“Let's have a toast first, Mrs. Lysander.”Liliana raised her crystal glass and invited Julia to toast with her. She began to feel uneasy because her stepson had not yet shown up, keeping their guests waiting longer than necessary.“I'm sorry if my son has kept you waiting too long,” Liliana said, forcing a smile.Liliana glanced at her husband, who remained calm despite the indirect embarrassment caused by her stepson's tardiness.“It’s okay, Mrs. Lorenzo. Busy men are quite common. My husband often comes home late because of work,” Julia responded understandingly.In reality, Julia was starting to feel uneasy. She sensed that the matchmaking event might be difficult to proceed with, given that young master Lorenzo had yet to make an appearance.Julia glanced at Chelsea, who was beginning to look slightly annoyed at being ignored by her prospective match. She gently patted the young woman’s hand to calm her and signaled for her to drink with her.“I truly apologize. But he was alread
"Looks like the food has arrived."Netra Regis glanced at two chefs pushing the trolley into the room. A slight smirk appeared when he noticed the female servant still standing at the doorway. His attention shifted to the name tag on her uniform.‘So her name is Biana, huh?’ Regis thought, frowning slightly.The name felt unfamiliar to him, but seeing the wariness in her eyes made him even more intrigued to learn more about her.A smile formed on his lips again. He turned and walked back to the banquet table."The aroma of the food is really appetizing," Regis murmured, eyeing the appetizers being arranged on the table by the chefs.Ignoring everyone else's stares, Regis took an empty seat next to his father, who had argued with him earlier.His gaze shifted to Chelsea Harrison, who still looked confused but also pleased that he had decided to stay."I've been very busy with work today. I unconsciously said something very rude earlier. It seems my words and actions hurt your feelings.
Without suspecting Chelsea at all, Amora placed a bowl of tourin soup in front of her. Just as she set it down, the wine glass beside her hand suddenly toppled over.Startled, Amora quickly pulled back, even though she was sure she hadn't touched the glass. Before she could explain, Chelsea had already hurled an accusation at her."Oh my goodness! Can't you be more careful?" Chelsea snapped.Amora was taken aback. She saw Chelsea rise from her seat, worried that the wine had stained her expensive clothes.Chelsea’s loud voice drew all eyes to Amora. Seeing the faint arrogance on Chelsea's face, Amora realized she had fallen into Chelsea's trap."But I didn’t—""Are you saying it was an accident? What if the hot soup had spilled on my niece? Could you have taken responsibility for that?"Before Amora could explain that it wasn’t her fault, Julia had already risen from her seat to defend Chelsea.The older woman put on a panicked face and pretended to check Chelsea’s body to ensure no s
"Do you have any idea who our important guest is tonight, Amora?!"Alvin Jones's angry shout echoed through the VIP room. Luckily, it was just him and Amora in there. Alvin had specifically asked her to come into the empty room to address her failure to provide satisfactory service to their VIP guest.He had already received a report from Hannah about what had happened. Instead of being satisfied, their VIP guest was frustrated and disappointed.Alvin couldn't believe Amora had made such a blunder. He had trusted her abilities after seeing her dedication and skill several times when she filled in as a substitute server. He never thought she would let him down. Now, Alvin regretted giving such an important task to someone who wasn't even a full-time employee!"I should never have given you this responsibility, Amora. It's my fault for overestimating your abilities," Alvin said, his voice filled with disappointment and regret.He felt he had made a mistake in trusting her. He should hav
"Sorry, I don't think we have anything to discuss, Young Master Lorenzo."Amora tried to resist the temptation of the offer from the stranger. She thought he was interested in her. It wasn’t that Amora was arrogant, but she had no interest in getting involved with a strange man who seemed very dangerous. Besides, she didn’t want to be seen as a woman who could be easily bought with money.The musky scent of the man made Amora frown. She felt she had smelled it before from someone in the past. But his voice interrupted her thoughts before she could dig deeper into her memories. "One hundred dollars for five minutes."Amora was stunned. That amount was a lot for her and could cover her overdue rent!'Damn! Should I swallow my pride? I guess talking won't hurt, right?' Amora's mind wavered.Slowly, her defenses crumbled under Regis’s offer. She thought if he just wanted to talk, there was no harm in it.With conflicting feelings, Amora reluctantly set her pride aside and slowly turned
"Now, what should I do about Biana? She’s going to be angry and disappointed when she finds out I lost this important job for her."Amora muttered softly, sadness evident on her face. She had just left Baymoon Restaurant through the back door, worried that Young Master Lorenzo would come looking for her.Amora didn’t want to see the man who had taken her virginity. Even though he was Rayden’s biological father, she had no intention of letting him know that their brief encounter seven years ago had resulted in a child.Amora also didn’t want Rayden to know that his father was a murderer!"No wonder he seemed familiar. He looks so much like Rayden," Amora thought as she tried to recall Regis Lorenzo’s face from earlier.Her son and that man had the same eyebrows, nose, and lips. Amora thought anyone would instantly see the resemblance if they saw the two together."Good thing he’s too dense to notice. Otherwise, Rayden could be in danger. I can't let them meet again," Amora sighed with
