Duke Morgan had just walked out on the deck– no matter how disgusted he felt by the presence of that desperate couple, he wanted to witness Julius' punishment for them. He saw Quella running away towards the back of the deck like a cockroach who had just been sprayed by pesticide, and commanded one of his guards. “Huh! Just take that girl on a cutter boat, and dump her on the shore. And yes! Make sure I don't see their faces ever again.”The Duke adjusted his sleeves, as if he had just thrown away a disgusting piece of garbage. And then, lifted a flute of champagne. “Well, now that all the unnecessary people are out of the way…”His cold demeanor morphed into a regal smile. “Let’s make sure to enjoy this evening to the most!! We are looking forward to a wonderful partnership with the Hammonds, and tonight, we will celebrate in their honor!”The guests cheered, as the tension from earlier was forgotten in an instant.“Tomorrow afternoon, a panel will review the tenders for the proj

The third helicopter hovered just beyond the wreckage of the first two, its dark silhouette slicing through the night. The pilot hesitated for a moment, watching his companions fall into the sea… then abruptly retreated toward the open sky.Julius’s gaze locked onto the insignia gleaming under the cockpit window: an eye, embedded inside a bleeding rose bud. “The Tiger's eye… again…”His jaw tightened. They hadn’t even waited for their agent to return with intel, before sending reinforcements like a pack of hungry hyenas. Their methods were still the same: no hesitation or subtlety, just trying to overpower their target at once like wild animals. He had spoken the words softly, unaware of the fact that the Duke had come to stand right beside him. Duke Morgan’s breath hitched, his usually steady hands trembling as he clutched the rail.“The Tiger’s eye! Why are they after us?”His voice was rising, as he spoke to his guards,"They are a shadowy mercenary group… they will do anything

By the time Julius returned from getting his minor cuts and bruises tended to, the ship was already on its way back to shore. The Duke had ordered an early return, cutting the voyage short by several hours. The events that had taken place within the span of one evening had shaken them till the core, and nobody was complaining about getting home early. Even though they were about to dock at a port on the outskirts of the city, around 4 a.m. the guests were just happy to be alive.Meanwhile, Duke Morgan sat in deep thought. Although he was only in his early fifties, this night had forced him to confront his own mortality. He had never considered that people were already prying on him like vultures to feast upon his wealth, while playing for his death.Duke Morgan looked shaken as he stood at the front of the deck, raising his hand for silence.“Before we part ways, I have a decision to share. Tonight has made one thing clear, life is very unpredictable… and time is not promised to a

The morning light had filled the luxurious suite with its golden glow by the time Julius stirred, his sharp senses slowly awakening.He blinked, his gaze adjusting to the unfamiliar silhouette of someone sleeping beside him.Miley’s hair was a tousled mess of soft waves, her delicate face relaxed since she was in deep sleep. She lay on her side, breathing evenly, unaware of his eyes transfixed on her face. Julius sat up slightly, running a hand through his own disheveled hair. He hadn’t slept this deeply in years. His body had been trained to remain hyper-aware even in sleep, always ready to react to the slightest disturbance. But last night… she had managed to sneak past his defenses. A memory flashed into his mind- soft hands, a warm cloth with which she was wiping his face...Immediately, his gaze flickered to the nightstand, where his clothes from last night were neatly folded into a pile. His shoes were placed neatly beside the bed, even though he remembered falling asleep with

Duke Morgan entered the store, and his powerful aura was enough to make the gathered crowd step back in awe of him. The Duke of Glamorgan was actually blessing them with his presence!Duke Morgan coldly scanned the store, trying to get an idea of what had happened. However, the moment the manager laid eyes on him, the look of arrogance on his face was wiped clean.He blinked rapidly, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. He shot a panicked glance at Julius, then back at the Duke, his brain struggling to understand what had just happened. This low class man he had mocked and humiliated… he wasn't faking it? This man had actually called Duke Morgan, and the Duke had actually come there too…?For a split second, his face drained of color, but his instincts quickly kicked in. He plastered on a bright smile, the kind of polite expression he only saved for royalty and billionaires. He hurried forward, nearly tripping over himself in his eagerness.“Ah! Your Grace! Wh