"That's enough, Harv!"Nancy gritted her teeth, sounding aggrieved. "I know you want to get married as soon as possible. Let me handle Austin. "You should just relax and take care of Mom. Don't tell Mom and Dad about this. I don't want to get them to work up over this."Then, she turned around to leave.Harvey still looked angry. "Handle this? If you could handle it, why would you choose to trick Susie? Our family would not be in such a bad place if you could handle it."However, Nancy had already left and did not hear Harvey's words.…Back at Dominion Properties, Austin had been busy with work.The west city slum redevelopment project had his full attention.Although he had settled the problem with the extravagant cost of the proposal, he still had a lot of things to do.He had to start with the construction and pre-sales as soon as possible!The project would only stabilize itself when money flowed into his account.Only then would he be able to meet his father.Ding
After running multiple tests, it was clear that Dahlia was still in good shape.However, Raquel and Isaac were still worried about her.When Austin arrived at the hospital at night, neither Raquel nor Dahlia mentioned the incident.As a mother, she felt sorry for her son.Dahlia knew how hard Austin was working. She didn't want to burden him any further.Raquel came close to mentioning it as she looked at Austin. However, Dahlia's words caused her to hold it in."Austin, you seem exhausted recently."Dahlia looked at her son and felt her heart break. Her eyes turned slightly red.Her surgery and Austin's divorce had all happened within a month.Both issues were enough to make a normal person fall under heavy pressure.Not to mention, Austin was shouldering the burden alone. He was also busy working hard to pay her extensive medical bills."Mom, I'm alright."Austin smiled. His mother's health was slowly improving with each day, lessening the burden in his heart.As for bei
Ezra explained patiently, "Mr. Walter wants you to return to become the family's head. At the same time, other family members also want that position."The head of the family will hold immense wealth. Who wouldn't want such a position? "The fight for the position has always been fierce. You have become a problem in their eyes now.""What can they do? Kill me?" Austin smiled amusingly.Ezra did not answer, but he gave a small nod.Austin immediately swallowed back his smile. The question was no longer as funny as he thought it to be.People would do anything for money, even at the cost of their lives.Not to mention that this mysterious family seemed to be filthy rich. Killing someone was nothing to people in high society."Aldus!" Ezra suddenly shouted out."Yes, Mr. Lockwood."On the driver seat of the Rolls-Royce, a big burly man answered Ezra.Austin frowned. He wasn't Ezra's previous driver.Aldus looked scary and intimidating. The air around him was fierce and overwhe
After saying their goodbyes to Ezra, Austin and Aldus returned to Austin's rented house.The simplicity of Austin's house shocked Aldus."Do you think it is too crude?" Austin asked.Aldus shook his head and said, "Sir, you've worked hard for the past few years."Austin smiled. He liked Aldus' personality. Aldus knew what to say and what not to say.According to Ezra, Aldus would be by his side for some time. Things would be troublesome if he did not like Aldus."The house is slowly being filled with people. I've already bought a new place. We'll be able to move next month," Austin said with a smile.Although Heavensgate villa was extravagantly priced, one of the reasons was due to the villas being designed by multiple well-known interior designers to design the whole place.That was to allow the whole place to have a similar style and let the owner have a much more pleasurable experience.In other words, Austin only needed to buy some furniture. Then, he'll be able to move in
The shadow looked ferocious under the dim lighting.Austin wasn't able to get a good look at his face.Austin suddenly remembered Ezra's words as he watched the shadow run toward him.The man before him … would kill him.The piercing cold immediately shot to his head.Suddenly, the shadow appeared before him. The shadow lifted his leg and aimed straight at his head.Was he going to get killed?Austin's eyes widened. During their small exchange, he knew his opponent's strength was on a different level than his. His life was on the line.Austin watched as a new shadow appeared before him.The new shadow that had suddenly appeared immediately bent down and used his shoulder to stop the man's leg from striking Austin's head."Fuck off!"The black shadow caught the man's leg and threw it.With pure strength, the black shadow threw the attacker away.After landing on the ground, the attacker rolled on the ground a few times before coming to a stop."Aldus!"Aldus stood tall
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Taylor gritted out.Everyone in the Campbell family wanted to inherit and lead the family.However, Walter suddenly found his bastard son and tried to bring him back into the family. Such an action was like a slap to their faces.How could the rest of the family willingly give the position of family head to a bastard?Austin smiled in contempt. "Aldus, it's time to go home."Was he being ignored?Taylor's anger flared up, and his eyes looked like he could murder someone.However, Taylor knew he could not harm Austin with Aldus here.Walter had gifted his personal bodyguard to a bastard like him. It proved that Walter held him in high regard."You'll understand the difference between an elite and a bastard very soon." Taylor's sarcastic and cold voice sounded.When they got home, Austin immediately laid on the sofa."Thank you for your help just now."Aldus shook his head. "I'm just doing my job."Austin smiled and did not comment on it
Cecily turned to look at the dark clouds through the windows.She seemed slightly aggrieved as she murmured, "It's going to rain soon."She had already landed half an hour ago when she first texted Austin.Although she did not receive a reply from him, she did not leave.She had been abroad for three years. She wanted Austin to be the first person she saw. She also wanted a fresh start to her relationship with Austin.She had never thought the workaholic would have forgotten about her due to his work.After feeling sorry for herself, Cecily took a deep breath and smiled."It's nothing. Austin's just too hardworking."By the time Austin had rushed to the airport, another 40 minutes had passed.The dark clouds had finally given in as heavy rain poured down.He was drenched by the time he ran inside the airport. He immediately spotted the bored Cecily in the corner of the airport.After being apart for three years, Cecily did not change much in terms of appearance. She was st
They went to the Venus Restaurant.Austin's first time having Ashoden cuisine was in Venus Restaurant. Back then, Cecily was the one who had treated him to the meal.During their four years in university, Austin, Nancy, Cecily, and a few of their other friends would often go there to eat.Three years ago, Austin and Nancy had their farewell dinner with Cecily here before she went abroad.The restaurant was special to them."Hey, Workaholic? I didn't think you would still remember this place."Cecily tried to tidy her wet hair as she looked at the restaurant meaningfully."How could I forget?"Austin smiled bitterly.Cecily frowned. "But aren't you being too stingy? "You're the vice president of a property development company now. I just came back from being abroad. How can you bring me here?"Although she had been abroad for the past three years, she had always kept close tabs on Austin and Nancy.Otherwise, she would not have sent Austin a message questioning him when he
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