Harem of the Dragon Lord Vol.4

Chapter 151

“Master, can my grandfather rejoin the Eternal Healers Order?” Preston Kingsley asked, his voice trembling.

If he had any other choice, he really wouldn’t have begged Ethan Blackthorn. After all, it was his own idiocy that had gotten his grandfather kicked out of the Eternal Healers Order.

Just as Ethan was about to speak, Preston Kingsley interjected, “Master, I know this mess is because of my own foolishness, but I truly realize my mistake. Please, for the sake of me being your most loyal dog, give the Kingsley Family a chance. Master, if you’re willing to spare us, the Kingsley Family will offer one hundred million!”

Ethan sneered contemptuously. “What, is membership in the Eternal Healers Order only worth a hundred million? Or do you think I need your hundred million?”

To be honest, if Preston Kingsley hadn’t mentioned the money, Ethan might have agreed. After all, the man’s attitude was certainly humble enough, and Ethan held no deep-seated grudge against him. But the problem was his mention of a hundred million. It was a clear attempt to buy Ethan off. Perhaps Preston Kingsley meant it as a monetary apology, but to Ethan, it was an insult.

Preston Kingsley was stunned for a moment before fiercely slapping his own face.

“Master, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! I’m an idiot! I was just getting desperate. After I got back to Crownspire last time, my grandfather gave me a severe beating. He hit me so hard I was bedridden for days. Master, I’m not saying this to get your sympathy; I know my life and death mean nothing to you. What I’m trying to say is that I truly regret my actions. I’m done courting disaster!”

Hearing Preston Kingsley’s words, Ethan felt nothing. He knew perfectly well that the Kingsley Family was terrified. Being expelled from the Eternal Healers Order was no joke; it was as if the sky had fallen. After all, the Order’s network and resources were not just for show.

Seeing that Ethan was still silent, Preston Kingsley pressed on, “Master, I’m begging you, please give me a chance. If you give me this opportunity, I swear I’ll never disappoint you.”

“Fine. We’ll see how you perform,” Ethan said indifferently.

Preston Kingsley was ecstatic. “Master, don’t worry, I will definitely perform well!”

Ethan hung up.

On the other end of the line, Preston Kingsley was overcome with joy. Even though Ethan hadn’t agreed to let his grandfather rejoin the Eternal Healers Order, he knew that as long as he performed well, he would become one of Ethan’s people. Once that happened, it wouldn’t matter if his grandfather couldn’t return to the Order. After all, Ethan’s power was far greater than that of the Eternal Healers Order.

After hanging up, Ethan turned and entered the living room. Serena Blake was just coming down from upstairs.

At that moment, Serena was wearing a long black dress. The soft fabric clung to her figure, and Ethan’s eyes were immediately drawn to her impressive bust, her slender waist that a hand could span, and her rounded hips that stretched the material taut. Though she was covered from head to toe, her entire being radiated a provocative, sultry aura.

Seeing Ethan looking at her with a touch of infatuation, Serena’s pretty face turned slightly red as she remembered his recent confession-that-wasn’t-a-confession.

“You lecher, can you stop ogling me like that?” she chided playfully.

Ethan snapped out of his daze. “Honey, I don’t want to, but who could blame me? You’re just so beautiful, so enchanting!”

Serena’s face grew even redder. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Ethan had praised her like this before, but she had never been flustered. Why was it that now, a few simple words of praise from him made her heart race?

Feigning annoyance, she gave him a flirtatious roll of her eyes. “Hmph, smooth talker!”

Ethan chuckled. “Honey, why are you all dressed up? Where are you going?”

“I wanted to treat you to dinner!” Serena said earnestly.

“Sure, what would you like to eat?”

“What do you  want to eat?” she asked in return.

Ethan smiled. “I’m good with anything. I’ll have whatever you’re having!”

“Don’t worry about me. Think about it, what do you want to eat? We’ve been married for a while, and I’ve never properly treated you to a meal. Tonight, I want to take you out for a nice dinner. After all… tomorrow, we’re getting a divorce.”

As she spoke the last words, her voice trailed off, her eyes filling with an unmistakable sadness.

“Then let’s go to The Crown Pavilion,” Ethan said.

Serena nodded. Although the food there was expensive, the thought of her impending divorce from Ethan made her cast aside any concern for the cost. She just wanted to treat him to one last, good meal, regardless of the price.

The two got into the car and drove toward The Crown Pavilion.

Suddenly, Serena said, “You should really consider what I told you earlier. Mia Sterling is willing to marry you, after all.”

Ethan gave her a sidelong glance. “Honey, what kind of wife are you? Other women would do anything to hold onto their husbands, yet you keep pushing me toward another woman. Aren’t you afraid that if I actually marry Mia Sterling, I’ll never look back?”

Serena’s heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, and she frowned slightly in pain. After a moment of silence, she said calmly, “If that were to happen, it wouldn’t be so bad. The Sterling Family is incredibly powerful. If you’re with Mia Sterling, you won’t have to worry about being bullied anymore.”

Seeing Serena’s crestfallen expression, Ethan felt a pang in his heart and decided to stop teasing her.

“Honey, the truth is, Victoria Blake is marrying a beggar tomorrow,” he said seriously.

Serena froze, her beautiful eyes widening in shock as she looked at him. But soon, she shook her head and smiled wryly. “Ethan, you don’t have to comfort me. What kind of beggar would the Southern King personally arrange a marriage for?”

Great, she still doesn’t believe me.

“Alright, the mystery will be unveiled tomorrow at noon,” Ethan said. “Let’s hurry up and eat. I’m starving!”

Serena nodded.

Soon, they arrived at The Crown Pavilion. After they got out of the car, Ethan suddenly extended his hand toward Serena.

“What for?” she asked curiously.

Ethan smiled. “We’ve been married this long, and I’ve never once held your hand. Since we’re getting divorced tomorrow, how about you let me hold it just this once?”

Serena was taken aback. Ethan was right. They had been married for so long, yet she had rarely held his hand. To be honest, she just wasn’t used to it. She wanted to refuse, but seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, she couldn’t bear to disappoint him.

She sighed softly to herself. Oh, what the hell. We were husband and wife, after all. He just wants to hold my hand; it’s not like he’s asking for anything outrageous.

With that thought, Serena placed her soft hand in his.

The moment their hands clasped, Serena’s body trembled slightly. An unprecedented sense of security washed over her, as if she were holding the entire world in her grasp.

The Crown Pavilion was as bustling as ever. As Ethan led Serena by the hand into the restaurant, their presence attracted quite a few stares.

The gazes were a mixture of admiration, fondness, greed, and lewdness. It couldn’t be helped. Serena was breathtakingly beautiful, and with her outfit today, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her entire being exuded an incredibly charming aura. Who wouldn’t want to look at such a woman?

However, the way these people looked at Ethan was entirely different, a mix of disdain, envy, anger, and annoyance.

Seeing their glares, Ethan just smiled and squeezed Serena’s hand tighter. He even deliberately raised their joined hands, as if showing off.

Consequently, the crowd’s looks grew even more resentful. But Ethan paid them no mind, turning to lead Serena to the elevator.

After they entered the private room, Serena suddenly asked, “Ethan, should we call Selene Vale and ask her to join us for dinner?” After all, Selene Vale had saved her at the bar that morning, and Serena wanted to thank her properly.

But Ethan said, “No need. I don’t want a third wheel when I’m having dinner with my wife!”

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Serena retorted, feigning annoyance.

Hearing the pout in her voice, Ethan asked with a grin, “Wife, are you pouting at me?”

