On the couch, Howard, who was trying to read the paper, just shook his head. There was never a moment's peace in this house, no chance for a little quiet time.He glanced at the two snakeskin bags by the door and frowned. "Elio, coming back is one thing, but hauling in two bags of rubbish? We're already tripping over each other in here. Where's that supposed to go? Just dump it already."Dylan was at the dining table, chomping on an apple. The last time he had seen Elio's tough side, he had learned to keep his head down. His curiosity, however, did not stop him from eyeing those bags, wondering what was inside. Actual trash, maybe?"Beat it, and take your trash with you! Evelyn's done with you. Don't you dare come back until you've paid up every last cent," Lana bellowed, as if she was confronting her worst enemy.Elio was no stranger to his mother-in-law's harsh vibes. He had built up a sort of immunity to her barbs and just shrugged it off, "Look, Evelyn's my wife, no matter what

Elio could not believe his bad luck. Stuck with a mother-in-law who was the epitome of greed and selfishness, who never played fair, yet she was the mother of Evelyn, his perfect match, who had him wrapped around her finger and ready to face any disgrace.Lana could not see past her nose, or maybe it was more like she was blind to what was right in front of her. She was fixated on the idea of her daughter landing another rich husband, so she could live vicariously through her, soaking up luxury and wealth.What she failed to realize was that her son-in-law was from one of the most elite families around. If only she had been kinder to Elio, she would not have wanted for anything—mansions, sports cars, jewels, and all the designer goods one could dream of. She could have had it all.Elio was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was head over heels for Evelyn, which meant putting up with his mother-in-law's antics was just part of the deal. Money issues? They did not faze him one

The night was alive with the roar of engines as the Cayenne and the Porsche sliced through the traffic, racing forward with the reckless abandon of two flying fish. The other drivers knew better than to stick around. Anyone behind the wheel of such pricey rides was not just rich—they were powerful. Nobody wanted to tangle with the kind of trouble that could come from crossing paths with a wild rich kid. It was better to steer clear and stay out of the fray.When it came to handling a set of wheels, the lady driving the Porsche 911 was a force to be reckoned with, giving Elio a run for his money. Her supercar was nimble, and she drove it with such skill that they were neck and neck, each taking turns in the lead. The crowded streets, however, made it tough for either of them to really let loose and show what they were made of.This was Elio's first real race since he had moved in with his in-laws, and he was feeling the rush. His heart pounded with the kind of adrenaline he had not fe

Layla and Alicia were more than just boss and employee; they were like sisters. Layla laughed and nudged her, "I think he's kinda cute, just needs a little style makeover. He would be a total catch. If you're not into him, maybe you could pass him my way?""That does not add up," Alicia shot back. "If you were not interested, why did you even bring him here?"You could tell right away that the coach, Layla, was the kind of person who lit up a room. Elio could not help but grin as he teased, "You know, you're pretty stunning—way better than some of those stuck-up types. Just so you know, I came here ready to take a beating." Layla's eyes went wide, but then she burst into laughter, her whole body shaking like she was dancing in the breeze. Her white training outfit just could not hide how fit she was—it was like her curves were trying to jump right out. "You're a riot, you know that? Sharp eye you've got, spotting my charm like that. But watch out, talk like that is going to land you

That was not all. Elio secretly channeled his inner strength, held his breath, and went stiff as a board, his face turning a ghastly pale with a tinge of blue, faking a total knockout."If you want to play games, I'll play for keeps. Time to give you a real fright and see how you handle this."The crowd had been whooping and cheering just moments ago, but now they were all staring as the boy suddenly went rigid. A voice from the crowd gasped, "Check him out, what's wrong with him? He's not moving. Did that kick mess him up?""Hard to tell," another murmured. "Alicia's kick could crack a rock. Bet his insides are all messed up, that's why he's like that."The heart of Alicia lurched. Her face went white as a ghost. She had been so angry she had not held back, and now, what if she had kicked him to death? That would be a disaster!She walked over, trying to sound tough, "Hey... quit faking, get up, will you?"The boy did not move a muscle, which caused panic to surge through Alicia