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
“Don’t come any closer, Regis!” Amora snapped, her voice breaking into informal speech as she called the man by his name directly.A slow, sly smile curved Regis’s lips. He stood with his hands on his hips, watching Amora, who was still holding her hands out to keep her distance between them.“I like it when you say my name. It sounds so sweet,” Regis murmured, causing Amora’s eyes to widen even more.Amora bit her lower lip, feeling a surge of irritation as Regis once again managed to toy with her.“Sir Lorenzo, please mind your behavior, or I will—”“Or you’ll what, hm? Scream?” Regis interrupted, guessing what she might do next.At this moment, Amora was like a helpless rabbit caught in a hunter’s trap.“You haven’t forgotten that you’re in my territory now, right? Who do you think would come to help you if you scream?” Regis taunted, laughing softly.Amora’s face flushed red again. She bit her lower lip, knowing Regis was right. There was nothing she could do even if he decided to
"Who would even want to look at it? Besides, there’s nothing good to see about you!"Amora blurted out, saying the opposite of what she was really thinking. She didn’t want to let Regis keep mocking her."Nothing good to see, you say?" Regis murmured, his anger evident as he focused on that particular part of her statement.Amora cleared her throat. "I think all men have the same thing, right? I’ve seen it often enough. So, there’s nothing special about it, is there?" she retorted.Of course, Amora was lying. There was no way she had seen a man undressed before. She wasn’t some abnormal woman with strange habits.She cleared her throat again, noticing Regis’s shocked expression at her words."When did you get home?" Amora asked, trying to divert their awkward conversation. She was also curious to know the answer, as just a few minutes ago, she thought he hadn’t returned yet.Earlier, Amora had woken up in surprise, not expecting to fall asleep while waiting for Regis. She decided to h
"Did ... did you kill someone?"Amora's lips trembled as she asked the question. She remembered the incident from seven years ago when she caught Regis killing someone in a hotel lounge.Back then, she thought Regis was a cold-blooded murderer. But after learning his true identity, she drew a different conclusion.“Is ... the Royal Dragon really what they’ve been rumored to be all this time?” Amora probed, her thoughts forming a new realization.Although she was terrified of hearing the truth, she felt she needed to know. Her hazel eyes looked at Regis, filled with mixed emotions.A faint smirk remained on Regis's lips. He didn't feel threatened by Amora's question. He admired her courage.Despite Amora's fearful expression, Regis noticed that her eyes showed resilience. No one had ever dared to ask him directly because they feared for their lives.Many bad rumors about the Royal Dragon circulated throughout society. Some said they ran a black market organization that controlled illeg
"Do you think I’ll just forget about your rudeness earlier?" Amora responded, pouting.Regis chuckled softly. He had lost count of how many times he had laughed today. Amora’s actions, words, and expressions never failed to amuse him.The fatigue and anger he felt after dealing with a gang of scammers seemed to evaporate after talking to Amora. Normally, Regis rarely engaged in conversations unless necessary.But for some reason, he felt different when he was with her. Amora seemed to draw him into doing things he never usually did."Aren’t you worried you’ll get wrinkles from being mad all the time?" teased Regis, noticing her scowling face. The words slipped out of his mouth without him being able to stop them.Somehow, teasing her had become something he wanted to do most. Seeing the various expressions on Amora’s face was so enjoyable for Regis, and deep down, a spark began to ignite within him without him even realizing it.Amora rolled her eyes lazily at his teasing. Suddenly, s
"All done."Amora's voice snapped Regis out of his wild thoughts. She quickly adjusted the collar of his coat, then began tidying up the medicines and tools she had taken out, discarding the used cotton and bandages.After organizing everything, Amora stood up and returned the first-aid kit to its original place. She thought about leaving the room since there was nothing else to discuss with Regis. Besides, she was starting to feel sleepy. She felt relieved that she had fulfilled her responsibility, except for the slap that still lingered on his cheek."You should compress your cheek before going to bed so it doesn't swell tomorrow," Amora advised him.Regis didn't respond. He simply gazed at Amora, who was standing in front of him, yawning widely as sleepiness began to overtake her.The silence once again made the atmosphere in the room awkward. Finally, Amora decided not to linger any longer. She wanted to lie down and get some rest so she could feel refreshed for tomorrow's activit
"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,