"it can wait pa." Jessica said
"I feel so much better princess.” Joseph said gently.
His gentle smile soothed Jessica worries.
Joseph's recovery was a blessing.
His voice is weak but reassuring .
“Come closer." He whispered.
Jessica leaned in, holding his hand in hers
“We should cancel the marriage arrangement with the Millers."
Jessica's eyebrows furrowed.
"Pa, I understand your concerns, but now isn't the time. Liam just saved your life."
Joseph's expression look intense.
"That is exactly why we should reconsider. I don't want you to bound to someone out of obligation."
"We can't go back on our promise, especially after Liam's help. It would be ungrateful and dishonorable." Jessica insisted.
Joseph sighed, his eyes clouding. "I owe Liam a debt, but that doesn't mean you must marry him."
Jessica's jaw harden.
"I understand your concern pa but I've already promised Liam a one-year trial. I'll fulfill my commitment, Grandfather.”
Her calling him grandfather means end of discussion.
Joseph's eyes met hers, hoping for understanding.
"Promise me you will always put your happiness first."
Jessica nodded, though her thoughts is filled with uncertainty.
“Very well. If you are sure that is what you want, you have my full support.” he said.
“Being a wife is a job on its own, you have obligation to fulfill.” he advised.
“I will do what is necessary pa.” Jessica replied.
“You have to….”
“Pa! If you continue to meedle, I will divorce him.” She interrupted him.
“That is not important right now, you need to focus on your recovery.”
Joseph expression softened,he raised his hands up to surrender. “i promise, no more interference. Your happiness is more important.”
-
Liam, after washing his hands overhears a conversation between Gabriel and Christopher.
Gabriel's raised voice carried through the door.
“Fuck! your incompetence ruined our plan.”
“Joseph's survival is likely the end of everything!"
"I did all I could Mr Armstrong, The Tame Head curse…."
"Tame Head curse?" Gabriel Interrupted.
"Stop giving silly excuses! You should have never underestimated that man."
Gabriel's voice turned bitter. "I should have predicted that mutt will ruin our plans."
Gabriel's anger boiled over. "Our plans, our future, is on the verge of being destroyed!"
Gabriel said in frustration.
"Someone is targeting the Matthews family and Miss Matthew is aware. She probably brought Liam in for protection." Christopher said.
“Who?” Gabriel said
“That i am not sure but she has been cautious for the past few days and even double their security.”
Gabriel’s determination hardened. "I have marry Jessica, and secure the Matthews empire."
TMO's crisis open opportunity Their partnership with Healthy Land…"
"Pharmaceutical giants." Gabriel interrupted Christopher.
"Yes.”
Christopher continued. "If successful, TMO's future is assured and the Matthews family will succeed. But..."
He paused.
"My brother, Anthony, is one of joshua grants trusted men. One warning from him the partnership will fail. TMO will be ruined."
"Forcing Jessica's hand to Marriage, our ticket out." He completed.
Excitement could be heard in Gabriel’s voice.
"Exactly. With TMO on the brink, Jessica will have to find a way out. Which is you." Christopher said
Gabriel’s voice intensified filled with happiness.
"Ensure Anthony sabotage the partnership. Our future depends on it."
_
Joseph, tired from the conversation, falls asleep.
Jessica stepped out of Joseph's hospital room.
Relief washing over her, she is glad her grandfather was alive.
She spotted Cynthia in the hallway.
"Cynthia, have you seen Mr miller?" Jessica asked.
“Miss Matthew.” She stood up.
"He is around around here somewhere." Cynthia replied. "I saw him walk into the man washroom."
Jessica's expression turned serious.
"TMO's partnership with Healthy Land is approaching, We need to prepare press releases and a celebration banquet."
"Yes ma."
Cynthia nodded, bringing out her jotter.
“Where is David?” He went to the villa to pick clothes for Mr Matthew.
"Okay.”
“I need to back to the office now, you stay and makes sure no one goes in except Mr miller.”
