Crystal Palace Layla, Sarah, and Benjamin were both out of the house. Collette knew about Sarah and Layla's whereabouts as Layla had told her of where she was going. Sarah, who found out her daughter-in-law was off to play Go, forcibly tagged along despite Layla's words for her not to. Benjamin, on the other hand, had informed her he was leaving, but didn't state where he was leaving to. Collette, who had nowhere to go ever since Adair refused to let her return to the company, stayed up in her room all morning sketching something. Since Adair wouldn't let her work, she was going to become an anime artiste, producer, and manufacturer. Even though her husband was wealthy, she would rather not depend on him all the time. When it was noon, she decided to take a break and left her room for the kitchen for a drink. The chef greeted her as she reached into the fridge and took out the only remaining orange juice. “There's only one of these remaining.” She frowned slightly. Orange juice
The bottle suddenly got snatched from Benjamin. "I didn't know you wanted some. That's the last one in the fridge." Benjamin said when he saw Adair staring at the bottle strangely. Adair took the bottle to his nose and smelt it. He smelt the blood in it. In his other hand was the bottle he had taken from Collette. While he was upstairs, he heard the door open, then seconds later, he smelt the familiar smell of orange, but that smell wasn't coming from the bottle he held, it was coming from downstairs which meant whoever came in was drinking orange juice.Furthermore, he suddenly realized the bottle he took from Collette didn't have the smell of blood in it which meant this wasn't it. Adair glanced at Benjamin for a while before he parted his lips and said, "You just consumed vampire blood." "It doesn't kill, right?" Benjamin asked rather calmly. Crumbling the plastic bottle in his hand, Adair retorted, "No, it doesn't. But it does have the potential of turning you into a vampire
“Really? That's terrifying.” Olivia subconsciously. Just like Alice, she couldn't help recalling all that she had said and done to Adair. “Did Adair give you a job?” David asked with an embarrassed smile. As the one who should've provided for his son, he was feeling really ashamed that there was nothing he could do to help himself or his family. Trevor nodded, “Adair made me the stand-in president of Dame's Enterprises.” Alice, who was about to ask something else, had her lips parted, but no word came out of it as she stared at Trevor in surprise. Stand-in president in Dame's Enterprises? She clearly read the news that said the previous president couldn't continue leading the enterprise for some reason, so a stand-in president was going to be brought in. Who knew that person was no one besides her elder brother. “Adair gave you such a big position? He's surprisingly one not to hold grudges.” Alice murmured. However, Olivia, who was surprised and elated just a while ago, suddenly
“That doesn't still give you the authority to commit murder.” Alice exhaled in a rather tiny voice. What is this? Not only did Zane look extremely pleasing to her eyes, her body also reacted to him. Zane obviously heard the loud thumping of her heart, but he failed to see the reason she was so scared. He had a pretty face, and he did his best to restrain his aura around them. So why exactly was she so scared? He thought for a moment before signing. Forget it. Despite living for centuries and coming across millions of humans, he still couldn't figure out how they acted sometimes. Slipping out his phone, he turned to glance at the body behind him before dialing Adair's number. It rang twice before it was answered. “It's midnight and my wife is fast asleep. What could be so important that it couldn't wait until morning, Zane?” Adair asked in a hushed voice as soon as the call connected. Zane froze and slowly glanced at the time in his phone, ten minutes after 1. Adair was someone
The word was floating in Zane's mind, and he was just about to say it when he heard the elevator ding open. A serious-looking Jordan appeared in their train of sight. “What are you doing here?” Zane asked with a shrug. Jordan walked past him and stopped before the man who attacked Trevor and his family. He asked instead, “Have you gotten anything out of him?” “You didn't need to come. I was handling the situation perfectly.” Zane replied instead, a small frown caressing his face. “Jordan Hale. You're alive, and you still seem to be Adair Huxley's lackey.” The man on the ground spat out, his voice coated with hatred. His words and tone caught Zane by surprise as it sounded like this person knew Jordan. But how could this person know Jordan without Zane knowing who he was? So to satisfy his curiosity, Zane turned to Jordan, “He knows you. How does he know you?”Jordan tilted his head to the side and used his feet to kick the man on the floor a few times and glanced at Zane, “His f
Before Zane could get to Hannah, she already left. “Mrs. Huxley, have you met her before?” He asked once he returned to Collette's side. Collette, who was handing over her card at that moment, glanced at him briefly before asking, “Met who before?” “The lady who just introduced herself as Hannah Griffin.” He clarified. “Oh, she?” Collette shook her head, glancing towards the path Hannah had taken, “No, I haven't. This is my first time meeting her. She's beautiful and she seems nice. For someone who doesn't know me, I'm surprised she introduced herself, though.” Zane clenched his fist tightly as he stared at Collette. Who said Hannah doesn't know you? After Collette purchased the laptop, he drove her back to Crystal Palace, his eyes going to his side view mirror occasionally that Collette who sat in the back, couldn't help but notice. “Are we being followed by one of Adair's enemies?” Collette inquired, glancing behind them as well. Zane chuckled slightly and shook his head, “
