Jordan Ramirez was utterly shocked when the man who suddenly appeared claimed to be Amora's partner. He immediately recognized the man—none other than Noel Ritter.Amora was still in a daze, stunned by Noel's unexpected arrival by her side. It had been a long time since she last saw him, and she never imagined Noel would show up at the event.His presence was a lifesaver. On top of that, Noel's appearance tonight was very eye-catching with his tuxedo which Amora had never seen before."My apologies, Mr. Ritter. I didn't know she was your partner. This must be a misunderstanding. I hope this issue won't disrupt the main event," said the event organizer, recognizing Noel as an important guest from the Rowan family.Noel ignored him, his worried gaze fixed on Amora. "Amora, are you alright?"He had no idea what she had been through. The moment he entered the ballroom, his attention was drawn to Amora, who was being humiliated by an unfamiliar woman in front of the guests.Without hesitat
Noel's intense gaze made Amora's cheeks flush with a soft blush. She could easily understand the meaning behind his stare. Although Noel hadn’t voiced his feelings, Amora’s heart knew well enough that he harbored affection for her.Yet, Amora never gave him even the slightest chance. She didn’t want to be an obstacle to Noel’s future. In her eyes, Noel Ritter was a man of impeccable manners and character.Noel had a bright future ahead of him and came from a well-respected family. Amora couldn’t bring herself to drag him down by starting a relationship with her—a single mother.Especially now, her status had changed. She was a married woman. Amora had no intention of creating any scandal that could disgrace her or Regis.Although her marriage to Regis hadn’t been publicly announced, Amora didn’t want to stir up any trouble.Her current life was much better than before, and she didn’t want to ruin it. She believed Noel would find the right woman who could love him wholeheartedly.A sof
"Congratulations, Miss Harrison. May your wedding with the young Mr. Rowan take place soon."The stream of congratulations continued as Chelsea entered the grand ballroom. She maintained a radiant smile, nodding her thanks while scanning the room.Chelsea was elated. Today marked a pivotal moment that would change her life forever.As the newly recognized fiancée of the Rowan family's heir, her status would elevate, and everyone would treat her with even greater respect."Do you see her, Glo?" Chelsea whispered to her best friend, Gloria Barclay, who walked beside her. Maintaining her smile, Chelsea waved at several guests who greeted her."She's over there, Chelsea," Gloria replied after spotting the person they'd been searching for.Earlier, the two had been in the waiting room, snapping photos with friends when Gloria received a call from Miranda. The emotional call, punctuated by Miranda's sobs, described an incident that had just unfolded in the ballroom.Gloria relayed the disjo
Amora’s hazel eyes widened in shock as she stared at Noel, who was smiling sweetly at her. She wanted to deny everything, but doing so would label Estelle as a liar and humiliate Noel.Her eyes scanned the room nervously. She was deeply worried that some press member might capture this moment between her and Noel. Yet, she had no choice but to play along with Noel’s act.Hearing Noel’s direct confession, Gloria felt like a fool standing in that ballroom. When her parents introduced her to a competent and handsome potential fiancé like Noel, she had already developed feelings for him and eagerly anticipated meeting him today.But she had never imagined that her hopes would be crushed before they could even take flight.“Why are you still going through with this arrangement if you already have a girlfriend?” Gloria asked, her voice trembling.“I’m sorry, Miss Barclay. I can’t go against my father’s wishes,” Noel replied apologetically.Then, with a gentle look at Amora, he continued, “I
“Estelle.”A man’s voice drew Amora and Estelle’s attention. A stylish figure with wavy hair dyed in blue ombre strode toward them, exuding confidence.Amora frowned slightly, impressed by the man’s radiant smile. His appearance stood out—he was wearing a striking silver suit that was impossible to miss.“Gino!” Estelle greeted him excitedly, embracing the man, who returned the gesture with a light kiss.“He’s… your husband?” Amora asked, barely hiding her disbelief at Estelle’s rather “unique” taste in men.“That’s right,” Estelle confirmed proudly, quickly introducing her husband to Amora.“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moonstone,” Amora said, shaking Gino’s outstretched hand.“The pleasure’s mine. Estelle’s told me so much about you,” Gino replied warmly.Amora found herself slightly reassessing Estelle’s judgment. Gino Moonstone radiated positive energy—completely unlike Regis, whose stoic demeanor often intimidated those who didn’t know him well.“Really? You’re exaggerating, Mr. Moo
"Is there no way to get through this mess, Mark?"Regis's cold and commanding voice sent Mark's heart racing.Traffic was at a standstill in front of them. A truck had veered into the wrong lane, stalling out and blocking the road entirely.The blaring honks from cars, including the one Mark was driving, only added to the chaos."I'm sorry, Young Master. It seems impossible," Mark replied, glancing at the surrounding lanes jam-packed with vehicles. Their car was stuck in the middle lane, wedged tightly between two others.Regis didn't respond, but his silence spoke volumes.Mark's face showed a mix of anxiety and frustration. He and his boss, Regis Lorenzo, had just returned to New York a mere thirty minutes ago after an intense, non-stop work trip that had drained them both physically and mentally.Eager to see Amora as soon as possible, Regis had rushed through all his meetings in Las Vegas. They were originally scheduled to return tomorrow, but last night, Albert informed Regis via
"Just name the price, or if necessary, I’ll leave my ID as collateral," Mark said, still trying to convince the girl.Mark could’ve asked another rider for help, but borrowing from someone he knew made him feel more at ease.Biana didn’t respond and pretended not to hear his request. She turned her head away indifferently, started her motorbike, and prepared to leave. But before she could, Mark quickly said, "This involves your best friend, too."The girl’s head snapped toward him in panic. “What happened to Amora?”“It’s a long story. I need to catch up with my boss right now,” Mark replied, gesturing for Biana to get off her bike as he handed her a few bills.Biana hesitated, still doubting his brief explanation and suspecting that Mark might be lying again.‘Hah! Does he think I’ll fall for it again?’ Biana grumbled internally."Miss? Is this not enough?" Mark asked impatiently, feeling the pressure of time. But Biana stayed silent, ignoring his request. Finally, Mark decided to lo
Amora turned and found Noel already standing in front of her.“Where are you going, Amora?” Noel asked.Amora gave an awkward smile, her eyes darting to Chris, who hesitated to approach her since Noel had reached her first.“I-I was… looking for you,” Amora lied reluctantly. She silently cursed her luck for being caught in such a complicated situation.‘What kind of day is this?’ Amora grumbled inwardly, letting out a subtle, frustrated sigh.“Amora?” Noel called her again, looking at her in confusion.“Yes?” Amora quickly looked up and met his gaze.She froze in surprise when Noel extended his hand to her. “Would you dance with me, Amora?” he asked, leaving her stunned.“Noel, I … I’m not very good at dancing,” Amora replied, trying to decline politely.“Don’t be so modest. I know you can dance well. Have you forgotten we used to practice together?” Noel teased, chuckling as he reminisced about their childhood.Amora smiled nervously. “But .…”Amora was about to refuse again when she
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