‘How could Dana forget to remind me to change? Damn it!’
He looked so different that even his wife, Riya Stone Wellington, couldn’t stop staring at him. The man before her was almost unrecognizable compared to the disheveled, casually dressed figure she knew. While he had always been handsome, this transformation revealed a whole new level of attractiveness. Riya, too, looked stunning as she stood up from the sofa, wearing a seductive black lace outfit. Her long, straight black hair framed her beautiful face, and her fair skin and enticing figure were on full display. However, Lucian wasn’t in the mood to admire her. He had never seen her wear that lace before. The room was thick with stares, confusion, and silence. It remained that way until Madame Verna Wellington, an older version of Riya, cleared her throat to draw everyone’s attention. Pointing an accusatory finger at Lucian, she shouted, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing, dressing like that?! Who are you trying to impress with this getup? You’re so shameless! And don’t think for a moment that this will change our minds. Do you understand?!” Riya folded her arms and looked away with a dismissive expression. “Since you’re here, Lucian, it’s time for you to know that we need to get a divorce as soon as possible.” Lucian’s brow furrowed in surprise at her words. He glanced at Jakob, who wore an arrogant smile, and then stepped closer to Riya. “What do you mean by that, Ri?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Riya glared at him with disdain. “Are you dumb? Are you stupid?” she snapped, sighing deeply before turning to take Jakob’s arm. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll take care of things here. You should go before it gets any darker outside. We’ll see each other tomorrow.” Jakob smiled, then leaned in to give her a long, lingering kiss on the lips, which was more than enough to ignite Lucian’s anger. He almost moved to intervene, but restrained himself, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He knew he had to keep his composure, aware of his own strength—a single punch from him could easily send Jakob flying, potentially putting him in a coma. As they broke away from the kiss, Jakob sneered at Lucian before leaving the house. Riya then turned to Lucian, a satisfied smile on her face. Shaking her head in disappointment, she said, “You’re such a letdown. What kind of man are you? You just stood there, watching your wife kiss another man, and did nothing about it. Worthless!” Madame Verna laughed derisively, shaking her head as she lounged on the sofa, her legs crossed. Lucian stood there, feeling deeply hurt and betrayed. “How could you do that to me, Riya? What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked, his voice surprisingly calm, but his golden eyes were filled with hurt. “What the hell is wrong with me?! How dare you, a pathetic piece of trash, question me!” Riya’s voice erupted like a lit fuse. Lucian struggled to maintain his composure as he continued, “I’m asking because of what I just witnessed, Riya. You disrespected me in front of that child by kissing it…” Riya slapped him hard across the face. “Who are you calling a child?! He’s only what, two years younger than you? Look at you! That ‘child’ is a fully grown man, worth more than you in every conceivable way! He’s the head of a million-dollar company. And what are you? A busboy, a security guard, or whatever other degrading… disgraceful thing you do out there!” Her anger seemed to reach a boiling point as she continued, “I’m sick of it! Utterly fed up! If it wasn’t for Grandpa, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with someone like you! But he’s gone now, right? Now, all I am is a laughingstock because of you! Why don’t you just go and die?! Get out of my life!” she screamed, her words cutting deep. Lucian stood there, stunned and speechless. He glanced at his mother-in-law, Madame Verna, and then back at Riya, his wife. They have no idea who he truly is. Unbeknownst to many, Lucian was the son of the notorious Godfather, the powerful mafia lord of Metro City, and the designated heir to his father’s vast empire. He was also a major player in the corporate world. He was even a significant investor in the Winchester Group, holding a 20% stake worth nearly two million dollars—assets far beyond anything Jakob could ever dream of. Four years ago, the Old Master of the Wellington family found himself in a perilous situation, and it was Lucian who came to his rescue. Taking on the role of the Old Master’s security guard, Lucian protected him from those who sought to harm him. During this time, Lucian became captivated by Riya. He found her intriguing, and she sparked something in him that no other woman had. Despite having everything else he wanted, Riya was the one thing he couldn’t easily acquire. The old master had always expressed his debt of gratitude toward Lucian. Knowing that Lucian desired Riya, he arranged their