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
"Amora, you're drunk," Regis said, turning his face away from his wife.Regis was trying his best to control the wild storm raging inside him, but Amora only tightened her arms around his neck, pulling their bodies even closer.The bar stool Amora was sitting on was tall enough that her height now matched Regis, who was standing in front of her."Amora, you should go wash your face. I think you've had too much to drink," Regis suggested, hoping she wouldn't notice how hard his heart was pounding."I'm not drunk. Who said I was drunk? You're the one who's drunk," Amora muttered, slurring her words. She slapped his shoulder repeatedly, annoyed by his constant accusations.Tilting her head slightly, Amora cupped his face and added, "Why do you have two faces, Regis? Since when did you become two-faced, huh?"Regis sighed, exhausted. "That’s a sign you’re drunk, my love. Come on, let’s go to the room," he urged, trying to lead her away.But Amora shook her head vehemently. "No! I don’t wa
Amora's slender finger traced the curve of Regis' lips, once again igniting a burning desire within him."You can't wait to touch me, can you?" Amora teased with a mischievous smile, noticing Regis' nervous gaze.Before Regis could respond, Amora pressed her lips gently against his. Regis' eyes widened in shock, but soon they narrowed with a deep, intense gaze filled with untamed passion.Annoyed by his lack of response, Amora bit his lower lip, forcing him to open up for a wilder, more heated kiss.A sly smile tugged at the corner of Regis' lips. He couldn't help but feel elated that Amora was working hard to satisfy him—something he'd been yearning for.Still holding Amora like a baby koala clinging to him, Regis carried his wife toward their bedroom, which was about to become the stage for their passionate encounter.He let Amora devour his lips greedily and returned her kiss with equal intensity. Their exchange continued until Amora broke the kiss, breathlessly.Regis' chest heave
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,
In the stateroom's guest lounge, two powerful figures locked eyes in a tense stare-down. The air between them was thick with an unspoken battle of dominance, each trying to outmatch the other’s presence.Alejandro Volker and Murat Demir sat face-to-face, neither uttering a word for the past ten minutes. Their subordinates exchanged wary glances, their tension mirroring their leaders'.When Alejandro was led into the cabin by Diego Lorenzo's assistant, he immediately noticed the presence of a man with dark brown skin and a scar across his right eyebrow, already seated in the room.That man, nearly the same age as Alejandro, was none other than Murat Demir, the leader of Levent!“I’ll step out for a moment to fetch my master. In the meantime, you can chat with each other. I think you two already know each other, don't you?” Pablo Varon remarked as he ushered Alejandro into the lavish private cabin.Alejandro didn’t respond. His gaze remained locked on Murat, who returned the same pierci
Diego gave a faint smile. His gaze shifted to the young woman, significantly younger than Regis. She lowered her head in fear as Diego observed her with sharp eyes.He remained silent, making the atmosphere around them increasingly uncomfortable. He thought to himself that Gordon was even willing to sell off his freshly graduated daughter just to establish ties with his family.Sensing her husband's thoughts, Liliana quickly took over the conversation. "Regarding the matchmaking, I'll discuss it with my son first, Mr. Watson."She looked at Melisa Watson warmly, easing the young woman's nervousness."Your daughter is very beautiful. She takes after Mrs. Watson’s beauty," Liliana praised, making Mrs. Watson beam with pride.Turning to the head of the Watson family, she continued, "I don’t think you need to worry about your daughter’s future, Mr. Watson. She’s still very young. There's no need to rush her into marriage."Gordon Watson could only force a thin smile. He knew this was a po
"Who is that woman?""Is she the mother of that child?""Is she Young Master Lorenzo’s wife?"One question after another spilled from the lips of onlookers, making Amora feel nervous. She could faintly hear the chatter around her and feel the sharp gazes directed at her."Which family is she from? It doesn’t seem like any high-ranking family has a daughter like her."The reporters began digging into the background of the woman who arrived with Regis. They tried to uncover her identity, but no one seemed to have any concrete information about her."They must be married! Look! Young Master Lorenzo and that woman are both wearing rings on their ring fingers."A female reporter pointed out her observation, sparking excitement among the media crew. Cameras instantly turned to focus on Amora, making her tense up slightly.Sensing her unease, Regis tightened his grip on her hand, drawing her attention back to him. He could see the worry in her eyes over how the public was perceiving her."Ig
