”He’s here!” “His wife is finally here too!”“I'm finally meeting the legate from my dreams!”Cheers rang throughout the rooftop garden as Adrian and Samantha stepped out of the chopper. Samantha was shaking. Everything that was happening was like a dream. She was still shocked. She finally understood that she was not the CEO of the House of Bailar today, but the wife of the famous war legate. All eyes were on her. She turned around and saw Adrian coming down from the other chopper. He was in military uniform and looked grand—exuding an outstanding demeanor. The venue quieted down after the crew members stepped in. No one spoke but everyone was excitedly looking at Adrian and Samantha. Some of them were even jealous.Samantha turned around and looked toward the crowd. She knew that she was the main character of the day and everyone was there to see her. She did not know why, but tears started rolling down her cheeks. She was crying. Adrian, who was standing next to her
No matter how dumb they were, it was evident what was happening.That was why Adrian said he could get an invite from the legate because he was legate!The Cowells lost their minds. They all did.They stood up and looked at the couple.Hugo said, “Samantha, here! This way! It’s me, your Uncle Hugo!”“Sam, look over here!” Francis waved at her too.Never would they imagine that Adrian was the legate. If they had known, they would not have treated him the way they did.Violet picked up her cane and waved it at Adrian too. “Adrian, Samantha, it’s your grandmother. I’m over here.”The Cowells seemed to have forgotten how they treated Samantha before this and all they wanted to do was to get close to her.However, the couple ignored them.“Mother, we need to speak to Adrian!” Hugo said excitedly.Violet nodded.When the Cowells were going to leave their seats and walk over, they were blocked by the crew members.***Meanwhile, on the Xanders's side.Harold shook. “My grandson
“What?”Samantha’s declaration surprised Adrian.He had done all that to show her that she would always be happy from now on. He was not expecting her to ask for a divorce.“Why, Sam?” he asked.She rubbed her eyes and turned around so he would not see her face.Sensing the atmosphere in the car, Samantha calmed herself down. “I thought about it at the venue. You’re the legate. I’m not good enough for you. You can find someone a thousand times better.”Samantha never expected to suddenly rise in status overnight. She was just a normal woman. How was she to deal with her husband’s sudden revelation of his identity?She did not want any of this. All she wanted was for Adrian to go to work and get home on time every day. That was all.She also thought that she was not good enough for him now. If she stayed with him, she would only hold him back.After hearing this, Adrian sighed. Samantha was not a greedy woman so she might not be able to accept who he was.“I’m sorry for being
Daniel, who was listening in, had mixed feelings.The war legate, a war god on the battlefield, was a gentleman at home.It was very rare for such a thing to happen—being tough when it involved the country’s safety, but soft and loving toward his wife.Daniel spoke again. “Another thing, Ms. Samantha. Since the legate’s identity is top secret and might attract assassins, we’ll be announcing to the public tonight that you were just body doubles to ensure your safety.”“That is important. Otherwise, my husband and I might be assassinated.” Samantha understood.Daniel nodded. “But as a reward, Battle Warrior Lucas has arranged for the House of Bailar to have a spot at Swallow Central.”Samantha was nervous when she heard this, but she was also excited. “General, my company is facing potential bankruptcy. Are you really going to give me a chance?”“I’m certain you’ll be able to save your company as long as you put in the effort. This is the reward for taking a risk and pretending to
“Grandmother, what brings you here?”Samantha immediately stood up when she saw Violet enter.Other than Violet, Nathan, Hugo, and a few others from the family were there too, and they were excited.Violet spoke, “Samantha, do you still hate me? It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did.”Violet started with an apology, but it felt odd to Samantha, but she suddenly understood what was going on. It was because Violet thought she was the legate’s wife. Violet and the rest did not know the truth yet.“Samantha, we're all sorry. Please forgive us.” Nathan looked at her and was visibly agitated.Hugo spoke up too, “Yes, Samantha. I never would’ve guessed that Adrian was the legate and that you’re the legate’s wife. Please don’t hold a grudge.”The Cowells knew that they had treated Samantha badly. To seem sincere, Violet spoke again, “Samantha, I’ve decided to let you take over the Cowell Group. I won’t be worried if Adrian is helping you.”She then looked toward
The Cowells’ true colors were showing.Samantha’s heart ached when she saw Violet’s change in attitude. She lowered her head because she was once again disappointed by her grandmother.Adaline could not stand seeing this and said, “Old hag, who was trying to trick you? My brother was just trying to make some money. We didn’t do it for you. Aren’t you ashamed of saying such things?”“Be quiet, Ada…” Rue quickly held her daughter back because of how rude she was.Samantha covered her mouth. She looked at Violet in disappointment. “Grandmother, Adrian didn’t lie to you. General Summers agreed to pay him a fee. Ada needs money for her tuition, so—”“Enough. What does Ada’s tuition have anything to do with me?” Violet cut her off. “I’m giving you three days to return Bailar to us, or we’ll see you in court.”She just said she would allow Samantha to take over the Cowell Group, and she instantly changed her mind.It was hard to cover one’s true intentions.After hearing this, Samanth
