It had been 2 years since Kagern left Stanley Mansion... No! Since Carolina forced him to leave, but nothing had changed about the house at all. Only the faces around had changed. Carolina had fired the security personnel, the steward, the children's tutor… almost everyone after Mr. Stanley's death. Perhaps it was because they weren't as royal as they were to him, or because she didn't want anyone to question her plans to bully Lilyon and Kagern. In her plans to make them suffer. "Where's Julie?" asked Lilyon as soon as they entered the mansion. The steward, a man in his 40s with a mustache and few gray strands in his hair, pointed at the spiral stairs and said, "She's in her room, miss!""Does she know the news yet?""We haven't told her. She's still too young to understand. But she's been asking us where her mother and siblings are.""I see!"With this, Lilyon glanced at Kagern who followed her toward the staircase. "How do I break the news to her?" asked Lilyon as they climbed
The next morning, despite being Saturday, Kagern and Lilyon took Julie to see her mom and siblings. When they reached the police station, Carolina said she didn't want to see them, so they stayed behind while Julie was taken to see her. After that, Kagern and Lilyon escorted the little girl to her school, then made their way to Stanley Industries."Now you're the CEO, huh?" Kagern teased Lilyon as his convoy came to a stop outside the building. "Thanks to you!" she replied, readying herself to get out of the car."Go make me proud then!""Of course!"With this, Lilyon hugged him and stepped out of the car as Tharn held the door for her. She turned around and said, "I hope you come visit us again soon, right?"Kagern nodded his head. "Of course I'll! Just put things at the company back in order then call me. We can take some days off and go on a vacation or something."Lilyon raised her pinkie finger and asked, "Promise?"Kagern raised his and replied, "Promise!"He then watched he
Kagern had told Bingle he was about to go to the hospital with Belinda, and yet she still kissed him passionately.Perhaps he might have gotten angry that she didn't listen to him, but he didn't. Instead, he kissed back, happy that she had taken that bold move. Come to think of it, was he really refusing because he was about to go to the hospital with Belinda? Maybe yes, but then again, no. It's because he was a virgin. Because all these things, kissing and sex, frightened him in some way. 'I should stop being a coward!'With this, Kagern reached for her waist, then slowly moved his hand downward.That's when Bingle pulled back and said, "That was a thank you." She jumped to her bed and added, "Thank you for everything. My parents are now safe and happy because of you. They also said they want to meet you. I would be happy."Kagern was kinda disappointed. Just as he got the courage, she pulled back. 'But it's tonight. There will be no escape,' he said to himself, internally, and op
Kagern approached Jennifer cautiously, the sterile white walls of the Surreal City Hospital amplifying the sound of her choked sobs. He'd never seen her like this – the ever-composed, arrogant receptionist reduced to a woman crumbling under her emotions. A sense of pity pricked at him. He remembered their first encounter; her sharp words and disdainful glare. Yet, he'd seen a different side of her – a woman terrified by Mr. Brooks, a woman he'd readily protected."Jenniffer?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.Jennifer flinched, startled from her grief. She whipped her head around, wiping furiously at her reddened eyes with the back of her hand. "Mr. McDenials?" she stammered, her voice thick with emotion. "I – I didn't expect to see you here.""It's okay to call me Jayden," he said gently, his concern evident. "What happened? I mean, if it's okay with you to tell me, why're you crying?"Jennifer hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. The carefully constructed facade she usually w
Kagern's blood ran cold. Bingle's muffled whimpers and Willy's smug threat painted a horrifying picture.'What do I do?'He asked himself as he ran outside. He had to reach his convoy and go as soon as possible. "Where are you?" he asked, though he suspected it was at the Golden Heart Hotel. That's where he had left Bingle, after all. "At the Golden Heart Hotel," replied Willy. "Get here in 10 minutes, alone. Bingle is not here though. My men are taking her somewhere else. If you call police or anything happens to me, he's death will be on your hands.""Ten minutes it is. OK! I'm coming!"Willy guffawed.Kagern shoved the phone into his pocket, a familiar icy dread gripping him. Helping Jennifer had been a welcome respite, but this call was a brutal reminder of the viper's nest he still called a life. Willy Williams, the arrogant fool from Williams Family must have held a grudge on him after he rescued Bungle's father. But Kagern wasn't afraid. He had so many ways to teach that fo
Kagern couldn't help but burst out laughing. He said, "Oh! I would like to see you do that."If Kagern didn't have a back up plan, he wouldn't be being arrogant. He would be on his knees now, pleading for Bingle to be released. However, now he knew his father was working on it. Soon, Willy Williams would be the one begging him. His arrogant response made a scowl appear on Willy's face. He stepped toward him and said, "Do you think I'm kidding? Do you think I won't r*pe her? Listen, that bitch had ignored me for a long time. I'll make sure she pays for it. As for you, I advise you not to play arrogant in front of me if you love her. If you don't want me to punish her even more."Kagern stepped closer to him, too, a sign that he was not afraid of him. He said, "Hey, why don't you do it now? Do you think I'm afraid of you? Haha! I feel pity for you."Willy smashed the whisky glass he was holding to the ground and grabbed Kagern by the collar. "Who do you think you're talking to like tha
"Get out of my house!" Mrs. Coulter shouted at Erio as she stood in the doorway, pointing out to make sure he saw the direction she wanted him to take. Erio stepped toward her, pleading, "Mrs. Coulter, please! Just tonight! I promise I'm gonna pay you tomorrow. Except this month, have I ever been late to pay the rent?"Mrs. Coulter burst into laughter at his words. "Never been late, uh? When did you pay me last month?"Last month, Erio only got late for just one day. He couldn't believe she still had that grudge, over just one day. It was time for him to burst into laughter, too, but he couldn't. Laughing at her would make the situation worse than it was. That's why he decided to keep pleading."I promise I'll pay you tomorrow before noon. Besides, I'm late for just 4 days. I can compensate you for them. Just... Please!"He had a manuscript he had been ghostwriting for Bernard. He was sure he would be done with it tomorrow morning, then get his payment at least 2 to 3 hours after sub
"Please! Please! Give me a few seconds and don't hurt him, okay? I'm going to send the money right away," Kagern pleaded as he pushed his way into his best friend's apartment. One could see panic on his face as he put the phone into his pockets. Before he could do what had brought him here, though, the panic on his face turned into a frown when he saw a girl in a red revealing nightgown. His mind could not register what his girlfriend could be doing at David's place... plus, what kind of outfit was that? "Erie?! What are you doing here?" Startled, Erica opened her mouth to reply, but another voice spoke from the side. "Can't she visit her boyfriend?" Kagern shifted his gaze to the source of the voice and saw David who was walking towards Erica with two glasses of red wine. He could not believe both his eyes and ears. Erica was his girlfriend. What was David trying to imply by that? "Bro, she's my girlfriend. What are you talking about?" After asking this, Kagern shifted his g