With a smug smile on her lip, Dana stood in her room, staring at herself in the mirror with this pleasing look on her face with the phone pressed against her ear, and then her voice came out sad and pitiful, saying, “I am sorry, Sav. But your father is way too powerful for mine to defy. We can’t risk his wrath.” “You incompetent...” Savannah huffed out, feeling frustrated with her best friend. Then she ended the call, throwing her phone onto the bed, and stormed out of her room, heading straight towards Madam Rider’s office.When the door swung open, Madame Rider stood with her hands folded across her chest, her gaze full of annoyance and irritation at Savannah’s unruly behavior. “Mother, father did what that bastard told him to do. He forced Mr. Simone's hands to marry Nina to him! And now we are not only cursed with that idler but also his ill-bred slut!” Savannah spat out, walking closer to Madame Rider. “We cannot allow that idiot to ruin our family name. Our reputation!”It wa
His father was ringing his line, the first of its kind since they became blood-related, and Ethan hesitated to pick it up, wondering if Mr. Rider was calling to lash out at him for beating up Charles. Silently Nina watched him struggle internally, his expression displaying his indecisiveness on whether to answer the call or not.“Here’s your bowl of noodles.” Mr. Hester announced proudly, placing a plate in front of Nina. But then he noticed her staring at Ethan in concern, and he, too, turned his focus on Ethan.When he finally felt their eyes on him, Ethan slowly rested the chopsticks and picked up his phone, answering the call.“Hello?” He asked, eyeing the stain coming from the bowl.“You have what you want.” Mr. Rider's emotionless voice sounded through the phone.“Be clear,”“You and Nina have the Rider and Simone blessing to get married.”Raising his eyelid, Ethan locked eyes with her, and the intimate way he gazed at Nina had her heart skipping a beat.Slowly, without breaki
When the two got into the shop with no one in sight, Drak watched Ethan silently for a while, and when he was about to speak, Ethan cut him off, “I want you to be my groom.”An abrupt laugh crawled out of the bottom of Drak’s gut and he couldn’t stand still for a while until he subconsciously met Ethan's dull eyes and immediately froze with a serious expression.“Why? Don’t you have friends? It was just yesterday we were enemy. Respectfully, I haven't earned myself such an outstanding position in your life.” Drak said, aggressively clearing his throat when he saw that Ethan’s bore expression had not changed.“Do you want one on one private lessons with me or not.” Ethan asked flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.Immediately, Drak's eyes lit up, and then he raised a brow, grinning mischievously, and asked, “Why such a luxurious offer?”“This wedding could be some trap, and if anything goes south, I want Nina out of there and somewhere safe.” Ethan said simply.A sudden frown crossed Dr
On the day of The wedding, the very famous crystal hall was packed with people who didn't even know Ethan or care for him because Deborah made sure to invite many people within the elite circle. They all showed up, making Ethan and Nina's wedding one of the most attended weddings in the city for that year.The hall felt like a marketplace, people mumbling here and there, waiting to know if this is real, that Nina Simone was marrying the bastard of the Riders instead of the legitimate son of the Walker family.“So, it's true. Your brother was screwing Charles's fiancé even before he became a Rider.” Trevon said as he stood in the hall with Jeff and his brothers. “Damn… Nina must have been really mad at him and hopes to disgrace my boy Charles if she chose a servant to lose her virginity to instead of him.” “That bastard is not my brother.” Jeff lashed out, spankling tension between him and Trevon.Putting his hands up, Trevon stepped back and said, “Okay. Okay. I'm just teasing.'' “D
Nina seemed to be missing, and Ethan was getting arrested... This was one heck of a scene that Madam Rider, her boys, and Savannah couldn't help but beam at with pleasure. “This wedding couldn't have gone any better than this,” Savannah mumbled as she gazed, all smiles, at Charles and Ethan.“Where the hell is she? I swear, I am going to...” Charles said, pausing when he saw how unphased Ethan looked.Then one police officer stared Ethan in his eyes and said, “You were the last person that was with Miss Simone and we have evidence to proof that. If we can't find her, you will be charged with kidnapping or even worse. So why don't you tell Mr. Walker what he needs to know and reduce your sentence?” His remark quieted down the hall a bit as the guests and others waited for an answer, but when Ethan refused to speak, Mr. Simone rushed from his seat and shouted in his face, “You bastard, what have you done to my daughter?!”But his words seemed to fall on deaf ears because Ethan was cal
As Charles was about to get in his car, Mr. Rider grabbed his shoulder, causing Charles to stop in his step and glance back at him, his brows furrowing together."What is this?!" Mr. Rider asked."What is what? Your son not only committed infidelity with Nina, but he also had the guts to kidnap her. Haha, you know, your family is really daring, allowing your bastard to humiliate mine in such a disrespectful manner." Charles said, eyeing Mr. Rider's hand on his shoulder, and when he noticed his glare, he pulled his hand off Charles.For a moment, Mr. Rider studied his eyes with a straight face and then scoffed, "You young people these days are so indecisive. How can you clutch on to both sisters.."When a glance of fear crossed Charles's eyes, he frowned at him and said, "Remember, my daughter is Savannah, Dana's best friend. I knew a long time ago that you were playing both sisters and said nothing because, well, it's not my business. But now, you are dragging my family reputation in