“Nonsense!” Serena said, putting on a stern face. How could I possibly pout at this guy? Besides, am I even the type to pout?

“Really?” Ethan asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Serena said definitively, “Hmph, I would never pout at you, and I don’t even know how!”

This made Ethan laugh. She probably doesn’t even realize that her last sentence was the very definition of pouting.

It wasn’t just Ethan who laughed; even the waitress standing nearby couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t recognize Ethan or Serena, but she could tell that the ridiculously beautiful young woman was, in fact, pouting. Though her voice still held a hint of aloofness, the petulant tone was impossible to hide.

“Alright, you’re not pouting. What would you like to eat?” Ethan asked with a smile.

“Hmph, you can order. I’m treating, just like we agreed!”

“Okay, then I won’t hold back!”

As he spoke, Ethan gleefully began to flip through the menu, haphazardly ordering seven or eight dishes.

“Should we get something to drink?” Ethan asked with a smile.

“No!” Serena replied crisply.

Despite her words, an image of her deliberately seducing Ethan after they drank together that afternoon flashed through her mind. At the thought, her lovely face instantly turned crimson. To keep Ethan from seeing, she quickly lowered her head and pretended to sip her water.

The dishes arrived quickly. When Serena glanced at them, an inexplicable warmth spread through her heart. Ethan had ordered all of her favorite foods.

She couldn’t remember ever telling him what she liked to eat, yet he knew perfectly. It seems he’s been paying attention to me. But I have no idea what he likes to eat.  A sense of loss washed over her. We’ve been married for so long, but it feels like I’ve never truly cared for him.

“Here, try the coral trout!” Ethan said, placing a large piece of fish on her plate.

“Thank you. You eat too.”

“I will!” Ethan gave her a brilliant smile.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while before Ethan suddenly spoke up. “Oh, right, Celeste Starling’s concert is coming up. Let’s go together!” He had mentioned this to her before, but she had flatly refused.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Serena’s beautiful eyes. She was silent for a moment, and Ethan thought she was about to agree.

But she shook her head. “Forget it. I don’t really like loud places like that. Besides, we’re getting a divorce tomorrow. It wouldn’t make sense for us to go to a concert together after that.”

Truthfully, she did want to go. She wanted a chance to properly relax. For years, she had lived so tensely, her nerves stretched as tight as a string on the verge of snapping. But she knew she couldn’t go with Ethan, not when they were about to get a divorce.

Ethan saw the conflict in her eyes and decided not to press the issue. Anyway, when the day of the concert comes, I’ll take her with me one way or another.

The meal ended quickly. Serena got up to pay, and Ethan didn’t take out his diamond card. He knew that even if he did, she would insist on paying herself. They had agreed on this beforehand, and Serena was a woman of her word.

After paying the bill without any issue, Serena suddenly said, “Wait for me a moment, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Need me to come with you?” Ethan teased with a smile.

Serena shot him a glare before turning and walking toward the restrooms.

Ethan waited quietly by the elevator, but a fair amount of time passed and Serena still hadn’t returned. Hmm? Did she fall in?  He got up and started walking toward the restrooms.

He hadn’t even reached the door when he heard a cry of alarm. “I don’t know you! Let go of me!”

It was Serena’s voice.

Ethan’s expression hardened. He burst into the restroom area like a bolt of lightning. The scene before him sent a surge of pure rage through him.

He saw two scumbags dragging Serena toward the men’s restroom. He didn’t recognize one of them, but the other was all too familiar. It was none other than that piece of trash, Wesley Stone.

Without a single wasted word, Ethan lunged forward and sent Wesley Stone flying sideways with a single, vicious kick.

CRACK!

The sound of breaking bone, followed immediately by Wesley Stone’s agonized scream, echoed through the lavishly decorated restroom.

The other scumbag saw this and spun around, his eyes filled with rage as he glared at Ethan. “Idiot! Mind your own business, or you’re dead!”

Someone from the Cherry Blossom Country?  The coldness in Ethan’s eyes intensified.

He sent the man flying with another kick. If Serena hadn’t been there, Ethan would have unleashed a massacre right then and there.

Ignoring the agonized screams of the two scumbags, Ethan walked over to Serena and pulled her into his arms. As she breathed in his familiar scent, the pale and terrified Serena finally broke down, bursting into sobs.

Ethan held her tightly, murmuring softly, “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Your husband is here.”

This completely shattered her remaining composure, and her sobs became even more heart-wrenching.

Ethan said nothing more, simply taking out his phone to send a quick message to Xander Steele. Just as he sent it, a respectful voice sounded from nearby.

“Mr. Blackthorn, is something wrong?”

Ethan looked up. The speaker was Manager Reginald Brooks, the manager of The Crown Pavilion, whom Ethan had met on his first visit.

“Drag these two pieces of trash into the men’s restroom. Don’t let anyone in.”

The first time Manager Reginald Brooks saw Ethan produce the Crown Pavilion diamond card, he knew this man was no ordinary person. After all, a diamond card wasn’t something one could obtain with money alone. Besides, the owner, Mia Sterling, had given specific instructions: whenever Ethan came to dine, they were to use the finest ingredients and provide the best possible service. Anyone who commanded such respect from the owner was certainly no average person.

Hearing Ethan’s command, Manager Reginald Brooks didn’t waste a second. He immediately dragged Wesley Stone and the man from the Cherry Blossom Country into the men’s restroom.

Chapter 152

Serena Blake cried in Ethan Blackthorn’s arms for some time before her frantic heart gradually calmed down. At last, her mind wasn’t a complete blank anymore.

At that moment, Ethan was carrying her into a private room to the side.

But just because Serena was safe didn’t mean Ethan would act like nothing had happened. Ethan had already sworn to kill that piece of trash, Wesley Stone. A nobody like Kenshin Takahashi was even less of a concern.

Yes, Ethan was about to start a massacre.

First, however, he needed to make sure Serena was settled comfortably.

“Honey, are you okay?” Ethan asked softly.

Serena looked up at Ethan and gave a gentle nod.

Looking at her swollen, peach-blossom eyes, Ethan suppressed the killing intent raging in his heart and spoke even more tenderly. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Serena shook her head. “It’s not your fault. They went too far!”

“Yes, they went too far. It’s all over now, though. You rest here for a bit. I have to take care of something,” Ethan said dotingly.

Serena hesitated for a moment before saying, “Okay… but come back quickly!”

It was clear she was still terrified. Ethan didn’t want to leave her side either, but those two pieces of trash had yet to be dealt with. He had to go.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right back,” Ethan said with a gentle smile.

Serena hummed in reply.

Ethan stood up, gently patted her head, and then turned to leave the room. The instant the door closed behind him, a terrifying killing intent erupted from his eyes.

Manager Reginald Brooks was standing guard right outside the door. “Mr. Blackthorn, that man has been moved to the restroom. No one can get in now.”

“Good. Stand guard at this door. Don’t let anyone in,” Ethan ordered coldly.

The bone-chilling tone made Manager Reginald Brooks shiver. He felt the intense killing intent radiating from Ethan, along with a terrifying, oppressive aura. Manager Reginald Brooks had been the manager of The Crown Pavilion for four years and had certainly met his share of powerful people, but he had never felt such a dreadful pressure from anyone else.

He had truly underestimated this young man. Perhaps he was far more terrifying than he had ever imagined.

Ethan turned and entered the restroom. When he opened the door, agonized screams were still echoing from within. Wesley Stone, with seven or eight of his ribs broken by Ethan’s kick, was crumpled on the floor like a dog. The piece of trash from the Cherry Blossom Country hadn’t fared any better; Ethan’s earlier kick had shattered his “family jewels.” He was now curled up in a ball, shrieking in pain.

