Amora was speechless. She couldn’t find the words to respond to Regis’s principle, which she found excessively cruel.However, what Mark said was true. Compassion was merely a weakness that enemies would exploit to turn the tide and bring them down again.But Amora couldn’t bring herself to use the kind of brutal methods Mark had described.“You don’t seem to like my approach, Amora,” Regis guessed, noticing her expression.“You’re right. I’m afraid I can’t do it your way, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let my enemies walk all over me, Regis,” Amora stated firmly, showing that she wouldn’t just stand by.“Alright, then what’s your plan?” Regis asked, his curiosity piqued as he stared intently at Amora.A sly grin spread across Amora’s face. She retu
The school bell had rung, and the students of Sunrise School had packed up their belongings, rushing out of class under the guidance of their homeroom teachers.Parents and guardians were waiting at the pick-up gate, and one by one, the students waved goodbye to their teachers after spotting their pick-up.Rayden scanned the crowd for his father’s assistant among the parents and guardians.“Looks like you’re not getting picked up, you bastard,” teased Benjamin when he saw the disappointed look on Rayden's face.Mark Carter still hadn’t shown up. Rayden thought maybe his father's assistant was busy or stuck in traffic.Rayden ignored Benjamin’s taunt, choosing instead to wait a little longer.“Ben, Rayden has a name. Can’t you call him by his real name?” Kimmy scolded Benjamin after hearing his earlier remark.Benjamin’s face darkened, but he didn’t respond to Kimmy. Instead, he went off to bother another classmate still waiting to be picked up.Kimmy pouted in frustration. “That fat B
"I didn’t expect you to change so drastically, Miss Lysander. Were you once the incarnation of an angel?"The makeup artist who had just applied the final touches on Amora's face complimented her with sugary words. Amora knew the woman was only being polite, trying to please her as a special client."You’re exaggerating, Jessy. This is all thanks to your magic hands," Amora responded with a smile curving elegantly on her lips, now painted with peach-colored lipstick.Amora gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was mesmerized by how she looked and by Jessica Meadow's skill, a renowned professional makeup artist.Jessica’s touch had made Amora’s face glow in a way it hadn’t for a long time. She couldn’t remember the last time she had paid attention to her own face. Her daily busyness left no time for proper skincare.But even if she had the time, she’d need money to buy quality skincare products or visit beauty clinics.Instead, Amora had always chosen to spend her money on more es
"This dress looks great on you too, Miss. The cut really suits your long legs."One of the boutique attendants explained the design of the dress she was holding to Amora. For the past fifteen minutes, they had been showcasing each dress from the boutique.Amora carefully examined each dress the attendants were holding. She had to admit that the fabrics and designs were exquisite, making it difficult for her to choose just one."Do you have a favorite among these, Miss?" the boutique manager asked politely.Amora gave a shy smile. Her hazel eyes scanned each of the dresses again. All of them were handcrafted by professional designers, and Amora was shocked by the prices on the tags."One of these dresses could pay my rent for a month," she thought, swallowing hard.Still, she didn’t want to reveal her shock. "I think... I'll go with this one," she said, choosing a simpler dress compared to the others. The off-shoulder midi dress, with a long slit at the bottom, felt more appropriate fo
Regis’s eyes carefully studied Amora from head to toe, making her feel like something was wrong with her.But the words that came out of his mouth next made Amora want to strangle him for making her worry too much."It looks like you need new shoes to complement your dress."Amora didn’t respond. She just rolled her eyes in annoyance.Eventually, Regis asked one of the boutique attendants to bring shoes that would match his wife’s dress.Not long after, Amora's appearance was completely perfect. She admired herself in the mirror in awe."Is this all real?" she thought, still in disbelief at the luxury surrounding her.“Oh no, I forgot to take off the price tag,” Amora muttered as she realized her mistake.She tried to reach for the tag on her back but found it hard to do by herself. Her eyes shifted to Jessica, who was busy packing up her tools. Just as she was about to ask for help, Regis suddenly appeared behind her.Amora glanced back briefly, her lips parting but quickly closing w
"But, this isn't our actual wedding ring." The words that escaped Regis' lips left Amora momentarily stunned. "You mean ... this is a fake ring?" Amora asked with a confused expression. "You're underestimating me, huh? Do I need to buy a fake ring when I can buy out an entire jewelry store?" Regis raised an eyebrow and gave Amora a sharp look. She cleared her throat softly and said, "Well, your words were pretty ambiguous just now." "That's why you should let me finish speaking first," Regis retorted, gently tapping her forehead with his finger. Amora rubbed her forehead, then pouted lazily. She shot a sharp glance at Regis. "This isn't our wedding ring because the one I ordered isn’t ready yet," Regis explained. This time, Amora began to understand what her husband meant. "I figured someone like you would want a custom-made ring. Making a ring isn’t as simple or quick as this," she replied. "Looks like you know me well," Regis teased, causing Amora to pout again at his playfu
