2025-01-14 23:19:16Dylan Grenville hummed softly as he arranged the last dish on the dining table.
It was their wedding anniversary, and Dylan had spent the day preparing the perfect dinner for his wife, Jane.
Dylan casually picked up his phone and noticed a message on it.
“Boss, the arrangement for investing one hundred million dollars in your wife's company is all set. We can sign the contract tomorrow.”
Dylan gave a faint smile and put down the phone with satisfaction.
He had been married to Jane for so many years, yet he had never revealed his true identity. However, he had been secretly helping Jane's company to grow rapidly. In just a few years, the market value of Jane's company had increased more than tenfold and was about to go public.
He also planned to take this opportunity to reveal his secret to Jane.
Dylan glanced at the clock. Nine p.m. Jane still hadn’t answered any of his calls.
He dialed her number again. The line rang, and rang, until her voicemail clicked on. He sighed, setting his phone down. The food grew cold as the minutes ticked by.
It was nearly midnight when the front door slammed open. Dylan looked up to see Jane staggering in, her heels clicking unevenly against the tiled floor. The sharp scent of alcohol followed her.
“Jane,” he began, keeping his tone steady. “I’ve been calling you since and you didn’t answer my calls.”
Jane waved him off impatiently, wobbling slightly as she kicked off her heels. “I was busy, Dylan. Do you think I have time to deal with your endless calls?”
“Today is our wedding anniversary,” Dylan said quietly. “Molly was waiting for you, she has been waiting for her beloved mother all evening. She made you a card.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Wedding anniversary? Dylan, I’ve been working all day to get the company listed. Do you have any idea how important tonight was for me?”
“I do,” Dylan said evenly. “But Molly—”
“Stop talking about Molly!” Jane snapped. “You think everything revolves around this house, don’t you? Meanwhile, I’m out there fighting to make something of myself!”
Dylan took a deep breath. “The Nelson family is helping, aren’t they? They’ll ensure the company’s success.”
Jane froze, her drunken haze momentarily lifting. “How do you know about the Nelson family?”
Dylan didn’t answer, his expression unreadable.
The Nelson family was one of the wealthiest families in Silverpine city.
Three years ago, the Nelson family suddenly found Jane and established a close cooperation with her.
Jane was so flattered, but she didn’t know it was her useless husband’s order.
Jane’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t press further. Instead, her anger reignited. “You don’t get it, do you? Do you know what many successful men said to me at the banquet? ‘Why doesn’t such a successful woman have a real partner?’ They laughed at me, Dylan. Because of you.”
“Because of me?” Dylan asked quietly.
“Yes!” Jane exploded. “You’re a failure! A man who stays home, cooks, and takes care of a kid! If it weren’t for Molly, I’d never have been tied down to someone like you. My life would have been so much better!”
“So…You felt ashamed of me?”
Dylan’s gaze darkened, but he remained silent as Jane continued her tirade. He had seen through her true nature.
“You got me pregnant and ruined my future. I’ve worked so hard to get here, and you—you sit here playing house! Even this food you made—disgusting!” She picked up a plate and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing through the room.
“I was too naive to marry you and give birth to Molly! You don’t even know what I want!”
“Then what do you want, Jane?” Dylan looked at Jane, a self-mocking smile played on his face.
“What do I want? I want a real man! Someone who can help me in my career, someone who can connect me with the Nelson family and get them to invest one hundred million dollars in me! Not some good-for-nothing who just stays at home taking care of the kids!” Jane shouted in disgust.
Watching the somewhat frantic Jane, Dylan gave a self-mocking smile.
Ever since her company started to do well, Jane's attitude towards Dylan had changed drastically.
Dylan looked at Jane, a hint of disappointment in his calm expression.
"Yeah, Jane. I'm just an ordinary person, only able to cook for you at home, take care of the kids... Is that also wrong? I heard you've been getting close to a man lately. Do you think he's the one who helped you get in touch with the Nelson family?"
Jane looked at Dylan impatiently, "If it's not him who helped me, are you saying it’s you? Who I get close to is none of your business. If it weren’t for you being useless, if you could help me get in touch with the Nelson family... Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you!"
Dylan gave a bitter smile, "Jane... since we're already here, maybe it's time to end everything."
“What?” Jane froze mid-rage.
“Let’s get a divorce,” Dylan said simply.
Jane’s shock quickly turned to fury. “Oh, how convenient for you! You want to walk away just because things aren’t perfect? You’re the one who dragged me into this mess, and now you think you can leave? You’re irresponsible, Dylan!“
Dylan didn’t respond. Without another word, he turned and walked to the guest room, leaving Jane screaming in the living room.
“You’re a coward, Dylan! A useless, pathetic coward!” she screamed, smashing another dish. “You and Molly are the chains holding me back!”
Behind the closed door of the guest room, Dylan sat quietly on the edge of the bed. His heart ached, not for himself, but for Molly, who deserved so much more than this chaos. For the first time, he allowed himself to accept the truth: the woman he once loved no longer existed.