For the longest Ethan swallowed nervously and then forced himself to stay calm and keep a poker face on. However, the chief didn't seem amused by his calm demeanor, and when Ethan met his gaze, he saw him glaring at him coldly. "Your father wants to speak with you. Let's hope he can talk sense into your head." Then without saying another word, he exited the room.With the door shutting behind him, Ethan let out the breath as his eyebrows knitted together slightly, wondering what his father wanted.A couple of minutes later, the door opened again and Mr. Rider entered the room alone, walking straight towards him and taking a seat on the other side."I have played it your way, and now it's time for you to play it mine," he said and looked at Ethan with an angry scowl. "You have to let the girl go. That's the only way I can make this right and save your own damn life."When Ethan just watched him from the corner of his eyes, Mr. Rider continued talking, “You may think that the Walkers a
The news about Ethan's arrest was all over the news, and Drak along with his gang sat in the living room of Mr. Hester's shop, watching television, and the moment they heard Nina's voice, they all started fighting over the remote to switch it off. But the device kept slipping through their fingers until finally it hit the ground, falling at Nina's feet, and they all looked up at her with this nervous smiles, but her focus was glued to the screen, where she read out the words, 'Ethan Rider got arrested yesterday for not only the charges of assaulting Charles Walker but also kidnapping Nina Simone, the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the Walker family.""This is all that ass, Charles' fault. Why can't he just stick to Dana and leave me the heck alone." Nina mumbled, tearing up from the frustration she felt."It's reported that the illegitimate son of Mr. Rider spent the night in prison and no bond has been made for him yet-" "I can't do this! It's clear that Charles is doing this to get
When Nina slapped Ethan's face, his eyes opened wide, and then he blinked back the sleep, feeling the weight of her hand on his face.Slowly, he lifted her hand off his nose and mouth and rested it on the bed, watching her as she slept peacefully.A smile crept slowly onto his lips, and he stared at her for a moment longer before turning away, and standing up from bed.Silently, he moved across the room, the morning chill making goosebumps rise on his skin. Shirtless, he glanced out of the window, the sight of the sun rising in the distance bringing a sense of calm and purpose. Then with a deep breath, he retrieved his phone and dialed Avan’s number."I need a favor," Ethan said the moment Avan picked up on the second ring.After yawning in his ear, Avan's voice, tinged with a hint of curiosity, responded on the other end, "It's pretty early for favors, brother. What do you need?"For a moment, Ethan hesitated considering his words carefully before he spoke. "I need someone to keep Do
The sleek black Uber came to a smooth stop, its engine purring softly as Drak gracefully emerged from the vehicle. Tracy, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, stood there, her expression a medley of disapproval and impatience. As her eyes fell upon Drak, stepping out with an air of confidence, her features contorted, forming a scowl that threatened to unleash her wrath upon him."You're early!" Tracy's voice rang out, laced with irritation, as she scrutinized him with disapproving eyes.Drak paused before her, his gaze locked with hers, unfazed by the displeasure radiating from her every pore. "You say that like it's a bad thing," he retorted.The muscles on Tracy's face clenched, preparing to release the storm of her fury upon him for his audacity. However, her eyes drifted to the bandage wrapped tightly around Drak's head, and a wave of unexpected anxiety washed over her. In that moment, she couldn't help but take a deep breath, her anger shortly diffused."The only job I could
Darting his eyes to the right, Ethan noticed three guys, coming towards them with menacing intentions etched on their faces. They moved with purpose, their strides purposeful and confident. With a quick flick of his gaze to the left, he saw another four dudes, equally as intimidating, closing in on them. The air grew thick with tension as their aggressive energy filled the bar, suffocating the peace that had previously lingered in the place.Turning away from the bartender, Ethan locked his gaze straight ahead, assessing the remaining six men, who were inching closer with every passing second. At that moment, Ethan's adrenaline surged through his veins, heightening his senses and sharpening his focus. His training had taught him to remain calm in the face of danger, to assess the situation, and to plan his next move. With a steely determination, he locked his gaze straight ahead, refusing to show any sign of fear or vulnerability.The remaining six men closed in, their footsteps ech
