"Wow! Are we really staying here tonight, Mom?"
Rayden exclaimed in awe at the sight before him. He had just stepped out of the taxi with his mother and his superhero uncle.
They were standing in front of a towering skyscraper, glowing with beautiful lights. This tall building was the most elite five-star hotel in New York City.
It was Rayden's first time stepping into such a grand building, filled with high-class interiors and decorations. The floor beneath him was so shiny that he feared his worn-out shoes might dirty it.
"Mom." Rayden tugged at his mother's sleeve.
Amora turned to him. She could see the worry in her son's eyes. For them, coming to such a luxurious place felt overwhelming.
Although Amora had visited this hotel several times before, it was always for important events with her socialite friends or accompanying Chris, her former fiancé.
Amora didn't answer. She hurried to catch up with Rayden, pretending not to hear Regis's words.In her heart, Amora couldn't deny that she was happy to receive such luxurious accommodations. Especially seeing Rayden so excited because it was a new experience for him.However, Amora didn't want to get carried away with luxury that wasn't hers. She thought about finding a new place to live as soon as possible tomorrow so that Rayden wouldn't get too attached and spoiled by 'luxury' and 'power.'Regis quickly followed them into the grand building. The two guards at the door immediately straightened up to greet Regis.Two receptionists, a woman and a man, standing at the front desk, also greeted Regis and gave him a small nod as a sign of respect.Regis returned their nod with a slight one, then approached Rayden, who was exploring the spacious hotel lobby.The t
“Um... I think it's because you have children's slippers in your shoe rack, Sir Lorenzo."Amora quickly explained her son's thoughts. She didn't want any misunderstandings between them.Regis raised his eyebrows. He paused for three seconds, then chuckled. "So that's why," he murmured."Please forgive Ray, Sir. I hope you don't take it to heart. He's probably just curious," Amora said, trying to defend her son. She was worried Regis might be offended by Rayden's words.Regis's laughter slowly stopped. He looked at Rayden, who was waiting for an answer, then turned his gaze to Amora.She seemed awkward and chose to help Rayden put his shoes into the shoe rack.Regis smiled slightly. He followed Amora's movements and then said, "You don't need to apologize, Amora. There's nothing wrong with Ray's question."Regis looked at Rayden, who
“Of course, only your wife or girlfriend has the right to ask that. It’s not appropriate for me to question things beyond my position as a guest here,” Amora stammered, her face slightly downcast.She intentionally broke eye contact with Regis because her answer sounded as if she were hiding jealousy, though Amora had no such intention.Amora tried to clarify their relationship with him, but her words and actions were hard to reconcile.Right now, Amora's heart was still racing from Regis's actions. His finger remained on her lips. This time, he lifted her chin so their eyes met again.Regis's lips curled into a small smile. He slowly moved closer to her face, causing Amora to shut her eyes tightly.She thought Regis was going to steal a kiss from her, but he only leaned in to whisper in her ear, leaving Amora feeling even more flustered.Regis smirked and sa
Amora walked around the penthouse, searching for her son who had been out of sight for a while. Her face was still hot and flushed. Various curses against Regis kept running through her mind.“Where is that boy?” Amora muttered, letting out a long sigh. She was already tired, but she still had to wander around the penthouse.The penthouse was so vast that Amora didn’t know where to find her son. Finally, she had to call out to him to save time."Ray, come out! Where are you?""Mama!" Rayden answered.Amora turned toward the sound and saw her son poking his head out from behind one of the doors.“What are you doing there, Ray? Don’t wander around aimlessly. This isn’t our home. Be polite,” Amora reminded her son.Rayden pouted but followed his mother to the living room, where there was a high-end sofa and a white marble table that looked so elegant.Beautiful glass chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, adding to the luxurious atmosphere that repeatedly amazed Amora.The luxury in fro
“Mom, I’m really hungry,” Rayden whined again, seeing that his mother hadn’t moved.“Are you sure you don’t want something else, Ray?” Amora asked to confirm.“No. Instant noodles are quicker, so I won’t have to wait long,” Rayden replied, trying to explain why he chose the quick meal.But Amora saw through his lie. She was deeply touched by her son’s mature thinking, not wanting to burden her.Even though Amora didn’t have much money to buy her son a fancy meal right now, she decided to get the best food she could with the little money left in her wallet.“Mommy will go to the nearest convenience store. Wait here, okay?” Amora said.Rayden nodded.Just as Amora was about to step out, she turned back and gave her son a sharp look.“Remember, don’t touch anything, Ray. We’re just staying here temporarily, so don’t cause any trouble,” Amora firmly warned him.Amora knew her son wasn’t a troublemaker, but she felt the need to remind him because of the expensive items in the penthouse.Ev