“Seven hundred and fifty thousand? Where are you going to get that kind of money, Adrian?” Closing the door after Violet left, Rue looked anxious.Since Henry’s passing and the Xanders taking Paraiso away, she had never seen seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way,” Adrian consoled her.“Find a way? Adrian, are you going to let her sue you? Do you think it’s easy to get that much money? She's a greedy old hag. Even if you give her the money, she might change her mind again.” Adaline was anxious too, but it slowly turned into anger.Adrian turned to Samantha, who sat on the couch with her head hung low and not speaking.Rue said, “What do you think, Sam?”“Maybe Adrian is right,” Samantha said.Adaline and Rue were surprised.She continued. “We’ll consider this seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars as a repayment and then cut them off. Bailar would be mine and mine alone from then on.”“But where are we going to get the money from?” Rue was ne
Adrian waited for some time outside.A black Mercedes Benz MPV rolled up and stopped in front of him. Then, a few middle-aged men got out with two briefcases.“Sir, here are the seven hundred and fifty thousand you asked for in cash,” one of the men said as they handed over the briefcases.“Thank you,” Adrian replied.The men nodded, got into the car, and left. Adrian then turned around and made his way home.Rue had made breakfast, but since Adrian was not around, she ate with Adaline and Samantha first. The three of them were troubled.Rue sighed. “Sam, did you manage to borrow money from your friend?”Samantha shook her head and said sadly, “I didn’t. Joanna didn’t pick up.”Joanna was Samantha’s best friend and co-founded The House of Bailar with Samantha. She left the country with her family years ago, and Samantha has been running the company ever since.After hearing this, Rue felt helpless, and Adaline did not know what to say.At that moment, Adrian walked in carryin
After dealing with Edgar, the pair left the area.Meanwhile, in a grand hall within Ciawales, a man sat high upon a throne. His gaze was sharp and piercing. Suddenly, a man dressed in black rushed in, his steps quick and filled with urgency. He seemed flustered and a bit overwhelmed. “Your Highness, I regret to report that the mission has failed,” he said, bowing. Hearing this, the man on the throne, the crown prince of Ciawales Justin Wagner, was filled with rage. “Both teams failed? How could this be? Does that girl have some extraordinary protector by her side?” Justin asked furiously, “Wasn’t it thoroughly investigated? The strongest among her entourage was only at the later Divine Stage. How could the mission fail? Even Edgar had failed too?"Trembling as he knelt, the man dared not raise his head. “Yes, Your Highness. We found Edgar's corpse alone in a desolate area." Justin’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected Renee to have such a powerful ally. "Very well. Call
Adrian’s gaze sharpened as he replied, “Is that so? Just because we’re at the same level doesn’t mean we’re equals. Let’s keep moving. It seems you’ve had quite a turbulent journey.”Renee looked at Adrian with a helpless expression because his words were undeniably true. Her journey had indeed been full of endless obstacles, especially with the Crown Prince attempting to kill her. "Are we still heading to Ciawales?” Renee asked.Despite the dangers, Adrian still intended to go to Ciawales, leaving Renee puzzled. She even felt a bit hesitant and considered turning back. As she considered it, Adrian casually replied, “Why wouldn’t we? I said I’d get you back safely, and I’ll see it through. No one can stop us.” His tone was calm, filled with a kind of unwavering confidence.Renee looked at Adrian with a mix of shock and admiration, not understanding why he was so resolute. There were easier paths to take, yet he chose the difficult one. She couldn’t quite grasp Adrian’s determina
Edgar's eyes widened in utter disbelief as he looked at Adrian. He couldn’t fathom how Adrian could be so powerful. Before he could fully grasp what was happening, the force of Adrian’s sword and fists were already crashing into his body. “H-How are you this strong?" Edgar stammered, finally realizing how ignorant he was. Confronted with Adrian’s swordsmanship, he felt all his skills were weak and insignificant. However, there was no answer for him. Boom!A wave of violent power erupted. Adrian didn’t relent in his assault. After all, Edgar had insisted on challenging him to a life-and-death duel. Therefore, Adrian saw no reason to hold back.The Soul Devouring Sword transformed into countless streaks of energy, each one piercing through Edgar’s body. "Aahhh!!" Edgar’s scream filled the air as he felt his strength rapidly slipping away. Desperately, he roared, “No! I won’t die like this!” However, there was nothing he could do other than wait for a merciless end. In his final