There was this hesitant look in Tracy's eyes as she gazed at Drak, his bloodstained face and hand, and the blood dripping from his hair. Her gaze shifted from his face to his shoulder and then settled on the bottle beside him. "You swear on your mother's life that if I get you this job, you wouldn't report this incident and pretend like I never knew you?" She asked, her eyes boring into his.Stunned for a second, Drak nodded, his heart racing with hope. "I swear," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.Tracy sighed, her eyes softening. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. But you better not mess this up, or I'll make sure you regret it.""I promise," Drak said.With a sigh, she reached into her bag. "Wait for my call tomorrow, and get yourself fixed before showing your face." She let out, and then took out her hand, tossing a few bucks on the floor. "Use that."Looking at the floor and the money scattered about, Drak's eyes darkened, but he didn't dare raise his head as he fought to c
Ethan's heart raced as he took one last glance at Nina. He knew he had to leave her out of all of these things because of her safety, but the thought of keeping things from her made his chest ache. With a heavy sigh, he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the empty hallway.Drak stood in front of him, his expression unreadable. They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders. Finally, Ethan broke the silence."What about London Hale?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Drak's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "Ah, yes, Hale. The last time we spoke, you needed a way into his facility, and information on the bone marrow he stole from you..."The name alone sent shivers down Ethan’s spine. The last time they crossed paths, he had barely escaped with his life.He then nodded, his mind racing with memories of the painful procedure he had endured at Hale's hands.Drak's eyes flickered with
The moment Mr. Rider walked into the dining room, it grew silent, no one daring to look up. He dragged out a chair and sat down heavily. His eyes immediately fell upon his Savannah, and she felt his gaze on her, but she didn't dare look up from the plate of food in front of her. "Savannah, I need all your car keys and your credit cards, and you should stay away from public eyes for the time being." Mr. Rider said with this unsettling calmness. Anger bubbled inside Savannah as she heard him address her like a child, and she tried not to lash out, saying, "Seriously! You are grounding me! Father, I am not a kid anymore. You can't-" "You live under my roof and earn from my money, you abide by the rules." Mr. Rider interrupted his voice hard. The rest of the family looked up at him, but before they could utter a word, he added, "If anyone thinks that I am being unfair, you can join her in her punishment." A pin drop could make a loud sound once those words left his lips, and for a
Holding her eyes captive in his calm gaze, Ethan watched her, his lips slightly twitching and yet no words leaving them, causing Madam Rider to command, “Answer me!” Not a spark of fear showed in Ethan's eyes, and Madam Rider knew he wasn't the same... he wasn't the boy who showed up at their mansion desperate for a job, the boy that trembled at the sound of her voice, that took the insults, the abuse, and he definitely wasn't just a bastard and a servant... Something had changed about his aura, how he carried himself, the confidence that he held in her presence, and the way he looked, and talked. How his eyes were clear and steady, his face expressionless, his tone indifferent. It was so unlike the Ethan she knew... "How?" Ethan finally said. "What?" Madam Rider replied. Lowering his eyelids slightly, he held his silence, causing a look of frustration to flicker in her eyes. "Explain to me how I could make all of this happen," Ethan said, an expression finally showing on his
10:00The party had grown even more lively, classical music still playing in the background, and everyone was enjoying themselves without a care in the world.There were so many familiar faces there that Ethan remembered from his and Nina’s wedding ceremony, and the way they were side-eyeing them now and whispering took him back to that day, and he clutched his fist tightly.10:10The ballroom suddenly grew this immediate tense energy as more guests started entering the hall one after the other, catching the attention of the others.It was a bunch of guys, young, and handsome, all walking into the room, and Nina stared after them, wondering who they were because she had been in the elite circle in the past, for a long while, and none of these faces, she could recognize.But her confusion soon faded when she stared up at Ethan, and saw the way he looked at these men with such a strange glint in his eyes.“Who are they?” Nina asked, not understanding why he was staring, but knowing that
As he stared at Ethan, Mr. Rider felt cornered, knowing that denying him would only lead to an explanation and more questions, and he didn't want to ruin the perfect image he had portrayed to the Hallow. He needed his reputation to stay faultless, and Ethan had the power to ruin so much. "Son, Nina, you guys are finally back. Two years have treated you two well, it seems." Mr. Rider said as he smiled weakly. "How about we catch up more tomorrow? As you can see, it's your sister's engagement ceremony, and tonight, it should be all about her and her fiance. Won't you agree?" It was clear what Mr. Rider was doing with his words, and Ethan could read the threat that lingered in his stares. "Of course, tonight is all about my beautiful sister. She is the true star of the show." Ethan answered, smiling at him as he saw the slight twitch in his eye. As the waiter was passing by him, he reached into the tray, grabbed a glass of champagne, and took a sip, ignoring the way Mr. Rider tried