LOGIN“Master Hunt, we're sorry. We know we were wrong. We really do. Please, just give us one more chance!”The maids were trembling. They were so terrified they looked ready to drop to their knees and beg Stefan for forgiveness.Stefan calmly adjusted the buttons of his tailored dress shirt. His expression remained unreadable. "Why are you all so nervous? I just want you to tell me the truth.""T-The truth about what?" One of the maids looked up and asked cautiously."Do you honestly believe your Mrs. Hunt loves me more than anyone else?"Stefan repeated the question.This time, a crack seemed to appear in the cold, untouchable CEO persona he always portrayed. Behind it was a man full of insecurity who desperately searched for proof that he was loved.That's because he knew the past he had worked so hard to bury had finally come to light. Renee knew everything now.The fact that she had come today meant they were standing on opposite sides at last. Any hope of keeping her in the da
"Mrs. Hunt! You're back! Hurry, come inside!"The moment Renee parked outside Hunt Manor's gates, one of the maids spotted her and hurried over enthusiastically to greet her."I'll let Master Hunt, Old Mr. Hunt, and Madam Hunt know right away!"The maid's bright smile faltered slightly when she noticed Quinton stepping out of the vehicle behind Renee. She cautiously asked, "And who might this gentleman be?""My brother."Renee answered without hesitation. Her expression remained cold as she made their relationship perfectly clear."Y-Your brother?"The maid's eyes went wide. She was shocked by that piece of information.Everyone knew that Renee, the former heiress of the Everheart family, which was also the most prominent of the Great Eight of Beach City, had been an only child. Countless girls had envied her.Even after the Everheart family's collapse, and after her brief fall from grace, she had once again become the subject of envy when she married the famous second son of
"I…"Quinton froze. He was suddenly at a loss for words.For the first time, he regretted being the person he used to be. Back then, hatred had consumed him so completely that he had unknowingly passed much of it on to Renee. Now she was standing exactly where he once stood. She was trapped in the same extreme mindset.Unfortunately, there was no undoing the past. He had to live with the consequences of his own actions."So what are you planning to do?"He knew there was no convincing Renee to let it go. If he couldn't stop her, then he would walk beside her.If she chose forgiveness, he would forgive.If she chose revenge, he would become her trusted accomplice."I want the Hunt family to pay the same price. I want them to know what it feels like to be separated from their own flesh and blood!"Renee clenched her fists."Separated from their own flesh and blood?"Quinton was curious what she meant by that.At present, the Hunt family line was fairly straightforward. There
Seeing the look of disbelief on Renee's face, Quinton felt bad.To him, Stefan's family had always been enemies he could never forgive. But to Renee, they had once been family.Asking her to believe that her mother-in-law had destroyed her own biological family was unimaginably cruel."It's okay. You don't need to think about it anymore. It's all in the past. I've let it go. I only told you because I could see how much it hurt being kept in the dark. Just pretend you never heard any of this!"Unfortunately, comforting people had never been his strength. This clumsy attempt was the best he could manage."No! I can never let this go!" Renee exclaimed with tears in her eyes.The shock and disbelief in her eyes gradually faded and were replaced by acceptance. As she compared everything Quinton had told her against years of interactions with Francine and the rest of Stefan's family, pieces began falling into place. Questions that had haunted her for years suddenly had answers."I
"W-What?"Renee froze. That came as a complete shock to her. Her mind went blank, and her body felt numb."You heard that right. Our mother and your ex-husband's father were once deeply in love!"Quinton snorted. He felt equal parts bitterness and resignation. "This was what I meant when I said fate played tricks on humans. Their relationship changed the entire course of my life. I've spent years trying not to hate them, but for a long time, I couldn't. At the same time, I know I can't keep hating them!"His clenched fists slowly loosened as he spoke. The rage that consumed him gradually gave way to acceptance.Renee was still reeling from the revelation. Her expression only grew more bewildered. "But how would their relationship affect your life? Are you saying the reason you were taken as a baby had something to do with that?""Jealousy can make a woman do terrible things. The reason I was taken traces back to your former mother-in-law."Quinton clenched his jaw. He was st
Renee thought back to the way her parents had interacted with each other. Their relationship had always seemed harmonious. Her father adored her mother. He treated her like the most precious thing in the world, protecting and cherishing her in every way.Her mother seemed to love him too. She rarely argued with him and never made unreasonable demands.Their marriage reminded Renee of those old-fashioned arranged marriages between well-matched families. It wasn't passionate or dramatic, but there was mutual respect, companionship, and devotion.Still, something always felt missing, but she couldn't explain exactly what it was."From the way you're describing it, they weren't really in love at all. It sounds more like they were maintaining appearances and playing the role of a loving couple, doesn't it?"Quinton cut straight to the point.If that was true, then everything Stefan had told him made much more sense.His mother had already given her heart to someone she could never fo
Renee's teasing remark made Jovan and Justin break out in a cold sweat."What? You want me to be his friend? I'd rather kill myself!" Jovan pretended to vomit. "I wouldn't go to that extent, but it's worse than killing myself if I have to befriend such a childish man," Justin scoffed in disgust.Renee
"Cut the crap, Briar!" Stefan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes bloodshot. "Do you think I can't do anything about you? The medical field is very advanced now, and I have ways to cure her even if I don't know what you poisoned her with. And you... have lost your only chance to run away."Briar did
There had been many stubborn and fearless people like Stefan who had wanted to enter the cave, but they had died before they could get to the end. The only person who had successfully passed through that cave was Stefan's guide, and he knew how dangerous that cave was. He swore never to go close to
Hence, the negotiation helped both parties reach a compromise, and they were no longer at odds with each other.Silas fished out a contract, and both Quinton and Xavier put their thumbprints on it. It meant that they would cooperate to protect Dragos and help the ancient village thrive. "Okay, we've







