"Say that again?" Dylan was furious. He hadn’t expected Lisa to speak so disrespectfully about his daughter.
"Hah! You useless man, all you do is puff yourself up in front of women, huh? You don’t have a penny to your name—what do you think you can provide for your daughter?" Lisa continued mocking him without a care.
Dylan’s gaze remained as cold as steel, locking onto Lisa’s smug expression. “How I raise Molly is none of your concern,” he said, his voice low but firm.
Lisa let out a dry laugh, crossing her arms. “Oh, please, Dylan. Let’s not pretend you’re doing her any favors. You’re a broke, useless man with no future. Molly deserves better than being dragged down by you.”
Dylan opened his mouth to reply, but a small voice interrupted from the doorway. “You’re a bad woman!”
Both heads turned toward Molly, who stood clutching her stuffed bunny as though it were her only shield. Her innocent face was streaked with tears, her big eyes glistening with hurt.
Lisa’s eyes narrowed in irritation. “What did you just say, you little brat?”
Upon hearing Lisa's words, Dylan's face turned cold. He stood up and positioned himself in front of Molly, coldly saying.
"Repeat what you just said? Who gave you the guts to call my daughter like that?"
Lisa let out a cold laugh, thinking Dylan was a clown.
"I called her a little brat!"
Lisa's face was full of mockery. "What are you going to do to me? Hit me?"
Dylan clenched his fists tightly, unable to accept that someone would dare insult his daughter.
Molly took a shaky step forward, her tiny fists clenched at her sides. “You’re bad! You made Daddy sad!”
Lisa rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh, grow up, you spoiled little—”
“Enough!” Dylan’s voice cut through her words like a whip. His jaw clenched as he stepped protectively in front of Molly. “Apologize. Now.”
Lisa laughed harshly, leaning back against the wall. “Apologize? To a child nobody even wants? Don’t make me laugh, Dylan. Even her own mother doesn’t care enough to stick around.”
“Mommy loves me!” Molly cried, her voice breaking as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
Lisa smirked, her voice dripping with venom. “Oh, sweetheart, if your mother really loved you, do you think she’d have left you with this useless man?”
Molly cried loudly, throwing the plush toy she was holding at Lisa. Lisa was seething with anger, feeling deeply offended.
"You little brat!" She raised her hand, intending to slap Molly hard.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Dylan angrily stood up, positioning himself in front of Molly.
Lisa collided with Dylan, and his strong body made her feel as if she had slammed into a wall. She screamed and fell to the ground, her head hitting the corner of the table, blood pouring out.
"Blood! I'm bleeding! Dylan, you're a complete maniac! How dare you hit a weak woman?!" Lisa screamed, touching her forehead.
Dylan sneered coldly. "I didn’t hit you. You were the one trying to hit Molly. I was just protecting her! There are cameras in our living room!"
But Lisa ignored Dylan's words, she screamed, “You think you can get away with hitting me? You’re nothing but a pathetic excuse for a man, Dylan! You have no money, no status, nothing! How dare you!”
However, her rant was interrupted by the distant rumble of engines. The sound grew louder, cutting through the morning quiet until it was impossible to ignore.
“What’s that noise?” Molly asked, her tears momentarily forgotten as she peeked out from behind Dylan.
Lisa strode to the window, her anger replaced by confusion. “What the…” she muttered.
Outside, a procession of sleek, luxurious cars pulled up in front of Jane’s house. The sun gleamed off the polished surfaces of the vehicles—Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins—each more dazzling than the last.
Lisa’s jaw dropped. “Are you seeing this?” she asked, though she wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular.
Dylan didn’t move, his expression unreadable.
Moments later, men in tailored suits began stepping out of the cars, their movements precise and exuding authority.
Lisa turned back to Dylan with a smug smirk. “See that? This is Jane’s life now. These must be her new business partners. The Nelsons. Real men with power and money. You’ll never even get close to this kind of wealth.”
Dylan’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile, one that sent an inexplicable chill down Lisa’s spine.
From one of the cars, a strikingly handsome man emerged. He was tall, with sharp features, and his three-piece suit fit him perfectly, exuding elegance and power.
Lisa’s breath hitched. “Who is that?” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away.
She turned to Dylan with a triumphant look. “This must be one of Jane’s wealthy suitors,” she said loudly. “Look at him—class, wealth, everything you’ll never have. Face it, Dylan, you’ll never compare to—”
Seeing the handsome man walk up to her, Lisa quickly straightened her clothes.
