Lloyd was his apartment, weariness and frustration boiling over. Mimi seemed to be currently out of the place.He was out of moves - refusing Sean and Tate's demands could get him im big trouble… but revealing Reynold Sheens’ explosive secret could destroy everything for the poor guy, and what about Kayla too? He cared so much about Kayla. Trapped between two tough decisions to make Lloyd was lost for a few seconds.Unless... A dangerous idea flickered. Since Sean had been done away with, the pillars of power amongst his siblings were Kayla and Hamish.Hamish was a no go area, they barely even talked. Kayla on the other hand…?She’d even been aiming to topple her brothers a few days ago. If Lloyd offered up his intel as a bargaining chip instead…She was definitely going to accept it. A part of his mind agreed to that idea, but he also had to remember that Kayla had dealt a very good lesson to Sean. She could be hesitant still. ‘...no, she wouldn't’He sank onto the leather sofa, tem
Reynold bowed respectfully to his opponent before settling into ready position, grounded foot forward, weight centered evenly between legs.He inhaled calmness, letting awareness spread through his body. Master Ray always stressed allowing techniques to flow intuitively from a peaceful core when sparring."Begin!" Ray clapped once, sharp in the hushed gym.Reynold's opponent, a lean muscular youth named Dalton, immediately lunged. But Reynold was already turning, redirecting the forceful punch with one bracing arm while the other swept down, brushing fabric as his hand sliced by the young man's ribs.A light touch that would have numbed or broken if fully landed.Dalton pressed the attack, kicks and elbows launching ruthlessly.But Reynold pivoted and yielded, adhering to Tai Chi's core principle - meeting hardness with softness.Effortlessly he guided elbow jabs just shy of their mark, leaving only air displaced.He stepped beneath a vicious roundhouse kick, patting his opponent's pl
Kayla's hands trembled, clutching the flash drive after leaving the cafe.Explosive secrets about her genteel husband's past?What had Lloyd uncovered?Fear and fury warred within at the thought of Reynold deceiving her. After years under public scrutiny, she deserved pure truth in her own home. Safely sequestered in her sleek Mercedes, she jammed the drive into her tablet. Breath suspended, Kayla selected the lone encrypted file and unleashed revelations Lloyd deemed too dangerous to share openly. What she saw stole that breath completely. Police reports, hospital records, even crime scene photos spilled across the screen. All tied to a violent assault during Reynold's university days a decade prior.Kayla scrolled in disbelief through debriefings with a battered, stone-faced Reynold after he had apparently ambushed and savagely attacked three fellow students. The malice in those photos contrasted radically with the caring husband she knew. Reynold - her gentle giant - pummelin
Reynold gazed out the apartment window, breath fogging the glass in rhythmic waves. The nondescript dwelling felt sterile, bereft of memories or meaning.He focused on the rituals of push-ups, sit-ups, hydrating - anything to still the tempest within. Jovian's concerned hovering only tightened Reynold's chest further."I apologize for burdening you like this at home..." He tried for a reassuring tone. Jovian's sympathy somehow made the loss sharper.Jovian frowned, his features creasing. "What? Burdening me. The only burden is that I wished you would have told me about all of this.”Reynold smiled a little, “I am sorry. Even if I wanted to I don't think I would have had enough courage to do so.” He took a short pause, breathing.“Those days were one of my worst. I am not proud of them, they were days I discovered shades of my personality that I never knew I had. As an honor student, the university worked hard to cover it all up… the families all made an agreement to let it go since
Mei's plane touched down late in the evening. The dark airport cast long shadows as she made her way through the arrivals hall.Exhaustion lingered on her face, but she couldn't wait to see Kayla after several weeks burying their experiences together.The air was crisp, and Mei felt a mixture of excitement and weariness as she stepped outside, scanning the area for Kayla's familiar face.Amidst the sea of people, she spotted Kayla standing by her car, her eyes fixed on the arrival gate. Mei approached, and their eyes met in a silent exchange of joy. Hugging tightly, the two friends exchanged pleasantries before Mei noticed a subtle emptiness in Kayla's gaze.As they drove through the quiet city streets, Mei couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.The air inside the car was heavy with unspoken words. Mei was a very perceptive young lady, she couldn't abandon the idea that someone was wrong with Kayla, and so she gently probed, "Kayla, is everything okay?"Kayla hesitated,
Mei stood in the kitchen, a canvas of culinary possibilities spread out before her.The tantalizing aroma of spices filled the air as she began her dance with the ingredients, each movement deliberate and precise.Her fingers gracefully wielded the cleaver, an extension of her culinary prowess.She started by meticulously washing fresh bok choy, the emerald leaves glistening with droplets of water. Her hands moved with a seasoned grace, slicing the vegetables into uniform strips.The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board echoed in the kitchen, a symphony of preparation.Next, she focused on the tender slices of chicken, marinating them in a blend of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. The aroma intensified as she gently massaged the flavors into the meat, ensuring every piece absorbed the essence of the marinade.Mei's hands moved like a conductor guiding an orchestra, each motion a harmonious contribution to the culinary composition.As the ingredients marinated, Mei turne
Grant sat at the large mahogany desk in his spacious corner office overlooking the city skyline.There was a quiet knock at the door before one of his secretaries, Amanda, entered. An intelligent woman in her late 30s, she had proven herself indispensable with her sharp business acumen and insight over the years."Good morning, Grant. I have an update on The Johns Conglomerate as you have asked me to… if you have a moment to discuss," Amanda said, taking a seat across from his desk."Good morning. Yes, let's talk," Grant replied.Amanda slid a file across the desk. "As you know, The Johns conglomerate recently merged with Zhou group. All indications are that the relationship between them is progressive but the merger deal itself has not been completed.”“Not completed? Why?”“I discovered that the chairman of Zhong gave a rule that the deal cannot be signed until both their son and daughter get married.”Grant smiled interestingly.“So the wedding day is when they sign the deal?”Aman
The National Prosecution Office occupied an imposing marble building downtown.Grant stepped into the towering lobby, his shoes clicking across the polished floors. He was meeting his old friend Julian who had risen to become a distinguished prosecutor respected for integrity in pursuing justice. Grant and Julian went years back, initially meeting in law school before careers diverged - Grant to business and Julian carrying on his family’s legacy in the justice system.But they remained close friends despite busy schedules.Reaching Julian’s office on the 5th floor, Grant was warmly welcomed by his secretary Joan before entering the room lined with legal volumes.Julian had a commanding presence that drew people's attention when he entered a room.Standing over six feet tall, he had broad shoulders and a muscular build from regular weightlifting sessions. His dark brown hair was just starting to show specks of gray at the temples, and his hazel eyes appeared thoughtful behind thin-r