Adam didn’t bother to chase after Selena, who had already fled the scene. Instead, he pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling with urgency. Just as he was about to call Hammer, his phone rang.“Hammer, any news on Tessa?” Adam’s voice was thick with worry, his exhaustion evident. He’d activated an emergency signal just moments earlier, a direct line to Hammer, hoping his message had reached him in time. After he saw Wilfred take Tessa away, he’d seized a quick chance to press the button, alerting Hammer to her location.“Supreme General, rest assured,” Hammer’s voice came through, steady and calm. “I’ve rescued the madam safely and captured Wilfred and the other traitors. I’m awaiting your orders.”A rush of relief washed over Adam, loosening the tightness in his chest. “I’m still at the cafe. Come here,” he said, ending the call and exhaling a long breath. He had endured more than he’d anticipated. Not only had he lost the Seraphic Tear Pendant, but both his legs were badly injur
“Why are you two here?” Tessa was surprised. She’d only encountered Stacey when she first woke up, and she hadn’t informed her family about her whereabouts.Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “Did you forget that the Armand family holds shares in this hospital? The dean notified us as soon as he found out you were admitted. He mentioned you were drugged. Are you alright?”Tessa shook her head, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Mom. But Adam… he had both his legs broken.”Eleanor cast a disdainful look at Adam and scoffed. “Serves him right. Always stirring up trouble—he’s lucky to still be breathing.”“It was Mr. Wilfred who did this,” Tessa murmured.“Of course it was,” Eleanor replied without surprise. “After what happened to his son, it was only a matter of time before Mr. Wilfred retaliated. He’s actually being lenient by only breaking Adam’s legs.”Richard nodded in agreement, adding, “Your mother’s right. Staying with someone who attracts disaster like this… You should divorce him immediately
The Armand family had convened an emergency meeting in the opulent family mansion, though the grandeur of their surroundings felt hollow given their current crisis. Gerald sat at the head of the table, his usually firm posture sagging, an undeniable weight etched across his features."As you all know," he began gravely, "we invested every cent we had into the Darkclaw project. And now, with the Darkclaw Group's collapse and the project forced to halt, we're staring bankruptcy in the face."A heavy silence settled over the room, punctuated only by Gerald's weary sighs. His once sharp eyes, now dimmed, reflected a man burdened by the looming threat of financial ruin.First to break the silence was Wendy, who leaned forward with a look of disdain directed at her cousin. "Grandpa, this entire fiasco is Tessa's doing! If our Armand family goes bankrupt, she'll be the one to blame for it.""Absolutely!" Brenda, Wendy’s mother, chimed in with fervor. "She’s brought this calamity on us. She s
“Let her in,” Ethan commanded, a trace of smug anticipation flashing in his eyes. As he spoke, he discreetly reached into his desk drawer, extracting two small pills. Swallowing them, he felt a sharp, invigorating kick—an artificial edge to mask his weakness. These pills were powerful drugs to help his manhood, a temporary fix with dangerous side effects if overused. But at this moment, Ethan didn’t care; his pride demanded it.The assistant scurried out, and within moments, Tessa entered the office. She looked composed, but he could sense the tension radiating from her, as if she were a deer stepping into a lion’s den. She hesitated by the door, her gaze flickering uncertainly over him.“Leave us,” Ethan directed to his assistant. “Close the door. No interruptions.”The room fell silent as the assistant hurried out, leaving Tessa alone with him. Ethan leaned back, crossing his legs leisurely, eyeing her with a smug grin. “Ms. Armand, you finally grace me with your presence. I’ve invi
“Mr. Blackwood, no, please!” Tessa gasped in horror, her voice trembling as she backed away from Ethan. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly assessed the situation, knowing she had to act fast. Fortunately, she had prepared for this moment. In a flash, she stood up, her mind racing, and grabbed the nearest object—a vase from a nearby table. Holding it tightly, she pointed it toward Ethan, her grip firm despite the fear coursing through her veins. “Don’t come any closer!” she warned, her voice shaky but resolute. Ethan’s expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed with fury. “Tessa, do you still want the money or not?” His voice was low and threatening. “Put the vase down, and let me have my way with you, or the Armand Group can kiss their business goodbye.” Tessa’s breath hitched at his words. The weight of the situation bore down on her as she tried to steady her shaking hands. She had no choice—her family’s survival depended on her making this deal. “I’ll do whatever you
Wendy glared at Tessa, her anger seething as she pointed a trembling finger at her. "Grandpa sent you to please Mr. Blackwood, and what did you do? You didn’t just fail to cheer him up, but you’ve gone and ruined everything! You've even injured his... Do you realize what you've done? You're going to destroy all of us!" Tessa stood frozen, horrified by the harsh words and the cold stares from everyone in the room. Her heart pounded in her chest. "What are you trying to do, Tessa? What did you think would happen?!" Gerald’s voice boomed with fury. "Do you really want the company to go bankrupt just to get your way? Is that what this is all about?" The accusations kept coming. Every word, every harsh tone made her feel smaller, like the walls were closing in around her. They were all angry—furious at her failure, at her actions, and at the situation she had unknowingly walked into. "How could you be so reckless?" Wendy shouted, her voice sharp. "This isn’t just about you anymore, Tess
Tessa’s eyes filled with concern. "Adam, please—" "No. We leave together," he said, his tone unyielding. But Tessa knew the danger. "They’re my family," she argued desperately. "I’ll be fine. Just go back to the hospital." Adam shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I’ve seen enough. These people don’t treat you like family, Tessa. You’re just a tool to them. You’ve always been just that." The tension in the room thickened as Adam turned his gaze to Gerald, his expression sharp and unforgiving. "I’m not leaving, Gerald. Not until you stop threatening my wife." Gerald’s patience snapped. His face contorted with anger as he coldly addressed Adam. "Considering the favors you’ve done for me in the past, I’ll let you go. But if you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for what comes next." Adam stood his ground, unwavering. "I’m not going anywhere. And if you keep pushing her, I’ll make sure you regret it." "Getting cocky, huh?" Henry barked, his fury growing by the second. "Someon
"That's your word," Adam said, his voice light but laced with a hint of warning. "Don’t go back on it when things get tough." Henry scoffed, his eyes glinting with arrogance. "My word is ironclad. But this is your one shot, Adam. One billion dollars, or your arms get snapped." Tessa looked at Henry, then back at Adam, her brow furrowed. "Adam, what are you talking about? Where would you even get that kind of money?" She turned to Henry, trying to downplay the tension. "He's just joking, don’t take it seriously." But Henry's expression turned icy, his tone cutting through the air. "I’m not joking. I want proof of funds, now." Adam’s gaze remained steady. "I don’t have it on me right now," he replied, his calmness only increasing the tension. "Good," Henry said, his smile cold and cruel. "Then break his arms." "Wait, Henry, please," Tessa pleaded, her voice desperate. "You don’t need to do this. Let him go." "No!" Henry's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing. "I haven’t forgotten e