In the living room, Jane continued her rampage, breaking dish after dish, her screams filled with anger and pain. But Dylan didn’t hear her anymore. He had already made up his mind.
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The crash of dishes had finally stopped. Jane stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her with a thunderous bang. She grabbed her phone with trembling hands and dialed a number.The person answered on the second ring, their voice smooth and confident. “Jane, darling, what’s wrong? You sound furious.”It was Lisa Powell, her best friend and a sharp-tongued lawyer.“It’s Dylan!” Jane hissed. “He asked for a divorce tonight!”"Dylan? That useless guy?" Lisa was a bit surprised, "Tell me what happened!"Jane recounted the evening, her voice thick with frustration. “Can you believe it? He sat there with his pathetic little dinner, pretending like everything was fine! And when I told him the truth—that he’s been dragging me down—he suddenly wants to walk away!”Hearing Jane's words, Lisa laughed, "Don't worry, Jane, I know exactly what he's up to! He's just trying to use this as an opportunity to threaten you!""Threaten me?" Jane was a little confused."Yes, he thinks you can't live
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Chapter 9: Illusions Shattered The manager had barely stepped out of the banquet hall when the air inside began to thrum with excitement. Jane, glowing with pride, sat at the center of attention as guests flocked to her and Bobby. “Ms. Jane, I must say, this is such an impressive feat!” a woman in a burgundy gown gushed. “Collaborating with the Nelson family—do you know how rare that is? You’re truly remarkable!” Another man, dressed in a tailored navy suit, nodded eagerly. “You’re a visionary, Ms. Jane. Your company is destined to soar after this deal. I wouldn’t be surprised if you became one of the top players in the industry.” Jane’s lips curved into a self-satisfied smile. “Thank you, everyone. It wasn’t easy, but I believe hard work and persistence always pay off. And of course, having the right people around helps immensely.” She glanced at Bobby, her eyes softening. “Absolutely!” a third guest chimed in. One older gentleman raised his glass. “A toast to Ms. Jane’s br
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140: The Waiting TrapThe night air clung to Dylan like a second skin as he approached the massive estate. The towering iron gates loomed before him, their intricate designs casting eerie shadows in the dim light. Beyond them, the house stood still. Silent. Too silent.Something was wrong.No guards. No movement. Not even the flicker of a light inside. This was not the setup Dylan had anticipated. He’d been expecting a fight—gunmen, guards, or at least a few hidden cameras—but all he got was silence. A silence so thick, it felt like it was pressing down on him, suffocating him with the weight of something sinister.Ezra’s warning echoed in his mind.“She’s waiting for you, Grenville. Don’t be an idiot—it’s a trap.”Dylan had known that before Ezra even said it. Seraphina was many things—vindictive, calculating, ruthless—but careless wasn’t one of them. And leaving her home unguarded? That wasn’t just careless.It was an invitation.A taunt.He sighed, rolling his shoulders, loosening
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139Grenville’s VengeanceDylan stood motionless for a moment, staring at the darkened screen of his phone. His heart pounded against his ribs, and his breath came slow and controlled, but his thoughts were anything but calm.Martin’s words echoed in his head.“This is bigger than you think.”Damn it.Dylan was no fool. He knew Martin better than most—knew his tells, his habits, the subtle shifts in his voice when he was hiding something. And Martin was definitely hiding something. Whether it was out of fear or something else entirely, Dylan didn’t know.But he’d find out.Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he scanned the alley for any sign of movement. The city hummed around him—distant sirens wailing, the occasional flicker of headlights illuminating the wet pavement. Shadows stretched along the brick walls, making the air feel heavier, charged with tension.His instincts screamed at him.Something was wrong.If Martin hadn’t betrayed him, then someone else had. And whoever it
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138Dylan stormed through the dark alley, the cold night air doing little to soothe the boiling fury churning inside him. The world felt wrong, like everything was shifting beneath him. Betrayal hung in the air, suffocating him. His phone, clutched tightly in his hand, seemed almost like a lifeline, a tether to whatever thread of control he still had left.His thumb swiped across the screen, and he dialed Martin’s number without hesitation. He needed answers. His pulse pounded in his ears, and his chest tightened as the phone rang. Once. Twice. A third time.Then finally, the call connected, and Dylan’s blood ran cold at the sound of Martin’s voice.“Yeah?” Martin answered, a slight edge to his voice, but nothing that hinted at the urgency in Dylan’s heart.Dylan’s grip on the phone tightened to the point of pain, his knuckles white. “You better have a damn good explanation, Martin.”There was a brief silence on the other end. Dylan could hear the faint sound of shuffling—like Martin
