Serena forced a smile, saying, "Blair, long time no see."Blair flaunted her luxurious hair while showcasing her ten-carat diamond ring. She sneered mockingly and said, “Yes, it’s been a while, but I’d rather not see you. Having someone like you in my presence doesn’t align with my status. I fear people will mock me for having such poor relatives riding here on a beat-up scooter.”Serena frowned and clenched her fists, knowing trouble was brewing. She wanted to turn and leave, but Xayne held her hand and smiled tenderly.Meanwhile, Coco pouted at Blair and exclaimed, “You can’t talk about my mommy like that! We’re not poor. Daddy said those who keep talking about the poor are the real poor ones.”Blair glared at Coco and pointed at her. “Who do you think you are, little brat? How dare you speak to me that way?”Coco was fearless as she raised her head and declared, “I’m not a little brat! I’m Coco Xavier. My mom and dad have names, too. You’re the big brat!”“Coco, don’t speak to
Blair’s mother, Monica, reprimanded, “How disrespectful of you! Blair graciously invited you for dinner, yet that’s how you repay her?”The atmosphere in the private room became solemn. Serena, not wanting to escalate the situation, nodded. “I’m sorry, Blair. My daughter’s just a child, don’t take her words seriously.”Before Blair could argue, Nigel intervened, “Enough, Blair. You’re an adult, so why are you arguing with a kid? We’re here to eat, not fight.”Nigel was the host of tonight’s dinner. Naturally, the others dared not say anything. The two families pretended to be harmonious and began to eat. During the meal, Tony smiled and said, “Nigel, is that your future son-in-law?”Nigel smiled at the man sitting beside Blair. “Haha, I forgot to introduce everyone. Indeed, he’s my future son-in-law, Sebastian Vaughn. He dabbles in financial investment and is a security analyst.”“Hello, Mr. Tony.” Sebastian stood and raised his glass.“Wow, Sebastian’s a security analyst? He mus
“Haha! My future son-in-law is a security analyst. He must know what he’s talking about. Just follow his instructions.” Nigel laughed and then looked at Xayne disdainfully. “Some can live off others but shouldn’t meddle in things they don’t understand. They’ll just make a fool of themselves.”Everyone turned to Xayne scornfully. Monica mocked, “Pfft, why are you pretending to know so much? Do you honestly think that stock will rise just because you said so?”Blair smirked and taunted, “Serena, your husband is being ridiculous. Does he think he’s the one controlling the stocks?”Xayne remained indifferent, but Violet and Tony felt humiliated.Violet rebuked, “Xayne, can you keep quiet if you don’t know what’s going on? Do you have fun embarrassing us? You have no right to speak here. I wish I could just kick you out.”Tony looked awkward as he chuckled and said, “Nigel, Sebastian, I’m sorry you had to see this.”Xayne helplessly shook his head and texted Chuck.…Chuck was handl
No one expected Tony to burst into hearty laughter. He looked at Xayne and said, “You were right, my dear son-in-law! It really did hit the limit. We’re going to be rich. I’ve earned over a hundred grand instantly.”Everyone was dumbfounded.‘It actually hit the limit?!’Violet excitedly stood up and snatched Tony’s phone, staring at it. She asked, “Over a hundred grand?! Where? Show me!”Tony showed it to his wife and then looked at Xayne joyfully. The former raised his glass and said, “Let’s toast to the two of us.”Xayne did not hesitate to stand and clink glasses with Tony. The latter was ecstatic. After all, he was an inexperienced stock investor who had suddenly made over a hundred grand.Serena’s gaze toward Xayne changed as she asked lowly, “Do you know that much about stocks?”Xayne replied smilingly, “Only a little.”Meanwhile, Nigel and the others sneered. Sebastian, in particular, looked confused as he took out his phone and checked the stocks. He was astonished, sa
The following morning, Serena visited the factory to check on the material production. Surprisingly, she only saw around eight workers out of her thirty initial workers. Everyone looked anxious, especially the leaders.Serena hurried to the pacing supervisors and asked, “What’s going on? Where are the others?”Eugene, the person in charge, said, “Ms. Serena, you’re finally here. Something terrible happened.”Serena noticed the workers’ unpleasant expressions. She asked, “Take your time and explain what happened, Eugene.”Eugene expressed his anger, “They all left! Just a few of us supervisors and some veteran workers remain.”“Where did the rest of them go?” Serena was worried and puzzled.“They resigned,” Eugene spoke helplessly, “It’s my fault for not keeping an eye on them. They wouldn’t have resigned if it weren’t for those jerks.”Serena started to panic at the strange situation. “Why would they resign? We just hired them with high salaries.”Eugene explained, “Supervisors
“We’re from the Shalholm Business Association. We received a report from the public stating that there are issues with your factory’s equipment and environment. Therefore, we’re imposing a half-month operation restriction.“All production activities are prohibited during this period. If you have any questions, please apply to the panel for clarification. Here’s the notice.” The staff member handed a notice to Serena and posted another one on the factory door.The notice had bold red letters on black paper, making it eye-catching. Immediately after, the staff drove away, leaving Serena and Eugene dumbfounded.“Th-they’re trying to crush us completely!” Eugene shouted with anger and helplessness.Serena frowned as she held the notice, not knowing what to do.“The factory can’t continue like this. Half a month of restriction is just…” Eugene sighed.One of the workers said, “Should we look into the opposition’s offer? Five grand a month sounds good.”The remaining veteran employees