marriage as a way to repay him. Riya, however, had never wanted Lucian; she saw him as a man with nothing to offer. Left with no choice, she entered the marriage begrudgingly. Since joining the Wellington family, Lucian had been treated like a servant, constantly tasked with menial household chores. Despite this, he harbored hopes of building a happy family with Riya, believing that his efforts and dedication would eventually be enough. Within the Wellington household, Lucian’s status was lower than that of a servant. Now, with Riya’s words and actions, she was destroying the last remnants of his dignity as a man. Was it wrong to love someone? Lucian felt his chest tighten as he placed his hand over it, a deep sigh escaping his lips. He reached out to hold Riya’s hands, his voice soft and pleading. “You’re not thinking clearly, Ri. It’s been three years. I’m sure you’re not doing this with a clear mind. I’ve done—” Before he could finish, Riya pulled her hands away with a forceful jerk, her eyes blazing with anger. Her glare was so intense that it seemed as if it could strike him down. “This is the humiliation I have to endure. How can a loser like you insult me? I’ve had enough of you, Lucian!” “Is it money that you want? Is it material things?! Then fine! Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you,” Lucian pleaded earnestly. “What I want? Oh, please, do you think someone like you can afford what I want? Bugatti, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel… You can’t even begin to touch that on your pathetic $3,000-a-month security guard salary!” Her head shook with scorn as she laughed mockingly. At this point, Madame Verna intervened, her tone dismissive. “Alright, enough of this argument. Lucian, you are going to agree to divorce my daughter. But before you do, go take out the trash in the kitchen and cook a good dinner. I’m famished.” Lucian blinked, taken aback by her cold command. He looked at his mother-in-law and, with a hint of defiance, replied, “You must be out of your mind.”Madame Verna rose to her feet, glaring at Lucian, who instinctively took a step back, realizing the gravity of his words. She asked him, her voice dripping with disbelief, “What did you just say to me?”Lucian swallowed hard, casting a quick glance at Riya before responding, “You expect me to do these menial house chores and then want me out of your family? You are gonna have to change the latter to get the former. Nothing comes for free.”Madame Verna’s face contorted with rage. “You son of a bitch!” she screamed, her fury palpable. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? For three years, you’ve been freeloading in my house, contributing nothing! You must think you’re clever, don’t you?”Lucian nodded calmly. “Actually, I do have a high IQ. I don’t usually brag about it, but I graduated summa cum laude from one of the most prestigious—”SLAP.The sound echoed in the room as Madame Verna’s hand struck Lucian’s cheek.“Who cares about that when it hasn’t landed you a job t
The next day, Lucian rose early, determined to prepare a lavish and delicious breakfast. He hoped to mend the rift with his wife and mother-in-law after yesterday. Despite his frustration, he felt it was wise not to aggravate them further.As he was busy in the kitchen, his small phone rang. It was his father. The Godfather.Lucian sighed as he answered, “I told you not to call me on this number, Godfather.”“Lucian, you don’t carry that other phone with you all the time. What are you doing? I have something that requires your immediate attention,” the Godfather’s voice came through, insistent and urgent.“Godfather, my marriage is in a crisis right now, and I need to focus on fixing it. Ask Drake or someone else to handle whatever it is,” Lucian responded, shaking his head as he stirred the sauce simmering on the stove.“Your marriage has always been in crisis, son!” the Godfather snapped, frustration evident in his tone. “Stop being so difficult! I need you specifically for this t
“Lucian?!” Madame Verna hissed, her voice rising in a harsh whisper. “I told you to stop sleeping with him!”Riya shifted uneasily, her eyes flitting nervously to Lucian to ensure he wasn’t paying attention. He remained engrossed in his phone, oblivious to their conversation.“I did stop, Mom! It was just that one night months ago. I couldn’t help it, okay?”Madame Verna pressed her palm to her forehead, clearly exasperated. “Oh, for God’s sake, Riya. Not again. How many times have you had to terminate a pregnancy because of him? How many times have you aborted his child? I explicitly told you to take every precaution to avoid this situation. So why does it keep happening?”Riya looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know.”Madame Verna sighed heavily, her tone firm as she continued, “We’ll have to change our plans for today. Forget the divorce for now, we need to take care of this. You are going to get rid of that baby. We can’t let anything jeopardize our chances of
