Henry’s burning gaze swept over Jessica, like a hunter locking onto his prey within shooting range. It was a look that combined both passion and possessiveness, making Jessica unable to shake off the feeling that this man was truly disturbed.Because disgust stemmed from instinct, she retreated heavily from the funeral room of this grandfather and grandson’s household. She felt that what she had told Jack’s mother earlier was indeed accurate.The complete house reeked of an unsettling odor.That room, in particular, had seen countless distant relatives of the family mocking her, each taking their turn to degrade each other for entertainment, only to now act meek and change their attitudes, presenting their most humble appearances to make amends for the past wrongdoings.Outwardly, everyone’s demeanor was, of course, pleasant. Jessica had lived long enough to know who was sincere among those in the upper class. She was wary of the apparent remorse and repentance, as it all reeked stron
The night had fallen, and the members of the Locke family had quietly returned. Only Jack’s parents remained at the funeral home, standing vigil by their son’s casket. Mr. Andrew and Jessica had left early, and by the end of the day, Mr. Andrew finally felt a sense of relief. He didn’t know where his wife was, but her absence was the best outcome for all.Because of the recent pressures, Jack’s father was also exhausted from the events. He wanted to temporarily escape the stifling atmosphere of this place. However, he was reluctant to move too far, fearing that his wife might faint again. Mr. Andrew stepped out to the back of the funeral home, walking along a dark row of trees. It was past 11 o’clock, and he saw no one in this chilly, desolate forest.The unusually quiet woods made his already troubled mind even more restless. This was a resting place for many departed souls, and every rustling sound made Mr. Andrew uneasy.A funeral for two. Was this the punishment meant for the Lock
“Could you please total these items?”In the morning, at a convenience store, Alex was waving his hand to pay for some essential items, all of them ingredients for baking. He wanted to bring them home for little Cherry because she had a baking competition coming up at school, and he wanted her to practice at home.While waiting to pay, a few young men behind him were engaged in a heated discussion. He typically wouldn’t have paid much attention to the conversation of strangers, but he overheard the name Locke. Recently, they had been a hot topic of discussion everywhere. Alex waited for the cashier to prepare his bill while quietly eavesdropping.“Oh my God, three more people died at the funeral yesterday. This family is in chaos.”“Have you read those conspiracy theories and rumors online? They all claim that some underground power is involved. It seems this family has offended some terrifying figure, so they’ll be wiped out eventually.”“Say what you will, but the police still haven
Loki doesn’t want to say much to this guy. He didn’t care about the reason anymore. All that he had investigated was enough to send this guy back to hell.Loki is sure that even if he pulled out a gun and blew his brains out, this guy wouldn’t say a word.But thinking that in the future the chairman might lose a lot of information because of this, Loki had to patiently ask a few more questions.“What is your real name? Don’t cross me. I have to spend so much time and effort because of you, be a little more reasonable, otherwise I will explode your brains.”“Even if I say it, you still can’t determine what is the truth, right? If I tell the truth, will you let me go?”“Okay, if it’s important, you’ll get out of here alive.”Alex almost burst out laughing for a moment. With that look in his eyes that only has murderous intent, who else is he trying to fool? Let him live. He is not a three-year-old child.Alex kept spinning his brain, thinking about how to get out of this situation. It w
Rihana quickly untied Alex, ignoring Loki’s suffering nearby. Alex thanked her and grabbed a gun that was out of ammunition, directing a disdainful look at Loki. He approached and stomped on Loki’s bleeding wound, as an act of vengeance for what had just happened. Alex wasn’t one to hold back or forgive easily.“Tend to his wound. Don’t let him die,” Alex ordered, looking sternly at Rihana. Under Alex’s firm gaze, Rihana went closer to Loki, ignoring his threats and insults. She efficiently tore a piece of cloth from her own clothing, carefully covering the wound to stop the bleeding. Loki’s face turned even paler, and he could do nothing but mumble in pain.Meanwhile, the sound of approaching police sirens grew louder. Loki looked at Alex with suspicion. He couldn’t find his phone; it was no longer with him. He wondered how the police had been called. Were they in on this from the beginning? When had things spiraled so out of control?Failing to properly investigate Alex was a grave
After all the exhausting work, Alex and Isabel officially gave up their assumed impoverished identities. Both of them changed into new attire and returned to Alex’s mansion. Isabel stayed with him temporarily for convenience in handling their work, and little Cherry still needed a small family.Initially, they had discussed that after finishing their tasks, they would take Cherry back to the orphanage. After all, they were both busy adults with no capability to fully care for a child. If so, leaving Cherry in the orphanage was the right choice, as she could find a new home there. They would also do their best to find suitable caregivers for her and seek a comfortable family.But after a while of living together, both Alex and Isabel developed feelings for the adorable child. They didn’t want to send Cherry back to the orphanage, but they couldn’t have her around either. In the end, they weren’t adults who could meet all the psychological needs of a child. However, if they sent Cherry
After her encounter with Henry, who had threatened and ridiculed her about the Forest Corporation, Jessica appeared supremely confident on the surface, trusting her beloved Alex implicitly. However, deep down, she was extremely concerned.Since that meeting, Jessica diligently tried to gather information about Alex’s company. Finally, she realized that what Henry had said seemed to be entirely true. Jessica felt an urge to help Alex, as the dream project of his island resort was facing serious problems. Irregularities had halted the construction. With abundant resources at her disposal, Jessica was eager to assist Alex.This was also an opportunity to nurture their relationship.With a heart full of excitement, Jessica visited Alex. She dressed up a bit, as becoming the new heiress and owner of the Locke family had given her an entirely different demeanor than her previous meek self. Jessica now loved herself and exuded confidence, believing she could once again captivate Alex’s heart
The news of Isabel’s injury had spread to the surrounding people. It wasn’t just Isabel’s parents; it included the Locke family, Alex’s relatives, and even the residents of the impoverished neighborhood.Because they couldn’t reach Isabel, they sent flowers, gifts, words of encouragement, and even money to Alex. Alex expressed they didn’t need to send these things; he could easily handle Isabel’s medical bills.However, it wasn’t just about the material support; it was also about the gratitude of all the people he had helped.A few nights later, Alex received a roughly designed invitation card to a party in the slum area.Unwillingly, these people were here to survive, and yet they organized a party to thank him. Alex didn’t really want to go, but after some thought, he realized he was the guest of honor at this party, and he couldn’t disappoint them. Alex dressed neatly for the occasion and tried to boost his spirits before visiting Isabel in the hospital. He sat by her side for a wh