Ethan closed the restroom door and stared coldly at the two men before him.

When Wesley Stone saw Ethan, he ignored the excruciating pain and roared, “Fuck! You filthy beggar, you dare hit me? I’ve already called my dad, and he’s notified Chief Benjamin Hale! They’ll be here any minute, and then we’ll see how you die!”

He continued, “And let me tell you, this is Kenshin Takahashi, a member of one of the four great families of the Cherry Blossom Country! You hit him, so you can just wait for your fucking death sentence!”

Ethan, who had been planning to kill this scumbag immediately, suddenly changed his mind. He walked over to Wesley Stone with a cold, indifferent gaze and looked down on him.

“Do you know how Damien Stone died?” he asked unexpectedly.

“You filthy beggar… Y-You killed my cousin?”

“That’s right.”

Wesley Stone’s expression froze. His already pale face turned ghastly white in an instant, utterly devoid of color. A sliver of genuine fear finally appeared in his eyes as he stared at Ethan.

Ethan let out a cold laugh. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll be joining him soon enough.”

“Fuck you! You filthy beggar, you lay another finger on me, and I’ll have your whole family buried with you!”

Ethan looked at him as if he were a moron. “What? You think your Stone Family is better than your cousin’s?”

BOOM!

Those words hit Wesley Stone like a baseball bat to the head. The terror in his eyes intensified, and his body began to tremble, though it was unclear if it was from pain or fear.

Just as Ethan was about to speak, the restroom door was suddenly kicked open. A powerfully built man with an imposing aura burst in.

When Wesley Stone saw him, he immediately shrieked, “Dad! It was this filthy beggar who beat me! Kill him! Kill him for me!”

The newcomer was none other than Wesley Stone’s father, Harlan Stone. Hearing his son’s words, he became instantly furious and whirled around to glare at Ethan.

“You filthy beggar, get on your knees and apologize to my son!”

Ethan laughed. “And what if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll have you killed!” Harlan Stone bellowed.

Ethan shrugged. The next second, he brought his foot down and crushed Wesley Stone’s head.

CRUNCH!

A sickening, muffled sound echoed through the restroom, followed by the horrifying sight of brain matter splattering everywhere. Harlan Stone, who had been so aggressive just a moment ago, froze in place as if he were paralyzed, his eyes staring unblinkingly at Wesley Stone’s headless body.

After a silence that lasted less than three seconds, a heart-wrenching scream tore through the restroom, a sound so shrill it could have come from a demon in hell. With trembling hands, Harlan Stone cradled what was left of his son.

“My son! My son!” he roared.

But there was no reply. Wesley Stone had taken his final leave of this world.

Just then, the restroom door was pushed open again. Harlan Stone was startled when he saw the person who entered.

Then he bellowed, “Chief, you’re just in time! Hurry, arrest this murderer for me! Execute him! Execute him!”

Indeed, the newcomer was Chief Benjamin Hale.

Harlan Stone’s eyes were bloodshot, like those of a thoroughly enraged beast—wild and vicious.

Chief Benjamin Hale was about to speak when he suddenly spotted Ethan. The moment he saw him, Chief Benjamin Hale knew that he was involved in this incident.

Seeing Chief Benjamin Hale’s lack of reaction, Harlan Stone roared again, “Chief, what are you gawking at? Can’t you see my son has been murdered? The killer is right in front of you! Arrest him! Have him executed!”

Chief Benjamin Hale ignored him. Instead, he turned to Ethan and asked respectfully, “Mr. Blackthorn, are you alright?”

Ethan nodded. “I’m fine.”

Hearing their exchange, Harlan Stone was stunned. He never would have imagined that this filthy beggar actually knew Chief Benjamin Hale, and from the looks of it, their relationship was quite good. But he couldn’t care about that anymore. Even if Chief Benjamin Hale knew the beggar, all he wanted at this moment was Ethan dead.

“Chief, I’ll give you a hundred million! Just arrest him for me!”

Chief Benjamin Hale shot Harlan Stone a look of disgust and was about to speak.

Just then, the piece of trash from the Cherry Blossom Country, who was still crumpled on the floor, spoke with a sinister voice, “This filthy beggar cannot die just yet!”

“Who the hell do you think you are? Why can’t I kill this filthy beggar?” Harlan Stone roared.

That piece of trash from the Cherry Blossom Country slowly stood up.

“My name is Kenshin Takahashi,” he said arrogantly. “My family is one of the four great families of the Cherry Blossom Country!”

BOOM!

Harlan Stone was stunned. The four great families of the Cherry Blossom Country… their power was nothing to scoff at.

It was common knowledge that although the Cherry Blossom Country hadn’t developed much in recent years, it had enjoyed a glorious period that lasted for decades. During that time, the four great families had amassed a staggering amount of wealth. Their power was certainly not something the Stone Family, a mere second-tier family in Silverton City, could ever hope to compare with.

Faced with Kenshin Takahashi’s declaration, Harlan Stone suppressed the rage in his heart.

My son is already dead. It’s useless to be upset now; the priority is revenge. Killing this filthy beggar is the only thing that matters.

When Chief Benjamin Hale heard Kenshin Takahashi’s identity, he was also slightly stunned.

I can’t believe the person Ethan picked a fight with this time is from the Cherry Blossom Country, and from such a powerful background, no less.  It looked like Ethan was going to be at a disadvantage.

Although Chief Benjamin Hale knew Ethan was formidable, his opponent was a member of one of the Cherry Blossom Country’s four great families. The power of those families was no joke. Chief Benjamin Hale’s mind raced, trying to figure out a way to help Ethan.

“Mr. Takahashi, why are you stopping me from killing this filthy beggar?” Harlan Stone asked coldly.

“Because I want to kill him myself,” Kenshin Takahashi said, his expression savage. “I’ve already notified my guards. They are on their way and will be here shortly!”

They say people from the Cherry Blossom Country are twisted, and there was certainly truth to that. This piece of trash had his family jewels crushed by Ethan, an injury that would have made a normal person pass out from the pain long ago, yet he acted as if nothing had happened. His tolerance for pain was truly abnormal.

Harlan Stone was ecstatic. He had initially counted on Chief Benjamin Hale to deal with this filthy beggar, but Chief Benjamin Hale actually knew him and, what’s more, treated him with great respect. Harlan Stone had started to think no one could handle this beggar, but he never expected such a sudden turn of events.

While the two were talking, Ethan suddenly felt a ferocious killing intent.

The restroom door was pushed open, and two men dressed as warriors from the Cherry Blossom Country appeared before everyone.

Ethan glanced at them.

Unsurprising. Both of them are Martial Artists. Profound Level, though. Their cultivation is trash. I could kill them with a single finger.

The moment Kenshin Takahashi saw the two men, a terrifying killing intent erupted from his eyes. Pointing at Ethan, he snarled in Japanese, “Kill this piece of trash for me!”

Without a word, the two Martial Artists lunged at Ethan. They hadn’t even reached him, yet a horrifying killing intent washed over the room.

Seeing this, a vicious sneer spread across Harlan Stone’s face. He knew this filthy beggar was about to suffer. Kenshin Takahashi’s men were clearly formidable. Not just him, but even Kenshin Takahashi’s face contorted with savagery.

These two Martial Artists were Death Warriors trained by his family. They existed to protect their master at all costs. Once they attacked, their target was guaranteed to die.

