Blood instantly welled up, a thin red trail trickling down his cheekbone. Lorenzo didn't even flinch.Ignoring the sharp throb in his head, he grabbed the guard by the throat, drove him violently into the wall, and used the momentum to leap forward, snatching Vivian right out of Romeo’s grasp.Lorenzo wrapped a firm, protective arm around Vivian's waist, pulling her tightly against his chest as he shoved Romeo backward with a powerful palm strike. Romeo stumbled down the porch steps, landing hard on his rear among the scattered rose petals."Lorenzo!" Vivian gasped, her hands instinctively clutching his shirt. She looked up, her eyes widening in sheer panic as she saw the blood leaking from his temple, staining his collar. "Your head! You're bleeding—oh God, Lorenzo, you're hurt!"Lorenzo stood tall, his breath steady despite the blood running down his jaw. He looked down at her, his expression remarkably serene, a faint, reassuring warmth breaking through his usual icy demeanor."It'

Romeo twisted his head, a malicious grin breaking across his bruised face. "I'm a registered property owner here! I buy their holiday funds! When they see a bloody, broke outcast standing over six broken men and holding me hostage, who do you think they're going to shoot first?! You're going straight to a maximum-security cell, hero!" "Romeo, you disgusting worm!" Maya barked, clutching her swollen ankle as she glared from the sofa. "I am a detective with the municipal department! When they see my badge—" "Your badge is not going to save you, Detective!" Romeo mocked. "To them, you're just a trespasser!" BANG! Before Maya could retort, the heavy double doors of the villa were violently kicked open, slamming hard against the interior walls. "SECURITY! NOBODY MOVE!" A squad of eight riot-gear guards stormed into the foyer, their heavy tactical boots thundering against the floor. They carried full-length ballistic shields, heavy batons, and high-voltage taser rifles, their visors

Maya, who was sitting up on the sofa while Vivian tended to her bruised forehead, looked over at Lorenzo with a mix of shock and skepticism. "Lorenzo...what are you doing? Who is Director Hong?" Vivian kept her hand gently on Maya's shoulder, her eyes fixed entirely on Lorenzo. "Just trust him, Maya." Romeo let out another loud, manic laugh from the floor, thoroughly enjoying what he believed to be Lorenzo's final moments. "Director Hong?! You called Director Hong?! Oh, you really crossed the point of no return now, you idiot!" Romeo strained his neck, glaring up at Lorenzo with disdain. "Director Hong is the regional director of the entire Grand Horizon Management Group! The backing behind this complex isn't just local business—it's tied to the highest military and corporate networks in the capital! Even the top patriarchs of the Lancaster Family have to speak to Director Hong with absolute respect! Who do you think you are?! An outcast kicked out of his own home thinks he can cal

Lorenzo tossed the lace lingerie onto the floor right in front of Romeo's bruised face. "Since Mr. Salvador brought this evidence of his crime into this home with such confidence," Lorenzo continued, his voice dropping into an icy command, "he will put it on over his suit right now, drop to his knees, and apologize to Miss Abrams and Detective Maya." A heavy, breathless shock swept across the foyer. Vivian gasped softly, her hand pressing against her lips, while Maya let out a fierce, bloodthirsty grin from the sofa. Romeo’s eyes bulged with outrage. "What?! You want me to...to put that on?! Are you insane, Lorenzo?! I am Romeo Salvador! My family owns three listed corporations! I would rather die than wear that disgusting piece of trash!" Romeo glared up at Director Hong, his voice cracking with desperation. "Hong! You hear what he's saying?! Tell him to back off! You have no right to humiliate me like this!" Director Hong hesitated. A visible flicker of anxiety crossed his fac

"You shouldn't be moving, Detective," Lorenzo said, eyeing her injured leg with concern. "We should get a medic to look at that ankle." Maya waved her hand dismissively, though a small wince crossed her face. "Please, I've dealt with far worse than a sprained foot. I’m a police officer—I’ve seen plenty of ugly faces and twisted scum like Romeo Salvador in my line of work. A little back-alley fight isn't going to break me." She paused, staring down at her bandaged hands, her expression darkening with a quiet determination. "Though...I have to admit," Maya muttered, her jaw tightening. "Today was a reality check. When those thugs pinned me down...I realized numbers can still overwhelm me if I'm not sharp enough. I got sloppy because of my injury. I need to go back to the gym and refine my combat skills. I won't let myself be helpless like that ever again." She pushed herself up from the sofa, using the armrest for support. "Anyway, I should get going. I need to head to the station