The Darkclaw CEO, Mr. Wilfred was a ruthless man, he's the king of the underworld in Storm City, he gets whatever he wants. The Armands have been trying to close a deal with him, but he requested sleeping with Tessa before he would grant them the deal. On one occasion he even tried to forcefully sleep with Tessa, but she escaped. If it was left to her, she wanted to forget about the deal with such a cruel organization."That’s not my problem," Eleanor said dismissively. "If he’s truly capable, he’ll survive. If not, I won’t tolerate him—or the child."Adam gave a small laugh. "I accept your challenge."Tessa turned to him, disbelief etched on her face. "Why are you agreeing to this? You know how dangerous this is!"Adam’s expression softened as he looked at her. "I don’t lose, Tessa. And I won’t lose you or our child."Though fear churned in her heart, Tessa found a sliver of comfort in Adam’s confidence.Eleanor crossed her arms. "Five days, Adam. If you fail, the marriage ends—and s
Meanwhile, Tessa found herself at the hospital for a prenatal check-up, all under her mother’s insistence."What? I'm not pregnant?"When Tessa heard the doctor declare she wasn't pregnant, she was utterly flabbergasted."No, that's impossible! I've slept with Adam! You must be mistaken," Tessa exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief."I assure you, there is no error in my examination. But if you have doubts, you're welcome to seek a second opinion elsewhere. I stand by the accuracy of my assessment," the doctor said, radiating confidence."But I've taken multiple pregnancy tests before," Tessa protested, still bewildered."Home pregnancy tests can yield false results. Moreover, my recent gynecological examination confirms that you are still a virgin. What made you believe you were pregnant?" the doctor inquired, concern etching his features."Doctor, are you certain she's still a virgin?" Eleanor interjected anxiously, her eyes darting between her daughter and the physician."I am a
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her tone. "Tessa has tried several times and failed to secure that deal. Are you confident?""Of course," Ethan replied, brimming with self-assurance. "I'm good friends with Mr. Wilfred's son, Kelvin. I’ll personally speak to him on the day of the bidding event and make sure we succeed."Ethan was optimistic. He often indulged in wild nights with Kelvin and had recently gifted him his favorite secretary. He was certain Kelvin would return the favor in kind.---After leaving the hospital, Tessa didn’t head home but instead called Adam. "Where are you?" she asked, urgency lacing her tone."I'm at work. What's going on?" Adam replied, his voice steady."Come home after work; I need to talk to you," Tessa said before abruptly ending the call.Adam had initially planned to head home immediately. But recalling Tessa’s urgency, he chose to stay busy until it was nearly time to leave before finally driving back.Despite the range of luxury car
Tessa brushed off Adam’s bravado without a care. To her, he was just trying to intimidate her. Suddenly, Adam leaned in and captured her soft lips, savoring them greedily. Tessa was overwhelmed. Electric sensations surged through her, momentarily overpowering her resistance as an inexplicable desire took hold. It wasn't until she sensed the hunger in Adam’s eyes that she snapped out of her trance. “Get off me!” Startled, Tessa pushed him away forcefully and bolted. “Ah, that was delightful!” Adam closed his eyes, relishing the blissful sensation as the exquisite taste of her lips lingered on his. He made no attempt to chase after Tessa. Since they lived under the same roof, he was confident he would eventually have his way with her. --- It was the day of the bidding for the Darkclaw project two days later. This billion-dollar contract was highly coveted by companies in Storm City. Tessa had nearly sacrificed her dignity for this project before. Early in the mornin
Eleanor scoffed, folding her arms smugly. “Do you really think you can win the bidding? Don’t overestimate yourself, Adam. We’ll secure the bid today—but not because of you.”She cast a glance toward Ethan, her lips curling into a pleased smile. “It’s Ethan who holds the key. He’s close to Kelvin, and a simple word from him will seal the deal.”Adam’s lips twitched upward into a slow smirk. “That’s not necessarily true.”Ethan sneered, his eyes narrowing in disdain. “You’re delusional. You don't belong here, Adam. This isn’t some playground—it’s a battlefield. You don’t have the slightest chance.”Adam leaned back in his seat, arms draped casually over the armrests. “You sound awfully confident for someone who hides behind connections.”Ethan’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened with irritation. “I don’t need to hide behind anything. I know exactly what I bring to the table—unlike you, a useless parasite leeching off others.”Adam’s expression didn’t falter. “Big words from someone r
With that, she shot Ethan a smug smile, turned on her heel, and strolled away gracefully, leaving Ethan fuming in silence.The moment Stacey disappeared, Eleanor rounded on Adam, her face twisted in anger.“You’re disgusting, Adam. How dare you look at another woman before you’ve even finalized the divorce from my daughter?”Adam raised a brow, clearly unimpressed by her outrage. “You’ve got it wrong. Stacey and I are just colleagues.”Eleanor crossed her arms, her glare sharp as a knife. “She’s the Gold family’s heiress—and the Supreme General’s personal assistant, no less. And even if she'll work anywhere, it'll be in the Bulgart Industry, owned by the Supreme General. You expect me to believe you two are just colleagues?”Ethan let out a derisive snort. “Right. Even if he somehow works at Bulgart Industry, he’s probably no more than a security guard. Just another watchdog in a cheap uniform.”Nala, standing beside Ethan, eagerly joined in, her voice filled with venom. “That’s rig