Chief Benjamin Hale was about to stop the two Martial Artists, fearing Ethan would be at a disadvantage, but before he could even speak, he heard two sharp sounds.

THUD! THUD!

Before anyone could realize what had happened, the two warriors were lying in pools of their own blood. Just like Wesley Stone, they were headless. The luxuriously decorated restroom had instantly transformed into a chilling slaughterhouse.

BOOM!

The scene before them was like a ten-thousand-pound hammer crashing down on the heads of Harlan Stone and Kenshin Takahashi, leaving their minds completely blank. They stared, mouths agape, unable to believe what they were seeing.

The shock gave way to terror. The fear that washed over them was like an immense, fine-meshed net, completely ensnaring them. Their gazes, once filled with arrogance and disdain for Ethan, now held nothing but fear and trembling.

But what terrified them even more was yet to come.

Ethan walked up to Kenshin Takahashi and looked at him expressionlessly. Yet, the horrifying killing intent that flickered in his eyes was enough to petrify the man. Kenshin’s body began to shake. After struggling to remain upright for a few moments, he crashed to the ground, kneeling before Ethan with an ashen face.

For some reason, looking at Ethan’s expressionless face gave Kenshin Takahashi the illusion of seeing the Grim Reaper himself. He could even see the Reaper raising its scythe to harvest his soul. The terror was enough to make him shudder to his core.

But Ethan wasn’t going to let him off because of his fear.

When he thought about how this piece of trash had been dragging Serena into the restroom, towering rage flashed in his eyes once more.

Kenshin Takahashi seemed to sense something. His mouth moved, clearly trying to speak, but Ethan gave him no such chance.

An iron fist shot out, smashing into Kenshin Takahashi’s skull with world-ending force.

BOOM!

It sounded like an explosion. Or perhaps, the horn of death.

Half of Kenshin Takahashi’s head was gone. The eyeball on the remaining half was still open, filled with terror and an unwillingness to die, before finally going dim, utterly devoid of life.

Kenshin Takahashi was dead.

Harlan Stone vomited. He vomited violently, as if trying to spew out his very gallbladder. This wasn’t out of disgust, but fear—a primal terror erupting from the depths of his soul.

This filthy beggar actually dared to kill someone from one of the Cherry Blossom Country’s four great families. How… how could he dare?

Regrettably, no one could answer Harlan Stone’s question. And Ethan, the one who could, had no intention of responding.

Finally, Harlan Stone finished vomiting. He collapsed to the ground, his face ashen and his body shaking uncontrollably.

Chief Benjamin Hale, after all, was a man who had seen the world. Faced with such an inhumanly horrific scene, his only reaction was the tingling of his scalp.

Ethan approached Harlan Stone, who looked back at him with utter despair.

Ethan smiled. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to kill you.”

Harlan Stone thought he had misheard and stared at Ethan in astonishment.

Ethan’s smile remained. “You’re far more useful to me alive than dead. But rest assured, you won’t be living for much longer.”

A shiver ran through Harlan Stone’s entire body as he looked at Ethan with overwhelming fear.

Ethan, however, didn’t spare him another glance. Instead, he spoke toward the restroom entrance. “Come in.”

The restroom door opened, and Xander Steele, the Southern King, walked in.

The moment he saw Xander Steele, Harlan Stone was stunned, thinking he was mistaken. But when he got a clear look, he became completely excited. New hope ignited in his eyes, blazing with a piercing light as if he had just seen his savior.

Without any unnecessary words, Harlan Stone scrambled over and threw himself at Xander Steele’s feet.

“Southern King, save me!”

Chapter 153

The reason Harlan Stone’s eyes filled with hope upon seeing Xander Steele was that he felt their relationship was extraordinary. After all, the Stone Family had paid a substantial tribute to Xander Steele over the years, and in return, he had helped them numerous times, both openly and in secret.

But this time, he was doomed to be disappointed.

In the face of absolute strength, self-interest is laughably fragile.

Chief Benjamin Hale, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Harlan Stone was finished. After all, he had personally witnessed how respectfully Xander Steele treated Ethan Blackthorn.

Xander Steele ignored Harlan Stone’s expectant gaze. He first surveyed the situation inside the restroom before walking up to Ethan and saying reverently, “Sir, my apologies for being late. Leave everything here to me!”

BOOM!!!

Harlan Stone was shocked. Utterly and completely shocked. He seemed to turn to stone, staring intently at Xander Steele, watching the scene unfold in utter disbelief.

Who in the world is this filthy beggar?

Chief Benjamin Hale’s deference had been surprising enough, but he never imagined that even Xander Steele would be so reverent. He could almost understand Chief Benjamin Hale’s attitude. Perhaps this trash’s wife has some connections. But why is Xander Steele, of all people, acting this way? This is Xander Steele! The Southern King! The undisputed ruler of the Silverton underground!

Harlan Stone felt his brain short-circuit.

Ethan nodded. I’ve been out for a while; Serena must be worried. It’s time to go back. Besides, I can trust Xander Steele to handle this mess.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you,” Ethan said. “Oh, and by the way, don’t show any mercy!”

“As you command, Sir!”

Ethan nodded, got up, and left. He paused as he walked past Chief Benjamin Hale.

“Old Hale, someone will be in touch to explain this to you.”

Chief Benjamin Hale, after all, was from Six Fan Gate. Having killed so many people, Ethan felt he owed the man an explanation, as a matter of principle.

But Chief Benjamin Hale just shook his head. “Mr. Blackthorn, what’s there to explain? This scum from the Cherry Blossom Country colluded with Wesley Stone to steal critical intelligence from our nation. As a patriotic citizen, your actions were in defense of the nation. Besides, you didn’t kill these men. They had a falling-out over the loot and killed each other!”

Ethan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Chief Benjamin Hale to come up with such a… ‘considerate’ explanation.

“Old Hale,” Ethan said with a smile, “I always said your current position is a waste of your talents. This proves I was right!”

“Thank you, Mr. Blackthorn!” Chief Benjamin Hale replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Ethan smiled, nodded, and then turned and departed.

Harlan Stone’s face was ashen as he looked from Xander Steele to Chief Benjamin Hale. In truth, the moment Xander Steele had deferred to Ethan, Harlan Stone knew it was over—for him and for the Stone Family. Chief Benjamin Hale’s words, therefore, came as no surprise. All he felt was despair, a profound and bottomless despair.

When Ethan returned to the private room, Serena was still sitting dazedly in her chair. The moment she saw him, she shot to her feet. She had clearly been crying again; her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes were now swollen like ripe peaches. She pouted, her gaze fixed on Ethan with a look of pure misery.

The sight made Ethan’s heart ache.

“Come here,” Ethan said softly. “Let me give you a hug.”

Serena’s tears instantly broke free, as if a faucet had been turned on full blast. Still, she obediently threw herself into his arms. Ethan held her tightly.

After a long moment, he said tenderly, “Let’s go home.”

Serena nodded gently.

“Can you walk?”

Serena made a sound of affirmation. Ethan let go of her, but the moment she took a step, her body faltered, and she nearly collapsed. The ordeal must have really shaken her to the core. It’s been almost half an hour, but her legs are still weak.

Without another word, Ethan swept her up in a princess carry.

Serena froze. A blush immediately spread across her fair cheeks, visible to the naked eye. She was so shy. This was the first time Ethan had ever carried her like this. She buried her head in his chest, allowing him to carry her out of the room. Along the way, the distinctly masculine scent of him filled her senses. Serena’s heart raced as if it were a rocket, and her cheeks burned as hot as a branding iron.