“Can we get out now, sweetheart?” Regis asked, gently pinching his wife's chin before adding, “But if you need more time to settle down, I’ll wait for you.”“I’m feeling much better. Thanks, Regis,” Amora replied, returning his smile.Out of nowhere, Regis leaned in and kissed her lips softly, making Amora jolt in surprise and instinctively lean back.“Regis .…” Amora turned to glance at their son, who had been watching their conversation the whole time.“Can’t you two save all this lovey-dovey stuff for home? My eyes are suffering here,” Rayden grumbled, making Amora chuckle.“My son, you’ll have to get used to it,” Regis smirked, looking victorious.Rayden could only let out a long sigh.“One day, when you’re older, you’ll understand why I do this,” Regis said, trying to justify himself.Rayden rolled his eyes. He had no idea what his father was getting at. Sometimes, he did feel like an outsider when his parents got lost in their own world. But at the same time, he was genuinely ha
“What’s wrong with Daddy’s little princess, hmm?” Gino shifted his gaze to his stepdaughter, Kimmy Moonstone, who was pouting.“Are you tired, sweetheart?” he asked again, looking at the little girl who looked absolutely adorable in her princess-style gown.Kimmy lifted her face and asked, “Is Rayden coming too, Dad?”Gino frowned, visibly disappointed. Instead of answering, he turned to his wife and complained, “My love, I think it won’t be long before I’m demoted to second place.”Estelle chuckled and said, “You don’t even have to wait. You’re already in second place because all she ever thinks about is Rayden.”Gino’s face soured even more. He couldn’t argue with his wife because, honestly, it was the truth. Almost every time, his stepdaughter lit up whenever she talked about Regis Lorenzo’s son.“Hmph, what’s so great about that kid compared to me?” Gino grumbled.Estelle sighed. “Are you seriously jealous of a child? Besides, you should be happy that our daughter is close friends
“Please follow me, Sir,” Pablo said.He gestured for Alejandro and Cedric to follow him toward the VIP entrance.Alejandro walked with his cane, using it not just for support but also as a means of self-defense against any potential threats.Without any assistance, Cedric moved alongside Alejandro in his electric wheelchair.Alejandro glanced at Cedric briefly. “Your sister’s not coming with you?” he asked.“She wasn’t done getting ready. She’ll be coming later with Mom, Dad,” Cedric replied.“Women are such a hassle. Tell them not to bother coming if they’re still not ready,” Alejandro muttered.Cedric signaled one of his men to relay his father’s message. Of course, they had brought their subordinates along for security reasons, in case anything unexpected happened. However, the Royal Dragon’s security team was also taking precautions.“My apologies, Sir. We need to conduct a security check first,” Pablo informed them as they approached the screening gate before boarding the yacht.
The silver moon shone beautifully over the city of New York. The Chelsea Pier on Manhattan’s west side is buzzed with activity and is surrounded by tight security checkpoints spread across the area.Above the night sky, several helicopters hovered, casting light over the pier while expanding security coverage to prevent any unwanted incidents.A long red carpet stretched from the luxury car drop-off point all the way to the grand staircase leading aboard an opulent yacht docked at the pier.The yacht, bearing the name "Dragon Spirit" engraved on its bow, was one of the prized assets of the Lorenzo family and the chosen venue for the grand centennial celebration of the Royal Dragon.Distinguished guests, dressed in elite and elegant attire, stepped out of their luxury vehicles. They were not here for business transactions or casual strolls along the waterfront. Instead, they were responding to an exclusive invitation from Royal Dragon, one of New York’s most powerful corporate giants.
Regis held back a smile and murmured, “Alright, I’ll try to control myself.”Amora’s lips curved into a nervous smile. Regis’s dark eyes locked onto hers as if seeing straight into her heart, making it pound wildly. The charisma radiating from him made her feel immensely proud to stand by his side.Amora gasped when she noticed the shift in Regis’s gaze. His dark eyes slowly trailed downward, tracing the curves of her body.Sensing an internal alarm going off, Amora quickly broke eye contact and spun around.“I think it’s time for us to leave now, Regis,” she said, trying to change the subject.“Wait a moment.” Regis grabbed Amora's wrist gently before adding, “I have a gift for you, darling.”Without warning, he pulled out a silver velvet jewelry box from his accessory drawer.Amora’s lips parted in shock. She had no idea he had prepared such a surprise.“Th-this is for me?” she stammered in awe as she opened the box.Inside was a stunning jewelry set— a necklace, a pair of rings, a