Austin wasn't a weak man.At the underground boxing ring, he didn't kill Wolf because he was just there to gain fighting experience. There was no need for him to kill Wolf.But now, he had killed someone.Cecily was his girlfriend, and she belonged to him.She was also his weak spot.If anyone touched her, only death awaited them!Austin turned around to look at the tightly shut door of the room. The fury in his gaze turned even stronger.He clenched his fists, producing cracking sounds.Was Cecily… being offered?Was Cecily drugged by Dave and sent to this room just to please the person inside the room?What a joke!Gathering strength in one leg, Austin kicked open the door to the room.A deep and passionate song was playing in the room.The curtains were drawn, so the room was a little dark.A figure sat on the chair in the living room. His head was lowered, and he was supporting his chin with his crossed hands."Taylor?"The light was too dim for Austin to see Taylor
Blood splattered out.Austin frowned as a fierce expression took over his face.There was a gash on his left arm, and it was bleeding profusely.Fortunately, he'd dodged the attack on time. If not, even if he didn't die from it, he would have had to lose an arm.A human life meant nothing to Taylor."Tch … I thought you were skilled, but you're still trash."Taylor slowly turned around and stood at the entrance, blocking Austin's way out. He sneered mockingly.Austin took a deep breath. Then, he stared at Taylor with a gloomy look on his face.Taylor suddenly raised a leg and held it against the door frame. Smiling, he said, "Actually, you have a choice. If you crawl out from under my legs, I'll let you live. But you have to leave that woman behind.""We'll see who gets left behind!"A sharp gleam flashed across Austin's eyes. In an instant, he grabbed a chair and dashed toward Taylor.In the dimly lit room, the two got entangled in a fight.Time and again, the noise of the
Austin was smiling, but the coldness in his tone made Taylor feel as if the temperature of their surroundings had instantly decreased.His body shivered uncontrollably, and his heart raced.At that moment, as Taylor was faced with Austin, who was smiling viciously, he had a rare moment where he felt extreme fear. He was terrified.True, Taylor wouldn't hesitate to end Austin's life.But he had never expected Austin to insist on attacking him, even if it meant getting stabbed.Austin was trying to kill Taylor while putting his own life on the line!"Die! Go to hell!"As if he had suddenly gone crazy, Taylor held the dagger with his right hand and began twisting it.Terrifying creaks sounded from Austin's chest.It was the sound of the blade tearing through skin and flesh.But Austin never let go. Even if his left hand was bloody from getting cut by the dagger, he never once let go.He widened his eyes as he glared viciously at Taylor.He could feel the blood quickly draining
Austin slowly opened his eyes.The piercing smell of disinfectant surged into his nasal cavities.He was a little bewildered. "I didn't die?"At the side, a stern-faced Aldus finally relaxed. He smiled as he said, "Sir, that dagger avoided all vital points. You only fainted from the huge loss of blood. It's a good thing that you were rescued in time."Austin smiled, relaxing. He had never expected that.Back then, he was just trying to protect Cecily. He wouldn't regret it even if Taylor killed him with the dagger.He would be satisfied as long as he could buy enough time for Aldus to arrive and save Cecily.He truly was lucky that the dagger had avoided all his vital points.Austin glanced at the room. Then, his expression turned stern. "Which hospital is this?"If his mother knew that he was injured, she wouldn't be able to handle the shock."Don't worry, sir."Aldus hastily said, "When Mr. Lockwood left, he gave me some instructions. So, I sent you to another hospital."
