Lysander.”“That’s not fair, Mr. Lorenzo! Why are you being so selfish? Are you only thinking about your happiness? Regis is your son, but nothing you’ve done reflects what a father should be!” Amora shouted, her anger boiling over.She couldn’t hold back anymore—his words and attitude had cros
“Do you want to meet your biological father, Miss Lysander?” Diego asked, his tone probing.He had considered arranging a meeting between them as a trade-off—if Amora agreed to leave Regis. “If you want, I can—”But Amora cut him off immediately. “That won’t be necessary!”Diego froze, caught off guard. He noticed the tears beginning to pool in her clear eyes, but there was something else there too—a sharp, almost predatory glare that made it clear she wasn’t someone to mess with.A faint, cold smile curved Diego’s lips. That side of her ... it was just like Alejandro Volker—and Diego hated that side the most.Even though he could see how angry Amora was with both Alejandro and himself, Diego couldn’t care less. In fact, he almost welcomed her hatred for Alejandro. To him, that was a win.‘Alejandro Volker … maybe the best punishment for you is your daughter’s hate,’ Diego thought with a twisted smile.He wanted Alejandro to feel the same kind of pain he felt now—being despised by you
"Are you criticizing how I handle my son, Miss Lysander?" Diego asked, his voice cold and piercing.The pressure in the air made Amora hold her breath. She quickly broke eye contact with the middle-aged man. That sharp gaze, almost suffocating in intensity, made her realize she might've crossed the line. Still, she didn’t believe anything she said was wrong.“I think you know what I really meant, Sir,” Amora replied, refusing to back down even a little.Diego scoffed. Her unyielding attitude both impressed and annoyed him. “If he hadn’t chosen a life with you, I wouldn’t have gone this far either, Miss Lysander,” he said as calmly as he could.Inside, though, rage was boiling in his chest. But he wasn’t about to let Amora see that she had managed to stir him so easily.Diego kept cornering her with harsh words, trying to make it seem like all his actions were her fault, as if she were the root of the problem. And that made Amora’s blood boil.‘No! I can’t lose it. He still has Grandma
“Mr. Lorenzo—”“Let’s talk over dinner,” Diego cut her off before Amora could say anything else. He signaled to one of his men standing by the door.Moments later, a server rolled in a cart of food that had clearly been prepared in advance. He placed a plate of beef bourguignon in front of Amora and Diego.The rich aroma of the dish made Amora’s stomach growl. She was starving—she hadn’t eaten a single thing since morning. But despite the tempting sight and smell in front of her, she held herself back.“I’m sorry, please take my plate away,” Amora said to the server.The man hesitated and looked toward Diego, whose expression had darkened at her refusal—clearly taking it as a sign of disrespect.Amora could sense the shift in Diego, too. Still, she stayed calm, projecting confidence as she stared him down. “I’m not hungry. So let’s just cut to the chase, Mr. Lorenzo.”Diego smirked. With a wave of his hand, the server quickly wheeled the food cart out of the room.“What do you want in
"Grandma ...."Amora’s whisper was soft and full of sorrow. She deeply regretted dragging her innocent grandmother into her mess.Clutching her phone tightly, Amora’s earlier resolve to avoid Diego completely shifted. Without a second thought, she bolted out of her rented house and rushed to the meeting place Diego had set.Thirty minutes later, she arrived. Amora glanced around before stepping toward the restaurant.Her brows furrowed when she saw the sign hanging on the restaurant’s door—it said closed. But the street outside still buzzed with activity like usual. A place like this shouldn’t be closing this early.Her heart pounded. A sinking feeling settled in her chest as her mind conjured all the terrible things that might be happening inside. For a second, she considered turning back. But then her grandmother’s face flashed in her mind, reigniting her courage.She took a deep breath, bracing herself, and pushed the door open. The silence inside sent a chill down her spine.The r
“Oh my God. What time is it?”Amora shot up in bed, completely startled to see the sun already high in the sky. She turned to glance at the wall clock and nearly panicked—it was almost ten in the morning. And she hadn’t even started prepping lunch for her husband and son yet.Running her fingers through her already-messy hair, she groaned, “Ugh, I can’t believe I slept this long.”She had only meant to lie down for a bit—but somehow, she ended up sleeping for three whole hours!Normally, no matter how tired she was, Amora never slept this deeply. Something felt off. She realized she’d been feeling unusually drained for the past week, and today it was even worse.“Am I ... actually sick?” she murmured, worry creeping into her voice.But a moment later, Amora shook her head firmly. She tried to shake off the fear with a positive affirmation. “No. I can’t be sick,” she said with conviction.She didn’t want to give Regis anything else to worry about—especially not her health. So she pushe
It had been three days since Regis, Amora, and Rayden moved into their modest rental home. A calm morning greeted them with warmth and cheer. The scent of freshly baked pizza mixed with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.“Morning, Dad,” Rayden greeted as his father walked out of the bathroom and joined them at the dining table.“Morning, Ray,” Regis replied, bumping fists with his son.Simple mornings like these had become a special kind of happiness for Regis over the past few days. A warm greeting and a genuine smile to start the day—no wealth or power could ever replace that.But deep down, Regis still carried a concern—he hadn’t secured any steady income yet. Over the past two days, he had applied to several companies, but not a single one had called him in for an interview.Regis suspected his father had a hand in that. Both Gino and Xavier had previously offered him positions in their personal businesses.But Regis turned them down. Their lines of work didn’
“Mad?” Amora raised an eyebrow.Regis gave a hesitant nod. “Aren’t you? I mean, you were completely silent on the drive here.”Amora let out a small laugh before replying, “I’m not mad. I was just a little annoyed earlier. I’m sorry.”Seeing how concerned Regis looked, she added, “But I’ve thought about it, and I understand—you were only trying to keep us safe.”Earlier, Amora had stayed quiet in the car, reflecting on Regis’s words. She realized that her stubbornness might’ve put them in danger. But Regis had misread her silence, thinking she was giving him the cold shoulder.“I was going to say sor—”Before she could finish her sentence, Regis leaned in and kissed her lips.Amora’s eyes widened in surprise. She quickly glanced around, noticing the agent who had accompanied them looked just as shocked. The agent immediately turned away, pretending not to see anything so as not to make Amora feel uncomfortable. But Amora's face had already turned bright red like a boiled lobster.“Reg