“Compensation?” Adrian’s tone dripped with disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”But Isabelle’s voice rose louder, strong enough to reach every guest in the grand cathedral.“I suffered in your hands, Adrian Lancaster!” she shouted, pointing a trembling finger at him.“You maltreated me! You never gave me a single penny. You had shares in Rhein Group, yet for years I starved while you secret my spent your money on this woman!”The audience erupted into murmurs.“And more!” Isabelle pressed on, tears rolling down her cheeks.“You never treated me like a woman. You called me names, lied to me, pretended to be broke while I carried the burden of our marriage alone!”The three activists at her side raised their voices in unison.“This is not new!” one cried.“Men like him hide behind power, behind money!” shouted another.“This cathedral will not silence women today!” yelled the third, pumping her fist in the air.The chants rang through the wedding hall:“Justice for women!”“Expose the mon

The guards seized Isabelle by the arms.She thrashed wildly, trying to free herself from the iron grip of the men. “No! You can’t do this to me! I am the victim here! I will ruin you, Adrian! Do you hear me?! I’ll—”The crowd gasped as she continued to wail.“You’ll regret this! You’ll all regret this! Adrian, I’ll destroy you! Sophia, you witch! You’ll both pay!”The doors slammed shut with a thunderous BOOM.Her voice vanished into silence.The cathedral remained silent as all eyes turned back to the altar.Adrian reached out and took Sophia’s hand. Together, they turned back toward the priest.Their hands were clasped tightly in unity.The priest’s voice, though shaken, resumed with reverence.“Then… let us continue.”One by one they spoke the vows.Adrian’s voice was calm. “I promise to stand with you and protect you.”Sophia’s voice trembled at first, and then she said. “I promise to stand with you, too, and always support you.”The priest smiled. “By the power vested in me, I n

Sophia felt the world tilt. Her breath hitched. “What? Where? Where are you now?” she demanded.They gave her the location. “They took her into a black van.”Sophia sprang up and her towel fell to the floor. She yanked clothes on with her hands, and she was already moving.“What is it?” Adrian asked.“Elena’s been kidnapped,” Sophia said breathlessly. “East district... just now.”Adrian’s jaw tightened.How dare we commit such an atrocity?Even the devil knew to avoid the Aldridge family.He immediately grabbed his keys and put on his clothes.Adrian asked the staff to watch over Clara who was in her room sleeping peacefully.Adrian and Sophia soon arrived at the East District.The scene was filled with commotion.Police cars had arrived and bystanders clustered on the sidewalks. A broken tire lay in the gutter. Two girls crouched on the curb, with their trembling hands over their mouths. Their sobs filled the air.“Oh my God! Is this where she was taken?” Sophia called out as the

At that instant, the heavy metal doors at the far end of the hall crashed open.Isabelle’s smile froze. For the first time, she looked truly afraid.“How—how did you find us?” she whispered, the bravado slipping.Adrian didn’t answer. He moved like a blade.He ran straight at the man looming over Elena. With one brutal kick, he smashed into the man’s midsection. The man crashed back into stacked crates. Dust rained down. The hall echoed with the heavy thump.Isabelle snapped her fingers. Two of her men lifted pistols. The others drew guns of their own. In a single smooth motion the room filled with cold metal aimed at Adrian.For a second everything slowed.Then—gunshots.Two of Adrian’s men who had bounded in with him fell where they stood. The sound rang like thunder. Blood did not need to be shown, but the men went down hard. The air stank of gunpowder and panic.Adrian shoved Sophia behind him and planted himself between the guns and the sisters. He raised a hand. “Stand down,” he

Elena, her earlier fury spent, leaned forward, her curiosity reignited despite what she had just passed through. “Yeah! What was that? You’re some powerful alchemist or something, Adrian?”Adrian kept his gaze fixed on the road, maintaining his careful façade. “It was nothing,” he dismissed smoothly. “I’ve been taking some advanced martial arts and Chi classes. Focused force, that’s all."He obviously couldn't tell them that he possess the power of a Dragon.“Chi,” Elena scoffed lightly, but she didn’t press, already moving on to the more interesting topic. “Well, I hope I didn't completely ruin your night.”She nudged Adrian's shoulder with her foot. “I’m sure you two were already doing things married people do when you got my call. Don't worry. When you drop me off, you can go right back to continue."Sophia glared fiercely at the rearview mirror, her cheeks warming despite the serious situation. "I know you will make me regret coming to save you, you annoying brat. Better keep your