"Then, you're still an idiot!" Cecily complained.Austin smiled, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he reached up and gently patted Cecily on the back.He knew that Cecily had to be startled, and her heart ached for him. So, it wasn't a bad thing for Cecily to vent her frustrations by crying.Cecily's sobbing gradually died down.She hadn't slept for a whole day, so she was extremely tired.After crying her heart out, she began to feel sleepy.Austin looked at Cecily, who was sound asleep in his arms.He lovingly patted her on the back as he muttered in a soft voice, "Silly woman. You were brave enough to bet your whole life on me, so how can I bear to let you lose? Protecting you is my duty."…Susie was dazed as she sat at the counter in the bank.She never thought that after she'd dressed up last night and happily hurried to Full Fish Pier, she wouldn't see Austin anywhere. Instead, she bumped into Nancy.Even now, she felt awkward when she recalled their encounter.Ev
Harvey rubbed his eyes in disbelief.Why would Susie enter the ward of that damned mother of Austin's?At that moment, he was in a daze.He slowly made his way to the ward.Meanwhile, in the ward, Dahlia smiled gently when she saw Susie. She also asked Raquel to welcome Susie.Unlike how she behaved when she was in Urma's ward, Susie seemed to have turned into another person completely.Her face was full of smiles as she expressed concern for Dahlia. She even peeled an apple for the latter.Her behavior was completely different from before. It felt like a world of difference.In the ward, Susie and Dahlia were happily chatting about everyday things. They seemed to be quite close to each other.Meanwhile, outside the ward, Harvey looked through the glass in the door and saw everything inside the room.At that moment, his mind was buzzing as he stood at the entrance, stunned.He even felt like a computer that had just crashed. He couldn't form any thoughts at all.He was bewi
After letting go of his doubts, Harvey only felt joy and excitement.Susie kept refusing to see him after the engagement banquet, so he knew that Susie was mad. He was even scared that Susie might want to break up with him.But today, Susie came to visit Urma, and based on her words just now, she clearly wasn't angry anymore. So, their relationship could still go on!"Don't worry, Susie, I'll get my parents and my sister to gather the funds as soon as possible so that I can marry you."Harvey clenched his fists. He had a determined look in his eyes.When Harvey returned to the ward in high spirits, Derek and Urma were stunned.For the past few days, they had never seen Harvey so happy before."Harv, did something good happen?" Urma asked first.Smiling, Harvey said, "Dad, Mom, Susie isn't angry anymore. Just now, she even told me that once we've gathered enough funds, she and I can get married.""That's wonderful." Derek was so overcome by emotion that he clasped his hands tog
Three days later, Austin ignored the doctor's protests as he stubbornly completed the discharge procedures.Now, the west city slum redevelopment project had reached its most crucial point. It would be open for pre-sale soon, and Austin still had many things to do.Moreover, if he kept staying in the hospital, he wouldn't be able to visit his mother at Legacy Hospital. When that happened, he wouldn't be able to hide the fact that he got injured.Even though the bandages on his body weren't removed yet, he should be fine if he was careful enough.Cecily and Aldus helped the recently discharged Austin to his rented house.Once there, Cecily was shocked."Austin, have you always been living in a house like this?"The way she saw it, Austin was the president of Dominion Properties, and his annual income would surely exceed one million dollars.Why would he live in a house with just two rooms and a living room, and a rented one at that?Not just her, but any outsider would also fin
Austin never expected that Nancy would come back.As he returned to the Tetra Club, he remained sullen, his eyes dark with unresolved anger.Seeing Austin like this, Cecily felt a pang of sadness.She gently tried to comfort him, "It's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you, and we have our baby on the way.""I can't just let it go," Austin shook his head."The best I can do is not seek revenge against them, but to truly forgive and forget—I can't do that."The actions of Nancy's family were still fresh in his memory.Austin wasn't someone who sought revenge for every slight, but he was far from the kind of person who could simply forgive and forget, moving on with a carefree "Hallelujah."Dahlia's despair as she lay in bed, the arrogance and cruelty of the Welch family…In the eyes of the Welch family, Dahlia's life wasn't worth as much as Harvey's wedding.Even when the time had passed and he was about to finally be happy with Cecily, the Welch family not only dem
After leaving this city, Nancy put in a tremendous amount of effort to "rebirth" herself.Meeting Ethan had shown her a different side of life.While he wasn't part of the uppermost echelons of wealth and power, he had enough. Most importantly, he treated her with the utmost respect.She understood Ethan's background, which made that respect all the more valuable.A man of his stature could have any woman he wanted in his bed the same night.Yet Ethan had shown her incredible patience, making her question whether the rumors about him were true.Tonight, returning to this city was her way of bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future.After all, people need to look forward, don't they?Meanwhile, Ethan was feeling more dejected than he'd ever been.Lying in his luxurious bed in Brook Villa, he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.He had hoped to establish a connection with Austin. A figure like him would be incredibly valuable to have on his side.He tho
The river breeze was cool, and the lights reflected on the water flickered softly.The figure in front of them wore a long black coat, standing quietly by the railing. Her fair, delicate profile, partially obscured by a few strands of windblown hair, carried a hint of melancholy."Sir, Mrs. Campbell, is something wrong?" Aldus noticed the change and quickly stepped forward to inquire."Let's go home," Austin suddenly said, his previously cheerful expression now somber, with a touch of disdain.Go home? They had just arrived.Aldus was surprised and quickly followed Austin's gaze. When he saw what Austin was looking at, he immediately understood.Without a word, he turned to leave with Austin.But a soft hand gently grabbed Austin's arm."It's been so many years, aren't you going to say hello?" Cecily asked."I have no desire to greet her," Austin said, his disdain clear and unhidden.Three years of marriage, filled with nothing but pain.Even when Dahlia was gravely ill, Nan