She put on what she thought was her most beautiful smile and said to the handsome man, "Hello, sir. I'm Jane's best friend, Lisa. She's not here right now, but I can show you around..." However, the man walked straight past Lisa without even glancing at her. Instead, he stopped in front of Dylan and, to her utter shock, bowed deeply. “Mr Grenville,” he said, his voice filled with respect. “I am Charles Emerson, the Nelson family’s butler. It’s an honor to see you here.” Lisa’s mouth fell open. “What?” she stammered, her brain scrambling to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Before she could say more, another car door opened. This time, a stunning woman stepped out, her movements graceful as she helped an elderly man to his feet. The old man leaned on a silver cane, his face lit with emotion as he approached Dylan. “Young master,” the elderly man said, his voice trembling. “Welcome home. We’ve been waiting for this day for so long.”Latest Chapter
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“You stay here too.” Anna looked surprised. “I thought you needed information.” “I do.” He placed a notebook in front of her. “Write down every name you remember.” Anna picked up the pen. “Even minor ones?” “Especially minor ones.” She nodded. Marcus pulled a chair closer to the table. “And what are you doing?” Dylan looked toward the dark window. “I’m going to give them something to watch.” Clara frowned. “What?” Dylan reached for his phone. “A trail.” He typed slowly. Then he showed Marcus the screen. A message. A location. A time. A carefully chosen piece of information. Marcus stared at it. “That’s fake.” “Yes.” “And they’ll believe it?” “They don’t have to believe all of it.” Dylan locked his phone. “They only need to believe enough.” Clara’s father looked uneasy. “And if they don’t take the bait?” Dylan’s eyes hardened. “Then we learn something.” Marcus nodded. “They’re watching.” Dylan looked around the room. “So we make them watch what we
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The parking garage remained silent for several seconds.Then Dylan looked at his phone again.“No more talking here.”Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You have somewhere in mind?”Dylan nodded. “A place they don’t know about.”⸻Twenty minutes later, they arrived at an old maintenance building hidden behind a row of abandoned warehouses.From the outside, it looked forgotten.Inside, it was different.The windows were reinforced. The doors had multiple locks. A small generator hummed in the corner, powering a few lamps and an old computer.Dylan entered first.He checked every room.Then the roof.Then the basement.Only after he was satisfied did he return.“Safe,” he said.Marcus closed the door behind them.Clara helped her father sit at the old wooden table while Anna remained near the wall, still looking nervous.Dylan placed the slip of paper Marcus had found on the table.2200 hrs. Dock 7.Beside it, he placed another sheet.Marwick Heights. East side. River road.Marcus crossed his
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A nervous-looking executive whispered to the man next to him, “Does… does he have a gun?” “Maybe. Doesn’t matter,” the other replied. “It’s the look in his eyes… that’s worse than any weapon.” Dylan’s hand lifted slightly, tilting Rico forward. “Rico… every scream, every plea, every attempt to delay… it’s a mark against you. You had a choice.” “I—” Rico coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. “I made… mistakes!” “Every one of them has consequences,” Dylan said. “You see what I am, and you still think you can ignore me? That’s a gamble you’ve already lost.” Clara’s father whispered again. “Dylan… do you have to show them all this?” Dylan’s eyes flicked to him, sharp. “Sometimes, to stop the monsters, you have to show you’re no less than they are.” Marcus muttered, almost under his breath, “Monsters… he’s become one too.” Clara’s eyes widened. “No… he’s not a monster… he’s… he’s…” Dylan’s gaze swept across the room one more time, catching every stunned face. “Heed this,” he sai
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Clara stepped closer and took Anna’s hand with surprising firmness. “Then prove it. Walk with us. If they want to make us reckless, we’ll teach them what happens when they try.” Dylan’s eyes flicked to the exit of the mall where sunlight pooled. He checked the sky through the cracked skylight as if measuring time itself. “We move. Now. Tell us everything you know. Every detail.” Anna nodded, voice still small. “Cross… he’s alive. Your father—Clara’s father—he’s in the city. They didn’t move him here. The corporation… they’re trying to draw you out. To make you reckless.” Clara froze. “He’s… he’s alive?” “Yes,” Anna said, voice trembling. “They want you to chase shadows, make mistakes, so they can capture you… or worse. I… I can’t go back. I’ll help you. I swear.” Dylan looked at her, cold eyes softening just slightly. “Good. We use that. But we trust actions, not words.” Anna nodded, swallowing. “I understand. I’ll help. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Clara grabbed her fathe
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“I—I didn’t—” she stammered.Dylan barked, “Get down! Now!”Anna obeyed like a puppet cut free, dropping behind a clothing rack. Her eyes fixed on Dylan, guilt and fear tangled together.An attacker moved in, trying to flank the group. He slashed at Marcus, who blocked and took a blow to the arm. Marcus growled and answered with a swing that sent the man reeling into a mannequin display. The attackers were disciplined—military precision in their movements—but Dylan had the environment: exposed wiring, broken escalator treads, narrow sightlines. He used them.“Which one of you sent her?” Dylan demanded as he parried a knife and answered with a short, brutal jab to the ribs that doubled the attacker over.The leader barked an order in a clipped tone. “Take the girl. Quiet the old man. The rest of you, sweep.”Clara’s father made a move, lunging toward Anna, but Dylan blocked him with a hard shove. “Stay with your daughter,” he snapped. “You’re a target right now. Your son survives becau
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The abandoned mall was quiet. Broken glass glimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the cracked skylights. Rusted signs swung gently above empty shops. Dylan moved carefully, leading Clara and her father along the tiled floor, Marcus just behind them.Clara’s father whispered, “Are you sure about this?”Dylan didn’t answer right away. He scanned the shadows, every corner, every stairwell. Finally, he nodded. “We meet her. But stay sharp. Something feels… off.”Clara glanced at him. “Anna? The waitress?”“Yes,” Dylan said. “She said she has information about Cross.”Marcus muttered under his breath, “Information usually comes with trouble.”They reached the center of the mall. A faint movement caught Dylan’s eyes. A woman stepped out from behind a fallen pillar—Anna. She looked smaller than he remembered, shoulders slumped, eyes full of worry.“Dylan,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You came…”Clara stepped forward. “Anna… what is it?”Anna glanced nervously over her shoulde
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