When Xayne hung up, Chuck tremblingly put down his phone. After collecting himself, he dialed Chance’s number.When the call connected, a hearty laughter came from the other end, “Hahaha! What’s up, Chuck? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?”Chuck was not in the mood to laugh. Instead, he said gravely, “What’s wrong with you, Chance?! Why did you sabotage Mr. Xayne’s factory? Do you realize the disaster you’ve caused this time?”“Mr. Xayne’s factory?!” Chance shivered and stopped walking in the nearby park. He nervously asked, “Don’t scare me, Chuck. When did I sabotage his factory? I haven’t been to the association these past few days.”Chuck was puzzled, saying, “You what?”Chance anxiously said, “I just returned from a business trip out of town. I didn’t have the time to return to the association. What’s going on?”Chuck frowned and responded, “Regardless, Mr. Xayne is furious. He wants you to explain yourself to him in twenty minutes. He’s on his way to the assoc
The guard nodded and glanced at Serena, saying, “Please wait here while I check.”“Sure, thank you.” Serena smiled.When the guard reached the security room, he dialed an internal number and spoke for a while. When he came out, he said, “I’m sorry, Ma’am. Mr. Damon isn’t in at the moment. Can you come back tomorrow?”“He’s not here?” Serena was puzzled. “Can I speak to someone else who’s in charge?”The guard grew impatient. “Ma’am, each person in charge here has responsibilities to attend to. It’s inappropriate for them to intervene in Mr. Damon’s affairs. It’s best if you return tomorrow.”“Well, can you please inform me if Mr. Damon returns? I’ll wait here.” Although hesitant, Serena could only stand silently at the entrance. After all, the situation at the factory was urgent. It would lead to considerable losses if Damon did not show up today.The guard glanced at Serena and sighed helplessly before returning inside.…Damon stood in the vice president’s office on the sixth
Deanana glanced at Xayne as she coyly smiled. "Mr. Xayne, no need to be so reserved with me. After all, I used to be one of your admirers. I always thought you were an extraordinary man."Although it seems I misjudged you, still, you were a part of my girlish dreams. Don't let your current misfortunes bother you too much. People say a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken, and while that's true, I happen to have a kind heart."Her words, though laced with laughter, were razor-sharp. Each one was a jab meant to cut deep.Her meaning was clear: "You might have been a shining star once, but now, you're nothing in my eyes—not even worth a second glance." Helping Xayne get his luggage was just an act, nothing more."Mr. Xayne, do you remember? Just a few years ago, at this very airport, you were returning from... oh yes, the Seven Nations Summit!"You know, I waited at the airport entrance for over four hours that morning just to get your autograph. But sadly, your security team didn'
"Heh, Miss Deanana, you also know that's all in the past. Even if he were still the King of the North, we live in peaceful times now. No one gets special privileges, right?" Dean chimed in smoothly, his tone laced with mockery."Dean! Do you even realize what you're doing?!" Aava could not hold back any longer, her eyes glaring fiercely as she clenched her fists in anger."Of course, I know what I'm doing, and I know neither of you are ordinary people. Thinking about hitting me? Don't forget, there are plenty of reporters over there. If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll make sure Xayne's reputation is ruined," Dean replied smugly.Dean's sneer widened into a wicked grin, the confidence radiating from him undeniable."Manager Dean, how about this? To be honest, I used to admire Mr. Xayne. Why don't you do me a favor and return his belongings? It would be a great gesture," Deanana interjected with a gentle smile.Upon hearing this, Aava bristled with fury. She knew Deanana was up to s
Dean's wild provocations quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.At that moment, a striking young woman stepped forward, removing her sunglasses as she made her way through the throng.The woman was dressed in an elegant black gown, the hemline revealing a pair of flawless, slender legs that caught everyone's attention. Her expression, however, was haughty, as though she looked down on everyone around her.She was Deanana Lovorka, the heiress of the Lovorka family conglomerate. While not exactly a household name, she was considered a minor socialite in the upper circles of Drakonix."Manager Dean, it's been a while!" Deanana greeted casually.As someone who frequently traveled abroad for business, Deanana was a familiar face at the airport and she had crossed paths with Dean on several occasions.But she was not here for a casual chat with Dean. It was far from it.She had come specifically to see Xayne.This was, after all, the legendary King of the North. Just six months ago, he w
