53The bystanders held their breath as Jordan Orlando's gaze locked onto David. The man who had struck down Huxley now stood in the eye of the storm.Jordan's mind raced, the sudden recognition of David igniting a wildfire of fear. "Mr. Martinez... no, it can't be. Not here, not now," Jordan thought, his heart thundering in his chest. Memories of David's wrath, the destruction of the Van Der Linde Villa, and the mysterious disappearances of Jacob and Miguel Van Der Linde cascaded through his mind, each one a chilling reminder of the man's capabilities.Meanwhile, Huxley, oblivious to the silent battle waging in Jordan's mind, sneered at David, his voice dripping with scorn. "Look at you, the hero! Let's see how brave you are when Sir Orlando here is done with you!"David stood firm, his eyes never leaving Jordan's. "It's not about bravery, Huxley. It's about doing what's right."The crowd gasped as Jordan, caught in the grip of his internal conflict, barely suppressed his rising panic
52Rena, free from the vile man's grip, didn't waste a moment and walked away from him.The look of shock and humiliation on Huxley's face was a stark contrast to his previous arrogance.Huxley, wiping blood from his mouth, glared at David with venomous rage. "Y-- You insolent fool! How dare you lay hands on me? Do you know who I am?"David met Huxley's furious gaze with a cold, unwavering stare. "I know exactly who you are, Huxley. A bully who preys on others with his power."Huxley's face twisted in a mix of anger and disbelief. "You think you can get away with this? I have influential backers, the Van Der Linde family. You're digging your own grave, you bastard."David scoffed, undeterred. "I don't care about your backers or your threats. No one should treat a person like a commodity, especially not someone like you."Bystanders watched in shocked silence when Huxley the manager of Harmony Bank was sent flying by David's unexpected viciousness, some whispering among themselves abou
51Huxley's smile faded, replaced by a look of mock offense. "Now, Rena, I'm just trying to find a way to make this situation beneficial for both of us. It's not every day a woman as beautiful as you walks into my office with such a... tempting offer."Rena stood up, her hands trembling with barely contained rage. "My presence here is not an offer, and I am not a commodity to be traded. I would rather see my company crumble than stoop to your level of depravity."Huxley sighed theatrically, moving closer with an air of false sympathy. "That's a very emotional response, Rena. Surely, you can see I'm offering you a practical solution. Your beauty is undeniable—any man would want you. Why not use what you've been given to save what you've built?"Rena's voice shook as she spat back, "My body is not currency, Mr. Huxley. I'm seeking a legitimate business loan, not a backroom deal steeped in corruption and misogyny."Huxley shrugged, his eyes never leaving Rena's form. "Well, the offer sta
Disbelief and a cold fear gripped Rena. "He's fled? But how could he betray us like this?" she stammered, the reality of their plight settling in."Yes, he's vanished. I went to Mr. Hamel's estate, but it's deserted. Rumors are rife that he's fled the country," Emily confirmed, the disappointment unmistakable in her tone.Tears welled up in Rena's eyes as she fought to stay composed. "He's taken so much from Cloud Group's capital," she murmured, her voice faltering with emotion."I never thought Mr. Hamel would turn out to be such a deceiver," Emily said, echoing Rena's sense of betrayal."We must act," Emily urged. "Perhaps it's time to consider reaching out to the Miranda family, maybe even the Frederico family for assistance."Rena's heart was torn, knowing too well the personal complexities involved. "But the Miranda family... I know Miranda is actually David's girlfriend. I can't bear the thought of asking them for help," she thought, the embarrassment clear in her mind.Rena hes
48The demise of the Hamel company reverberated through the halls of high society, with whispers and rumors spreading like wildfire. Loris’s father, John Hamel, had been a prominent figure in the business community, but now, everything he had built was ruined.Loris sat in the dimly lit office of the now-defunct company. The numbers on the screen in front of him showed clearly that the Hamel company had failed.Across from him, a stern-faced lawyer cleared his throat. "Mr. Hamel, the assets of your company are insufficient to cover the debts. Bankruptcy is the only course of action left to us."Loris's face twisted in frustration. "Bankruptcy? This is absurd! There must be another way."The lawyer shook his head solemnly. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Hamel. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Hamel. There is another matter that complicates the situation," the lawyer continued, his voice grave.Loris's eyes widened in alarm. "What do you mean? What else could possibly go wrong?"The lawyer hesitated for a m
