Amora's thoughts raced as she scowled internally. 'What’s he planning now? He better not ask for something weird, 'she mused, her eyes narrowing at Regis suspiciously.The subtle shift in Regis's expression revealed everything. His irritation toward Albert gradually faded, replaced by an idea—he saw an opportunity to make Amora owe him.“Well?” Regis prompted again when his wife didn’t respond.“What kind of reward are you thinking of?” Amora probed, her lips pursed.“Would you really grant it if I told you?” Regis challenged, making her feel even more wary.Amora knew Regis was scheming. Yet, with Albert and the others' lives potentially in grave danger, she didn’t have the luxury to deliberate long. Her immediate instinct was to ensure their safety, even if it meant taking a risk.“Of course, as long as you fulfill my request,” Amora replied, keeping her tone steady.She trusted that Regis wouldn’t demand anything harmful or malicious—not after his heartfelt confession the night bef
A wide smile lingered on Regis' lips as he parked his car at his penthouse. He could barely contain his excitement to see the woman he adored. Even though the sky had only just turned orange, he was already home earlier than usual."Good afternoon, Young Master Lorenzo," One of his subordinates patrolling the parking area greeted him."Afternoon," Regis replied, making his subordinate's face twisted in shock.Why wouldn't he be surprised? Regis was usually indifferent to every one.The unexpected friendliness made his subordinate doubt whether he had mistaken him for someone else. But upon seeing the sharp glint in Regis' eyes, the man’s courage immediately faltered.Regis cleared his throat softly. He realized his expression was a bit excessive, but it was hard for him to suppress his happiness. He was sure Amora would be surprised to see him since he hadn’t told her he’d be home earlier than usual.He walked into the elevator, his arms full of gifts he'd picked up on his way back.T
Mark’s face turned pale. He could see the flash of anger in his boss's eyes. "It’s not like that, Sir. I just—"“Sorry, Regis. I thought he could help me finish things faster, and I needed a strong man to knead the dough,” Amora explained, unaware that Regis was feeling jealous of Mark.“So, you needed a man’s strength?” Regis murmured, which Amora answered with a small nod.Without saying much, Regis handed Amora the box of pastries and the bouquet he was carrying.“I-is this for me?” Amora asked in confusion.Regis didn’t answer. Instead, he turned to Mark. "Take off your apron."Mark hurriedly removed his apron and handed it to Regis.Amora, puzzled, asked, “What are you doing, Regis?”“Proving that I’m also a man, of course. You can squeeze all the strength you need out of me,” Regis replied as he put on the apron after removing his jacket.Amora was dumbfounded. "B-but, Regis... I—"Before she could finish, hearty laughter echoed throughout the room. Xavier was the source of the
After stepping into the kitchen, Amora hurriedly placed the box of pastries she'd brought into the fridge."Is there anything I can help with?" Regis asked as he scanned the kitchen."Are you sure you want to help?" Amora asked doubtfully. Honestly, she would rather he not be there, worried he'd just end up making a mess."Of course." Regis had already rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, looking determined.Seeing his enthusiasm, Amora reluctantly decided to let him prove his capabilities.She removed the plastic wrap from the dough Mark had prepared earlier and showed Regis how to cut the flattened dough into even strips for fettuccine."That's it?" Regis asked, clearly disappointed. He had hoped to put his strength to good use and show off his skills."Yes, just be quick and precise. We don't have much time," Amora instructed before turning to prepare toppings for the pizza she would soon assemble.Though messy at first, Regis quickly got the hang of cutting the dough properly. Onc
"Mom, I'm taking Kimmy for a tour around the place," Rayden said as he approached his mother.The boy had just finished his meal and wanted to show Kimmy Moonstone, his classmate and Estelle’s daughter, around their current residence."Alright. Take good care of Kimmy, okay?" Amora reminded him before her son left the dining room."I can't believe Ray, the boy Kimmy talks about every day, is your son, Amora," Estelle said, smiling after the children were out of sight."I had no idea either! No wonder Kimmy's face looked familiar. Her smile is just like yours," Amora responded as she took a bite of her pasta."I’m shocked too. Turns out my biggest competition is your son, Regis," Gino added with a playful grin.For a long time, Gino had tried to win the heart of his wife’s daughter. But ever since Kimmy started school, she would come home talking about a certain boy, instantly dethroning Gino in her little heart."You're jealous of a little kid? Seriously?" Estelle teased, pinching her
“What the heck, guys? I-I wasn’t serious about getting married anytime soon. I was just joking. Don’t take it so seriously, okay?”Biana tried to lighten the mood ruined by Xavier's teasing while showing that she was unfazed by the banter from her colleagues. However, she hadn’t expected Xavier to reject the idea before she even got a chance to respond.Biana’s gaze landed on Mark, who was still laughing. She shot him a sharp glare.“And what are you laughing at, Mr. Carter? Have you forgotten you're single too? You should be more worried—you’re not getting any younger. Unlike me, who still has plenty of time to be picky,” Biana retorted, unintentionally taking a jab at Regis's assistant.Biana had tried hard not to lash out at Mark. She hadn't even expected him to be at the dinner tonight. If she'd known, she would have skipped it altogether.Biana couldn't forget how Mark left her stranded in the parking lot last night after they shared a ride.Despite giving him a lift to his desti