Thankfully, they finally exited the restaurant. Under the watchful eyes of the other patrons, Ethan gently placed Serena in the passenger seat and tenderly buckled her seatbelt. By now, her stunning face was flushed a vibrant, dewy red.

Ethan got into the car. He stomped on the gas, and the car shot forward.

After they had been driving for a moment, Serena realized this wasn’t the road back to the King Villa in Dragon’s Crest Estates.

“Ethan, where are we going?” she asked, puzzled.

Ethan laughed. “I’m taking you to feel the speed of the wind!”

“The speed of the wind? What does that mean?”

“You’ll see!” he said with a smile.

Under her questioning gaze, Ethan drove onto the highway. At this time of night, it was mostly empty. He rolled down the windows, and wind roared in from all sides. The wind whipped across Serena’s face, tangling her hair. Strands of it danced like tiny sprites, freed by the breeze. In the darkness of the night, her breathtaking face flickered in and out of view, a fleeting, beautiful image.

Ethan turned on the music. The heavy drumbeat from the speakers pounded in time with Serena’s own heart. That heart, so long held in check, so long suppressed, began to race, faster and faster.

But the car was faster still. The wind howled past, growing more ferocious and whipping her hair into a wild tangle. This, however, did nothing to diminish her beauty. Instead, it gave her a kind of wild, fractured grace.

Ethan glanced over at her. The indifference in Serena’s beautiful eyes was gone, replaced by a fiery passion.

“Do you like it?” Ethan asked.

Serena yelled over the wind, “What did you say?”

She hadn’t heard him.

Ethan simply smiled and said nothing more, focusing on the road.

At some point, Serena began to cheer, like a prisoner long-caged who had finally broken free. She’s been repressed for too long, Ethan thought. She’s finally found an outlet to let it all out. He didn’t try to stop her. All he had to do was drive.

After some time, Serena grew tired and quieted down. But despite her exhaustion, her face was a picture of pure satisfaction, her eyes sparkling brightly.

Seeing that her mood had lifted, Ethan smiled and asked, “Feeling better?”

Serena nodded.

“Slow down!”

Ethan decelerated.

“Turn your head toward me, I want to say something,” Serena said.

He didn’t understand why, but he did as she asked.

The next second, Serena’s lips were on his.

When a soft, warm, and moist sensation pressed against his lips, Ethan was completely dumbfounded. His eyes widened like bronze bells as he stared blankly at Serena.

That’s right, Ethan was utterly bewildered. It wasn’t that they had never kissed before. In fact, this was their third time. The first was when Serena was under the influence of an aphrodisiac, and the second was when Ethan had kissed her forcefully. The third time was right now.

Ethan would never have dreamed that Serena would take the initiative to kiss him. Her enchanting eyes were shimmering with a passion that seemed ready to overflow, making his heart pound so hard it felt like it would leap from his chest. He was just about to respond when her lips had already left his.

Her pretty face was as red as a ripe peach. She didn’t dare to continue; if she kissed him any longer, she felt like her heart would explode.

To conceal her panic, Serena feigned calmness and said, “Just drive properly!” With that, she bashfully turned her head away.

Ethan finally snapped out of his daze. Luckily, the car was moving slowly. Otherwise, with that momentary lapse in attention, they might have gotten into an accident.

Seeing Serena’s bashful silence, Ethan suddenly said with feigned anger, “Serena Blake, you’re bullying me!”

His words left Serena bewildered. She looked at him with questioning eyes. “How am I bullying you?”

“You left before I could even react! If that’s not bullying, what is?” Ethan said domineeringly.

Serena blushed. “Ethan, you’re impossible! Don’t talk about this anymore!”

“Not a chance. Unless you let me kiss you back, I won’t drop it. Otherwise, I’ll complain about it the entire way home!”

Serena was speechless. If she had known this would happen, she never would have kissed this damned rogue. But in truth, even Serena herself didn’t know why she had just kissed him. All she knew was that she’d wanted to. She was happy, and the kiss had been a way to release all the pent-up frustration in her heart—a release that Ethan had given her.

But who would have thought this kiss would lead to so much trouble?

Seeing Ethan’s relentless teasing, Serena sighed helplessly. “Ethan, stop messing around and drive properly. At worst…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. Not only had the words caught in her throat, but her fair cheeks also flushed an even deeper shade of red, all the way to the tips of her ears.

Provoked by her reaction, Ethan desperately wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. “At worst what?”

“N-Nothing!”

“Honey, if you don’t tell me what you were going to say, then don’t blame me for what happens next,” Ethan said with a sly smile.

“Wh-What are you going to do?”

Ethan said nothing. He simply began to slow down and pull over to the side of the road. Serena’s heart jumped as she realized he intended to stop the car and kiss her right there. She grew flustered.

In a soft voice, she pleaded, “Ethan, stop fooling around, can’t you just drive properly? We can talk about whatever it is when we get back.”

“Can I kiss you when we get back?”

“N-No, you can’t,” Serena stammered, her voice trembling. She truly regretted provoking him. This guy is such a scoundrel! He’s probably been dying to kiss me for ages, and now I’ve handed him the perfect opportunity.

“A ‘no,’ is it?” Ethan’s grin widened. “Then I’ll just have to turn that ‘no’ into a ‘yes’!”

Serena panicked. Her beautiful eyes grew watery as she gazed at him. “You damned rogue, stop it! I-If you want to kiss me… can we at least wait until we get home? Please?”

Ethan’s heart bloomed with joy. “Okay!”

With that, he gunned the engine. After finally finding an exit, he sped off the highway and immediately got back on, heading in the direction of home.

It was past eleven at night by the time they returned to the King Villa in Dragon’s Crest Estates, and the vast estate was quiet.

The moment Ethan got out of the car, he looked ready to pounce. Serena was so mortified she wished she could find a hole to crawl into. “Ethan, can we not do this now? Let’s go inside first, then we can talk!”

“Okay!” Ethan knew she was shy, so he agreed.

They entered the villa one after the other. Selene Vale was sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at the moon. When she saw Ethan and Serena enter, she quickly tied her gossamer veil back into place.

“Jingzhe, have you eaten?” Serena asked.

Selene Vale nodded. “I have,” she replied, her voice neutral.

“Oh, then you should get some rest!”

Selene Vale hummed in acknowledgment. Serena’s attitude toward Selene Vale was markedly better than her attitude toward Mia Sterling and Celeste Starling. In her mind, Mia Sterling and Celeste Starling were here to steal her husband, while Selene Vale was here to protect her. Their purposes were different, so she treated them differently.

Ethan was about to follow Serena to her room when Selene Vale’s cold voice stopped him. “Ethan Blackthorn, do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Then you two talk. I’ll go upstairs first,” Serena said.

Ethan nodded. As much as he wanted to kiss Serena right now, he knew that whatever Selene Vale wanted to talk about must be important. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stopped him at this hour.

After watching Serena head inside, Ethan smiled. “Alright, what’s on your mind?”

“Those people from this morning were from the Shadowveil Order, weren’t they?” Selene Vale asked.

Ethan nodded. Selene Vale was from the martial world, so it wasn’t surprising that she could recognize their origins.

“So, how did you provoke them?” she asked again.

“It’s a long story. I’ll give you the details when I have more time.”

A flicker of indifference crossed Selene Vale’s dark eyes. She said coolly, “If you don’t want to talk about it, then forget it.”

Ethan frowned slightly. No matter how he heard it, her tone sounded a little unhappy. “Fine, I’ll give you the short version,” he conceded. “Some scum schemed against my wife. His master was from the Shadowveil Order. I dealt with him, and that’s how we ended up with a grudge.”

