The stink of fear and dominance was evident in the room. They had offended someone that they shouldn't have been dear to.
"We will do anything ma'am. Just spare our lives." They continued to plead.Lina's facial expression flinched, and her hands crawled inwards. They weren't worth wasting her time on. But that didn't mean that she was going to let them go."Mr. Williams." She called out and the boss shivered."Yes! Yes! Miss Lina." He stuttered."Is there any vacation in the cleaning department?" She emphasized and he nodded his head rapidly.Even though there was none, okay would be created immediately just because she was the one who requested it."That's good." Lina smiled slightly walking over to the two couples that were clinging to the floor, their faces washed up with fear."I'm being generous today, how will you like the job of a cleaner?" Lina directed her questions towards Mr. Welson.The drop of sweat on his face soon coupled into a large stream as he shivered at the breath of Mr. Welson."We will gladly accept any offer that you have for us, ma'am." He fidgeted as he spoke and Lina rose slowly from the floor with a smirk."That would be great."Turned over to Mr. Williams."Please Williams, do transfer them to the cleaning department and replace them with more competent people. Emphasizing your own risk.""I will do exactly as you have said, ma'am." He replied."I'm sorry for the inconvenience that we have caused you, ma'am.Please let me repay you by treating you today ma'am." Mr. Williams was trying every possible means in his power to get on her good side but Lina was not giving in."There would be no need for that. Just serve me as a welcome guest." She replied.Mr. Williams made sure that he attended to Lina and Xander himself, making sure that they had everything that was needed.Xander sat facing each other as they ate. Xander had the odd feeling to gulp down the meal, it's been such a long time since he had something this good before.But he was able to control himself. Lina smiled seeing how much effort he was putting in just to please her."Thanks again for saving my life the other day." She appreciated him.While they continued to eat, she received a strange phone call from her father. Lina was that close to Mr. Klev and leaned towards her grandfather instead."Why would she be calling?" She growled in her head.She could not point out what was wrong but she could tell that he was up to no good."Are you okay?" Xander inquired, seeing the sudden flinch in her facial expression but she acknowledged that she was fine.She nodded her head. She just got to know Xander and could not overburden him with their family issues.Xander could see all the expressions on her face and decided not to push the matter any further.Afterward, Lina gulped the wine that was leaning on the table. Even though it was strong, her anger and frustration would not let her stop."Won't you have a drink?" She inquired thinking that he was shy but it was due to some other reasons. In the real sense, he could sense that the drink was alcoholic from afar."I'm having a light stomach, I don't think that Alcohol is going to be good for me." He replied.The words made her eyes bulge out from her eye sockets. For over ten years now, she had not tasted alcohol because of the negative effects that it usually had on her from stomach cramps to getting drunk easily.They were in a VIP room where they had their privacy. Lina's heart raced.She was soon going to start misbehaving from getting drunk. Who was a celeb like her could be seen in the street drunk.Xander could see the fright on her face, one unlike anything that he had noticed before."Is something wrong, Miss. Lina?" He inquired once again but she could hardly speak this time.Her vision was beginning to blur and she was beginning to see things that didn't exist. But at least, she was able to make out words."I.. didn't know that the fruit juice was alcohol." She replied.It was obvious that the man there had some other motives. The looks on his face were sprinkled with so much jealousy seeing the Almighty Lina dine with someone like Xander while he was made to serve the tables."That punk." He growled with his hands clutched but he could tell that was not the main focus at the moment, he had to get Lina out of the place as soon as possible without anyone noticing but how was he going to do that? He thought again.First, we have to get you out of this place. He was sure that Mr. Welson would think that the both of them were drunk already, that would be more than enough time that they needed.Xander held Lina, their hands crawling into each other and was able to get her into the car without anyone noticing.He whipped down the sweat from his face. She wasn't that drunk so she was about to direct him over to her house.Xander stood before the gate stunned at what lay before her. The magnificent structure of the Ken family Villa was enough to fit his eyes for days.Once they saw that he was with Xander, the guards made way for him to walk into the place without any form of questioning.He could feel his heart racing fast as he got her into the living room and tried to help her walk properly but instead, she hit him.Her soft flesh created an electric sensation, unlike anything that he had felt before.For a while, Xander was lost in her stare but he quickly pulled his eyes away from her.Memories from the past seemed to launch through his head. He could already tell how to make an age-long herb that had gone extinct. It was going to help her get herself once again.When he found the kitchen, he prepared the ingredients and fed her with the tea.It was as though it was magical, she could gradually feel her head now and at least make out a few objects before her.As the minute went by, the effects of the alcohol seemed to have washed away faster.Xander held her hands and even though she could not see his face, she could already tell who he was."I should have your rest now, Miss. Lina, I am sure that you are very tired." He said once again.Her weight was heavy on him as he tried to help her out to the sofa and boom, she kissed him on the helps and he was trying to drop her.