The air in the conference room was extremely tense as the two men who sat at the two opposite heads of the table stared at each other intensely. Trevor was the first to take off his eyes as he picked up his pen and wrote down something on the opened document before him. Afterward, he dropped the pen and interlocked his fingers. “Dame's Enterprises won't go into a collaboration with the Celestial Cooperation because of its past record of losing money. I stand to be convinced.” He said aloud, his eyes going to his left side where the people from Celestial Cooperation, the company owned by the Pitt's family, sat. There was silence for a while before one of them got up and walked to the electronic board. “We're not proud of what happened months ago, but I'd like to bring your attention to the company's recent financial history, which states that we've made a decent amount of money, which has been used to settle the debts the company accrued during its dark moments. Celestial Cooperati
In an alley, a certain redhead dragged a body to somewhere concealed. He added it to the pile of bodies already there. From the looks of it, these people were already dead. After he was done, he found somewhere to sit. Then took out his lighter and smoked. Suddenly, he paused and glanced behind him to see someone walking towards him. “I saw you nap that man from a mile ago and felt you were familiar. So I followed you while wondering why you looked familiar.” Zane said as he got closer to the man. “Gary Lincoln, it's been a long time. I wondered where you disappeared to.” Gary stared at Zane for a while before taking his eyes away. Zane was centuries younger than Gary, so Gary wasn't the least threatened by his presence. “Did you prefer a coffin before you came looking for me?” Gary scoffed. “I've never been a fan of coffins. I prefer to die and get burnt to ashes. Stuffed into a coffin or stabbed in the heart with a stake. Which do you prefer, Gary?” Zane asked Gary, slipping a
"Hello, stranger." Collette heard as she picked up an apple. She didn't need to turn around to confirm who it was. "If you hadn't shown up, I'd have been left with no choice than to believe that you have a conscience." Collette smiled, her back still turned to Hannah. "Conscience?" Hannah scoffed and walked to the shelf housing the apples. "I wasn't in a very good place when I put you in a coma which unfortunately lasted for seven years. In those seven years, Adair hasn't been much of a good ex-lover and he's been hurting. Staying out of sight and reach was the only way to guarantee my safety and that of my brother's." "Ah, I see." Collette smiled, then turned to face Hannah squarely, "My mom has absolutely no idea that her daughter was in coma for seven years. But she's throwing a feast for her return to Crest Ville after seven years of traveling the world. And everyone's invited. Even her enemies aren't left out." "Strange. Your mother doesn't strike me like such a magnanimous w
Seven Years Later A redhead, clad in baggy pants and a crop top which left her belly button out in the open, nimbly walked up the stairs of the hospital and walked towards an elevator. The elevator opened to reveal a couple making out in it. They quickly composed themselves and lowered their heads in embarrassment when they saw her. The girl smiled and placed leaned on the elevator, closing her ears as she listened to the soft sound made by the elevator as it headed up. After three minutes, the elevator slid open, and she walked out of it, what looked like a school bag, slung across her shoulder. Behind her, the couple in the elevator couldn't help poking out their head in both surprise and awe just before the doors of the elevator closed again and sent them back. This was because no one apart from the family of the person on this floor was allowed up. And it was no news that the family of this person who occupied the whole floor owned the foundation. Collette Foundation. A found
Despite Tucker's threats, Adair didn't bother with him as he bent over and carried Benjamin in his arms. “Kill her.” Tucker spoke into his phone. However, he heard nothing from the owner of the phone. “I think he's dead.” A familiar voice sounded instead. “Jordan? Of course, you're alive, and Adair had everything contained as usual.” Tucker seethed angrily and quickly left the store. He hadn't gotten far when some men, who had their faces covered, walked up to him. Almost immediately, a van pulled in front of them, and he entered the van with them. Tucker hissed numerous times as he tried his best to contain the fact he lost to Adair once again. The van drove for over an hour before it stopped under a tunnel. Tucker alighted from the van and got into a black Lincoln which was parked just beside it. The Lincoln drove out afterward and headed straight to a seven-star hotel. “Why am I being summoned when I haven't done anything?” Tucker complained as soon as he walked into a privat
