“FATHER,” August greeted as he entered Charles' office. “Maxine told me that it's an urgent matter,” he added as he continued walking, and stopped as soon as he was in the near distance with Charles' table.Charles nodded before he pointed at the couch. “Take a seat, son.”Even if August thought that all their conversations as father and son were all pretendings and a part of his training, Charles was still delighted every time he could call August his son, without any fears that August would get weirded out.“Did something happen?” asked August as Charles sat in front of him, and placed the crane on his side. “You look paler than the last tim

“AUGUST…” Samantha muttered as her gaze traveled onto his fists.Her mouth formed into an O. She wanted to explain— remembering the times when August repeatedly asked her about the bruises— but she couldn’t force herself to do it.Samantha didn’t know what to say, and she couldn’t understand what she felt as she saw August in front of her. It felt like she could now sigh in relief— like a person who will always take her side already arrived.However, she was the one who placed him in danger… and will continuously do it for her greed.On the other hand, August could only look at her with annoyance.“Hey,” Bruce

INSIDE THE Rosehouse, where everything turned upside down for August, a grand gathering was held.August was on the second floor of the place, hiding in one of the rooms there, as he watched all people with their expensive gowns and luxuries while obviously hating each other with their pretentious smiles and gestures.“Hah.” August couldn’t help but smile. It felt like he was back in the previous time. The only difference is that he wasn’t on the stage anymore, but somewhere in hiding. On top of that, he wasn’t as pathetic as before.“Saw something interesting?” Sapphire, who was fixing her silver dress with a slit on her right thigh, asked.She

A FEW SECONDS had passed, and yet, Francis didn’t even avert his gaze somewhere. Clicking his tongue and tilting his head, he continued staring at the man on the second floor, who also did the same.They couldn’t see each other properly because they were far away from each other. Still, both of them could feel the tension running in their veins.‘How brave,’ said Francis at the back of his mind, smirking. ‘I wonder why he is hiding.’Francis narrowed his eyes, wondering who the man would be. His smirk widened as decided to climb onto the second floor and go onto that specific room where the guy was.“Sir—”“I’ll climb alone,” interrupted Francis as one of his

‘OH. MY. GOSH.’ The shock would be an understatement to describe Samantha’s feelings right now. Her heart was about to burst up, staring at Francis like it was her first time seeing a man like him up close. “G-Good evening,” Bruce, who was known by everyone as arrogant and authoritative, stammered as he was the one who took Francis’ hand as they shook hands with each other. Francis chuckled a little as he wiped his palm on his expensive pants casually— without any intentions of hiding it so Bruce wouldn’t be offended at all. Bruce and Samantha noticed that, and instead of being insulted, they felt honored for Francis that he wiped his palm on his pants, instead of using a handkerchief. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to… shaking hands, you know? I always have my people deal with negotiations, especially if it requires skinship,” Francis apologized, but his voice didn’t sound apologetic at all. “It’s fine! It’s fine!” Bruce exclaimed twice, waving his hands. “My hands were also swea