Two weeks later.[Golden Eye System initializing…]Lucian lay half-awake on the hospital bed, his vision blurred and his senses dulled when he saw shimmering words appear before his eyes, accompanied by a monotone female voice in his head.[Host has met the requirements…][Commencing integration process…]He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling his blood surge through his veins with overwhelming intensity. A sudden, excruciating headache gripped him, as if his skull was about to split open. Clutching his head, his breaths came in heavy, labored gasps. The machines around him began to react to his distress—monitors beeped frantically, the rhythmic hum of the heart monitor escalating into a rapid, piercing alarm.The mechanical ventilator, which had been helping regulate his breathing, emitted a sharp, continuous whine, signaling a disruption. The alarms and beeps was enough to catch the immediate attention of the doctors and nurses nearby, and they rushed into the room.[Linking to host i
“The doctor said your survival was nothing short of miraculous given the nature of the accident,” Dana began, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You were hit by two vans, Lucian—hit front and back. They said it would be impossible to survive, considering the extent of your injuries. You broke so many bones.”Lucian listened, his gaze fixed on her as memories started to surface. He recalled heading to meet Jakob when the vans seemingly appeared out of nowhere.“How did you not see two vans coming straight at you, Lucian? If you had died, what would have happened to the rest of us now that the Godfather is gone?” Drake’s voice was filled with anger and frustration, his scolding words piercing through the haze of pain and confusion.Lucian turned to Drake, still wrestling with the shocking news of the Godfather’s death. The weight of the situation bore down on him, making his head spin.He attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his back, forcing him to remain still. His
Lucian remembered a happy family.His mother, Elena Winchester, always wore a bright smile, and his father, Davis Winchester, seemed devoted to making her happy. Their family life was filled with joy, frequent outings, and Davis would often return home with gifts and flowers for Elena after a long day at work.Then he caught his mom crying one day in the living room.FlashbackElena Winchester, a strikingly beautiful young woman, sat on the sofa, tears streaming down her face. She turned and saw her five-year-old son peeking at her from behind a wall.With a tremor in her voice, she called out, “Draco, you can come out now. There’s no need to hide; I can see you.”The little boy, with his short, dirty blonde hair and captivating blue eyes, approached her with a look of concern. His chubby face, though sad, retained its adorable quality.He walked over to his mother and said simply, “You’re crying, Mom.”Elena managed a weak laugh through her tears, wiping her face with a towel. “Yes,
Felicia, enraged, clenched her teeth and glared at Draco, who returned the stare before retreating to his room to cry.The next day, Draco attempted once more to convince his father that Felicia was involved in his mother’s death, but Davis remained unconvinced.“Your mother died in an accident, Draco! It was a tragic accident, nothing more. I understand you want to find someone to blame, but Felicia had nothing to do with it. She’s pregnant and due soon. I need to focus on your mother’s funeral arrangements. I can’t deal with this right now, so let it go!” Davis scolded, his frustration evident.Draco watched as his father walked away, and Felicia, who had overheard the conversation, found him to be an irritating obstacle. She was gonna end him anyway, so why not do it as fast as possible?Two days after Elena’s burial, Davis was still deeply grieving and continued to argue with Draco, dismissing his claims as fanciful. Accepting Draco’s theories would mean acknowledging that he was
[Memory retrieval sucessful][Healing capacity currently at 60%]Lucian gasped as he awoke, his eyes snapping open in shock, his breaths heavy as he finally remembered who he was. His mother, his father, Felicia, and Jakob all came rushing back into his mind.Nearby, Dana and Drake were arguing in hushed tones.“I’m sorry, but this is on you, Drake. You keep stressing him out!” Dana scolded in a whisper. “You shouldn’t have told him about Godfather’s death when he hasn’t fully recovered. You were too quick and didn’t even consider how he’d feel!”Drake looked at Dana, struggling for a response, and then noticed Lucian’s eyes were wide open.“Your precious boss is awake. Now, go exert your focus on him instead,” Drake said, turning her toward Lucian.Dana’s eyes widened, and she quickly rushed to Lucian’s side. “You’re finally awake, boss! It’s been hours! You had us—had me—worried.”Lucian exhaled heavily, his mind still reeling. It felt like he had just experienced an awakening.So,