With a mother's pride, she believed that with Londyn's beauty, even without the fortunes of the Edwards lineage, the doors to an affluent son-in-law were well within reach. As for the aforementioned wreck, and that Ethan fellow, should they remain unobtrusive, all would be well. But dare they interfere, Lily would harness the might of the James family and ensure these two inconsequential men never jeopardized her or her daughter’s fortunes. When Basil narrated the afternoon’s incidents, the air in the Ethan household grew thick with astonishment. Londyn was especially shaken, her hands clenched in suppressed rage. She hadn't imagined her mother would overstep so egregiously. Surely, even talk of divorce didn’t warrant striking another? As Ethan tended to Basil, applying salve to his injuries, a thought brewed within him. The James', best they steer clear of his home in the future, and above all, of Londyn. Otherwise, he wouldn't hesitate to make a single phone call that could plun
How could Londyn, her dearest friend, not fathom her fiery spirit? Mocked and teased by those rogues, there was no way she would just let it slide. She delicately placed her jewel-like hand on the railing, her face a portrait of solemnity: "Don't fret for me." she said, a hint of defiance in her voice: "I'm not as frail as you believe." Her gaze shifted to Ethan, whose cold demeanor barely faltered as he gave a slight nod. Understanding washed over Amanda. With a curl of her lips, she shouted defiantly at the insolent crew: "Enough with your prattle! Who says I won't dare?” “The loser becomes a cowering turtle, remember that!” She declared with fervor. From atop his sleek black Bugatti, Xavier Clark roared back: "Agreed! The loser shall be dubbed the turtle." With a roaring rev, engines screamed, drowning the surroundings in a cacophony that pierced the eardrums. Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t anticipated the augmented power these cars held. Just by the sound, he knew.
The sight brought an unbridled joy to Amanda's eyes. With a mischievous glint, she rolled down her window and taunted Xavier: "Accepting defeat yet, tortoise? Or shall we see your precious car reduced to ruins?" Xavier's face contorted in anger, taking on a livid hue reminiscent of a pig's liver. On the approaching broad curve, Ethan spared Xavier no quarter, surging ahead with such velocity that he left Xavier struggling to even catch a glimpse of his taillights. Ethan finally brought his car to a rest on a barren patch of land on the outskirts of New Single, as signposted. No room for doubt remained. Their Ferrari stood regally as the first arrival, with nary a sight of a second vehicle, no matter how hard one looked. "Many thanks, driving god." Amanda exclaimed jubilantly to Ethan: "Without you, I might've been the tortoise in this race." Amanda's gratitude seemed endless, but Ethan responded only with a knowing smile. The trio alighted, surveying the surroundings. The place
As Zachary eagerly anticipated Amanda's gleeful agreement, she finally spoke, dispelling his presumption. "Thanks, but there's no need to bother. Ethan is teaching me." Amanda declared bluntly, adding: "In fact, I'm considering formally accepting him as my mentor." The atmosphere shifted palpably. Zachary's complexion darkened a few shades. "You're instructing Amanda? That suggests some formidable skill on your part, doesn't it?" Turning, Zachary shot Ethan a disdainful look, clearly dismissing him as unworthy. Advancing, he outstretched a hand in greeting: "Shall we get acquainted?" His smile insinuated something more sinister as he continued: "I've always enjoyed meeting those who claim to be formidable." As Zachary extended his hand, a slight and almost mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Amanda tensed, knowing Zachary's penchant for testing others during handshakes. Rumor had it he once squeezed a man's hand so hard it broke. Al
But the true enigma, the one who sent chills down Ethan's spine and who appeared to be an overwhelming threat, was a young man in a black windbreaker. This young man rarely made a move, but when he did, it was always with a brutal efficiency, targeting weak points and disabling his opponents in the blink of an eye. He was evidently leagues above the others present. Suddenly, Ethan's brow furrowed. Amanda was targeting this very man in the black jacket. Initially, she seemed overly confident, employing the same techniques that had downed previous adversaries. However, she soon realized her sweeps were deftly dodged. As realization dawned upon her, the young man lunged, a blade in his left hand aimed straight for her throat. A choked gasp escaped Amanda. She felt her breath obstructed, her escape routes closed. All she could muster was a desperate scream. In an almost supernatural move, Ethan snatched a stone from the car's hood. With a swift throw, the man's left hand froze in mid-
While none of them recognized this stranger, they harbored a glimmer of hope that he might be an unexpected reinforcement summoned by their allies. The heated blood of the onlookers began to boil once more. Xavier shouted, his voice filled with fervor: "He deserves to be punished!” Ethan, discerning the situation, furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss. This man... he was different from the usual young masters they encountered. Without hesitation, he strode swiftly towards the unfolding chaos. Seeing the warriors of Amanda's side successively knocked down, "Ariel!" Upon seeing her close friend risk herself and ultimately fall defeated on the battleground for her sake, Amanda felt a fiery surge of emotions. Unable to restrain herself, she too launched forward. "Relentless pests, it seems unless I give you all a bitter taste of fear, you won't understand its meaning." With these words, amidst the turmoil, the bearded man pulled out a small, gleaming knife. In a swift motion,
The scene was swiftly cleaned up. Young onlookers hurriedly summoned others, escorting the wounded and carrying away the lifeless body of the bearded man. Zachary, Xavier, and those who mocked Ethan earlier now kept their distance, daring not to taunt this formidable entity any further. Whatever spurred this battle was now forgotten, completely overshadowed by the display of power they just witnessed. After the ordeal with the bearded man, fear lingered in their hearts. What was the cause of the battle compared to this? Some young martial artists, slashed in their abdomens, were rushed to emergency care, still critical. Two bodies lay motionless at the scene. Fortunately, Londyn's arm wound was superficial, a mere scratch. A simple bandage would suffice, leaving no scars behind. By the time she arrived home, night had cloaked the earth, and the soft glow of the moonlight painted a silver patina upon everything it touched. Within that embrace of shadows and light, Londyn found sh
With an uproarious laughter, Benson declared: "Marvelous! All Sea will be honored to welcome the Emperor. It's a privilege for the entirety of All Sea." "When that time comes, let's call upon both Savannah and Samuel, and together we shall all celebrate the Emperor's arrival in All Sea." As their destination neared, Ethan said with a light chuckle: "Let's not discuss this for now. Since we're here, how about we share a drink?" "Whenever the Emperor wishes, Benson is at service." Benson replied, his excitement palpable. Only he understood the significance of the Emperor's move to All Sea. An imminent arrival of such a distinguished figure would certainly set All Sea abuzz. The vehicle swiftly entered the villa area, only to unexpectedly find the villa entrance besieged by a group of burly men dressed in black. A tense atmosphere enveloped them. What could have possibly transpired? Ethan and Benson stepped out of the car, only to be sternly approached by the black-clad men, one of