"Another thing, I need you to take Mr miller shopping. His current dressing does not suit our company's image."
Cynthia nodded. "Luxury brands?" She replied
"Yes. Ensure he is well groomed, He could use an hair cut.
"Also, arrange a fitting residence, a comfortable one."
Cynthia scribbled notes. "Yes ma. Do you have any dress code requirements?”
"Classic, elegant," Jessica replied.
"Reflecting and embodying TMO's professionalism."
Cynthia smiled. "I will attend to it promptly.”
"I entrust it to you.” Jessica said and left.
Liam returned after a few minutes
Cynthia’s expression turned cold.
Liam open the door to the Matthew's ward and could not find Jessica.
“Where is Miss Matthew?” He asked Cynthia.
“She left.” She replied coldly.
"You were entrusted to me and you are under my supervision."
Liam nodded, unbothered.
Cynthia saw this as an opportunity to claim superiority.
"Understood? You follow my instructions."
“Okay.”
“We need to go shopping.”
“Okay.”
Liam's submission sparked a cunning glint.
"I expect your full cooperation when we get there.” Brittany ordered, her tone firm.
“We need to groom you to be someone who is fit to works at TMO”
Liam kept quiet. His compliance to her request satisfied Cynthia. She delighted in pushing him around.
"We should leave now."
Cynthia's disdain and distrust for Liam inspired her to sabotage his chances of staying at the company. She took him to a discount store.She chooses a few low-quality clothing items for him to try on, hoping to humiliate him by buying ill-fitting, low-quality clothes."Try these." she said, handling him a garish shirt."Okay" Liam answered.He collected the cloth and went to the fitting room to try the cloth.Ashley the heiress of Williams corporations approached cynthia. They met at a dinner a few years back while she was working for profit pioneer a financial advisory company.She helped Ashley secure a deal with them."Hii.... it is so lovely to see you here." Ashley said "Miss william, what brings you here?" Cynthia replied."I am about to release a new line of my collection so I am checking around for designs." she responded."That's great.""I saw you came with a friend.” she said“How do you know that country bumpkin" Ashley asked"who?" "Liam Miller, I heard he is engaged
After ending the calll, Jessica turned back to Cynthia.“What were you saying cynthia?” Jessica asked.“Mr Miller is a pervert and I have evidence to prove it.” she said with a straight face.She showed Jessica the picture she got from Ashley and a fabricated chat picturing him as a pervert.Jessica’s expression turned serious as she saw the picture. “Thank you, i assure you that measures will be taken against it.” she said “Keep the good work up.”“You can leave now.” She dismissed Cynthia.“Yes ma.” she said and left Jessica's office.Although Jessica did not take any immediate action, Cynthia leaves Jessica’s office feeling victorious believing that her plan to get Liam fired finally worked.Jessica looked at the papers Cynthia left on her desk containing a chat log between Liam and an unknown woman and the picture that clearly gives away his face.-Liam after taking care of his room decided to go to the herb market to get herbs to suppress the seal in him. He went to almost a
Liam shocked everyone when he arrogantly rejected Joshua's offer to become his apprentice, and even called Joshua unworthy. Before anyone can react further, Ryan, the chairman of Delvin Hub Martial Club United, collapses, spitting blood and losing consciousness after taking the cure administered by Joshua. “Father!!!..” Heather screamed as she rushed to hold him as he fell. He started spilling blood and lost consciousness.The crowd started murmuring, questioning Joshua’s expertise. “I thought he was the best in town.”........... “Is he dead?” Joshua rushes to check Ryan, he realizes that Liam was right he administered the wrong drug. He stood up to tender a public apology. “I am sorry for the failure of my treatment but his injuries are too severe for me to be able to save him.” He apologizes, admitting that his treatment had failed, and Ryan's injuries were too severe for him to save. “We lost him.” Joshua said. Heather, Ryan's daughter, is distraught, all hope is