The chill in Selene Vale’s eyes finally lessened. She nodded. “Then you should be more careful in the future. The Shadowveil Order is known for its vengefulness.”

“So, you’re worried about me?” Ethan asked curiously.

Selene Vale’s delicate brows knitted together. “I’m just worried there won’t be anyone to cure my poison,” she said coldly.

“Got it. Anything else?”

Selene Vale shook her head.

“Alright then. I’ll go have a chat with my wife, and then I’ll come detoxify you.”

At his words, Selene Vale’s cheeks flushed faintly. Fortunately, the veil concealed her expression. Not that Ethan would have noticed even if he could see it. At that moment, his mind was solely focused on kissing Serena.

When Ethan arrived at Serena’s bedroom, however, he found that she had locked the door from the inside to stop him.

“Serena, open the door!” he called out.

“No, I’m going to sleep!” she replied, trying to sound calm. The slight tremble in her voice, however, betrayed her completely.

“No you don’t. You promised you’d let me kiss you when we got back,” Ethan said domineeringly.

“I never promised you that!”

So now she’s playing dumb, is she?

“Honey, I suggest you open this door,” Ethan warned. “Otherwise, when I get in, I’m going to kiss you until I’ve had my fill.”

Serena glanced at the locked door, a mischievous smile touching her lips as a playful idea took root in her mind. “Fine,” she challenged. “If you can get in, I’ll let you kiss me!”

Ethan paused for a moment, then almost snorted with laughter. An open invitation for a kiss, delivered right to his doorstep. How could he possibly pass this up?

Without another word, he flicked his finger, summoning the Xuantian Needle. Then, he began to deftly pick the lock.

Chapter 154

As the doorknob kept turning, Serena Blake’s heart instantly tensed up. She was terrified that Ethan Blackthorn would push the door open in the next second. But after twisting for what felt like an eternity, the door remained shut. Serena breathed a sigh of relief, but a faint sense of disappointment soon began to well up inside her.

Why did I even play this prank?  she silently berated herself. After all, they were getting divorced tomorrow, and she had already agreed to let him kiss her. But the words were already out, and she was too embarrassed to take them back, let alone open the door for him now.

At that moment, she found herself envying Mia Sterling’s personality. If this were Mia Sterling, she would have opened the door without a second thought. No, Mia Sterling wouldn’t have even played this joke. She would have let Ethan kiss her the moment she got back. In fact, she probably would have made him kiss her right there on the highway.

Lost in these thoughts, Serena sighed gloomily on the bed.

But just then, with a crisp CLICK , the tightly shut door was suddenly pushed open.

Ethan walked in, a grin plastered on his face. Serena was still lying on the bed, her soft dress clinging tightly to her body. His gaze was immediately drawn to her exquisitely alluring curves.

The moment their eyes met, Serena’s pretty face flushed a brilliant pink. She stared at Ethan in a panic.

“H-How did you get in?”

I bolted the door from the inside,  she thought, bewildered.

Ethan smiled. “How I got in isn’t important. What’s important is that it’s time for you to make good on your promise!”

Serena felt her cheeks burning. She wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come.

Ethan wasted no more words and walked straight toward her. Serena subconsciously sat up, and just as he was about to climb onto the bed, she bolted into the bathroom like a startled rabbit.

Heaven knows, Serena truly wasn’t trying to toy with him. Not only did she have no intention of messing with his feelings, but a flicker of joy had even sparked in her heart when he’d pushed the door open. She was just so incredibly shy. The mere thought of Ethan kissing her sent her mind into utter chaos.

But Ethan wasn’t about to give her another chance to escape. Just as the bathroom door was swinging shut, his hand shot through the gap, stopping it. Unable to close the door, Serena retreated further into the bathroom proper. The bathroom had a large tub, a fixture Serena usually loved to soak in. Right now, however, she was in a complete panic.

Ethan entered with a smile, locking the door behind him.

Trapped, with nowhere left to run, Serena took a deep breath and accepted her fate.

“You scoundrel… J-Just one kiss, okay?” she asked, her voice a coquettish plea.

Her words made Ethan’s heart pound. It was one thing for her to be so beautiful, but the power of her coquettishness was devastating. That, combined with her watery, peach-blossom eyes looking up at him so pitifully, was enough to make a man want to commit a crime.

“Okay!” Ethan said firmly.

Seeing him agree, Serena, though still shy, felt her heart calm slightly. She didn’t notice the faint smirk that touched Ethan’s lips as he lowered his head, like a fox that had successfully cornered its prey.

He walked over to where Serena was leaning against the vanity and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Her body trembled slightly, and her face, flushed a deeper shade of red, looked utterly delectable.

With one smooth motion, Ethan lifted her up and sat her on the vanity. Serena let out a small cry of surprise, but in the next second, his lips found hers.

The long-suppressed passion between them ignited instantly. Ethan kissed Serena with a fierce hunger, as if he wanted to devour her whole. The electrifying sensation made Serena’s already dewy eyes even more alluring. The moisture in them seemed ready to overflow and drown him completely.

Ethan had experienced her captivating charm firsthand. He still remembered seeing her for the first time at the hotel near the train station, completely stunned by her soul-stirring allure. If not for that, he would never have let things go as far as they did. After all, his self-control was nothing to scoff at.

A soft moan escaped from Serena. The tiny sound hit Ethan with the force of an atomic bomb, sending a shiver through his entire body. Serena’s vision began to blur. Her fragrant body went limp in his arms, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth with wild abandon. The spacious bathroom echoed with labored, blush-inducing breaths and the wanton sounds of their passion.

After what felt like an eternity, Serena felt like she was suffocating—truly suffocating. She managed to push Ethan away.

“Stop… stop kissing me, okay? My lips are going to be swollen!” Serena’s voice was soft and breathless, laced with a coquettish complaint. That, combined with her sultry, doe-eyed gaze, was almost more than Ethan could take. He truly wanted to devour the woman before him.

“Baby, I want to eat you up,” Ethan whispered breathlessly into her ear.

The hot breath against Serena’s ear made her tremble. Hearing him call her “baby” in that magnetic voice, she felt her resistance crumbling. Her body grew softer and softer, threatening to melt into a puddle of fragrant paste in his arms. The old saying that women were made of water was proving to be absolutely true. Subconsciously, Serena wrapped her arms around his neck. She had no idea that this simple act was like pouring gasoline on an open flame.

Taking it as a sign of her consent, Ethan immediately swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the bathroom. As much as he wanted to continue right there, he felt the space was too cramped to truly let loose.

He gently laid her down on the large bed before climbing on after her. Seeing the bewitching woman in his arms, her eyes glazed with passion, looking so ripe for the taking, the fire inside him roared to life. If he had managed to restrain himself before, he was now at his breaking point.

Without another word, Ethan crushed his lips against hers once more.

“Mmph!”

Another intoxicating sound escaped Serena, a sound Ethan adored. It was the most potent aphrodisiac in the world. His kissing grew even more frantic, more fervent. Serena’s head was spinning, but her mouth was now actively, madly, responding to his. Yes, her desire had been completely ignited.

Perhaps it was because they were getting divorced tomorrow. Or maybe it was the liberating thrill of the high-speed drive earlier that night. Whatever the reason, she wanted to give herself to Ethan. She wanted to give him this one final gift before they parted ways for good. Even if they could never be together again after this, Serena knew she wouldn’t regret it.

The two clung to each other tightly, rolling wildly across the bed. Ethan’s hand had already snaked its way under her skirt, beginning its intimate conquest.