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137: The Hunt BeginsBut no.Not yet.Dylan’s grip on the knife tightened for a split second before he pulled it away, stepping back. His eyes, dark and unforgiving, stayed locked on Victor.“If I find out you lied to me,” Dylan said, his voice calm but carrying a lethal edge, “I’ll come back. And I won’t be this merciful.”Victor grinned, teeth gleaming under the dim light. “I look forward to it.”Dylan didn’t give him another second. He turned on his heel, disappearing into the night.His hunt wasn’t over.It had just begun.Dylan stormed down the alley, his pulse hammering in his skull. His breaths were sharp, measured—but inside, a storm raged. His fingers shook as he yanked his phone from his pocket, the screen smudged with sweat and dirt.He didn’t hesitate. He dialed.The line rang twice before Ezra picked up.“Boss?”Dylan didn’t waste time. “Track Seraphina.”Ezra paused. “Wait—Seraphina? As in your ex?”Dylan’s jaw locked. “Yes, Ezra. Track her. Now.”Another pause, longer t
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136: Seraphina’s BetrayalThe door behind them splintered as bullets tore through the wood. The deafening blasts sent panicked screams rippling through the casino.Dylan reacted instantly, shoving Victor down and flipping the table for cover just as another hail of bullets shredded the air above them.Shouts and terrified cries filled the air.“Oh my God! They’re shooting!”“Get down! Somebody help!”“What the hell is happening? This is a casino, not a war zone!”Guests ducked beneath tables, some sobbing, others frozen in shock. The roulette wheel spun idly, chips scattered across the floor, forgotten in the chaos. Dealers had long abandoned their stations, diving for cover alongside their customers.A man in a suit clutched his bleeding arm, wailing, “I’ve been shot! Someone call an ambulance!”“They’ve got guns! Who are they after?”Then, cutting through the hysteria, came something that made Dylan’s blood run cold.“Dylan Grenville!”The voice rang out over the chaos, clear and de
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135: The Hunter’s ReturnDylan didn’t make his move right away. He was patient. Watching. Waiting.Victor Castellano sat in the center of his entourage, laughing as if he owned the world. He swirled whiskey in his glass, his rings glinting under the dim casino lights. Every so often, he shot a smug glance across the room, completely unaware that someone was hunting him.Dylan knew better.For nearly an hour, he tracked Victor’s movements. Every sip of whiskey. Every nod to his men. Every flicker of arrogance in his expression.A waiter approached Victor’s table with a fresh bottle, and Victor clinked his glass against the rim before pouring himself another drink. His right-hand man, a burly guy with a scar across his cheek, leaned in to whisper something in his ear. Victor listened, then chuckled, knocking back his drink in one smooth motion.Dylan’s fingers curled into fists. It was time.Victor stretched, cracked his neck, and murmured something to his men before sauntering toward t
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134Dylan stepped over the shattered remnants of his front door, his boots crunching against the broken glass scattered across the floor. The place was a wreck—furniture overturned, papers strewn everywhere, as if someone had deliberately torn through his home in search of something. His jaw clenched, muscles taut with fury as his eyes swept the room. There had to be a clue. Something. Anything.His feet carried him down the hall, straight to her room. The air was thick with dust and lingering perfume, a cruel reminder that she had once been here. His gaze locked onto the desk, where a single red envelope sat neatly, untouched amid the chaos.Dylan’s breath hitched. That emblem. The wax seal bore the unmistakable mark of Victor Castellano.With steady hands, he broke the seal and unfolded the message inside. His eyes skimmed over the words, each letter twisting the knife deeper into his gut.“You shouldn’t have come back. She is safe… for now.”His fingers tightened around the note, c
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128 The air outside the restaurant was thick with tension, but Dylan barely seemed to notice. He and Olivia strolled down the pavement, the streetlights casting a warm glow on the sidewalk. Olivia glanced over her shoulder, her brows slightly furrowed as she took in Bobby and Jane’s expressions—shock, confusion, maybe even fear. “You really have a way of making enemies,” she murmured, though this time, her tone held something new. Uncertainty. Because she had thought she knew Dylan—rich, sure, but not this. Not the kind of power that left people like Bobby and Jane speechless. Dylan smirked. “It’s a gift.” Behind them, Bobby finally seemed to snap out of his stunned silence. His face was still burning with humiliation, but now, beneath the rage, there was something else—doubt. “You think this is over?” he hissed, but his voice wasn’t as strong as before. Dylan didn’t even bother turning around. “You keep saying that, Bobby, but the funny thing is… it kinda feels over.” Olivia
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128 The air outside the restaurant was thick with tension, but Dylan barely seemed to notice. He and Olivia strolled down the pavement, the streetlights casting a warm glow on the sidewalk. Olivia glanced over her shoulder, her brows slightly furrowed as she took in Bobby and Jane’s expressions—shock, confusion, maybe even fear. “You really have a way of making enemies,” she murmured, though this time, her tone held something new. Uncertainty. Because she had thought she knew Dylan—rich, sure, but not this. Not the kind of power that left people like Bobby and Jane speechless. Dylan smirked. “It’s a gift.” Behind them, Bobby finally seemed to snap out of his stunned silence. His face was still burning with humiliation, but now, beneath the rage, there was something else—doubt. “You think this is over?” he hissed, but his voice wasn’t as strong as before. Dylan didn’t even bother turning around. “You keep saying that, Bobby, but the funny thing is… it kinda feels over.” Olivia