As the reporters sighted Jessica and Ashley, they rushed over to them. Suddenly, Liam started coughing violently, spitting black blood.Jessica rushed to hold Liam before he blacked out.“Liam!...!!” she screamed as she rushed to his side. She looked around for Cynthia, she saw her running towards her.“Get the car.” She said to her. Ashley tried to touch Liam.“Get your hands off him.” she said, pulling Liam closer to herself.“Hey, can you hear me?” Jessica said, shaking his body gently.When the car arrived,Jessica’s body guard assisted her in lifting Liam into the car.She took one more glance at Ashley who was glaring at her before she entered the car. The reporters kept taking pictures even after Jessica’s car left. Ashley’s driver arrived and she left angrily.-In the car“Make sure none of those pictures get out.” Jessica told Cynthia. “Yes ma” she replied.Jessica turned her attention to Liam, her brow furrowed with worry as she stared at his pale face.He winces in pain
End of flashbackLiam decided to go to where he saw in his vision, he had a score to settle with the so-called dragon head. He knew he would get his answers there.Just then, two cars stopped beside him. Five huge men came out of the vehicle holding guns and daggersThe man who seemed like their leader did not get down from the car, he was leaning out of the passenger seat lazily.“Liam Miller?” he asked.“Yes, and you are?” Liam asked curiously. Who are these people?He thought to himself.Before the man who looked like the leader could answer, one of his men responded. “This is Theodore of sykeon, can’t you see?” he cried.“So?” Liam replied.“How can you be so disrespectful?”another men exclaimed“Is he someone powerful?” Liam asked again.“I'll knock you senseless!” one of the hooligans said.Liam snorted, how outrageous are these people?“Stop!!” Theodore said, He turned to Liam. “You've got some guts, usually people beg for mercy. If you kneel down and beg me, I might decide to
“Why is he still alive?” Gabriel thought to himself. He looks like a different person entirely, he was not the calm looking nerd guy. Liam without sparing him a glance went into the club.Gabriel knuckles turned white. “Fuck!” he muttered to himself.-Liam made his way to the executive suites, where there were about five guards standing at the door, he figured Asher will be inside. As he got to the door, one guard stopped him.“Stop right there, what are you looking for?”“Asher Miller.” he said bitterly“Name?” The guard asked.“Tell him his brother is here.” Liam said.He glanced at him before entering the suit to inform Asher. When he entered, Asher looked up from the document before him. “What’s wrong?”Asher hates being disturbed when working. He bows, “Dragon lord, someone called Liam Miller is here to see you.”“Liam?” He asked. His expression changed.“You all can't get anything done by yourselves!!, Bunch of fools!” he said, pushing everything on his desk on the floor.“I a
He signaled to everyone to keep quiet. “Miss matthew.”“Where the hell are you!!” Jessica said worriedly.The sect leaders were surprised at his change of tone; he picked one of the keys without checking it.“You left the hospital without receiving proper treatment and you did not go home.” she continued.“I went to the herb store, I am sorry,” he said calmly.“Come to my place immediately!” she said and hung up.Liam left hurriedly.Liam returned to Matthew's villa, when he entered there was no one in the living room so he decided to check Jessica’s office.He passed by her office and noticed a slightly opened door in the hallway.He opened the door and entered and was stunned. Jessica was trying to zip her gown, she looked up, startled, as he approached her."Need some help?" Liam asked.Jessica's cheeks flushed as she nodded, feeling a little embarrassed at being caught in such a vulnerable position. Liam stepped behind her and gently took the zipper, his fingers brushing against
Liam signed the contract.“We will have a mini wedding.” Jessica blurted out as Liam was about to stand up.“What?” surprised, Liam almost fell back to his seat.“My grandfather insisted that a small marriage must be arranged. Just me, you and him.” “Except you have anyone you would like to invite.” she continued.Liam shaked his head before answering, “I don't.” he said curlty.“Any of your parents or grandparents??” she asked her voice showing hint of concern.Liam jaw hardened, “They are all dead.” he said with no expression on his face.“I am sorry.” Jessica said apologetically. He felt a surge of heat rushed through his system again. He did not want jessica to know what was wrong with him, he decided to leave before she noticed.“It’s fine,” he said before standing up.“Miss Matthew, I have to go now.” liam said, he stood up aburtly. As he stood up to leave, a sudden surge of dark energy coursed through his veins, like a whispered warning from the shadows of themselves.“What