"Was it you who spiked my drink back then, Chelsea?" Amora began her interrogation.Chelsea didn’t answer, only giving a slight smirk.“I’ll take that as a yes,” Amora said, her disappointment growing as her suspicions were confirmed."And you also told Chris to pick me up at that hotel, didn’t you?" Amora continued.Amora pressed further this time without waiting for a response, "Why did you do it? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?"Chelsea gripped the steering wheel tightly, then turned to Amora with a mocking tone and said, "Why? Do you feel hurt? Betrayed?"Their eyes locked, filled with hatred."Did you do it for money?" Amora guessed.It was a cliché reason that made Amora feel Chelsea’s actions were unforgivable."You’re right. I did
“Is your head still hurting, Young Master?”Mark glanced at Regis Lorenzo's pale face through the rearview mirror of the car he was currently driving. It was nearing midnight, and Regis, his boss, showed no intention of returning to his penthouse just yet.For nearly thirty minutes, Mark had been driving aimlessly at Regis’s request, circling through the city streets to help clear his mind.Earlier, Mark had received a phone call from Regis, asking to be picked up from Baymoon Restaurant. Mark wasn't sure what had happened to his young master, who was supposed to be attending a matchmaking event arranged by the Lorenzo family's second lady."Stop the car, Mark," Regis commanded as they approached the Hudson River's edge.Ahead of them was a suspension bridge made of sturdy steel, adorned with various lights in beautiful colors and patterns that illuminated much of the southeast Manhattan s
"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
Royal Dragon Office Building“This is the report just sent by Manager Sunny, Sir.”Monica Grant handed over a document she had just received from the finance division to Regis. The woman, dressed in a pink blazer and matching pencil skirt, stood in front of Regis Lorenzo's desk with a nervous expression.Her gaze lingered on Regis cautiously, worried about making a mistake, though her boss had said nothing for several minutes.“Just leave it,” Regis replied indifferently.Monica obeyed and placed the document on his desk. Her eyes darted to a neatly arranged lunch box that remained untouched.She had ordered the exact meal Regis requested earlier that afternoon, yet he hadn’t eaten any of it. Her thoughts were interrupted when Regis suddenly looked up.“What is it?” Regis probed.“N-no, Sir. I was just worried you haven’t eaten anything all day,” Monica stammered nervously.Regis’s sharp eyes narrowed. He glanced briefly at the meal and muttered, “I’m not in the mood.”“But you should
“You’re not even seven yet. I don’t want you carrying such heavy burdens on your little shoulders, sweetheart. I don’t want you to regret the time you’ve missed out on, Ray,” Amora said earnestly.“I know, Mom. I’m only doing this to fill my free time,” Rayden replied. “But, can I continue the programming class later tonight, Mom?” he asked, looking for reassurance.Earlier, he had to ask the instructor for a break, interrupting the lesson. Now, he hoped his mom would allow him to resume the session later.Amora considered refusing, but when she saw the eagerness shining in her son’s eyes, she relented. “Alright, but just for an hour, okay?” she said.A wide smile spread across Rayden’s face. He hugged his mom tightly and gave her a kiss on the cheek.“Thank you, Mom. You’re the best in the world!” he exclaimed joyfully.Amora chuckled softly, her face lighting up with her son’s happiness. Memories of the past suddenly came rushing back—when she first discovered she was pregnant.She
“What’s this, Ray?”Amora pointed at a series of sentences she couldn’t understand. To her, they looked like some sort of cryptic code.Rayden sighed long and took his tablet back from his mom’s hands. “It’s not a dangerous website, Mom. And those aren’t random weird texts. It’s called Python, Mom,” he explained.“P-Python? You mean … like the snake?” Amora asked, her surprise growing.Rayden chuckled, amused by her reaction.“No, Mom. It’s a programming language. I just signed up for a free online class yesterday to learn it,” Rayden said, pointing to the site name on the screen.His explanation left Amora stunned. She rubbed her temples, taking a moment to calm herself before turning back to her son.“Ray, do you even understand this stuff?” Amora asked, still trying to process her son’s genius.Rayden sighed again. “Mom, I’ll understand it with time and practice. Don’t you trust me?”“It’s not that, Ray,” Amora replied quickly. “I’m just confused. Why choose something this complica
"A-a heart attack?"Amora was utterly shocked by her son's words. "Are you sure you heard that ... that Ben's mom had a heart attack?" she asked, seeking confirmation.Rayden nodded and briefly recounted what he had overheard earlier.Amora was silent for a moment. She didn't know what to say because what happened to Lisa was completely beyond her prediction. She just wanted to teach Lisa a valuable lesson by making her feel as bad and suffer the loss as she had in the past.Amora wanted Lisa to feel a deterrent for insulting her repeatedly and being arrogant in front of her so she was forced to look for Lisa's weaknesses and finally reported the John Brown embezzlement case.She didn't expect Lisa to experience another unfortunate thing.A pang of guilt crossed Amora's heart, but recalling Lisa's past behavior, she thought perhaps this was divine justice for all her wrongdoings.“Maybe this is a reprimand for her bad behavior,” Amora murmured.Rayden nodded. "Yeah, maybe. Bad people
After lunch, Albert Parker drove Amora and Rayden back to their penthouse. He parked the car in the building's parking lot and quickly opened the car door for them.Albert also helped Amora carry the shopping bags. Earlier, they had stopped by a supermarket to pick up a few essentials she needed.He halted his steps when Amora said, “You can leave us here, Mr. Parker. We can go up by ourselves.”They were now standing in front of the elevator leading to the penthouse. However, Albert insisted on accompanying them into the elevator.“I need to ensure your safety until you’re inside the penthouse, Ma’am. This is a direct order from the young master. Please cooperate,” Albert explained, requesting her understanding of his duty.Reluctantly, Amora allowed him to accompany them. As promised, Albert only escorted them to the penthouse door and placed the shopping bags on the terrace.“Thank you for driving us, Mr. Parker,” Amora said as Albert prepared to leave.“Should you need anything, d