After the hotel staff left, Amora stared at the letter Regis had left her. She pursed her lips in frustration."Couldn't he just talk to me directly?" Amora grumbled inwardly.She thought his method was old-fashioned, but she couldn’t deny that it touched her deeply.Amora tore open the seal on the pink envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper that read, "Enjoy the meal. No need to wait for me. I'll be home late. You and Rayden can use any room you like."“So, he’s out,” Amora muttered to herself.She read the letter again, but her eyes suddenly widened when she noticed a short message in the corner at the bottom."P.S. Don't miss your perverted man."Amora’s face flushed instantly. She crumpled the paper spontaneously. "What a lunatic," she muttered.“What’s wrong, Mom?” Rayden, who had been standing next to her, looked at her in confusion.“N-nothing,” Amora stammered, clearing her throat. She tried to calm her expression by fanning her face, which felt warm.“Mom, can I eat now?” R
Rayden’s statement left Amora stunned. Initially, she could sense her son's interest in Regis, but she never expected him to think of making Regis his father.“Ray .…”The boy continued before Amora could ask further, “At least Uncle Lorenzo is better… No! Way better than the man who left you and Ray without taking any responsibility.”Amora was shocked. “You mean … your biological father, Ray?” she asked hesitantly.Rayden nodded. “I hate him! I hate that he didn’t come to protect you and left you to raise me alone. When you needed him, he was never there. I hate him!” he declared.“Ray, you .…”Amora paused, unsure how to explain to her son about the two men he thought were different.A long sigh escaped Amora’s lips. This was the first time she heard Rayden’s opinion about his biological father.She hadn’t expected her son to harbor such deep hatred toward the man. But she didn’t know how to tell him that the two people he saw as different were the same person.Admitting that would
Regis was about to reach out to brush away the fine strands of Amora's hair that were obscuring his view, but he pulled back his hand when he realized what he was about to do.Clenching his fist tightly, Regis closed his eyes for a moment to calm the intense emotions surging within him.He exhaled a long breath. "What was I thinking just now?" he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.Regis then left the room to clean himself up. He didn't want to dirty Amora's face and body with his hands, which were still stained.Not long ago, Regis had been involved in a violent and bloody incident. The reason he had left the penthouse earlier was related to his organization’s problems.Regis received a report from one of his trusted subordinates that a group of people was using the name of Royal Dragon to scam other underground organizations.Because of this report, Regis led his men to capture the fraudsters. He had information that these scoundrels were conducting a transaction at a warehou
"What’s going on?"Several guests were startled when they saw a twin-engine helicopter landing on the helipad at the stern of the cruise ship.The helicopter was significantly larger than the usual models, as it was a multipurpose type. The ship's helipad was spacious enough to accommodate such an aircraft. This grand and luxurious vessel had been designed precisely to meet its owner's needs.The unexpected arrival of the helicopter added to the lively atmosphere at the bow of the ship. At that moment, many guests were enjoying the spectacular fireworks exploding beautifully in the distant night sky, set up to enhance the evening’s celebration.Noticing the helicopter, the guests lounging in the area began rushing toward the stern, eager to find out what was happening."Isn’t that the woman Young Master Lorenzo acknowledged earlier?" One of the guests remarked upon seeing Amora walking toward the helipad.This guest had witnessed Regis' declaration earlier and instantly recognized Amo
Amora’s request was indeed bold. Though she never expected mercy from Diego, at this moment, she hoped Diego had at least a sliver of conscience to grant her request.Diego didn’t respond right away. He seemed to be deep in thought.“Father—” Regis was about to plead as well.But before he could continue, Diego cut him off and said, “Alright.”Amora’s face brightened. “Thank you, Mr. Lorenzo,” she said, slightly bowing.Regis clenched his fists tightly. He was frustrated, feeling powerless to stop his woman from lowering herself in front of his father. Instead of receiving approval or acknowledgment, she was forced to bow her head.Regis felt like he had failed to protect Amora as her husband. But for now, he didn’t want to escalate the situation.He ordered Albert to contact the necessary parties and arrange everything their son needed for the trip to the hospital.Not long after, Albert returned to the cabin, informing them that the helicopter was ready to land after receiving the o
Albert had just stepped out of the cabin and was rushing to find James Ritter, but his steps halted when he crossed paths with Noel Ritter in the corridor.“Young Master Ritter, thank goodness I ran into you. Can you help my young master?” Albert pleaded hopefully.Without asking any questions, Noel immediately responded, “I was actually planning to offer my help to your young master’s son. Take me to him.”Without wasting any time, Albert led him to the cabin. Upon arrival, Regis immediately questioned Noel’s presence.“Where is Professor Ritter?” Regis asked Albert.Regis's face darkened as he stared at Albert, demanding an explanation for Noel's unexpected arrival.“My apologies, Sir,” Albert said, bowing his head. “I happened to run into Young Master Ritter outside, so I—”“Isn’t it the same whether you’re looking for me or my father, Regis? The important thing right now is checking on Ray,” Noel interrupted Albert, aware that Regis was still upset with him over what happened week
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,