“Isn’t that Young Master Lorenzo?” The shout from one of the reporters covering the news in front of Beth Jefferson’s art gallery immediately caught everyone’s attention, focusing on the couple who had just walked towards the building. “It is!” another journalist exclaimed. “Who’s that woman? Why is Young Master Lorenzo with her?” Another journalist chimed in. “Could she be his new girlfriend?” The reporters began speculating with their own analyses. “This is huge news!” The reporters' excitement caused a stir around the gallery. One by one, they raced to get the scoop first, prompting the gallery’s security team to intervene after seeing the situation getting out of hand. It wasn’t surprising that the reporters were so enthusiastic, as it had been a long time since they covered anything related to Regis Lorenzo. They acted l
A confident smile appeared on Amora's lips. "I'm very honored and touched that you can recognize me, Mrs. Jefferson," she said. "How have you been, Miss Lysander?" Beth asked, her expression full of concern. Of course, the elderly woman had already heard about what had happened to Amora. Seven years ago, Beth had listened to Gilda’s complaints about her friend’s beloved granddaughter. "I heard that you …." "I'm doing fine, Mrs. Jefferson. It’s wonderful to see you still looking healthy and even more beautiful," Amora interrupted, not wanting to discuss her past at the moment. Beth chuckled softly. "That sweet mouth of yours is still the same as before, Miss Lysander," she replied. "I'm getting old. You’re the one who looks more beautiful and mature, to the point that I almost didn’t recognize you," added the elderly woman. There were actually ma
"Why are you stammering like that, Amora? That's strange," Regis said, narrowing his eyes as he studied his wife, who seemed oddly hesitant in front of him."Are you feeling sick?" he asked, placing a hand on Amora’s forehead again."No fever," Regis muttered after sensing her temperature was normal.Amora gently pushed his hand away. "I’m not running a fever," she replied.Her eyes darted to the floor that Regis had just cleaned. "Sorry for troubling you," Amora murmured softly."You don’t need to apologize, Amora. It’s just a small matter. Besides, isn’t it okay for a husband to help his wife?" Regis responded casually.Amora smiled faintly and nodded. "I felt a little dizzy earlier and accidentally dropped the glass. Thank you for helping me clean up," she said gratefully.Regis walked around the sofabed and sat beside her. "Are you still dizzy now?" he asked with concern evident in his eyes."A little. My stomach also feels a bit crampy," Amora admitted, her face slightly pale."H
Amora tossed and turned repeatedly on the bed. Even though her eyes were closed, she was still wide awake with unease. Finally, she got up and switched on the bedside lamp.She glanced briefly to her side. Regis still hadn’t come into the room, even though it was getting late—already half past ten.“Is he not sleeping here tonight?” Amora wondered to herself.Sometimes Regis didn’t sleep in their room, choosing instead to work late and rest in his study.Sitting on the edge of her bed, Amora looked visibly exhausted, yet her earlier conversation with Rayden still lingered in her mind.Worry over Rayden’s anger weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to fall asleep that night.“I hope Ray can understand that no one thinks he’s worthless,” Amora thought, reflecting for a moment. Then, she prayed silently, asking for her son’s heart and mind to be open to the truth, forgiving both her and Regis.After praying, Amora sighed deeply. Her throat felt dry, so she reached for the glass of
Rayden looked back at his mother and asked, “Mom, is it possible for two people to look so much alike even if they’re not blood-related?”Amora smiled faintly. “I once read that every person has seven doppelgangers in the world, people who aren’t related to them at all. But honestly, I’ve never been sure since I’ve never seen it myself,” she replied.Rayden nodded thoughtfully. Earlier, he had read a similar article, but the question still lingered in his mind. Was his resemblance to Regis mere coincidence, especially given their significant age difference?Before Rayden could ask more, his mother preemptively addressed the question forming in his mind. “But you and Regis might resemble each other not because you have no blood relation, Ray.”The statement that fell from his mother's lips did not surprise Rayden too much. However, he was at a loss for words to express his feelings.A sigh slowly escaped Amora's nose as she reached for her son's tiny hands, which felt very cold when sh
Amora’s hand froze mid-air as she was about to unlock her son’s tablet. But after a moment of hesitation, she proceeded to try opening it. Unfortunately, she couldn’t—Rayden had set up a passcode on the device.She pursed her lips in annoyance and glanced over at her son, who was now doing his best to avoid her inquisitive gaze.“Ray…”Before Amora could ask further about the passcode, Rayden snatched the tablet from her hands and quickly hid it behind his small back.Reacting instinctively, Amora stretched out her hand toward him. “Give me the tablet, Ray!” she commanded.Rayden pressed his lips together tightly and bowed his head low, still keeping the tablet firmly behind him.Amora let out a long sigh. She realized she might be acting too strict, but she had to know what her son was trying to hide.Her concern wasn’t baseless. Amora feared Rayden might be caught up in something harmful. Technology had advanced rapidly, but online dangers had grown just as quickly. She didn’t want