Just then, the shrill ring of a phone pierced the air. It was Serena’s cell. Neither of them paid it any mind. After a moment, the ringing stopped, only to start again, even more frantically. The caller was clearly desperate to get through.

Serena instinctively reached for it.

“Baby, just ignore it, okay?”

She got lost in his voice again. Reaching to decline the call, her fumbling fingers accidentally pressed the answer button instead.

Mia Sterling’s frantic voice burst from the speaker. “Madam, is the Master with you? If he is, please tell him I’ve been set up! I need him to come save me at The Cloud Peak Club!”

Everything stopped abruptly at Mia Sterling’s words. Ethan had known her for some time, but he had never heard her speak in such a panicked voice. He and Serena exchanged a glance. Though their eyes were still filled with desire, it was quickly fading.

“Honey, you should go take a look!” Serena urged.

“But I don’t want to leave you!”

Serena’s heart warmed. “But if you don’t go,” she persuaded softly, “what if something happens to Mia Sterling?”

Ethan sighed in frustration. If he didn’t know Mia Sterling better, he’d almost suspect she’d installed a hidden camera in Serena’s room. She never seemed to have an emergency when they were just peacefully spending time together. But the moment he was about to become intimate with Serena, her call came through. Regardless, since Mia Sterling was in trouble, Ethan couldn’t just stand by.

“Give me a kiss and I’ll go, honey!” Ethan said with a cheeky grin.

He expected her to refuse without a second thought, but to his surprise, she leaned in and kissed him. Although her lovely face flushed bright red, Ethan was delighted and couldn’t help but kiss her back. As Serena watched him with shy eyes, Ethan got up and headed for the door. Just as he reached it, he paused.

“Wait for me!”

With that, he hurried out of the room.

As she watched Ethan leave, the shy blush on Serena’s face faded, replaced by a somber expression. After a long moment, she sighed softly. “If only we didn’t have to get a divorce.”

As his car pulled out of Dragon’s Crest Estates, Ethan called Xander Steele, who answered on the first ring.

“Boss, what are your orders?”

“How did it go with the Stones?”

“Just finished. Harlan Stone is willing to give up all his assets in exchange for the Stone Family’s safety!”

“And you agreed?” Ethan asked coldly.

Xander Steele chuckled. “Boss, I’m not that kind-hearted!”

Only then did Ethan grunt in satisfaction. Frankly, he wasn’t a particularly heartless person, but he never showed mercy to his enemies. Especially since that piece of trash Wesley Stone had not only dared to collude with scum from the Cherry Blossom Country but had also made a move on Serena. Wesley Stone had no one to blame but himself.

“Do you know a place called The Cloud Peak Club?” Ethan asked.

“I do,” Xander Steele replied respectfully. “It’s the Kane Family from Harborview City’s private clubhouse in Silverton City!”

The Kane Family from Harborview City? Ethan sneered. This is getting interesting. First, some of them tried to bully Yara Vance, and now others are trying to bully Mia Sterling. They’re really tired of living.

“Send me the address, and bring some men over,” Ethan instructed.

“As you command!”

Ethan hung up. A moment later, he received the address from Xander Steele.

The Cloud Peak Club wasn’t far from Dragon’s Crest Estates; the GPS estimated a twenty-minute drive, but Ethan made it in under ten. He was racing against the clock. Mia Sterling was in grave danger, and as a member of The Apex Nine, he couldn’t let anything happen to her.

He brought the car to a screeching halt in front of The Cloud Peak Club and got out. As he moved to enter, four security guards suddenly blocked his path.

“Stop! This is a private club. No entry!” one of them, a burly and remarkably ugly man with skin as dark as charcoal, barked. His eyes, however, were sharp.

Ethan glanced up at him. “You’re going to stop me?”

“No shit! I already told you, this is a private club, no entry! Are you fucking deaf—”

SLAP!

An explosive crack echoed through the air. The burly man’s head simply vanished, and his headless body collapsed to the ground with a thud. The remaining three guards were dumbstruck, the color draining from their faces as they began to tremble like sieves.

“Scram!” Ethan commanded coldly.

The words were barely out of his mouth before the three guards collapsed in a heap on the ground. Ethan strode into the clubhouse.

The place was vast, and he had no idea which room Mia Sterling was in. He tried calling her, but her phone was off. A sense of urgency gripped him. He stilled, focusing his senses and straining his ears to pick up any sound within the building. Finally, he detected faint voices coming from a room in the northeast corner.

He dashed toward it. Standing before the door, he gave it a push, but it was locked. From inside, however, the sound of tearing fabric grew louder, accompanied by Mia Sterling’s furious voice.

“Walter Kane, don’t court death! The Sterling Family is a member of The Apex Nine!”

“So what? Your Sterling Family is powerful, but does that make the Kane Family a bunch of pushovers? Anyway, once the deed is done, I’ll propose to your family.”

“Piss off! I already have someone I like. You’re courting death!”

“Oh, Mia, isn’t it me you like? Stop struggling. The more you fight, the more excited I get!”

“Get the hell away from me! You’re nothing but low-life trash from the Kane Family. If you dare lay a finger on me today, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

“Heh, I won’t touch you. I’ll just wait for the aphrodisiac to kick in. Then we’ll see how you beg me to fuck you!”

Walter Kane smirked at the beauty before him, watching as her eyes began to glaze over and her body started to writhe. He knew she wouldn’t last much longer.

Indeed, Mia Sterling knew she couldn’t hold out. Her body was on fire, and the longing within her grew more intense by the second. Despite loathing the man before her, a part of her was already considering surrendering to the desire. The realization made her heart sink into despair. She was still a virgin; she couldn’t bear the thought of being defiled by such scum.

Just then—

BANG!

A deafening crash erupted as the sturdy door was kicked from its hinges and sent flying into the room. As it clattered to the floor, Ethan walked in.

In the spacious room, a man and a woman stood in a standoff. The man was handsome and carried an air of distinction, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. The woman, vixen-like and enchanting, was twenty-three or twenty-four. It was, of course, Mia Sterling.

She was collapsed on the floor, hands desperately clutching her torn clothes. Her vixen-like face was flushed red, and her shimmering, alluring eyes were unfocused. A single glance told Ethan she had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. The culprit was clearly the scum standing over her.

Upon seeing Ethan, a spark of excitement ignited in Mia Sterling’s shimmering eyes. She stumbled to her feet and threw herself into his arms. “Stinky Daddy, you finally came! If you were any later, this trash would have taken advantage of me!”

“Don’t be afraid,” Ethan said softly.

Mia Sterling nodded obediently.

Seeing the intruder, Walter Kane bellowed, “Fuck! Who let a stinking beggar like you in here? Get the hell out if you don’t want to die!”

He was absolutely seething. He had been on the verge of claiming the stunning Mia Sterling for himself, only to be interrupted by some filthy beggar. How could he not be furious?

“Kneel and apologize to Mia,” Ethan commanded, his voice ice-cold.

Walter Kane roared, “Fuck, you stinking beggar! Who the hell do you think you are, telling me to kneel and apologize? Are you fucking asking to die?” For a mere beggar to make such a demand… he was truly courting death.

Ethan nodded slowly. “Alright. Very well.”

The words had barely left his mouth when his hand shot out, seizing Walter Kane by the neck. Walter Kane was stunned for a second before his shock turned to pure rage.

“Fuck, you filthy beggar, let go of me!” He tried to struggle, but Ethan’s grip tightened like an iron vise, robbing him of any strength.