"Playing? This looks more like getting drunk?" Biana blurted, frowning at the small glasses lined up before her.Estelle wagged her finger. "Nope! This isn't about getting drunk. We're playing truth or dare.""Wait, where are you going? I haven't explained the rules yet," Estelle protested when Xavier stood up and walked away."I'm not playing. I'm going to check on Ray and Kimmy," Xavier said, waving as he walked off. Of course, he was just looking for an excuse to escape the game. He bolted before Estelle could stop him."Coward," Estelle muttered, pouting. She called out to Xavier, "Fine! But take care of the kids, okay?"Xavier gave her a thumbs-up as he walked away."I-I'll go too. I can help him watch the kids," Biana said, standing up.But Estelle grabbed her arm. "Oh no, Bia. You and Mark are the main characters of this game." A sly smile crept across Estelle's face.Amora sighed quietly, already guessing Estelle's true intentions—to dig up information about Biana's relationsh
“W-what do you choose, Amora? Truth or dare?” Estelle asked nervously as Amora kept staring daggers at her.“I choose ...,” Amora sighed long before continuing, “truth.”“So ... what's your answer?” Regis pressed eagerly, clearly impatient to hear his wife's response.Amora didn’t really want to answer. Giving an answer felt like admitting something she wasn’t ready to say out loud. But she knew she couldn’t dodge the question forever.“I ... I prefer your kisses,” Amora confessed, her voice barely a whisper.“Wow!”Estelle squealed and jumped up and down in excitement. In her enthusiasm, she accidentally strangled her husband, Gino, who flailed until she quickly let go.“Sorry, Honey! I just got carried away because I'm happy to hear that Amora has really moved on!” Estelle beamed at Gino, clearly thinking Amora was still hung up on Chris Walden.Amora’s face turned bright red like a ripe tomato. “B-but this doesn’t mean I’m giving you the answer you wanted back then, Regis.”Regis's
Seeing Regis' disappointing attitude, Diego let out a harsh snort. Suddenly, Amora spoke up, drawing Diego’s attention to her."Mr. Lorenzo, it seems you don’t know how to judge your own son properly," Amora said, stepping in to defend her husband.Even though Diego Lorenzo was her father-in-law, Amora didn’t care. She thought his words toward Regis were too harsh. Regis had simply backed down to gain permission to change the ship's course, yet Diego saw that as unworthy behavior."What gives you the right to speak like that, Miss Lysander? I am his father, and I don’t think you have the place to talk to me this way," Diego replied, his tone filled with displeasure at Amora’s boldness.A sharp pain pierced Amora’s heart at his words. She knew Diego would never acknowledge her, even though she was Regis' legally wedded wife.Before she could respond, Diego cut in again. “I assume your son’s health hasn’t been like this just once or twice, has it?”His cold gaze shifted to Rayden before
"I'm sorry, Regis. I ... I didn't know it would turn out like this."Xavier expressed his regret to Regis, acknowledging his carelessness in looking after Rayden. He never expected the boy's condition to be this fragile.Amora had warned him multiple times to ensure Rayden never got hurt. Xavier assumed a minor impact wouldn’t affect the boy much, but he never imagined it could turn out to be so serious.Regis let out a harsh breath. He couldn't entirely blame Xavier since accidents like this were unpredictable."Forget it, Xavier."Regis gave his friend a light pat on the shoulder. Though he wanted to hold Xavier accountable, he reconsidered. There was no point in blaming anyone—it had already happened.Not long after, Albert entered the cabin, looking visibly panicked."Where's the doctor, Albert?" Regis asked, noticing that Albert hadn’t brought the doctor he needed."Young Master, I’m sorry … I couldn’t find him in his on-call room."Albert Parker’s report darkened Regis’ expressi
Ignoring the greetings from the other guests, Diego continued walking towards his son and the woman who had become the center of attention and the main headline at tonight’s Royal Dragon celebration.On his way to the hall, Diego had briefly heard about the young boy standing beside Regis. Xavier and Albert had no choice but to tell him what they knew.Now, standing before Regis and Amora, Diego examined the woman carefully.Amora forced a smile on her face. Even though she tried to present herself well, Diego’s overwhelming presence made her feel suffocated.Diego’s brow furrowed for a few seconds as if he had realized something, but he still didn’t say a word. Instead, he turned his sharp gaze back to his son.Amora gripped the crystal glass in her hands tightly. Her heart pounded wildly, waiting for Diego’s response. But unfortunately, he remained silent, only adding to her anxiety.Even though she had been trying to mask her worry with a smile, facing Diego Lorenzo directly made h
