"What?" Zymir whispered."You heard me," she replied, eyes alight with triumph.In a flash, Zymir was on his phone, dialing frantically.For a long, agonizing moment, the line stayed silent."What's happening?"Zymir's heart raced. His father always answered, even if just to say he would call back later. However, there was nothing.Then, abruptly, a message flashed across his screen.[Run.]One chilling word. No explanation.Zymir's confusion grew. Run? When the Sullivans were on the brink of unparalleled power?Kendra's voice dripped with mocking sweetness. "Something wrong, Young Master Sullivan? You seem troubled. Bad news?"Zymir's face reddened, veins bulging as he gripped the iron bars separating them. "What did you do? Speak!"Her laughter was cold, dismissive. "I told you, the La Verdure Pill and Deep Sea Stone Extract aren't tied to the Lockwoods. Need I say more?"His voice was a dangerous growl. "Then who owns it?""Someone the Sullivans should never have messe
The maid breathed deeply and said, "Then I'm with you." She did not want a life of treachery. Her conscience was tarnished by her forced entry into the Sullivans' dark world as a housemaid. The Sullivans' reach was deadly, so survival required desperate measures.Given the promise of safety and the chance to escape the Sullivans, she was willing to gamble. Any sane person knew the choice between a grim fate and a glimmer of hope.Kendra was soon elegantly dressed and entered the grand hall with an escort."Sister!" Kaia's eyes lit up, and she darted toward Kendra.Catching sight of Kendra, Ashton could not resist a jest. "So, you sneak off to Norvanta Port County, aiming for wedding bells, but nearly face disaster instead. Was it all worth it?"Kendra parted her lips but said nothing.Pausing briefly, she asked, "Did you chase me all this way because of your feelings for me?"Ashton laughed lightly. "What's your guess?" He continued with a playful tone. "Women, forever the enigm
"Come back."From the other line.Zymir stood on the rooftop of a hotel, positioned directly across from the Sullivan family estate, peering through binoculars."Why summon me back now, Dad? Didn't you ask me to lay low?" He questioned, a mix of bewilderment and defiance."You made this mess. Now deal with it!" Gideon's voice crackled with anger.Zymir paused, his mind racing to understand.Had he truly stepped so far out of line?Beside him, his imposing bodyguard weighed in. "Zymir, it seems trouble's brewing for the Sullivans. You shouldn't go back.""If I stay away, I'll always be in the dark about what happened. Plus, we finally have a chance to seize power. What kind of message will it send if I run now? And Kendra," he spat out. "I've sworn the moment I get my hands on the La Verdure Pill and Deep Sea Stone Extract formulas, she's first on my list. I never break my promises. I'll ensure she faces the same fate as that insufferable maid of hers!" His voice dripped with co
"Am I afraid? Naturally. Every human harbors a primal fear of death, and I'm no exception," Ashton said, his voice laced with amusement. "But surely, you don't think you can make me a puppet just for that remote?"Ashton's shift in focus caused a tense atmosphere. It felt like an unseen force controlled their every move."Go on, try pressing that button now."Gideon's face was a mask of determination, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Despite his desperate attempts, his thumb seemed tethered, immobilized. His fingers, limbs, his very being—it all felt dominated by an external force. He was trapped in his body, a marionette without strings.The sensation was nightmarish, beyond any human capability.Such prowess was not exactly unheard of. Those who delved into the intermediate teachings of the grandmaster could deftly harness and project their energy. Regrettably, Gideon's understanding was superficial at best. He mistook the deep well of power for mere combat skills, woefully u
"Kaia, stay here by your sister's side.""And you? Where will you be?" Kaia's voice trembled with palpable fear."I'm just going to wander for a bit. Once matters here are settled, we'll journey back to South Edren.""But what if there's danger? What if there are still hidden enemies? And will they haunt us?" Kendra's eyes darted about, her young mind filled with tales of the supernatural.Chuckling, Ashton gently tousled her hair. "Rest easy. There'll be guardians watching over you. And as for spirits, even if they were real, ordinary souls like them would not transform into vengeful entities without reason.""You better promise!""Alright, I give you my word," Ashton replied with a resigned smile.Her fear made sense, given the tragedy. She had always been protected, educated abroad, and never faced such dire circumstances."Oh, by the way, when you can, visit Uncle Danton's for me, will you? I had intended to stay with him, but those plans have changed. And give my regards t
Felisa bit her lip tightly, not knowing what to say.Eventually, she looked at Ashton and said, "My mother is here."Ashton waited quietly for her to continue."My mother was sold to this place three years ago, and it was all that beast, Danton's fault! He will do anything for money."Ashton was surprised.His first reaction was disbelief.Danton might have looked cowardly, but he would never do something immoral, right? With his attitude toward Felisa, he did not seem like a man who would sell his wife. Could there be more to the story?"I want you to help me save my mother. I can pay you. I don't want my mother to continue to suffer here." Felisa's eyes were filled with tears. She crouched on the ground, crying bitterly.Ashton realized why she disrespected her father. Their relationship was irreparably damaged.Ashton crouched and patted Felisa's head. "Promise me, before everything comes to light and the truth is completely clarified, don't decide to hate on others this ea
When Felisa saw Donovan's behavior, she subconsciously moved toward Ashton.Donovan's reputation in school was so bad that people would avoid him when they saw him for fear of being caught by him and dragged to the grove.Previously, a journalism student provoked Donovan. In the end, her boyfriend was crippled, and Donovan had taken advantage of her the same day.She became Donovan's plaything after her boyfriend dropped out of school.In short, the man was terrifying, and he would force his hands on everything he set his sights on.Even though Felisa was pretty, she had been hanging out with Harlan's group, which worried Donovan.Despite his dominance, Donovan was not local. Harlan's family was one of Harbor Island's four major families, despite his relative anonymity.However, she was not with Harlan and the others that day, and Donovan bumped into her again. She was afraid that Donovan might try some funny business with her."What do you want?" Felisa asked."Don't be nervo
"Pretty girl, let me think about what item on the menu is more suitable for you." Bradley flicked his finger, and the female receptionist brought the menu over.Bradley smiled sinisterly after two pages."Got it."The enema game."First, inject two doses of morphine, then use a thin iron column to pass through the rectum all the way through the mouth. Then you will be hung on a rack, and your whole body will be brushed with a layer of grease, sprinkled with cumin and chili, and you will get roasted on an open fire."Bradley's voice was sharp and unpleasant, which made people's hair stand upside down, and they had goosebumps all over their bodies.Felisa paled as she cried in fear. She grasped Ashton's arms tightly with both hands. Her joints on her fingers were pale from grabbing this hard.Suddenly, a big, warm hand covered her hand. She saw Ashton's calm smile, and the fear in her heart instantly dissipated.Felisa breathed deeply and calmed down, recalling Ashton's previous