# His heart seemed to freeze and he shivered, but with fear and the sweat sensation that passed through his vines. He had never felt anything like that before.He tried to move but she held him tightly, still speaking in her lolow-rangelcohol-influenced voice."Don't leave me now." She pleaded.Just then, the door jacked open and someone jerked into the place. Xander quickly pulled away from her, already sensing that he was in trouble.He paired at the door and noticed that it was a lady in her mid-twenties and immediately their eyes locked up against each other, she frowned."So it's true." He muttered out aloud.Xander's heart continued to race. From the way that Lina looked at them, he could tell that the alcohol was beginning to wear off completely.She could at least sense exactly what was going on.Mrs. Jane was one that she was tasked with right after the death of her parents. Her Uncle's wife, James.Even though Mr. Jane never liked her, there was nothing that could be done about it since right after the death of her parents, her grandfather, the Patron of the family, had tasked them with her care.And this ripped Mrs. Jones's heart even more, she was more loved and carried more air of grace than all her other children, fueling her hate and anger even more."Lina? Do you just decide to go about into the slum picking up people and bringing them into the family's Villa?" Her words were likened to the sharp edges of a sword piercing through the heart.The frown that appeared on Lina's face afterward was inevitable.Lina knew that it was her fault and could not allow only Xander to take th
It was going to be a really big insult to Lina if Xander accepted such money and even though he needed it, he pushed it backward to the old man and said. "I can't accept your money, sir." He replied politely.They tried to persuade him but he would not move away from his stance.Mr. James thought it was going to be easy for him after all and this made him frown deeply.Xander was just like his niece. Extremely stubborn. No wonder they were able to find themselves and get along so easily in the first place.But he was not going to sit back and watch them spoil their plans. But after the long time that it had taken them to plot it out.He leaned forward with an irritated look on his face, having the intention to scare Xander away who continued to stare right into his eyes without a bulge.He was one of the most confident people that he had meant who would dare to stare right into his eyes. Even as a poor man that he was.'Maybe he is just trying to act strong just because he is intendin
"How can you make him come up with the man of that root when we barely know anything about it?" The frown on Lina's face knew no bounds.She never thought that her uncle was going to resort to such a means to achieve his aims. Regrets washed over her, for allowing Xander to take up the challenge in the first place."There was no rule to the game right?" The grin on Mr. James's face was one that spoke of pure evil.Lina clenched her teeth, wishing that she could take the root off the floor and snatch it right on the floor so that it was going to shatter.Mr. James smiled because there was certainly no way that he was going to get it correctly. And this way, he was going to be out of their lives forever.In the real sense, he saw Xander as the biggest fool of the century, thinking that he was going to win a fight with the lord of cunningness.The Initial smile on his face broadened even more to the extent that he could not hold it anymore."You can still back down now and leave. But I
"What did you just say?" James inquired in such a manner that got Vincent confused.He could easily tell that something was happening there but he seemed to be the only one in the dark."He simple language, you lost." Xander interpreted with a smirk that was enough to get anyone angry but instead, Mr. James was still imprisoned in the dark realms of his shock. As a loud drum sucked deep down into his body system, he could hear the faint banging of his heart growing louder with an increased velocity.Neither was he ready to accept defeat either way. But it seemed this Xander of a kid just found a way to gag it down his throat.This increased his anger and hatred towards Xander who he now saw as a force to reckon with and do away with as soon as it was possible."I'm sure that he cheated, there is no way that he could have gotten the answers correct, I made sure of that." Mr. James quickly sprouted out.Not only was he going to be disgraced by losing a bet to such a slimy punk. But als
"Why now?" Was the definition of the expression that was written all over their faces.It would have been easy to deal with Xander and Lina together but with the patron around, that was going to be close to impossible.With glares left in their faces, there was nothing left to be done apart from them to welcome him off course.Staying away from their deadly stares as though none of them existed, Mr. Anderson walked over to his favorite with a great smile on his face, and without being told, Lina walked up to him.He was beaming with comfort that he didn't feel when he was with the rest of them and they got into a tight hug.They were like two lovers who just got together after being separated for just a short time, even though it had been just for a few hours."I am so glad to see you, Grandpa." Her smile was enough to clear the whole room from the tense aura that he had encountered when he had walked in the first instance."Too bad that I am not as happy to see you as you are to see
