Phoebe hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on him, her lower lip bitten so fiercely it had turned white, visibly trembling. Her eyes were a fierce red, tears swirling but stubbornly refusing to fall.

“Just let it out if you want to cry!”

His temper flared, rare anger bubbling to the surface, but it was his very words that made Phoebe bite down even harder on her lip.

Azriel took a deep breath and left the hospital room.

*

Azriel didn’t go looking for Grayson. Instead, he went straight to the Nace residence.d2

The Naces had some old money ties with a hint of political clout and had ventured into business over the years. Now they held a respectable place in the P City business circles.

The elders, always eyeing advantageous matches, had pegged the Naces and the Graysons for a union that would benefit both families.

Grayson, with his bad-boy charm that seemed to attract women like moths to a flame, had caught Alyna’s eye. No surprise there.

Once they were engaged, Alyna became obsessed with eliminating any female competition around Grayson. He let her, unbothered by her tantrums and her relentless theatrics.

To put it nicely, he was a playboy; to be blunt, he was nothing short of a scumbag. Being linked to a woman like Alyna, it was his just desserts.

Azriel had grown up in the same neighborhood as Grayson and the others, and being of a similar age, they naturally fell into the same crowd. They didn’t know much about Azriel’s life abroad, only that he came back as a corporate leader.

Azriel’s car was parked directly in front of the entrance to the Nace family’s villa, and the Nace family’s old butler looked at it for a while before recognizing it was Azriel, whom he hadn’t seen in years.

“Is that you, Mr. Azriel? What brings you here?”

“Is Alyna in?” He cut straight to the chase, his tone icy, his expression stormy, an aura of barely contained fury about him.

Caught off guard, the butler admitted, “Miss Alyna left early this morning and hasn’t returned.”

Azriel let out a cold laugh, “Is that so? Then I’ll wait.”

The butler, now sure that Azriel wasn’t here for pleasantries but to settle scores, led him to the living room.

Someone, alerted by the arrival, came down the stairs, and frowned at the guest below. Upon recognizing Azriel, that frown turned into a beaming smile.

“Is that you, Azriel?”

“Mr. Ricky.” Azriel greeted without a hint of warmth, his voice sending a chill through Ricky, who exchanged a puzzled look with the butler.

Descending the stairs, Ricky asked directly, “What’s got you so heated up?”

“Sorry, Mr. Ricky, I’m only here for Alyna. There’s something we need to sort out.”

Ricky felt an unusual unease. Accustomed to flattery and people seeking his favor, this abrupt, no-nonsense confrontation was unfamiliar territory.

“Look, if there’s a misunderstanding with Alyna, tell me, and I’ll make sure to correct her if she’s stepped out of line.”

“She has indeed stepped out of line, but this is something you can’t correct for her.”

This doesn’t sound good at all. Ricky hesitated, “Azriel, Alyna has been somewhat spoiled over the years, but she has always been principled and has never done anything too outrageous…”

“Her previous adherence to principles, and what she had done that was not too outrageous has nothing to do with me. All I know is that what she did today has offended me, violated my principles, and crossed my lines.”

Azriel appeared gentle and indifferent on the surface, without any sharp and provoking edges. If you didn’t provoke him, he was like a cat napping in the day, but once you did, he could immediately jump up and tear you apart.

The gentler the person appears on the surface, the more terrifying they can be when they lose their temper.

Ricky’s face darkened completely, “What exactly is the matter that you are holding onto so tightly? If it really was Alyna’s fault, I would apologize to you on her behalf!”

“You can’t solve this problem for her.”

The butler listened, bewildered by the tension in the air. This sight of his employer so blatantly disrespected by a kid was rare.

a maid motioned the butler over to show

see we’re in the

got into a fight at Summit Ridge University’s

video, the volume low, yet the voices still reached

to seduce my fiancé. Can you handle

you thinking? I’m telling you, keep away from him. If I catch wind of this again, I’ll strip you down

the video, Phoebe’s voice was faint, while

mistreated over a misunderstanding, but he hadn’t expected the

beaten at the university gates, gawked at

Well.

but because it meant Grayson was messing around with

Azriel watched Ricky’s fury with a hint of sarcasm in his

hide the turmoil within.

women?

taken aback for a moment before he finally spoke, “It seems there really is some misunderstanding

don’t care if it’s a misunderstanding or not, she landed my girl in

and his face turned cold towards Azriel. “What’s the

“Why not.”

“You…”

one else is obliged to put up with

Grayson was coming; it saved Azriel from having to make

as a mountain, his demeanor screaming that he wouldn’t rest until he saw Alyna, and Ricky, though fuming with anger, couldn’t bring himself to kick

living room was caught in a

outside. Azriel’s face instantly tensed, and he

Birkin slung over her shoulder, and her phone glued to her ear, her face meticulously made up and radiating schadenfreude. “Gone viral online? Serves her right. Who does she think she is, trying to seduce Grayson and play the other woman? Let everyone see that tramp’s true colors. A

with a better attitude that could defuse the situation. Yet before

in frustration, just as Alyna noticed Azriel in

her call, still uncertain as she addressed him,

from Azriel, Alyna excitedly opened her arms and ran towards him. “It really is you! I heard you were

approached to embrace him, Azriel suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. “Let’s

as

“That hurts? Didn’t think about the consequences when you were

earlier that morning. “Are you here for that slut’s revenge? What do you mean that I should think about the consequences? She tried to seduce someone

was beside himself with anger, “Alyna! Will

wrong? Isn’t it those shameless women who are

“You…”

you’ve got the guts, then kill someone for real, but Alyna, today you messed with my person, and I

to her legs. Gripping her shoulder blades tightly, his voice was chillingly stern, “This is the consequence you should

you out of your mind? How could you hit a woman?!” Alyna was crying and screaming,

others, you didn’t act

you taking me…” Amidst her cries, Alyna was dragged by Azriel towards

the entrance, his

me, Azriel’s gone mad…” Alyna cried

senses, staring at Azriel with complicated emotions, “Azriel, isn’t

think there’d be a day like today when you staged that scene yesterday? Do you think I’m too forgiving or just plain dumb? Using your own woman to get back at another, does that give you a sense of accomplishment or some twisted satisfaction? You’re not off the hook either. I’m reminding you to go to the hospital and

After finishing his piece, without so much as a glance at Grayson’s expression,

taken away in Azriel’s car. By the time everyone regained their senses, the car

*

hospital with such force that

outside Phoebe’s hospital room, the voices coming from

and it

for you, and this is how you repay me? By becoming someone’s

brought shame upon the Alonso family. Our family’s reputation is ruined because of

on purpose? Are you aiming to disgrace

deaf

was livid, pointing his finger and hurling insults at her. Grace

Azriel heard Phoebe’s hoarse voice, “Since you’ve all made up your minds, what’s left for me to say? What reputation does the Alonso family have left to

Alonso

without a trace of fluctuation. “Yeah, I guess I deserve to

“You…”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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