Even though Kenton and Christian shared the same father, they could not have been more different. Kenton was the legitimate son of the Duvan family, born into prestige and raised as the rightful heir. Christian, on the other hand, was nothing more than a blemish on the family name—a bastard child born from their father’s mistress. From the beginning, the two had been set on opposite ends of the spectrum. Kenton wore his legitimacy like a crown. Christian carried his existence like a stain. That was why Kenton had never once considered him a real brother. When Christian’s name came up now, there was no grief in Kenton’s expression. No hesitation. No trace of familial bond. Instead, his voice carried a faint curl of disdain, as though speaking of a stray dog that had finally been put down. The Verrick brothers shifted uneasily in their seats. The cold indifference of this man unsettled them. They had expected bitterness, perhaps a hunger for revenge. What they hadn’t expected was a co

Jaden hurriedly slammed his eyes shut, forcing himself to lie completely still, pretending to be asleep. His heartbeat was steady, but inside, he was quietly amused. As he had predicted, Selena shifted slightly in his arms. He heard her muttering softly, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "Oh no, why did I crawl into his arms in my sleep again? Luckily, he's such a heavy sleeper… or else I'll never hear the end of it!" A sigh of relief followed as she carefully eased herself away, trying not to disturb him further. She never noticed the subtle, satisfied curl of his lips—the faint smile of a man who had just witnessed a truth he both cherished and enjoyed silently. Jaden finally allowed himself a quiet exhale. It was a weekend, and the Rift family had decided to make a rare outing to the Sky River Shopping Mall. As they arrived, Jaden took charge of the car while Selena ushered Mia and her parents inside. She chose to lead them to the third floor, where the high-end stores

Delight’s eyes flicked over Selena from head to toe, her gaze sharp and calculating. The blouse, the skirt, the neat but modest shoes—nothing about the woman screamed wealth. At best, she looked like a white-collar worker who had tightened her belt enough to scrape together a decent wardrobe. And standing beside her were two people who looked every bit the part of simple countryside folk. Farmers, no doubt. Parents dragged along by their daughter to places far out of their reach.The corners of Delight’s mouth curled into a smirk. She had seen this type many times before. The kind who wanted to taste a world that didn’t belong to them. If this woman couldn’t buy anything, it would give her the perfect excuse to tear into them and throw them out. And if she did force herself to buy something, even one piece, Delight would still come out on top with a fat commission in her pocket. For her, this was a game she couldn’t lose.Folding her arms, she leaned back with smug confidence and star

Vance blinked, clearly rattled, but quickly forced a professional smile. “Sir, our boss rarely comes to the restaurant himself unless it’s a matter of utmost importance. If you’re unhappy with the food or service, please tell me. I’ll do everything in my power to make it right.” He gave a slight bow.Kenton paused, his knife hovering above the steak, and slowly lifted his head. His gaze locked onto the manager with icy sharpness. “Are you absolutely sure about that?”Despite Kenton’s tailored suit and gentlemanly posture, the weight of his presence was suffocating. Vance suddenly felt as though he was standing before a predator sizing him up. His legs weakened, his throat dry, but he kept his voice steady. “Yes, sir. I’m sure.”The words had barely left his lips when the steak knife in Kenton’s hand flickered like lightning. A cold flash—and then a wet, tearing sound.The blade carved across Vance’s throat in a clean, merciless stroke. His eyes bulged in shock as he staggered back, ha

Selena’s cheeks burned red, and her lips fumbled over the words. “I-I…”The saleswoman’s smile didn’t falter. With a practiced flick, she brought out a sleek black umbrella, the handle gleaming under the lights. “Ma’am, allow me to sweeten the deal. If you take the set now, this limited-edition umbrella is yours. Handcrafted by some of the best artisans in the world. It cost over ten thousand just to make. It may not be a Rolls-Royce umbrella worth over a hundred grand, but trust me, its quality is second to none.”Her voice was smooth, confident, the kind of tone that left no space for resistance. Selena’s hand twitched against her bag. She told herself she could walk away, but deep down, she knew she wouldn’t.Her pulse thudded hard as she gave a small nod. Heat spread across her face while the saleswoman finalized the purchase.Why am I like this? I only wanted the men’s watch for Jaden…The receipt printed. Jaden casually reached for the umbrella, like he knew this was going to ha