Darren slowly stepped out of the taxi, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. Two sleek Mercedes-Maybach cars were parked directly in front of the road, their polished bodies reflecting the dim streetlights. Four men stood in front of the vehicles, dressed in black, their posture rigid and imposing.Darren frowned slightly. “Who are you people?” he asked calmly, taking a step forward.But before he could get any answer, the four men suddenly rushed at him.“What the—?!”They grabbed him without hesitation, seizing his arms tightly and dragging him forward.“Hey! Let go of me!” Darren snapped, struggling slightly.But their grip was firm.They dragged him straight in front of the car’s headlights, the bright light hitting his face directly, making it hard for him to see clearly.At that moment, the back door of one of the Mercedes-Maybach opened slowly and a figure stepped out.The man was young, dressed in a noble and expensive ensemble that screamed wealth and author

The moment Joseph Whitmore stopped in front of their table, the atmosphere changed instantly. His eyes burned with anger as he looked from Alicia to Darren, his expression dark and possessive.“What are you doing here with this riffraff?” Joseph asked sharply, his voice loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables.Alicia’s brows furrowed immediately. “Joseph, what is your problem?” she replied, clearly annoyed. “What I do with my life is none of your business.”Joseph clenched his jaw. “Stop saying that,” he said, trying to control his tone. “Why are you making things so difficult for me?”Alicia let out a frustrated breath. “I am not making anything difficult,” she said. “I have told you several times already—I am not interested.”Joseph shook his head, his anger rising. “No,” he said firmly. “You are just being stubborn.”Alicia’s eyes hardened. “I am being clear,” she corrected him.Joseph suddenly slammed his hand on the table.BAM!The sound echoed across the restaurant, cau

Darren walked out of the restaurant calmly, Alicia’s handbag held firmly in his hand. His expression was steady, but his mind was far from calm.He paused by the roadside for a moment.“Should I really go to her house?” he muttered under his breath.He remembered clearly what Alicia had once told him about her father. The man was strict—very strict. Even after Alicia became famous, nothing had changed at home. There was still a curfew. There was still control over where she went, who she met, and how long she stayed out.Darren exhaled slowly, feeling hesitant about going to Alicia’s house and running into her strict father. Darren knew how such dads behaved; they asked a thousand demanding questions.He thought about her coming to his house to collect the bag instead. But he quickly dismissed the idea after thinking about it carefully. That would mean she would learn about his real identity.He shook his head lightly. “No. Not yet. Not until I tell her myself.”Just then, he raised h

The moment those words left the man’s mouth, everything changed.“What did you just say?!” Mr. Raymond roared weakly.Despite his battered state, he forced himself up from the floor, his entire body shaking with anger and pain.“My daughter…” he growled, staggering forward. “You bastard… I will kill you!”He lunged toward the man with the cigarette.But before he could even get close—BAM!The second man stepped in and delivered a brutal kick straight into Mr. Raymond’s stomach.“UGH!”The impact sent him flying backward. He crashed heavily onto the floor, his body curling in pain as he coughed violently.Blood spilled from his mouth.“Honey are you okay?!” Mrs. Raymond cried out in terror.She rushed to his side immediately, kneeling beside him and holding him up.Darren moved just as quickly, dropping Alicia’s handbag to the side as he knelt beside the injured man.“Sir, are you okay?” Darren asked, his voice urgent.Mr. Raymond struggled to breathe, his chest rising and falling une

***The luxurious suite of Cyclux Hotel was silent, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner.The room was large, decorated with gold-trimmed furniture, soft carpets, and dim lights that gave it an expensive but unsettling atmosphere.The door suddenly burst open.Joseph dragged Alicia inside forcefully, his grip tight around her wrist.“Let go of me!” Alicia cried, struggling as tears streamed down her face.But Joseph did not listen. He yanked her forward and threw her onto the bed. Her body bounced slightly on impact.Before she could even react, Joseph turned and locked the door with a sharp click.The sound echoed loudly in her head.Alicia quickly pushed herself up, her breathing uneven as fear filled her entire body.“Please… Joseph… please let me go,” she begged, her voice shaking badly. “You should not do this… please…”Joseph turned slowly to face her. His eyes were dark.SLAP!His hand struck her hard across the face.“Ahh!” Alicia cried out as the force sent her fal