The bidding results were set to be announced in an hour, and the companies waited patiently for the outcome.Tessa tapped her fingers against the table, her nerves getting the better of her. This was her first major project since taking control of Armand Group, and not everyone in the company was happy about it. The shareholders had been circling her like vultures, waiting for her to slip up.Ralph, in particular, was eager to see her fail. If she lost this bid, it would give him the perfect excuse to force her out as CEO.Adam, sitting beside her, noticed the slight furrow on her brow. He leaned in closer, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. "Don’t worry. We’ve got this in the bag."Tessa shot him a skeptical glance. "And what makes you so sure?"Before Adam could respond, Eleanor sneered from across the room. "If we win this bid, it’ll be thanks to Ethan, not you. What makes you think you have any role in this?"Nala chimed in with a grin. "Exactly. Ethan has already made arrangemen
Ethan raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in Kelvin’s tone. "And what would that be?"Kelvin’s smile turned predatory. "I want Tessa."Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. "Tessa?"Kelvin’s grin widened. "You heard me. She got away from me the last time we crossed paths, but now she’s in my territory. I plan to finish what I started."Ethan’s hand tightened around his glass, the edges of his smile faltering. "Look, Kelvin… Tessa’s my fiancée."Kelvin’s expression darkened. "So what? That doesn’t mean anything to me."Ethan forced a smile, his mind racing. "Come on, Kelvin. Let’s not get carried away. How about I find you someone else—someone just as beautiful?"Kelvin’s eyes narrowed with displeasure. "There is no one else like her, Ethan. We both know that. Now, are you going to bring her to me, or do I have to take her myself?"Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest. He knew what Kelvin was capable of, and he also knew that defying him wasn’t an option."Kelvin," Ethan began carefully, "surel
“I’ll take it then,” Reeves said, his expression lighting up with satisfaction. In fact, he looked almost gleeful as he turned to the staff and asked, “How do you feel after I’ve bought your dog for five million?”“Mr. Reeves, are you serious?” the staff member stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.Reeves nodded confidently and wrote a check for five million dollars right away. When the staff took the check from his hand, she still seemed stunned, unable to process what was happening.Clement was so elated that he turned to Stacey and said, “Ms. Gold, can you do me a favor? Tell your hotel staff to have the dog killed and retrieve the pill from its stomach.”Stacey hesitated for a moment but then nodded. She quickly called two hotel employees over to take the pug away.It was only then that everyone in the room seemed to grasp what was going on. The initial fight between Clinton and Reeves over the dog hadn’t been about the animal at all. Instead, it was about the pill the pug had
Clinton looked utterly heartbroken, his shoulders sagging as disappointment swept over his face. Stacey, standing nearby, mirrored his dismay, her lips pressed into a thin line.“Ms. Gold, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Reeves—what are you doing?” Gerald asked, his confusion evident.Clinton sighed deeply, his expression darkening. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his eyes lit up with urgency. He turned toward the pug sitting innocently nearby and pointed at it. “Whose dog is this?”A staff member hesitantly stepped forward, her face pale with nervousness. “It’s mine, sir. I… I’m terribly sorry for bringing him here. It was unprofessional of me.”Stacey shot her a sharp look but quickly softened her tone. “Let this be the only time. Don’t let it happen again.”“Yes, Ms. Gold. Thank you!” The staff member bowed repeatedly in relief, but just as she began to leave with the pug, Clinton raised his voice.“Wait! Hold on!” he called out urgently.The staff froze mid-step, her heart racing. “Y
“Enough with the nonsense. You just got lucky with your guess. Don’t think you’re all that,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. Despite his dismissive tone, his fidgeting fingers betrayed his growing panic. David, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a scoff. “Even if Mr. Diamond’s painting is fake, it doesn’t change anything. He was deceived! He spent over ten million dollars on it—that’s worth far more than whatever trash you’re calling a gift.” Adam chuckled, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “Trash, you say? You’re calling the pill trash?” David snatched the small bottle from Adam’s hand, shaking it aggressively before pouring out a single black pill into his palm. “Look at this!” David held it up for everyone to see. “Who in their right mind would dare eat something like this? It’s nothing but a scam!” “Dad, look at this nonsense,” he added, handing the pill to Gerald. “Why should I waste my time looking at trash?” Gerald replied coldly, his face twisting in disgust as he