"But he isn't part of the family, he can't join us for a family dinner since it's traditional right?" Vincent quickly chimed in but Mr. Anderson's eyes knitted out the sound of the words.Mr. Anderson wasn't the type of person to be argued with and Vincent knew exactly that the boundary had been crossed.He quickly retracted his hands realizing the mistake but the did had been done already."Do you intend to start arguing with me at this point? Maybe you want the post of the family's Patron?I am sure that you are going to do a better job than I am doing." He said with a deadly frown on his face."I.." Vincent was suddenly short of words. Even though the old man's decisions were always ahead of him, there was nothing he could do about it this time.Vincent sipped in a really deep breath to bottle up his rising anger and went ahead to say."I apologize for my mistake." Mr. Anderson was not too old to catch a glimpse of his mouth-knitted apology.Seeming as though no one had spoken, he
Vincent who had been searching for every possible way to disregard Xander wouldn't let a chance that was presented before him on a platter of Gold slide away so easily as he quickly leaned forward and said.Underneath his frown was a grin that made his chest pop with full pride as he went ahead to say."I said it right from the very beginning, he was nothing other than a scammer.Now that he is revealing his true colors, are you now going to believe me, Grandpa?" He quickly chimed in.Chatters soon filled the hall, some were cursing him while others kept making fun of him.Even Lina and Mr. Anderson could not help but frown this time. At first, Mr. Anderson thought that he was a genuine person but it turns out that he was wrong altogether.Because he just came back from a medical checkup done by one of the best doctors in the city.It was obvious that he had made this thing up so that he was going to ask for some sort of reward afterward.But why would he fake such a terrible attemp
Lina's face was beyond washed up with embarrassment. That was supposed to be the most happy part of the year for most people in the family but she seemed to have ruined everything.Xander intended to keep mute and accept defeat but his reflexes suddenly kicked in the worst possible way that it could ever.It was as though there was a strange surge of energy running through his vines, bringing out emotions and pieces of information that he could not even tell who it belonged to or where it came from.All he knew was that this force was so powerful that he could hardly tell where exactly it came from.Before he could put a stop to these words that were forcing themselves out of his mouth, the deed had already been done."You call yourself a doctor and can not even diagnose when your patient has an Internal injury or not. And you dare to be called one of the best?I wonder how rusty regular members of your association would be if you can't even diagnose such a small issue." He jerked bac
The news of his demise spread like wildfire, a whisper of tragedy that soon turned into a public lament, his name etched in the annals of local heroes, a hero who had fallen in a quest to save a friend, a hero who had died in a blaze of glory.Back at the ballroom, Lina stood by the window, her eyes fixed on the cityscape, her face pale and drawn, her body wracked with sobs. The wedding cake, a testament to the dreams they had shared, now sat in the corner, a bittersweet reminder of a love lost, a life shattered.The sun, a cruel and mocking orb, peeked over the horizon, casting a pale, sickly light over the sprawling cemetery. It seemed to mock the sorrow etched on the faces of the mourners gathered there. The air hung heavy with grief, a tangible weight pressing down on their hearts. It was the day of Xander's burial, a day that had been so eagerly anticipated just weeks before; a day of celebration, of vows, of a lifetime together. Now, it was a day of mourning, a day of tears, a d
The warm morning air carried the scent of jasmine and wisteria, a sweet, heady fragrance that danced around Xander as he stood on the balcony with Lina. He held her hand, her fingers slender and cool against his palm, and his gaze swept across the bustling city below. The vibrant lights of the city throbbed like a giant, pulsing heart, a constant reminder of the life he had built, the life he was about to build with Lina.The ring, a band of polished silver etched with intricate symbols, sat comfortably on his finger. It was the ring that had shielded him from harm, the ring that had made him feel untouchable, a beacon of power that he could draw on. The ring was a constant reminder of his escape, his journey from a humble, forgotten corner of the city to the heart of its power, a rise that was as unlikely as it was exhilarating.But as he watched the twinkling lights and felt Lina's closeness, he felt a different kind of power, a warmth that spread through him like a gentle flame. It
Xander sat awkwardly on the plush armchair, its soft cushions offering little comfort. Across from him, Mr. James, a man whose face usually held a gloomy expression, sat with his shoulders slumped and a worried frown etched on his brow.'Where is Lina?' Mr. James finally asked, his voice a low rumble.'She's resting,' Xander replied, his voice tight with worry. 'The poor girl had suffered too much.'He couldn't bring himself to say more, not after the past few weeks. The events had been a whirlwind of betrayal, pain, and a chilling realization of the true depths of the Dragon Group's influence.Mr. James, as if sensing Xander's feelings, leaned back in his chair and sighed. 'It's all my fault,' he whispered, his eyes flickering to the floor. 'If I hadn't joined the Dragon Group, none of this would have happened.' He looked at Xander, his face breaking into a heart-wrenching expression of regret. 'I was so naive. I thought they were just a business group, a powerful engine of progress.