It took Adair precisely eleven minutes to get to where Tucker held Halsey and Benjamin hostage. He walked in on Tucker spraying something on an unconscious Benjamin. But despite being unconscious, Benjamin would wince in pain whenever it touched him. “Don't you feel ashamed picking on someone lesser than you?” Adair mocked, making his presence known. His words didn't deter Tucker, who kept throwing the water at Benjamin. “Who said he's lesser than I? Someone who Adair Huxley calls father-in-law isn't lesser than me.” “That's that, but I still don't see how a man in his early forties is a threat to you who's more than a thousand years old.” Adair shrugged and found himself a chair to sit on. Tucker dropped the spray he held on the table and glanced above his shoulders to see Adair's cold eyes. “Those cold eyes. Why does it seem like you turned off your emotions?” Tucker asked in surprise. He was yet to hear the news about Collette getting into an accident, since Adair's men were
“No!” Zane yelled and got up to his feet as soon as possible. However, Sharon didn't fall like he expected because someone else had taken the bullet for her. “Grab her and get out of here.” Jordan hissed, as he dug his claws into his chest and pulled out the bullet lodged in it. Tucker raised his brow before flinging the gun away. “Jordan Hale. It's been a long time.” “I hoped you'd be dead by this time of the year. What a pity that good people die early, while bad people live the longest.” Jordan said in spite. “True. That's why you, Adair, Hannah and I have lived this long.” Tucker chuckled. He had better things to do, such as torturing someone with the name Benjamin Pitt, so he didn't want to waste time with Jordan. Without another word, he rushed towards Jordan and grabbed him violently by the neck, then threw him hard against the wall. Cobweb-like cracks appeared in the spot where Jordan came in contact with. The temporary pain didn't deter him, as Jordan got up almost imme
Adair and Hannah stared at each other for a long time. Then she lowered her head to her phone and increased its volume. “A few minutes ago, there was a ghastly accident which involved a drunk driver and a beautiful young woman. It's revealed that she bears the name Collette Huxley and is married to the multi-billionaire, Adair Huxley. This happened along…" The reporter's words were drowned out as soon as Adair's phone which was beside him rang out. “Hold on, I think I forgot to say I also compelled the driver to ram into her, then hand himself over to the police afterward. Don't you think I have a great sense of justice?” Hannah giggled. Adair reached for his phone and went numb when he saw it was a call from Collette. He first exhaled in relief when he realized Hannah was just messing with him. “Wife, are you alright?” He asked anxiously as soon as he answered the call. “This is Garrison Hospital, is this Adair Huxley, Collette Huxley's husband?” An unfamiliar voice asked inst
Martha's Penthouse Martha walked into the house to find Tucker drinking like he had been doing for the past three days. She had a book in her hand, which she handed over to him. “I was on my way in when someone said there's a parcel for you. All they need is your signature saying you've received it before they leave.” “A parcel? I didn't order anything.” Tucker frowned, refilling his glass with whiskey. “They can't be mistaken because your name is in this book.” Martha sighed, placing the book on the table. Tucker's phone buzzed at that moment, and he glanced at it only to exhale in disappointment, seeing it was a commercial message. “I can turn them away if that's what you want.” Martha said, reminding him there was still something for him to do. Reluctantly, Tucker reached for the book and signed it. Martha took it and left the house. She returned later with a coffin-like wrapped package. “Is it just me or does it look like a coffin?” Halsey asked, appearing from nowhere. S
1627, Crest Ville Main MarketThe sun was bright and hot when it came in contact with the skin of humans as usual, but this didn't stop them from carrying out their daily activities. Among them was a woman who went from stall to stall asking one question, “I buy vervain for a very handsome price. Do you have any to sell to me?” Suddenly, she got pulled into a corner by an elderly woman. “Going around the market asking for who has vervain is the most stupid plan I've heard in a long time. It'll only be a matter of time before he finds out what you're doing. Get a grip on yourself, Hannah!” The elder woman berated the younger one. Hannah, who had her red hair held up neatly with a pin and had on a simple floral gown, sighed and shrugged the woman's hand away. “I know what I'm doing, and I'm more careful than usual. For example, do you know Jordan is walking around the market as we speak?” Hannah scoffed. “Jordan Hale? Adair's right-hand man?” The elderly woman asked to confirm th
Adair stayed home the next day, much to the surprise of Collette. “Are you staying at home because you want to, or you're staying at home, so I won't be kidnapped like yesterday?” Collette asked guiltily. She was currently sitting in front of her working table while Adair laid on the bed fiddling with his phone. When he heard her, he paused and towards her. “I'm thinking of getting you a rope. We'll tie it on our waists, so we don't wander far from each other whenever we go out together.” Adair said, a little too serious. Collette, who was about to laugh, froze. Wait, what? “You're not serious, right?” She asked in horror. Adair, who initially had his serious face on, laughed and got out of bed. He walked up to her and shrugged, “It's no longer safe to leave you at home. Especially with Tucker and Hannah around.” “Hannah mentioned something called vervain. She explained to me, it was something capable of keeping vampires from messing with our head. Why don't you get it for me?”