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
Upon hearing Mandy's remark, a wave of melancholy washed over the others.In this moment of vulnerability, Violet reached out and delicately clasped Mandy's hand."Your success has been hard-earned. Lana has been your anchor through thick and thin. Sharing this milestone with her is only natural," Violet whispered.Mandy nodded appreciatively, reflecting, "Lana's unwavering faith in me propelled me forward. She's been my guiding light, constantly urging me never to abandon my dreams."Catching the sentiment, Violet nodded in understanding. A hush descended on the others, yet their gaze remained fixed on Mandy, silently rooting for her as she slowly ascended the stairs.Suddenly, as Leonardo played with a toy in Hector's arms, a spark ignited within him.With determination, he slipped out of Hector's embrace and quickly darted after Mandy, making his way toward her."Leo …"A collective gasp echoed throughout the living room.Since Leonardo's birth, access to the second floor o
"Nonsense!" This time, it wasn't just Liam, even Mandy interjected.Lana had departed from this world, so how could she possibly be visiting Leonardo for a playdate?Moreover, Leonardo practically lived right under their noses. If Lana truly came looking for him, why hadn't they seen her?"Leo, you might be young, but that doesn't mean you can tell lies!" Liam took Leonardo from Mandy's arms, studying his eyes intently, attempting to discern any signs of dishonesty.Yet, Leonardo seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation, casually continuing, "Mommy used to say Dad was kind of a jerk and told me not to pick up any of his habits when I got older."This time, both Liam and Mandy were left speechless, a chill running down their spines.Previously, they might have dismissed Leonardo's words as mere childish fantasies, but now, those statements couldn't be casually brushed aside.Considering Leonardo's tender age and the distinguished upbringing in the respected Garrison, Ka
Mandy and Liam were instantly overwhelmed with anxiety.They watched as the intruder closed the door with a sense of familiarity and effortlessly made their way to Leonardo's bedside.In the shadows, Liam and Mandy could discern the faint murmur of the intruder's voice, expressing in confusion, "What's happening? Why aren't the lights on tonight?"However, just as those words left the intruder's lips, the room was flooded with sudden brightness.Impatiently eager to unveil the person's true identity, Liam had switched on the light, catching the intruder off guard. Their familiar faces registered a look of sheer astonishment.Mandy was on the verge of tears, careful not to disturb Leonardo. Fueled by a surge of emotions, she approached the person and enveloped them in a tight embrace."Is it truly you, Lana? Could this be a dream? In my dreams, you never spoke. Is this another surreal moment?"In a matter of moments, Mandy found herself questioning her reality in disbelief.On t