Stacey quickly understood Adam's intention and turned to an elderly man seated not far away. “Mr. Spark, you’re an expert in paintings. Could you help us authenticate this piece?”The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Charles Spark. Known as a renowned art expert, his opinion carried significant weight.One guest chimed in, “Mr. Charles Spark is a leading authority in the art world. If anyone can authenticate this painting, it’s him.”Another nodded in agreement. “But do we even need to go that far? Mr. Diamond wouldn’t dare gift a fake painting. He has a reputation to uphold!”“Exactly,” someone else added. “Ten million dollars is nothing to someone like him. Why would he risk his name over a counterfeit?”The murmurs of agreement spread through the room. Brian, however, felt a bead of sweat forming on his temple. His confidence wavered as he realized the scrutiny was about to intensify.Feigning nonchalance, Brian scoffed, “Authenticate it? That’s rich. But the painting has alr
Brian sneered with an air of superiority. “Well, brat, did you notice anything? Or are you just bluffing again?” Adam didn’t respond immediately. Instead, a playful smile danced across his lips as he picked up a glass of water from the table. He swirled the water in his mouth, as if savoring it, but he didn’t swallow. In a sudden, unexpected move, Adam sprayed the water directly onto the painting. “What are you doing?!” “How dare you?!” The room erupted in chaos. Wendy’s face turned beet red as she jumped to her feet, her finger shaking as she pointed at Adam. Brian was equally furious, his fists clenched tightly. Even Brenda, Gerald, and several other guests stared at Adam in disbelief. “You lunatic!” Wendy’s voice trembled with rage. “That painting is worth millions! How dare you destroy it? You must pay for this, or I swear you won’t leave here alive!” Tessa’s expression shifted from shock to anger as she shouted, “Adam, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind?” She gr
“Adam, I’m begging you. Please, just stop spreading these rumors.” Tessa’s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and disbelief, her gaze fixed on Adam with evident disappointment.She had always thought Adam had a tendency to boast, but this was different. This wasn’t mere exaggeration; it was crossing a line. Her chest tightened as the reality sank in—she was beginning to lose faith in him.Adam, however, remained calm. His sharp gaze locked onto Brian as he asked, “If you’re so confident it’s not a fake, would you allow me to inspect it?”Wendy, unable to hide her irritation, scoffed. “Inspect it? Do you even hear yourself? That painting is worth millions! How dare someone like you even think of inspecting it?”“Exactly!” Brenda chimed in, her arms crossed in disdain. “You have no right to touch something that valuable. If you so much as leave a smudge on it, you’ll be paying for it for the rest of your life!”Brian smirked arrogantly, adjusting his pristine designer watch as he
Gerald’s expression darkened further, his patience wearing thin. If it weren’t for Adam’s association with Stacey, he might have lashed out already. He clenched his fists, suppressing his growing annoyance.Meanwhile, Brian, oblivious to Gerald’s restraint, sneered disdainfully. “How shameless can you be? Offering this junk as a gift? It’s downright embarrassing.”“He’s absolutely right,” Wendy chimed in, her tone dripping with contempt. She rolled her eyes dramatically and added, “Just look at Mr. Diamond. His gift is worth millions, while yours is nothing but a worthless trinket.”Adam let out a quiet chuckle, his smirk widening. “I’ve been holding back, trying to ignore the two of you. But you’ve pushed me too far. Since you seem so eager, I have no choice but to expose the truth.”The sudden shift in his tone caught the room’s attention. Brian and Wendy exchanged uneasy glances but quickly masked their unease with indignation.“Expose us? You?” Wendy scoffed, crossing her arms. “W
“What? How dare you curse me?” Gerald’s voice thundered through the hall, his expression darkening with fury.“I’ve told you before—he’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch. Do you believe me now, Grandpa?” Brenda sneered, seizing the opportunity to pile on the insults.“How dare you curse Grandpa? Apologize to him immediately!” Richard roared, his face contorted with anger.“What are you waiting for?” Eleanor shouted at Adam, her voice trembling with rage. “Do you want to drag us all down with your reckless behavior? Apologize now!”Their frustration was palpable. Despite their disdain for Adam, he was still tied to their family through marriage. If Gerald's anger boiled over, it would spell disaster for everyone associated with him.“Adam, you’ve crossed the line this time! Apologize to Grandpa right away,” Tessa demanded, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.The crowd, sensing the mounting tension, erupted into a chorus of condemnation.“What kind of son-in-law dares to curs
After all, Bulgart Industry was the leading company in the world. Compared to them, the Diamond family was insignificant. Moreover, the Supreme General’s terrifying underworld organizations was not something the Diamond family would dare to provoke.By now, most of the guests had arrived, and the banquet was about to begin. But before the festivities could commence, an important tradition took center stage—the gift-giving ceremony.Henry was the first to stand, holding an exquisite vase in his hands. He stepped forward confidently and addressed Gerald. “Grandpa, this antique vase cost me eight million dollars. I hope it brings you joy and prosperity on your birthday.”The crowd murmured in approval, nodding at the sight of the lavish gift. Gerald smiled warmly, clearly pleased with Henry’s gesture.“What a thoughtful gift,” someone whispered.Next, Brian rose with a proud smile, presenting a rolled-up painting carefully encased in protective wrapping. He handed it to Gerald with a sli