After dinner, Mark drove his young master, along with his wife and child, back to their penthouse.“Thank you, Mark. You should rest too. We’ll continue our discussion tomorrow,” Regis said as they stood at the entrance to his residence.Mark nodded. “Goodnight, Young Master,” he replied respectfully before heading back to the elevator and leaving.Regis shut the penthouse door, switched to his indoor slippers, and walked inside, scanning the room. He noticed neither his wife nor son were around. “They disappeared fast,” he muttered.The two had gone in earlier while he and Mark briefly discussed his schedule for the following day.Regis took off his suit jacket and tie, tossing them onto a bar stool. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water and then stepped into the gym to do a little physical activity.This was his nightly routine when there were no pressing matters. Burning off calories helped him drain his energy, ensuring a good night’s sleep without battling insomnia.He unbuttoned
“Do you remember what I mentioned earlier in the car? About the security detail?”Regis began the serious topic he had wanted to discuss with his wife.Amora gave a small nod.“Starting tomorrow, there will be someone escorting you and Ray. I hope you can get used to this arrangement.”Amora was stunned, staring at her husband in disbelief.“Tomorrow? Didn’t you say you’d only do that once our relationship became public knowledge?” Amora protested at his unexpected decision.“I’ve changed my mind,” Regis replied nonchalantly.Amora clicked her tongue in annoyance. She had thought life would stay normal until the Royal Dragon anniversary celebration.For the past few days, Amora had observed Regis, who always seemed to act with a clear reason. Even if he sometimes avoided explaining things outright, causing misunderstandings that led to arguments, they would eventually clear the air.Oddly enough, neither of them ever stayed upset for long. It had become part of their dynamic.Amora fe
After finishing the fitting session, the sun had already begun its descent. Regis invited Amora and their son to dine at a restaurant his assistant had reserved.Upon arrival, a waiter and the restaurant manager greeted them warmly and escorted them to the private room they had booked.Rayden’s wide eyes wandered around the VIP room in awe. He took in the beautiful crystal chandeliers hanging elegantly from the high ceiling.His little feet quickly carried him to the large windows, which offered a breathtaking view of the city glowing with a myriad of twinkling lights.Mark followed closely behind, his duty being to accompany his young master’s son.“Do you like this restaurant, Little Young Master?” Mark asked, noting the sparkle in the boy’s eyes.Rayden looked up and nodded enthusiastically. His gaze shifted to the long dining table, where his parents were busy ordering food with the help of the manager.“Uncle Carter, can I ask you something?” Rayden whispered softly, as if afraid
"Could he really be my biological father?"Rayden muttered to himself in front of the mirror. The thought had crossed his mind out of nowhere. Suspicion after suspicion began to bubble up, but he quickly shook his head.“No … no way. He’s not my real father,” Rayden mumbled, trying to push away his own analysis.“Where’s Mommy’s handsome prince?”Amora's voice interrupted Rayden's thoughts. He immediately turned his head and found his mother standing at the door of his fitting room.Amora looked stunning and elegant in a luxurious gown that highlighted her beauty.Rayden blinked, momentarily taken aback by her appearance.“Wow... my son is so handsome,” Amora praised enthusiastically. Her smile wide as she took in the sight of her son in formal attire for the first time.“You know, Ray, I almost thought you stepped right out of a fairy tale book,” she teased, giggling at her own imagination.Rayden gave her a shy smile as he walked toward her, gazing at her intently.“You’re beautiful
A wave of confusion swept over Rayden’s mind as he processed the question his father had just asked. He vividly remembered his mother asking him a similar question years ago, just before deciding to marry Regis.Back then, Rayden thought his mom was joking. After all, she had only asked for his opinion about Regis becoming his father, which made him happy since he had always wanted a father figure.This time, this similar question, with a different intent, certainly made Rayden think hard. He felt that Regis didn't just want to ask for his opinion, but there was another purpose that the man wanted to know from him.If he wanted to equate Regis with his biological father, of course, Rayden didn't like it. Although he had never met him in person and had no idea who his biological father was. In his mind there was only a negative assessment of the figure.Tilting his head slightly, Rayden fixed his sharp gaze on Regis.“Daddy is Daddy. There’s no way you’re anything like him,” Rayden dec