48The demise of the Hamel company reverberated through the halls of high society, with whispers and rumors spreading like wildfire. Loris’s father, John Hamel, had been a prominent figure in the business community, but now, everything he had built was ruined.Loris sat in the dimly lit office of the now-defunct company. The numbers on the screen in front of him showed clearly that the Hamel company had failed.Across from him, a stern-faced lawyer cleared his throat. "Mr. Hamel, the assets of your company are insufficient to cover the debts. Bankruptcy is the only course of action left to us."Loris's face twisted in frustration. "Bankruptcy? This is absurd! There must be another way."The lawyer shook his head solemnly. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Hamel. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Hamel. There is another matter that complicates the situation," the lawyer continued, his voice grave.Loris's eyes widened in alarm. "What do you mean? What else could possibly go wrong?"The lawyer hesitated for a mo
47The room echoed with a tense silence as Sir Fernando, the Officer of the Martinez family, stared at his right-hand man, Javi. His dark eyes were filled with concern, a stark contrast to his usually cool demeanor. "This is a complex matter, Javi," he began in a low voice, his gaze far off, "It concerns David's safety and the future of our family."Javi, a burly man with a scarred face, frowned deeply, his eyebrows furrowing in worry. "What should we do, Sir Fernando?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.The older man sighed, his gaze hardening. "Firstly, we must ensure that no one outside this room is aware of the situation," he said sternly, "We can't afford any loose ends."Javi nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. "And what about David, sir?" "I want you to dispose of everyone who is linked to this matter," Sir Fernando ordered callously, "We cannot allow any threat to our family."From the shadows, Loris, who had fled when he saw the cars arriving listened w
46The old man entered the room, followed by a group of people all dressed in clad dark suits.Without hesitation, Jacob knelt before the elderly man, his voice filled with reverence and a tinge of desperation. "Senior officer," he addressed him, his words laced with a mixture of fear and humility, "I beg for your forgiveness. I have unknowingly crossed paths with your family."The old man's eyes brimmed with tears as he looked past Jacob and directly at David. His voice quivered with emotion as he spoke, "Young master, I haven't seen you in ten long years. My heart aches for the time we've lost."David, however, remained cold and distant, avoiding eye contact with the elderly man. His gaze shifted to Jacob, and without uttering a single word, he conveyed an air of indifference that chilled Jacob to the bone.As David carefully adjusted Rena in his arms, ensuring her comfort and safety, he sensed a sudden movement in his periphery. His well-honed reflexes kicked in, and with lightning
45Jacob's eyes widened in disbelief as he caught sight of the intricately designed tattoo on David's forearm. The tattoo depicted a mythical dragon, its scales shimmering with a hint of ethereal lightIt was a symbol that sent shivers down Jacob's spine, for he knew all too well its meaning. Shakily, he mustered the courage to ask the question that was in his mind, "David... are you from the Martinez family?"David's stoic expression betrayed no emotion as he met Jacob's gaze. With a single nod, he confirmed Jacob's worst fears. "Yes, I'm." The gravity of the situation hit Jacob like a ton of bricks, and his legs gave way beneath him. "No... No..." He collapsed to the ground, his mind racing with the implications of his discovery."The Martinez family...," Jacob stammered, his voice trembling. "They are a powerful, wealthy and influential family, known for controlling vast resources. How... how did I not see this coming?"The Martinez family was known for being mysterious and power