After a busy day, just as Austin was about to finish up, a new invitation appeared on his desk."Who delivered this?" Austin asked."Ethan," Wolf replied.Austin chuckled, didn't bother opening the invitation, and instead tossed it directly into the trash."I've got to get home to Cecily."When he returned to the Bamboo Parlor at Tetra Club, Raquel had already prepared a delicious dinner.The dishes were beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.After dinner, Austin and Ezra stepped out into the courtyard."Mr. Lockwood, any news from the Campbells about my dad?" Austin asked, the text message from Walter still weighing heavily on his mind.Considering the Campbells' efforts to find Walter, and given their intelligence resources, they should have been some leads by now.But Ezra shook his head. "Nothing, Not a trace.""The Campbells' intelligence network has never been this weak, has it?" Austin frowned, speaking in a low tone.Ezra gave a wry smile. "
"Childhood?"Austin stopped his workout, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled bitterly.His childhood had been bleak.Only Dahlia had brought some light into the darkness.Seeing Austin's pained smile, Aldus immediately realized his mistake.He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Sir. I spoke without thinking. You don't need to answer that.""It's fine," Austin replied, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and inviting Aldus to sit with him.Once they were seated, Austin slowly began to speak. "There's not much to tell about my childhood. It was mostly just being called an 'illegitimate child' and living day to day, never knowing where my next meal would come from."If it weren't for my mom fighting tooth and nail to raise me, I'd probably be dead by now."With just a few simple words, he conveyed a world of suffering.Aldus felt a wave of guilt. He had only been trying to find clues from Austin's past that might explain his exceptional combat instincts and incredible physical
Austin's gaze softened as warmth flooded his heart.Who hasn't longed for a light left on just for them in a sea of lights? But in reality, how many actually have that?Cecily did that for him.Given her background, the fact that she went to such lengths truly surprised Austin.In the three years he spent in the past, he had never experienced something like this.His nose tingled with emotion as he pulled Cecily into his arms, speaking softly, "Thank you. Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.""Alright, alright, I asked Raquel to prepare breakfast earlier this morning. You go to the dining room, and I'll have her bring it over," Cecily said as she gently slipped out of Austin's embrace, her graceful smile lighting up her eyes."Doesn't Bamboo Parlor have a kitchen?" Austin asked, curious.Cecily gave him a playful look. "The chairs in the living room are so hard, and you spent the whole night on one—how could you have slept well? If Raquel had been clattering around
The room fell into a heavy silence."Deactivating the phone number… was Dad trying to prevent me from tracking his location?" Austin murmured with a frown.Ezra pondered for a moment, his voice low and serious. "Perhaps he was more concerned about someone else tracking him."Austin's eyes widened in realization.Of course—if Walter could send him a message to let him know he was safe, he wouldn't be worried about Austin tracking himDeactivating the phone was likely to prevent others from tracing his location."But who is he trying to avoid?"Ezra shook his head, remaining silent.Having followed Walter for many years, he knew the man's temperament and habits. But this time, he was truly baffled.He couldn't even begin to piece together a clue.Taking a deep breath, Ezra forced a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I'm at a loss this time, sir. There's no sign of anything unusual from the Campbells either."This statement only deepened Austin's confusion.If there were anyone who cou
Austin knocked softly on the door.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of shuffling from inside.Ezra opened the door, his face full of curiosity. "Sir, what's going on?"Austin quickly made a shushing gesture, worried about disturbing Cecily.Then he gently pushed Ezra back into the room."Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Lockwood," Austin said.Ezra smiled. "It's no trouble at all. The older you get, the less you need. I was just reading."Austin glanced at the book on Ezra's bedside table and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.This old rascal!Ezra blushed and quickly shoved the book under his pillow.Austin sat on the bed and pulled up the text message from Walter, showing it to Ezra."I just received this message."When Ezra read the text, his eyes lit up with a sharp gleam, and he was overjoyed. "This is from Mr. Walter!"Austin nodded, his expression serious. "But I've sent several messages back, and there's been no reply. I called twice—once it was immedi
"The underground king of Eastbrook bows down."This news swept through Eastbrook like a storm.Ethan knew that by doing this, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city. But he also knew he had no choice—he had to do it!Even if he became a joke, he would remain the underground king. But if he refused to lower his head, he would end up a dead man.He understood the situation perfectly.In fact, that very night, a message was released from Brook Villa.No one is to compete for the land!This is a clear warning to all real estate companies in Eastbrook. It was also a gesture of goodwill toward Austin.But Austin didn't pay it much mind.If not for Derrick's involvement, he had no idea how Ethan would have responded—but Austin knew his response would have been much tougher.A mere city's underground king? He didn't even compare to the richest man in Basin City or the capital—he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes!After leaving Brook Villa, Austin didn't linger