The rage that had been simmering inside Xander since the first encounter with Scarface, the man with a face etched with cruel scars, bubbled over. The scene in the cellar replayed in his mind – the fear in Lina’s eyes, the taunts of Scarface, the taste of his own blood, the desperate fight against the Dragon Group. But then, the words of the old man, his mentor, echoed in his mind. The old man had said, 'Sometimes, forgiveness is the hardest choice, yet the strongest. It lets the poison go, not just for them, but for you too.'Xander turned to Lina, who was still trembling, her eyes wide with fear and disbelief. He knelt before her, his gaze lingering on the bruises that dotted her arms and the scratch on her cheek, his heart a knot of anger and concern. He wanted to tear Scarface limb from limb, to punish him for the pain he had inflicted on her, on him. Yet, the old man’s words resonated, a soothing balm on his burning rage.“I’ll let him live,” Xander said, his voice hoarse with th
The rage that had been simmering within Xander for years finally boiled over. A raw, primal hunger for vengeance consumed him, leaving no room for reason or caution. He watched as Tobias, his face contorted with smug disdain, casually tossed Lina aside as if she were a discarded rag doll. The movement was a spark igniting the inferno within him, fueling a fury that had no bounds.“Tobias,” Xander snarled, the word heavy with unspoken threats. His body, taut with pent-up energy, launched itself forward like a guided missile, aimed directly at Tobias. The air crackled with anticipation, the silence punctuated only by the thudding of his own heartbeat. He saw Tobias, his eyes widening in alarm as the inevitable collision drew near, raise his hands in a futile attempt to ward off the assault. The impact was brutal, a sickening crunch as their bodies collided with the force of a battering ram. They went down hard, the ground groaning beneath their combined weight.It was a dance of pure fe
The cellar, once a dank and shadowed space, had become a crucible of raw magic and chilling fear. The air hung heavy with the lingering scent of burnt flesh and ozone, a silent testament to the fiery ball unleashed by Scarface, lieutenant of the Dragon Group. Everyone present, with the exception of Xander, had braced for a gruesome spectacle. They envisioned a scene of charred flesh and bone, the young man reduced to nothing more than a smouldering husk. Instead, they were met with a stillness that felt almost unnatural, a quiet defiance that spoke volumes.Xander stood amidst the wreckage, his clothes unmarred, his face serene. A soft smile played on his lips, a smile that held a hint of victory, of an inner knowledge that was unsettling in its calmness. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the ragged gasps of those who had witnessed this impossible display of immunity. Even Scarface, his face still contorted with a mixture of disbelief and rage, faltered, his eyes fixed on the
The dimly lit room, once a den of gambling and illicit pleasure, was now a battleground painted in crimson and laced with the groans of the fallen. Xander, a whirlwind of fury and determination, moved through the chaos with the grace of a predator. His movements, a blur of fists and feet, were a symphony of violence, each strike delivered with the precision of a well-oiled machine. He fought like a man possessed, fueled by a primal rage that defied description.His opponents, initially a horde of thugs, were now a scattered, demoralized mob. Their bravado had evaporated like mist under the unforgiving glare of the sun. They stood frozen, their faces etched with a mixture of terror and disbelief. Some lay sprawled on the floor, their bodies contorted in ungodly positions, silent testaments to Xander's relentless assault. He danced around them, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light, his muscles taut with coiled energy, a predator circling its prey.The air crackled with an electric t
The oppressive weight of the iron door, thick as a tomb slab, pressed against Tobias's heart, a physical manifestation of the fear that had begun to gnaw at him. His mind, usually so sharp and calculating, was starting to scramble, his carefully constructed plan unravelling. He had anticipated every possible contingency, every threat, yet here stood Xander, a whirlwind of fury and determination, ready to shatter the illusion of Tobias's absolute control.A sickening thud echoed through the chamber, the sound of a man's body collapsing against the unyielding stone floor. Tobias's grip tightened on Lina's hand, his fingers sinking into her soft flesh, the pain a distant, irrelevant sensation. The man, a loyal soldier, had been a mere pawn in Tobias's grand scheme, a sacrifice to buy him precious seconds – seconds he was now desperately clinging to.He watched, frozen, through the intricate screen set into the door, as Xander, his face a mask of raw fury, gathered the raw power of the ri
The acrid scent of clay hung thick in the air, a miasma interwoven with the faint tang of fear. Xander, his fists clenched, couldn't stand there any longer, a caged beast watching his prey chant insults. The man, a hulking form, stood by the racks, his gaze fixed on Xander, but his eyes, darting nervously, betrayed his vigilance. He was a watchman, a sentinel, placed there by the dragon group, the shadowy organization that had snatched his fiancée, Lina.Xander's anger was a roaring furnace within him, fueled by a desperation that gnawed at his sanity. He had tracked them, followed the slithering trail of clues, leading him to this ramshackle pottery shop, a facade cloaking a dark secret.With a roar, Xander lunged, a blur of fury. His fist connected with the man's jaw with the force of a battering ram, sending the watchman reeling backward. He crashed against the wall, but before he could find his footing, Xander was upon him again, his grip like a vise.'Now,' Xander growled, his vo