“Young Master Lorenzo, congratulations on your new chapter in life. I was truly surprised to hear the news today, but I’m happy for you.”Regis gave a faint smile at the congratulatory words from one of his business partners. He had already received plenty of similar remarks from the guests attending the Royal Dragon event that evening.Of course, Regis knew these well-wishes were nothing more than a formality. Everyone simply wanted to maintain good relations with him, even if some disapproved of his choice of wife—especially the fact that he had a child out of wedlock with her. It was something none of them had expected."When will you be holding your wedding ceremony?" asked a young man from the Brooklyn family.Regis turned to Amora, who had been standing beside him the entire time. She was doing her best to carry herself properly, even though Regis had told her to just be herself.Still, Amora didn’t want to embarrass Regis. She could feel the judgmental stares from some of the g
"Ray, look over there!"Kimmy exclaimed excitedly as they entered the playground area inside the cruise ship. She and Rayden were currently exploring every room on the ship."Whoa! This place is like a real treasure trove!" Kimmy exclaimed again.The little girl couldn't stop admiring everything she saw. Rayden could only shake his head at her enthusiasm."Come on, Ray. Let's play over there." Kimmy pointed to the bumper car area within the playground."What's so exciting about that, Kimmy? Haven't you played it plenty of times in other playgrounds? I don't see how this one's any different," Rayden remarked indifferently.Albert hid a smile. The little young master's flat tone and cool demeanor reminded him of Regis Lorenzo."Seriously, kid? Can't you just go along with it?" Xavier scoffed, ruffling the hair of Regis' son.Kimmy's face soured at Rayden's dismissive response."I’m just telling the truth," Rayden said, completely unaware that he had upset her. Kimmy let out an annoyed h
"I didn't hear wrong, did I? What did he just say? Daddy? That boy is Young Master Lorenzo’s son?"Rumors spread like wildfire as whispers filled the air. Camera flashes went off relentlessly, capturing the biggest scandal of the night."You can go, but only if Xavier and Albert go with you," Regis responded to his son's request.A small smile spread across Rayden’s lips, revealing his adorable baby teeth. Liliana was stunned. The boy’s face reminded her of Regis when he was little."Alright then, I’m going now, Dad," Rayden said cheerfully as he rushed toward Kimmy. The little girl had been waiting for him beyond the crowd, standing beside her parents. Xavier and Albert were already on high alert, ensuring Rayden’s safety."Young Master Lorenzo, is that boy really your son?" One of the guests, a close relative of the Lorenzo family, gathered the courage to ask.Just like before, Regis openly acknowledged Amora and Rayden’s status to the public. He had no intention of hiding anything,
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, a commotion erupted, shocking the guests, the entire Lorenzo family, and the top executives of Royal Dragon.The music came to an abrupt stop, replaced by hushed murmurs spreading throughout the room. Conversations buzzed as all eyes turned toward Regis, who had just entered the hall with a young woman—none other than his wife, Amora Lysander.The media crew, permitted to cover the celebration inside the hall, rushed to capture the moment, eager to turn it into tomorrow’s headline.“Oh, My God. Didn't I see something wrong? Is Young Master Lorenzo… smiling?”One of the guests exclaimed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. But as much as they wanted to dismiss it, they couldn’t deny the truth—they were just as shocked to see the rare sight of a smile gracing Regis’ lips.A smile that was almost unheard of since Regis rarely displayed it in public. And yet, here he was, looking at the woman by his side with an unmistakable gaze of affection.“I must
Alejandro scoffed. “You're trying to dodge again, Diego. I know you have the power to clear all the accusations against your son and turn the media in your favor. But I won’t forget the blood debt that you and your son still owe me,” he hissed.Diego felt no fear in the face of Alejandro’s threat—not because he thought Alejandro wouldn’t dare act on it, but because he was confident that both he and Regis could handle anything that came their way.More importantly, there was something Alejandro didn’t know, and Diego intended to reveal it now.Maintaining his indifferent attitude toward the hostility of the Golden Snake’s leader, Diego said, “Alejandro, I won’t make excuses for our past. But I strongly suggest you let go of your grudge—before it ends up choking you instead.”Alejandro let out a bitter laugh. “Let go of my grudge? Don’t be naive, Diego.”Diego responded with nothing but a smirk.“Don’t tell me you’re actually scared that I might do the same thing to someone you care abo
Murat's lips curled into a cynical smirk, followed by a low chuckle escaping from his mouth."Looks like you have no idea that Diego’s son orchestrated everything."The statement that left Murat’s lips made Alejandro’s expression shift. A flicker of anger flashed in his sharp, hazel eyes.Before Alejandro could respond to Murat Demir’s words, the cabin door suddenly swung open, revealing the person they had been waiting for.Diego Lorenzo stepped into the suite stateroom and took a seat on the sofa between his two guests. He glanced between them, immediately sensing the tension in the room."Did I come at a bad time?"Diego’s deep voice drew both Alejandro and Murat’s attention to him. There was no trace of warmth in their gazes as if Diego had just done something unpleasant to them.“Was the hospitality not to your liking?” Diego quipped, attempting to ease the tension. A faint chuckle, more of a formality than genuine amusement, escaped the lips of the Royal Dragon leader.However,