Ricky appeared dumbfounded. "What banners?"Irene kept a close eye on his reaction. "You really don't know?""Time out, Irene. What banners are you talking about? I really don't get what you're talking about."Ricky still appeared to be dizzy from his hangover and he could not understand Irene just then. Irene kept staring at him for seconds, ensuring that he was not playing dumb before saying, "Yesterday, someone hung banners over Central Tower, mocking Zachary and Ember…""Hahaha!!!" Ricky burst out in laughter right then. "He got what he deserved!" "Was it you?" Irene asked seriously."Nope," Ricky said, his smile remaining on his face. "Guess I'm not the only one who hates him. It's what he deserves for being a piece of shit."Irene pursed her lips, and actually began to doubt him. "It really wasn't you? It looks exactly like something you would do."Ricky shrugged. "If you insist that it's me, then it must be me. I'm just glad he didn't get off easy.""Don't do that ev
Ricky snorted. "We were. What's that to you?""Shut up," Irene snapped and promptly tugged at his sleeve—he was going to make Mrs. Slate misunderstand, especially when she clearly did not like Lulu. His phrasing would just fuel Mrs. Slate's notion that Lulu had loose morals and hurt Lulu in turn.Ricky, however, was not letting up. "I'm just telling the truth! What is there to hide?"Mrs. Slate scoffed at Lulu then. "I knew it—what an unseemly woman you are. Well, this suits me just fine. Now that Zachary is married, there's nothing between you two, so don't bother him ever again. In turn, I won't press charges regarding the banners.""Hey, are you even listening? I told you—it wasn't Lulu. She's been with me all this while, and I can testify for her!" Ricky snapped, indignant at how prejudiced was Mrs. Slate acting."You? Testify? You've been defending her all this while. The best you can manage is perjury," Mrs. Slate laughed coldly, before adding in disdain, "Truly… birds of
On the floor, Ricky was lying on his back. His bath towel—which must have loosened from his waist—was just covering his privates.Lulu was standing at the living room, a glass of water in hand as she stared impassively at him.Sheryl was nearby as well, gaping at Ricky in shock Irene was speechless. What was going on here?! Nonetheless, a resounding scream soon followed, and she had to cover Tommy's ears."Aaarrrggghhh!!!"Ricky's fair buttcheeks were bare even as he held his towel against his groin as he fled.Bang! The door was shut so loudly that Tommy jumped in surprise. Irene stood at the stairway and looked downstairs, asking, "What happened there?"Lulu calmly drank her glass of water before telling her. "He came out of the shower with just a towel around his waist, and asked me for water since he saw me drinking. He wasn't watching where he was going while he drank, and knocked into the table, tripped, and fell, breaking the glass…"Irene was at a loss for wo
Irene watched as Ember passed the man a thick envelope and said, "You'd better keep your mouth shut." Her voice was lowered, but the threatening edge was clear.The man was busy groping the envelope to feel its thickness and he grinned in satisfaction. "I won't breathe a word—don't worry."Ember then looked around, pressing her cap down even though she saw no one around them. "I'm going now. Don't ever contact me.""Of course," the man chuckled. "Still, if you want more banners hung, you can contact me. Anyone loves making easy money."Ember did not refuse him. "Don't worry—I'll call you if there's more work to be done. The condition is that you keep your mouth shut, and money will never be a problem.""My lips are sealed with industrial glue. Also, are you satisfied with my performance?"Ember nodded—her objective had certainly been achieved. She was the one who hired this man to flash those banners at Central Tower just to pin the blame on Lulu. That would drive a rift be
James Cross said, "Mr. Jefferson sent me.""Where is he?" Irene asked."He just arrived in Franconia, so he won't be returning soon," James replied. "I'm your protection detail in the meantime."Irene frowned—by all accounts, Isaac should have arrived in Franconia already. "He just arrived? Are you sure?"James averted his eyes.Isaac certainly should have arrived at Franconia sooner, but he had delayed his flight after receiving Mrs. Watson's call.Now, he was going to need time to take another flight back to the country. In reality, Isaac had his people keep a constant watch on his estranged family, because he knew they would not give up so easily. He told them to inform him the instant they were on the move, and they just did.Worried that Irene would be in danger, Isaac sent James, who just happened to be staying in the country.It was certainly fortunate he did, or there would be real trouble.Still, to Irene, James's evasiveness made it clear that Isaac was refusing to
Ian snorted and laughed icily. "You can't even if you want to. Don't forget that I have the upper hand here.""No, we are on equal terms right now," Irene growled in return. "If you hurt Tommy, my mom is going to make you suffer. You can't lay a finger on them even if you have them, and while you have leverage against me, I'm only complying because I would rather they not get hurt at all."Her retort only drew more laughter from Ian. "No, you're mistaken. Isaac killed my mother, left my father a cripple, and took Light Group away from me. I have nothing, and therefore fear nothing—all I want right now is for Isaac to have a taste of losing everything too."Irene panicked right then—there was just no arguing against a man who had lost everything. Since there was nothing holding him back, Ian was truly capable of anything.And that makes him utterly terrifying. After she hung up, Irene turned toward James and asked, "Did you get anything?"James shook his head. "He probably expe
Neither of the two men spoke, and they started to search her.Irene moved out of their reach. "What do you think you're doing?"Both men leered at her pretty face, unfriendly ideas occurring to them right then. "Searching for trackers."Irene shook her head right then. "I don't have anything of the sort.""That's not up to you to decide, we'll only believe you after we search you and find nothing," they said, though they seemed eager to cop a feel while they did.Irene kept backing away. "I said I don't have anything of the sort—""You should listen if you want your mother and baby to be safe from harm," another voice said just then. Irene turned to find Ian looking at her in amusement from within a silver sedan, having wound down his window.She was left clenching her fist at his threat, but had to stay calm in appearance. "I promise you that I didn't bring any trackers, and aren't I your relative? Having men grope my body will be an insult to you and your family. And are y
What was that?Ian frowned—it felt sharp as it dug into his skin.Irene was glaring at him calmly. "A little push, and you will be in a world of pain."The temple is a vital spot for humans as it is a node where various nerves are connected, and any trauma leaves the victim vulnerable to injury.Irene did not have time to prepare when she came and could not bring anything lethal. All she had was the key she grabbed from a table—but even if she could not kill Ian, she could threaten him.Ian, however, did not think that she would hurt him. "Don't forget that I have your mother and child. Hurt me, and they die.""Take me to them," Irene demanded. "And I promise I won't hurt you.""No." Ian stared at her sideways. "But if you hurt me, they die."To no surprise, she did not dare to get rough with him—not when her baby had not been rescued. Taking her hand off himself, he chuckled when he finally saw what she was holding. "A key? You threatened me with that?"Irene held his gaze,