The men's faces paled when they heard Edward's name. They exchanged glances, and one of them quickly stepped forward to open the gate. As Edward walked past them, he could feel their eyes staring intently at his back. He could not blame them for being wary of him; after all, he had been missing for years and was presumed dead by many, maybe.Edward noticed the palpable tension in the air as the men swiftly stepped aside to let him through. Their fear was almost tangible, and he could see it etched on their faces. It was clear they knew exactly who he was.This was the first time he had set foot on the property since purchasing it, and he was struck by its beauty. The gardens were immaculate, with manicured hedges and flower beds bursting with vibrant blooms. It was clear that despite its years of abandonment, the estate had been lovingly maintained.He could see that the main house was a spacious mansion, with several wings and a grand entrance that suggested wealth and luxury. He rus
A man in his fifties, who was wearing glasses, spoke up. "We're gathering data on the people who attacked you. We're trying to identify them and their motives."Edward nodded, his eyes scanning the documents and maps on the table. "What have you found so far?"The man cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. "We have managed to gather some information on the individuals involved in the attack. They are members of a local gang that has been causing trouble in the area for some time. It seems that they were hired by someone to target you specifically."Edward frowned. "Do we have any leads on who they are or where they're located?"The man shook his head. "Not yet, sir, but we think they might be connected to the rival family. We have people combing through surveillance footage and tracking down any possible witnesses. We're also analyzing any physical evidence we gathered from the scene."Edward rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What about the weapons they used?""We've been able to t
"Well, first..." Edward said with a grin. "I need to eat something. I'm starving."Brenda laughed and shook her head. "Typical man. Always thinking about his stomach."Edward chuckled. "Hey, I can't help it. The rush of adrenaline can really drain you, you know?"Brenda smiled, relieved that Edward seemed to be in good spirits despite the situation. "I can cook something for you if you'd like. This house is the safest place for you right now, and it has a great kitchen. But first, I think you should take a nice long shower. You've had a pretty rough day."Edward nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a plan."Brends gave him a smile, a small but genuine one. "I'll show you to the bathroom. It's just down the hall to the left."Edward followed Brenda to the bathroom, taking in the luxurious furnishings and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the house. As he stepped into the shower and felt the hot water hit his skin, he let out a contented sigh."This is just what I needed," he said, clo
Viktor hesitated before answering, clearly uncomfortable with the news he had to deliver. "I'm afraid, my lord, that young master has requested for some time to tie up loose ends before he comes to see you. He's asked for ten days to finish some important matters."Eloise's face fell, and she looked crestfallen. "Ten days? Why does he need so much time? We have been waiting for years for this moment, and now he wants to delay it further? Father, can't we convince him to come sooner?"Xavier, however, was more understanding. "Perhaps he has some personal matters to attend to. We must respect his wishes and give him the time he needs. Don't forget that we want to build a relationship with Edward, not rush him into something he's not ready for. Besides, we have waited this long. Ten more days won't make a difference."Eloise still looked unhappy, but she nodded reluctantly. Xavier put a reassuring hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Patience, my dear. Good things come to those who wait."E
The following morning, the sun had just started to peek through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Brenda walked in, holding a steaming cup of Brazilian coffee in one hand and a small tray of breakfast pastries in the other.She carefully placed the tray on the bedside table, taking a moment to admire Edward's peaceful form as he slept soundly. The gentle rise and fall of his chest was mesmerizing, and she could not help but smile at how adorable he looked when he was in such a deep slumber."Rise and shine, sleepyhead. Dad is waiting for you in the living room," she said in a gentle voice, brushing his hair away from his forehead.Edward stirred, his senses slowly awakening to the delicious aroma of the coffee. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and took a deep breath, savoring the rich fragrance of the freshly brewed beverage."Thanks," he mumbled, his voice still a little hoarse from sleep. He reached out to take the cup, taking a small sip and feeling the
Richard Balmore's voice was shaking with fear and anxiety. "It's about my hotel, Arial. There was an attack yesterday. It was like a warzone, with gunfire and heavy weapons. I don't know what happened exactly, but the media is reporting it as a terrorist attack. They are saying that the terrorists were after someone, and the residents of the city are claiming that it was my family who was the target. It's chaos out here, Mr. Windsor. All of my business partners are pulling out of their contracts with me, and I don't know what to do."Edward's heart was breaking as he listened to Richard's words. He knew that he was partly responsible for what happened at Arial Hotel, and the guilt weighed heavily on him. He could not imagine how Richard and his family felt, being the ones to blame. But despite the inner turmoil that raged within him, he simply could not summon the nerve to divulge the truth. His conscience was gnawing at him, but he ultimately chose to keep quiet, knowing that the co
He sighed, feeling a weight on his shoulders. "It's nothing, really. Just some family matters that I'm trying to sort out."Brenda's expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You know you can always talk to me about anything, right?"Edward smiled appreciatively at her gesture. "I know, and I appreciate that more than you can imagine. But it's just... complicated. This is something that I need to handle on my own for now."Brenda nodded understandingly, not wanting to pry any further. "Okay, just know that I'm here for you if you ever need me." Edward leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, Brenda. You're amazing." Sophie chimed in, "You guys are so cute. I hope I find a guy like you someday, Ed."Edward chuckled at Sophie's remark, feeling a bit embarrassed but also flattered. "Oh, I'm sure you will, Sophie. You're smart, beautiful, and have a great personality. Any guy would be lucky to have you."Brenda smiled mischievously. "Or maybe you'll jus
Intrigued, Brenda's curiosity got the best of her. "What things, Ed?""I have some research to do," he said, his voice low and purposeful. "There's a certain someone I need to dig up some information on." Brenda's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why can't you just ask someone else for information?"Leaning in closer, Edward's voice dropped to a hushed tone. "Because, my dear, it's essential that no one else knows about my plans."Brenda's eyes widened with surprise and worry. "Just promise me that you'll be careful. I don't want to see you getting hurt."Edward smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing." With that, he gave Brenda a quick hug and made his way to his room. He nodded to himself, fully aware of the gravity of his intentions. He could not afford to let anyone else in on his plan to kill Stevan Petrovich. The consequences of such knowledge could jeopardize not only his mission but also his own safety. He needed to be discreet and gather information witho