Inside a black velvet box was a unique ring, gleaming with a red gemstone as precious as any treasure and circled by 520 tiny diamonds glittering in the light. Each diamond was meticulously chosen to ensure a perfect fit within the setting. This red gem stood alone in its splendor, unmatched anywhere else in the world. Its worth was astronomical—over $3 billion in Venturian currency.Madelyn finally drifted off to sleep. But suddenly, she felt the bed dipped beside her, and her hand was grasped; something cold slid onto her ring finger. Her eyes snapped open to find Zach sitting next to her, a ring with a sparkling red gemstone now on her finger. She quickly withdrew her hand and bolted upright."What's going on?" she asked, struggling to remove the ring from her finger.Zach observed her attempt for a brief moment, then with a weary yet resonant voice, he said, "I'm proposing to you."Surprise washed over Madelyn, and her fingers froze.Zach's voice was gentle as he confided, "I'

'This is seriously a nasty weather. If they broke my leg and I had to crawl all the way back home, I wouldn't stand a chance. That place is isolated, with that highway cutting through where wild animals roam. I'd be toast,' he thought with a grimace. 'And that Jardin, he's downright cruel!' The sharp pain in his leg was a harsh reminder of Zach's aggressive behavior.Zach put out his cigarette in the downstairs ashtray and headed back up once the scent had faded. At the far end of the third-floor hallway, Madelyn stood by the window, the cold wind softly lifting her hair. Zach approached her.With a look of concern, Madelyn questioned him, "When will you stop harming others? Surely, there's a better solution. Why did you feel it was necessary to break his arm?"Madelyn turned to Zach with eyes so sad and so full of disappointment that it made something inside him ache. He defended his action, "I needed to show them what happens if they mess with us, to keep anybody from trying to st

Lana took a sip and said, "This is actually quite good. I'll ask the maid later how it's made so we could try it at home."Kai agreed, "Sure."Half an hour later, Madelyn woke up in a foul mood, not feeling her best. While arguing with Zach, she got so annoyed that she ended up throwing a pillow at him, which hit his face. This happened just as Kai and Lana came out from Zach's study and entered Madelyn's room.Kai said, "Seems like Madelyn's feeling better now."Madelyn's relationship with Kai was cold; she maintained her usual distance from him. Seeing an unfamiliar pregnant woman at Kai's side, Madelyn offered him a nod of acknowledgment. Zach spent the day picking up pillows, a task that had become routine whenever Madelyn lost her temper. Kai and Lana, acknowledging the situation but choosing not to engage, intertwined their hands and left the room together.Zach handed Madelyn a cup of water and said, "Take your medicine before leaving the bed; you're ill. If you're worried

"Thanks a lot. I'm happy to visit today," Lana said with a smile.Madelyn stood at the third-floor window and saw Kai's car pull away. She squinted at the pregnant lady beside him, trying to remember where she had seen her before. 'Wow, Kai's been really secretive. He got married and is having a baby,' Madelyn thought. 'He looked like he genuinely cared for her at dinner. It's unbelievable. Kai and Zach made sure I'd never become a mom. And now, Kai thinks a simple "sorry" makes everything okay? No way. Guys like him deserve to be alone, just like Zach probably will be.'Zach crept up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. "You seem better. Maybe it's time to pay back what's due?" he murmured."Do I owe you something? You've got it all wrong, Zach. I'm not the one in debt here," she snapped back.Zach pondered her sudden anger. He had not made out with her in ages. 'If this keeps up, I might as well take a vow of celibacy,' he mused.As she left the bedroom, Zach was about t

Zach looked at the reporter's badge and saw the big letters that spelled 'Intern.' "Why is the entertainment news outlet sending interns to Jardin Corporation's press events?" he asked.The reporter did not look scared of Zach one bit. She said, "Mr. Jardin, don't interns have the same right to be here? Or are you just mad about my question and trying to scare me in front of everyone?"The PR manager of Jardin Corporation got up fast, "So sorry, Mr. Jardin. She's probably a new intern and doesn't get the rules yet. I'll take her out right now."The bodyguard was ready to move, but Zach stopped him with a hand, "I'm sure that all the top executives at Jardin Corporation do their jobs right." He then turned to face the reporter who was taking on the company by herself. "Would you have the courage to publish it if I tell you?"The reporter stood tall and said with sureness, "Of course I will. Reporters are supposed to write the truth, to share what they've found so everyone can know t