"Do you have any idea whose luggage this is?" Aava asked coldly with a sharp and commanding tone.She was on the verge of revealing her special credentials—something she rarely used unless absolutely necessary. Xayne had been her hero, someone she deeply admired. The ridicule from Miodrag moments earlier had already pushed her to the edge, and now even a low-level airport staffer dared to humiliate him."Of course, I knew. Xayne, the King of the North six months ago; now he's just a regular civilian," the staffer replied with icy indifference. The staffer smirked. "Miss, do you think Xayne is still the mighty King of the North? There's no war, the capital isn't under siege, and he's utterly useless now. Take my advice—someone young and beautiful like you should stay far away from trash like Xayne. Get closer to someone like Young Master Dongfang instead. It'll do wonders for your future!"Dean swaggered over, cigarette dangling from his mouth, hands clasped behind his back. His ex
Upon hearing those words, both Xayne and Aava paused in surprise, then frowned in unison.The VIP lounge was clearly still operating as usual. Inside, over twenty people were relaxing—some reading newspapers and sipping coffee. There was no sign of any "closure" or "disinfection."It was obvious that this so-called announcement was deliberately targeting Xayne and Aava."Manager Li, isn't this going a bit too far? That's Xayne—formerly the King of the North. He has special privileges to use the VIP lounge. If this gets reported to higher-ups, we could all be in trouble…," whispered one of the airport staff, cautiously approaching Dean."Higher-ups? Haven't you heard? Young Master Lyuben already gave the order—anyone who sides with Xayne will see their entire family wiped out." Dean sneered, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he lit a cigarette."And even if the higher-ups find out, what can they do?" Dean added mockingly. "I'll admit, six months ago, I wouldn't have dared cross Xayne. B
Miodrag's laughter quickly caught the attention of onlookers in the bustling terminal. But their gazes were fixed not on him but on Xayne.The "King of the North" was a name nearly everyone recognized, yet no one dared approach him. Lyuben's warning had spread far and wide: anyone who got close to Xayne would face annihilation."Miodrag! What gives you the right to mock Mr. Xayne? Just hours ago, he was fighting on the front lines for this country. And you? What have you done besides indulge yourself in luxury?" Aava snapped with a sharp and clear voice."Heh, I pay taxes, don't I? Doesn't spending money generate tax revenue? Without people like me keeping the economy alive, what would Xayne have eaten in the north? Dirt?" Miodrag smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. He sneered and continued, "If not for us rich kids throwing around millions in donations every day, Xayne wouldn't even have warm dirt to eat!""Damn it! The nerve of that guy!""What's so special about the East
"Is it true that Xayne captured the so-called 'Lord of Light' alive?" Lyuben remained calm as he was playing a grand piano in the lounge."Indeed! Word is, the Lord of Light's master, Master Emin, was present as well. However, Xander also made an appearance. My analysis suggests it was Xander who forced Master Emin to retreat, while Xayne crippled the Lord of Light." An older man lowered his head respectfully as he spoke, his voice tinged with urgency."Oh? Defeating the Lord of Light… he must have had a trick up his sleeve. Was it some kind of tactic or setup?" Lyuben asked without betraying a hint of emotion."It's said that Xayne specializes in traps and ambushes. Otherwise, Hiram and his crew wouldn't have met their end in that mansion. Master Dongfang, you mustn't underestimate him!""Hmm?!" Lyuben's eyes shot open suddenly, piercing beams of icy resolve radiating toward the older man.The man immediately lowered his head further, not daring to meet the gaze of the young lead
"Lowes, what are you panicking for?" Zoro's cold gaze locked onto Lowes.Even though Lowes was several generations younger than him, as the head of the Bullard family, he had the status to stand on equal footing with Zoro."I'm not panicking, I just don't want to see more white funeral banners hanging at the Bullard family estate. If Xayne comes back and chooses to settle the score, do you think any of us can handle it? You might not know this, but back when King Quidie rebelled, even Klink didn't dare lay a hand on him," Lowes replied, his voice strained but steady.He paused, taking a long, slow breath to calm himself. "Put it another way, if Xayne comes for us, even KB Kings Circle won't step in to save us. If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will!"The air in the room grew colder. Lowes glanced around at the faces of the other family heads, hoping to see reason in their eyes. But then came a sneer.Zoro let out a low, disdainful chuckle. "Even if Xayne didn't die
"Xayne!" Zoro clenched his fists so tightly. If anyone had a grudge against Xayne, the Eastin family's hatred was no less than that of the Bullard family. Not to mention, Flamey had been killed by Xayne not long ago. This blood feud had to be settled.The Big Four weren't some weak, defenseless prey that Xayne could toy with as he pleased. For decades, the Big Four had controlled the heart of the Drakonia's economy. Every senator, governor, and political figure had to show them respect. But since Iver's death, the Big Four had lost their glow. People who once bowed their heads were now looking down on them. The root of all this was because of Xayne.That's why, after Flamey's death, the Eastin family had no choice but to call upon their master, a man who had been living in seclusion for decades. Every bit of information regarding Xayne's trip to Egenda, his plans, his contacts, and even his flight schedule had been deliberately fed to Lord of Light.They made it clear that the momen