In the blink of an eye, Lana had already sprinted toward the dock before Romelius could react."Lana!"Romelius chased after her, urgently calling her name.While Lana's pregnancy had advanced to a stage where the initial discomfort had subsided, it remained crucial for her to avoid strenuous activities.Normally, both Romelius and Mandy were meticulous about ensuring Lana refrained from unnecessary movements. Therefore, when Lana suddenly broke into a run, Romelius couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety.In this tumultuous season, even if Mandy returned unharmed, any misfortune befalling Lana and her unborn child would not be something Mandy would overlook.As Romelius caught up with Lana, he observed her leaping onto an unattended speedboat moored at the dock."Lana, what are you doing?" he called out urgently.With no time to respond, Lana hunched over the front of the speedboat, seemingly tinkering away.As he approached her, Romelius was taken aback when the speedboat
As Lana, Mandy, and Romelius were ushered onto Adrian's cruise ship, Adrian had already placed his wine glass aside, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture."Lana!" Adrian advanced to embrace her, but she adeptly sidestepped him.A flicker of disappointment crossed Adrian's eyes, yet he continued to regard Lana with tenderness."Come on, I mean no harm. It's just a hug. Is that too much to ask?"Lana stared at him coldly, asking, "What exactly do you want?"Throughout the journey, Lana had assumed that the kidnappers targeted Mandy for ransom.It wasn't until she saw Adrian that she realized Mandy was merely collateral—Adrian's true objective was her.Adrian approached once again, his gaze softening. "It's been so long since I last saw you. I've been worried about you."Lana sneered, "Worried? I suspect you're more concerned about your standing in Balany!""You, bitch! What did you say?"As Lana's words faded, a robust figure beside Adrian promptly advanced. He seized Lana b
As Adrian's voice dwindled, a sinister smile formed across his face.Without warning, he issued a bone-chilling order in Balanese to those standing close, "Cut off the limbs of these individuals and dispose of them in the ocean to feed the fish."Truly, the depth of Adrian's malice and cruelty knew no bounds.Despite the hesitance visible among those on the deck, Adrian's accomplices began to escort the victims away.Soon after, sporadic cries of anguish resonated from the cabin, punctuated by the sound of splashing water.Lana recognized the haunting echoes as the grim aftermath of bodies being discarded into the sea.In a cruel twist of fate, the once-celebratory atmosphere aboard the cruise ship morphed into a scene of nightmarish horror.Moments ago, the passengers were immersed in joy and festivities, believing they had secured favor with the royal lineage.Now, they found themselves trapped. Their lives were hanging by a thread, all at the whim of Duke Adrian's unpredicta
Emilia exited Lana's suite and lightly knocked on the adjacent door, which Adrian promptly opened.Confidently, Emilia met Adrian's gaze. "The person is inside."Adrian expressed his gratitude with a nod. "I appreciate your help this time."Emilia shook her head, a smile gracing her lips. "Truth be told, I merely placed my bet on basic human instincts. No mother could passively witness someone hurling curses at her child without taking a stand."Adrian remained silent, engrossed in his phone. "I've transferred the promised amount to your designated account. From now on, you're a free woman."Emilia's phone chimed with a timely notification sound as a message arrived. She casually waved her phone in her hand and said, "Thanks."Without sparing another glance her way, Adrian headed toward Lana's room.At that moment, Emilia drew closer. "However, I haven't decided to leave the ship just yet."Assuming Emilia hadn't secured a hiding place, Adrian chose not to dwell on it. Silently
As Emilia's words dissipated, a military knife suddenly appeared in her hand. With a swift motion, she aggressively slashed it toward Lana.Lana swiftly spun, adeptly evading Emilia's blade."Emilia, remember, we're on Adrian's ship now," Lana cautioned.Adrian had gone to great lengths to bring Lana aboard, and his reluctance to harm her emphasized Lana's profound significance in his heart.If Emilia were to inflict any harm on Lana, Adrian would undoubtedly react with severe consequences.Lana's words acted as both a reminder and a warning to Emilia."Lana, stop the pretense," Emilia, determined to eliminate Lana, countered, "I don't need your reminder to grasp how much Adrian loves you."Why is life so unfair? Why do remarkable men always seem drawn to you? What makes me less than you?" Emilia's words sliced through the air as she aggressively thrust her knife toward Lana.Despite being pregnant, Lana effortlessly evaded Emilia's attacks. In terms of combat skills, Emilia
Emilia sneered, "There's no antidote. Even if you kill me, it won't matter!"Adrian and his entourage didn't believe Emilia's bold assertion. A subtle nod from Adrian prompted one of his henchmen to stealthily close in on Emilia.In an instant, a sharp glint filled the air, swiftly followed by Emilia's harrowing scream of torment.Moments later, Lana saw two delicate, pink fragments falling to the floor before her—grim remnants of Emilia's severed ears.Overwhelmed by agony, Emilia clutched her wounds, momentarily succumbing to unconsciousness. Yet, her respite was short-lived, as Adrian's men promptly splashed her with water to revive her.The cold water intensified her pain, eliciting yet another anguished cry from Emilia."Do you wish to reconsider your stance?" Adrian's voice reverberated with chilling authority, causing Emilia to quiver uncontrollably.Terror distorted her face, and she gazed back at him with a look of utter despair.Now, she fully understood what Lana had
Adrian's expression darkened. With a fleeting, concerned glance in Lana's direction, he promptly directed his men to escort Emilia to the deck.On the surface, Emilia's prior confession and surrender of the antidote seemed to clear her of any blame for today's grim events.Yet, an uneasy suspicion continued to gnaw at Adrian. He couldn't dispel the nagging doubt that perhaps Emilia had exploited some unforeseen loophole.Moments later, she was brought onto the deck.The aftermath of the previous day's events was evident in her battered form.Both her ears were now missing, and her face, once dignified and radiant, bore the cruel marks of a savage assault, rendering her almost unrecognizable.As Emilia's eyes darted around the deck, she caught the intense, hostile stares from Adrian and his men.Not far from where she stood, two lifeless bodies lay sprawled, their faces still stained with fresh, crimson blood—a grim testament to their recent demise.Before Emilia could voice a s
Romelius tenderly kissed Mandy's lips, handing her a bouquet of red roses. "My love, congratulations," he whispered.Nadia followed suit, intertwining her fingers with Howard's as they approached Mandy. "Mom, congratulations," she said, presenting another bouquet to her.Trailing them, Marion appeared, guiding a young toddler beside her. She too congratulated Mandy, completing the heartfelt gestures.Enveloped in Romelius' warm embrace, Mandy's face radiated a joyous glow. Her return home was nothing short of triumphant, especially after winning the International Best Actress award.The overwhelming reception from devoted fans and familiar faces had taken her by surprise.Yet, amid the celebrations, a subtle sorrow shadowed her gaze.Romelius sensed the thoughts weighing on Mandy's heart. Bowing his head gently, he murmured, "If Lana were here, she would be so proud of you."Emerging triumphant from a grueling health battle, Mandy's stellar performance in this global blockbuster