******“And you… what sort of rude, bitchy behavior did you put on earlier?” A cold, biting voice suddenly cut through Irene’s train of thought, startling her violently back to her senses.In the next second, her shoulders stiffened, her breath hitched, and she blinked rapidly as if the sound itself had struck her.Then finally, her head lifted subconsciously and turned in the direction of the sound, only to see Perry currently staring at her with a narrowed, cold, and unwavering gaze, her entire face drawn into tight lines of displeasure.Before she could wonder what her offense was…“Your brother-in-law prepared such an incredible opportunity for you,” Perry began, her voice dripping with icy reproach, “an opportunity that millions of young women who are thousands of times prettier, better behaved, and more deserving than you would crawl on their knees for. And how did you respond? You walked out… not even showing him the tiniest ounce of gratitude. Was that what you learned during

****** While Irene was drowning in devastation… stripped of every shred of hope, left powerless, and broken in a way that made even breathing seem like cruelty, somewhere else, not far away from the Woods Villa, Glenn stood casually at the roadside with his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The contrast could not have been sharper… one life collapsing inward, while another was moving along his life with the same detached ease as if the world had never changed. At this very moment, however, a faint crease marred his otherwise calm face as he squinted down at the outdated button phone in his palm. He pressed the device closer to his ear, listening, before lowering it with a dry mutter. “Didn’t her number go through just a minute ago?” His voice carried only mild puzzlement, not panic, his brows furrowing slightly in thought. “Then why is it suddenly telling me… number unavailable?” The machine’s clipped monotone replayed in his head, causing Glenn to tilt his hea

******Before leaving, Ethan had made one last demand of Glenn: that Glenn promise him he wouldn’t vanish again without a word for years.That had made Glenn raise an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback before he quickly recovered and replied in his usual dry tone. “Disappear? With how you’ve latched onto me today, kid, I’m more worried I would need a crowbar just to get you off the time I get back after that.” The remark had drawn a watery laugh from Ethan, and with that, he had finally let go of him, waving at him again and again until he turned the corner out of sight.…..Back to the present… inside the taxi now, Glenn leaned back against the seat after giving the driver his destination, a faint smile tugging at his lips as the image of Ethan’s tearful yet radiant face resurfaced in his mind.The boy had clung to him like he would never let go, and recalling it, Glenn exhaled through his nose before shaking his head.“To think I had completely forgotten about him before tod

******At this moment, James’ eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with mania, appearing like a bloodthirsty freak.He radiated a thirst for chaos, looking every bit like someone on the verge of setting the world ablaze, his grin terrifying to behold.He glanced toward the man in white and waved his hand casually, almost dismissively.“Don’t mind them, Brother Godbreaker. I know you alone are enough,” James said, his tone half-pleading and half-commanding.His grin was twisted, but there was tension, ferociousness, and icy-coldness under it. “Still, I don’t want to leave even the slightest opening for mistakes.”However, as soon as he finished speaking, the man in the white robe… Godbreaker froze mid-step, unable to react for a second.Ultimately, he turned his head slightly, his brow knitting in a sudden, sharp frown.“Wait.” His voice cut through the air like a blade. “Wait… You think I wouldn’t be able to handle whichever brat we’re here for?”His tone carried disbelief,

******The gang leader immediately trembled, his bravado collapsing entirely, and his knees looked moments away from buckling under James’s fury.“I…” he gulped hard, his Adam’s apple jerking as if it might burst from his throat.“I… please… give me a second, young… young master,” he stammered, the words spilling out of his mouth in a trembling rush.He didn’t even dare glance at James for long, instead whipping his gaze onto the still frantic gangster, his eyes hardening.Then, before anyone could even blink…Pak!The sound of flesh meeting flesh suddenly echoed through the street like a gunshot, instantly followed by the frantic man taking a step back and clutching his neck.“Ouch!” A strangled cry of pain escaped his lips, the smack jolting him back to reality.In the following second, his frantic gaze cleared slightly, and finally, his gaze met his leader, swirling with questions, confusion, and smoldering resentment.He obviously couldn’t understand why his leader would