"Tessa, what happened, exactly? Why did Kelvin suddenly get injured? Which bastard did it?" Eleanor asked, genuinely intrigued."Actually…" Tessa hesitated, but she still told them the truth."What?" Eleanor was appalled. The others were equally shell-shocked."That asshole has really got some nerve! It was bad enough to offend the Blackwoods family last time, but how dare he cripple Mr. Wilfred's son?"He shouldn't drag us down with him even if he has a death wish!" Eleanor shrieked in terror."Seriously, Tessa? I don't mean to criticize you, but look at what you've done! You chose this worthless bastard over Mr. Blackwood."Not only is he worthless, he's an incorrigible troublemaker. Well, look at him now! Our entire family will suffer because he offended Mr. Wilfred!" Henry her cousin hollered.Her aunty, Brenda was fuming. "Grandpa entrusted the company to you. But what did you do? Never mind not contributing to the family, you caused such a huge problem."I think your position
Tessa’s gaze hardened as she looked at Henry. “So, what do you want me to do, Henry? Just hand Adam over like a bargaining chip?”“Exactly.” Henry crossed his arms, leaning back with a smug expression. “Or, at the very least, make it clear we’re not responsible for his actions. He’s your mess, after all—you’re the one who brought him into this family.”Richard’s jaw clenched as he cut in, his voice sharp. “If you’d just handled things properly with Kelvin, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Honestly, Tessa, I don’t know what you were thinking.”Tessa felt anger rising, her throat tightening. “You’re all… spineless.” Her voice cracked, tears pooling in her eyes as frustration and helplessness crashed over her.Just then, a maid burst into the room, her face pale with fear. “The Darkclaw clan—they’re here!”A cold dread swept over everyone in the room, silencing the family’s squabbles in an instant.“What?” Henry whispered, his face going ashen.Before anyone could react, the door flew open,
“You’re not coming with me this time, Stacey,” Adam said firmly. "Last time, you almost got yourself killed. You have no idea what we’re up against.”Stacey shook her head. “I know the risks. But I can handle myself, Adam. You don’t have to do this alone.”“I appreciate it, but I need you safe. Stay here.”Before another word could be exchanged, an arrow tore through the air, embedding itself in Adam's chest. The impact drove him back a step, and he grimaced as he felt the venomous burn begin to spread from the wound."Adam!" Stacey's eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively raised her guard, scanning the area.From the thick shadows, Viper emerged, flanked by a group of twenty men, all armed and eager for blood. A smug grin curled on his lips as he looked at Adam, the arrow wound in his chest."You’ll be dead in five minutes," Viper sneered. "That poison is designed to kill, even someone like you, warlord."Adam met his gaze, his expression dark and defiant. "Five minutes, huh?"
Adam stood over Viper’s battered form, his chest heaving. Memories of their last encounter flooded his mind—how he had once shown mercy, allowing Viper to walk away with his life. That mercy, he realized now, had been a mistake.“This ends here,” Adam growled, his voice like steel.Viper’s eyes widened as Adam’s hand closed around his throat. In one swift, decisive motion, Adam twisted, snapping Viper’s neck. The body fell limp to the ground, and the fight was over.Around him, the forest was eerily silent. Every one of Viper’s men lay defeated, sprawled across the ground. Adam surveyed the carnage, feeling a strange mixture of relief and frustration. He had come with hopes of finally retrieving the amulet, the artifact he believed held the power to shift the tides in his favor.But now, with Viper’s ambush behind him, he realized this had all been a trap—another elaborate ploy to lure him out and weaken him. His fists clenched. He had been so close, only to come up empty-handed once
Wilfred’s eyes gleamed with twisted anticipation as he edged closer to Tessa, a menacing smile playing on his lips. Though he had countless women at his disposal, none compared to her. And now, with an excuse that would shield him from any fallout, he felt invincible—even if the Supreme General found out.“Mr. Wilfred, please… let me go!” Tessa’s voice quivered, panic filling her wide eyes.“Let you go?” he mocked, voice dripping with malice. “I’m offering you a rare honor, Tessa. Bear me a child, and you’ll reap the benefits.” He stepped forward, his hands outstretched.Tessa screamed, scrambling back, her voice filled with terror. “Please, Mr. Wilfred! Find someone else. I’m already married!”“Married?” He scoffed, a sneer curling his lips. “To that pathetic excuse of a man? He’ll be dead soon. Besides, ordinary women don’t deserve to bear my child. You should feel honored I’m even considering you.”She backed up, desperate, her eyes darting around the small, claustrophobic room. Sp
The pendant around Tessa's neck—the Cursed-idol amulet—was no ordinary trinket. It was the supreme token, the symbol of the Supreme General himself, an item that no one else dared to carry. For her to be wearing it could mean only one thing: she was under the Supreme General’s protection.Wilfred’s face drained of all color. His confidence, his bravado—all of it melted away, leaving only raw, unfiltered terror. The Darkclaw clan, formidable as they were, held only a fraction of power compared to the full might of the Redblood organization. In that world, Wilfred’s position was insignificant, like a pawn easily discarded, and the Redblood organization was owned by one of the Supreme General's subordinates, and now he had committed a crime beyond redemption. To lay a hand on the Supreme General’s woman? It was an offense punishable by death.Tessa stared at him, caught off-guard by his sudden shift. She had prepared herself for the worst, bracing against the fear gnawing at her, only to
"Thank you so much, madam!" Wilfred's voice dripped with relief as he bowed his head low.Tessa didn’t waste a moment. “Can I leave now?” she asked, her voice tense, watching him carefully for any signs of hesitation."Certainly, this way, please." Wilfred gestured respectfully, stepping aside.Tessa didn’t trust his sudden change in demeanor, but with the Cursed-idol amulet in her possession, she knew he wouldn’t dare try anything else. She moved swiftly toward the door, but just as she reached it, a rough voice rang out."Why are you coming out? Get back in!" Albert snapped, blocking her path and shoving her backward, assuming she was trying to escape."Stop!" Wilfred's bellow filled the room. “How dare you disrespect the Supreme General’s Lady! Apologize now!”Albert blinked, startled. “Mr. Wilfred, your… your hand! What happened to it?”“I told you to kneel and apologize!” Wilfred barked, ignoring his own bleeding wound as he stared daggers at Albert.Albert’s face twisted in conf
Brenda’s eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. “I’m not wrong. Even if Mr. Wilfred’s not angry anymore, you still caused us to lose that bid we almost secured with Darkclaw Corporation.”Tessa's jaw tightened, feeling a familiar weight settle in her chest.Brenda continued, “So not only did you fail to contribute to this family, but you actually harmed our interests. You need to find a way to fix this, Tessa.”Henry chimed in, eager to echo his mother. “Mom’s right. Darkclaw’s project is crucial to our company. You’re the one who messed it up, so you have to get it back.”Their parents, seated at the head of the table, nodded in agreement. Tessa’s heart sank, but she kept her voice steady. “I don’t have a plan.”Brenda scoffed, folding her arms. “Didn’t Mr. Wilfred seem fond of you? Sleep with him a few more times. Make him happy, and the project will be ours.”Tessa’s stomach churned as her uncle, David, leaned forward, nodding in approval. “She’s right. You’ve already cros
“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 pu
“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