Observing the scene before him, Adrian smiled calmly and said, “Trying to defend yourself? I already told you this is the end of the line for you. Why don’t you believe me?” Edgar was furiously swinging his sword, unwilling to believe Adrian could deliver a killing blow. He felt confident he could block all of Adrian’s attacks.But just as Adrian finished speaking, a wave of chaotic power erupted around them. His energy surged, making the very air tremble. The entire space seemed to quiver, and Adrian’s gaze grew sharper as he said, “This ends now.” The dozen or so Soul Devouring Swords rushing toward Edgar vanished into thin air, leaving only a single, true Soul Devouring Sword to appear right above his head. This blade radiated an intense, dark energy while hurtling down toward Edgar with deadly precision. Edgar was horrified and desperately tried to evade, but it was too late. Crash! The raging Soul Devouring Sword struck down, crushing with immense force. Edgar was paral
“How is this possible?” Edgar watched in sheer horror as Adrian’s sword seemed to shatter the very fabric of space. The scene unfolding before him was too strange to believe, yet it was happening right before his eyes. The blade seemed to tear through space, arriving ominously behind Edgar, who was left in utter disbelief. Desperate, Edgar raised his own sword to block the incoming attack. Clang! Clang! Clang! The impact echoed as Edgar’s sword was violently knocked aside, sent flying in an instant. The sheer force was staggering, and Edgar’s face darkened as he observed the terrifying power of Adrian’s sword. Ordinary swords couldn’t cut through the air like this, but Adrian’s blade proved it could.It was only then Edgar realized that Adrian’s power was on a whole other level. Struggling to comprehend, he demanded, “How can you be so strong?” Adrian simply smiled. “It’s nothing special. You call yourself invincible, yet you’ve never seen the true world outside. What right do
Adrian looked at Edgar and smiled calmly. "You already experienced one sword strike. Now, let's try another. I want you to fully understand your weakness." Adrian’s calm taunts were a blatant provocation, showing utter disdain for Edgar.Furious, Edgar glared at Adrian. He knew Adrian was pushing his limits with such contempt."You might think your strength is impressive, but if I go all out, you're nothing more than an ant," Edgar said. He was confident that, despite Adrian’s apparent power, he was still far beneath him. Adrian responded with a slight, cool smile. While Edgar had the credentials to speak this way, he was underestimating Adrian. After all, Adrian’s strength was formidable. If he unleashed his full power, Edgar wouldn’t be able to withstand it.To an outsider, Edgar’s strength might appear to be on par with Adrian's, but Adrian’s power transcended that comparison by a tier. The moment he went all-out, Edgar wouldn’t stand a chance. Nearby, Renee looked on in su
With a calm smile, Adrian said, "Your strength is impressive, but thinking you can kill me is a bit overconfident." His words echoed across the trembling land, yet Edgar refused to believe that Adrian could be so formidable.Waves of power rippled forth while Renee stood transfixed, feeling the intensifying killing intent in the air.At that moment, Adrian unleashed a surge of energy, which instantly struck Edgar, sending him hurtling backward."How can he be this strong?" Edgar was stunned, completely at a loss. Despite his formidable strength, he was simply thrown aside by Adrian.Adrian asked, "What’s wrong? Am I too strong for you? How does it feel?"The killing intent in Adrian's gaze intensified, freezing Edgar on the spot. Edgar clenched his sword and prepared to strike again. He couldn’t believe the difference in power. He had to defeat Adrian, or he’d never let it go.Suddenly, Adrian vanished, leaving Edgar bewildered as he couldn’t sense Adrian’s presence. In the n
Edgar was determined to annihilate Adrian, and so he charged up his attack once again. The ground quaked, and towering trees fell one after another.Adrian’s eyes glinted coldly as he watched the scene unfold. He understood exactly what was happening and knew there would be no peace until one of them was defeated.Filled with a bloodthirsty desire, Edgar wanted nothing more than to kill Adrian. Adrian’s face darkened as he prepared to meet him with equal ruthlessness.At that moment, Edgar finally finished charging his attack and rushed forward. His sword transformed into countless blades that sliced through the air with devastating force.Adrian sneered. "Oh? So, you do have some skills, but I still advise you to surrender."Hearing this, Edgar's face twisted in anger. Adrian's remark felt like a blatant insult as if he was looking down on him."I’m going to destroy you!" Edgar swung his sword from an unexpected angle, aiming to break through Adrian’s defenses.Adrian sneered an
Adrian spoke calmly as he led Renee swiftly onward. He had no intention of lingering here. His destination lay elsewhere, and he didn’t want to waste time.As for the man pursuing them, Adrian had already gauged his abilities from his sword techniques. At most, Edgar had some skill, but Adrian was confident he could overpower Edgar in swordsmanship.Edgar, fuming with rage, shouted, “I don’t believe it! Are you some kind of sword expert?”Edgar’s attacks grew even more ferocious, his swordsmanship wild and fierce, as he charged forward. He was determined to end Adrian’s life here and now. Being known for his swordsmanship, Edgar could not tolerate being treated with such disdain. His heart burned with fury and unwillingness.Adrian glanced back dismissively and said, “I already told you, your swordsmanship is child’s play. Yet you refuse to believe it. How pitiful.”Edgar was nearly driven mad with rage. He had honed his swordsmanship for years, yet Adrian mocked it as child’s pla