The guards carefully lifted Liam's limp form and began to carry him towards the car. Jessica's eyes followed them, her expression worried. “What's wrong with him?” she asked Victor, her voice trembling.“The seal is breaking up,” Victor explained, her face grim. She thought he had more time. “And he needs your blood to get the Dragon Seal.”“I don't know if he knows that he needs your blood,” Victor said, his eyes locked on Jessica's, “but the seal's breakdown is consuming him.”Victor's eyes locked onto Jessica's. “We need to get the map,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “The one that will reveal the location of the Dragon Seal grass’s creator.”Jessica's brow furrowed in confusion. “But how do we get it?” she asked.Victor's gaze was intense. “Your blood, combined with Liam's, is the key. It's the only way to unlock the map and reveal its secrets.”“We need to get to the map before Grandalf and Valerie do,” Victor said, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as if searching fo
Luther's voice came through the comms device again, “Lord Asher, I'm reading some kind of magical barrier surrounding.”Asher pulled up to the abandoned warehouse, his mind still racing with questions about the third witch. Who could the witch be?? What was her connection to Liam?He thought to himself, “I will be there shortly,” he responded.He killed the engine and stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the perimeter of the building. The Shadow Guards were waiting for him, their faces expressionless as they bowed in unison.He walked over to the tent where luther is, “Luther, what's the situation?” Asher asked, his voice low and urgent. “The warehouse is locked down tight,” Luther replied. “But I think I can crack the code and get us inside.” Asher nodded, his eyes fixed on the warehouse. “Do it. We need to know what's going on in there.”There was a pause, and then Luther's voice came through again. “Lord Asher. The barrier is down. But be careful, I'm reading some seriously
Asher was pacing in his room, his mind consumed by thoughts of Victor and Liam. He had expected her to arrive by now, but the silence was beginning to unnerve him.Just as he was starting to wonder if Victor had changed her mind, the door to his room burst open and his guard entered, bowing low.“A message from the Sect Leader’s bodyguard” the guard said, his voice low and urgent.Asher's pacing slowed to a stop as he turned to face the guard. “A message from the Sect Leader’s Guard?” he repeated, his eyes narrowing slightly.“Which one?” he asked, urgency laced in his voice.“The League of the Emerald Shield sir.” he said.“Are you sure?” he asked.The guard nodded. “Yes sir.” Asher walked to him and collected the wrapped paper, it was empty. He walked up to the light and ...examined the paper more closely, looking for any hidden messages or clues. He noticed that the paper had a faint scent of lavender and a small, almost imperceptible watermark of a crescent moon.He brought out an
Valerie struggled to collect herself from the ground, her head spinning from the impact. As she slowly sat up, she heard Grandalf's conversation with Jessica.“I see we underestimated your powers,” Grandfalf said, his voice dripping with anger.Jessica shot back, “Seems so, old man.”Jessica frantically scanned her surroundings for an object to use as a defense, but the area was strangely empty. Just as she was starting to lose hope, her gaze landed on Liam and a mysterious woman standing behind him.Liam's eyes locked onto Jessica's, and he mouthed silently, “Don't move.”Jessica's gaze flickered to the woman standing beside Liam, but her attention quickly snapped back to Grandford, who seemed oblivious to their arrival. Grandford sneered at Jessica, “You think you're clever and strong but you're just a foolish child playing with forces beyond your control.”Liam took a step forward, his eyes blazing with anger, and the woman beside him placed her hand on his arm. “Wait,” she whis
As the sun beat down on them, Theodore and his crew struggled to come to terms with their desperate situation. The sound they had heard earlier, which had sent shivers down their spines, turned out to be a demon bird perched atop a nearby tree. Fortunately, it seemed more interested in observing them than attacking.Theodore quickly assessed their situation and realized that their top priority was to find a way to cross the chasm that lay before them. He dispatched a team to search for sturdy sticks and branches that they could use to build a makeshift bridge.Meanwhile, the injured members of the crew cried out in agony, their wounds exacerbated by the scorching sun and the dry, cracked earth beneath them. The rest of the crew tried to comfort them, but it was clear that they needed medical attention, food, and water .Theodore's eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of rescue or a way out of this desolate place. But all he saw was the endless expanse of barren wilderne
Jessica's memories came flooding back, she felt a surge of emotions, fear, anger, and sadness. She struggled against the restraints that bound her to the bed but they held fastThere was nothing holding to the bed, yet she cannot move. The spell that immobilized her legs seemed to be growing stronger, making it harder for her to even twitch a muscle.Jessica's mind was racing, she tried to piece together the events that had led her to this point. She was at a club “Fuck” she thought to herself.“Arthur,”she muttered. She remembered her mother's death, the feeling of helplessness and despair that had consumed her. And then... and then there were the flashbacks. Memories of her mother teaching her how to cast spells, how to brew potions. Memories of her mother's frightened face as she lay dying staring at the blurred killer’s face.Jessica's eyes narrowed as she realized that her memories were not just random recollections. They were clues. Clues to her past, to her mother's secrets, a
Grandalf's voice echoed through the dimly lit chamber, his words laced with a sense of urgency. “Valerie, we must convene immediately. The girl's powers have awakened, and she's more formidable than we anticipated.”Valerie came out from the shadows, her eyes gleaming with interest. “I've been monitoring her progress, Grandalf. Her abilities are indeed impressive, but we must be cautious. If she learns to harness her powers, she could become a significant threat.”Grandalf nodded in agreement. “Precisely why we must act swiftly. We cannot allow her to become a wild card. Our plans depend on her remaining... manageable.”Valerie's expression turned calculating. “I'll take care of it, Grandalf. But we'll need to be strategic. The girl's powers are still raw, but she's resourceful. We can't underestimate her.”Grandalf's eyes narrowed. “See that you don't, Valerie. Our future depends on it.”“We need Liam's blood,” Valerie said. “That is the only thing delaying…”“And what is stopping yo
The receptionist led Arthur through a secure door behind the front desk and into a cramped control room. Banks of monitors lined the walls, displaying feeds from security cameras throughout the hotel.A gruff-looking security guard looked up from his station. “Can I help you?”The receptionist nodded. “This gentleman is looking for his friends. They're registered guests, but they're not answering their phones.”The security guard's expression softened. “Okay, let's take a look. What time did they go missing?”Arthur thought back. “We were at the club around 9 PM. I haven't heard from them since.”The security guard nodded. “Alright, let me pull up the footage from 9 PM onwards.”He began typing on his console, and the monitors flickered to life, displaying various feeds from around the hotel.Arthur's eyes scanned the screens, his heart racing with anticipationHe fast-forwarded through the recordings, stopping at various points to show Arthur people entering and leaving the hotel.Ar
Liam felt a surge of heat and energy course through his veins, like molten fire igniting his very core. His breath caught in his throat as his heart racing accelerated.At first, it was exhilarating, as if his senses had been heightened. But soon, the sensation turned intense, overwhelming. Liam's vision blurred, and his legs buckled.He stumbled, gasping for air, as a searing pain ripped through his chest. The mark, once a subtle hum, now blazed like a wildfire, fighting his way through his system.“Liam!” Victor shouted, rushing to his side.Liam's hands grasped at his chest, as if trying to contain the inferno within. “It's...burning…” he choked out, spitting black blood.Victor grabbed Liam's shoulders, holding him upright. “What's happening?”Liam's eyes rolled back, his body shuddering. “The mark...it's spreading…”Victor's grip tightened. “Fight it, Liam! Don't let it consume you!”Liam's face contorted in agony, his voice barely audible. “Can't...stop it…”Suddenly, Liam's bod