He couldn’t even struggle; breathing itself became an impossible task. Veins bulged on his neck, and his face turned a deep, purplish red as his eyes began to roll back in their sockets.

“The Kane Family is powerful, huh?” Ethan sneered. “In that case, let me show you what your so-called power is worth in my eyes!”

“Fuck you! If you have the guts, just try and touch me!” Walter Kane choked out with all his might.

“Alright then.”

The next second, Ethan snapped his neck.

Chapter 155

The moment Ethan Blackthorn loosened his grip, Walter Kane’s body collapsed limply to the ground. Yet his eyes remained wide open, bulging like a bull’s. He had died with a grievance.

Ethan didn’t even spare him a second glance. He was about to carry Mia Sterling away when the girl in his arms suddenly began to twist her delicate body frantically, coiling around him like a water snake.

It was the height of summer, and both were scantily clad. The friction of their bodies immediately caused the lustful fire within Ethan to stir. He knew the aphrodisiac in her system had fully taken effect.

Just as he was about to help her, Mia Sterling clung to him like an octopus, her mouth beginning to frantically search for his. Ethan couldn’t avoid it, and she managed to kiss his face several times.

Enduring her chaotic kisses, Ethan hooked an arm around her slender waist and carried her out of the private room. There was no other choice. If she woke up and saw the dead Walter Kane, she would surely be terrified.

The moment they were out of the room, Ethan gently tapped the center of her forehead. Mia Sterling’s body went limp in his arms. The seductive, watery eyes that had been clouded by the aphrodisiac rapidly regained their clarity. After a short while, she was completely lucid.

“Stinky Daddy, you saved me?”

Ethan nodded.

“So, you can cure poisons?”

“Yes, I’m decent enough at it.”

“Wow, Stinky Daddy, you’re so amazing!” Mia Sterling said, clinging tightly to Ethan as if he would disappear the moment she let go.

Ethan was speechless. He was about to leave with her when Mia Sterling suddenly said in a huff, “No, wait! Stinky Daddy, I hate you! Why do you know how to cure poisons?!”

Huh? Ethan stared at Mia Sterling, completely dumbfounded. “What do you mean? Should I not have saved you?”

Mia Sterling’s coquettish face was filled with frustration. “Stinky Daddy, of course I’m happy that you saved me! But… if you didn’t know how to cure the poison, wouldn’t you have had to use your body to cure me?”

Ethan was speechless.

However, an idea seemed to strike Mia Sterling. She coyly raised her head and gave Ethan a flirtatious smile. “Stinky Daddy, since you can cure poisons, does that mean you can also get your hands on aphrodisiacs?”

Huh? Ethan stared at Mia Sterling, completely dumbfounded. “What are you planning to do?”

“Take another one, of course. And this time, you can use your body to cure me.”

Ethan was utterly defeated. This girl’s logic is something else.

“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go, time to head back,” Ethan said.

With her arms wrapped around his neck, Mia Sterling cooed, “Stinky Daddy, my legs feel so weak. Can you carry me out, please?”

That seductive face, those watery, captivating eyes, that provocative voice… A shiver ran through Ethan from the intense stimulation.

I really want to just drop her and leave.  But Ethan knew that even if he did, Mia Sterling would just find other ways to pester him. In that case, it was better to just get her into the car and not waste any more time. After all, Serena was still waiting for him in bed.

Having made up his mind, Ethan quickly carried the girl out of the club.

Just as he got Mia Sterling settled in the car, he saw Xander Steele approaching with his men, exuding a murderous aura. Ethan went to meet them.

“Boss, what’s going on?” Xander Steele asked.

“Walter Kane from the Kane Family was asking for death,” Ethan explained. “He hit Mia Sterling with an aphrodisiac poison. I’ve already killed that piece of trash. You clean up the mess.”

Xander Steele’s expression turned grim. Someone from the Kane Family dared to use an aphrodisiac poison on Mia Sterling? Are they tired of living? The Kane Family is indeed powerful, and some of their scions are members of the Oracle Society and the Arcane Warriors Guild. But that’s no excuse to sign their own death warrant. Didn’t he know the Sterling Family is part of The Apex Nine? Didn’t he know Mia Sterling belongs to Ethan?

“Boss, I understand. Don’t worry, leave it to me,” Xander Steele assured him.

Ethan nodded, then turned and vanished in a flash.

As they sped back toward the villa, Mia Sterling gazed at Ethan with a seductive smile.

“What, still feeling horny?” Ethan teased.

Her silken eyes fixed on him, Mia Sterling replied, “Of course. If I’d known you could cure poisons, I would have devoured you back there.”

Ethan threw his hands up in surrender. “Speaking of which, how did you end up with Walter Kane?”

As soon as she heard Walter Kane’s name, Mia Sterling’s flirtatious face filled with rage. “Hmph, that scumbag said he wanted to discuss a business deal, and I stupidly believed him. I figured with my status and background, he’d have to hide any ulterior motives he had, so I happily agreed to meet. Who would have thought that trash would dare to poison me? He was really asking to die!”

“Have you told your father about this?”

“Not yet. The alliance has been holding meetings these last few days, so he’s still out of town.”

Ethan knew the alliance she mentioned was The Apex Nine. They held gatherings twice a year to consolidate resources and share their results.

“I see. Don’t tell him. I’ve already gotten revenge for you.”

Mia Sterling excitedly grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Wow, Stinky Daddy, you’re so good to me! So good I just want to give myself to you completely. How about we find a quiet corner and rock the car a bit?”

Her words hit him with such a jolt that his hands shook, and he nearly lost his grip on the steering wheel. “Mia, stop messing around, I’m begging you!”

Seeing Ethan’s helpless expression, Mia Sterling just giggled, causing her ample “headlights” to jiggle. They’re huge.

“What am I going to do, Stinky Daddy? I’m liking you more and more. You have no idea, but I was at my absolute limit back there. If you hadn’t shown up a second later, I might have actually started begging him for it.

“But then, at the most critical moment, you appeared. When you kicked that door open and stood before me, it felt like a god had descended from the heavens. In that moment, I suddenly realized that meeting you in this life is the greatest gift I could ever receive.

“So, right then and there, I decided. I want you to have me. I want to bear your children. I want to give you all of my love and make you the happiest man in the world. Even if it means I can only be your mistress, I’d accept it!”

Mia Sterling had spoken in a rush, her tone firm and filled with an undeniable, zealous obsession.

Ethan stared at her, stunned. A strange new feeling began to stir within him, as if he were seeing the real Mia Sterling for the very first time.

Seeing Ethan staring blankly at her, Mia Sterling smiled bewitchingly. “What, are you moved?”

Ethan smiled and shrugged. “A little.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. No one could remain indifferent when faced with such a wild and fervent confession.

Mia Sterling’s smile grew even brighter. “Stinky Daddy, since you’re so moved… why don’t we go to bed together?”

Ethan felt like he was going insane.

Ever since this girl appeared, she seemed to have only one thing on her mind: tempting him into bed. If it weren’t for Serena already occupying his heart, he really wanted to teach her a harsh lesson and make her stop.

“Mia Sterling, behave yourself!” Ethan said helplessly.

“Stinky Daddy, I refuse to behave. Besides, isn’t your wife divorcing you tomorrow? After that, we can just go register our marriage, okay?”

“Okay, my foot! Who says I’m going to divorce Serena!”

“But your wife said so, and Stinky Daddy, didn’t you agree? Actually, when you think about it, she’s really good to you. She’s afraid Victoria Blake will take revenge on you, so she’s eager for the divorce. After you and I register our marriage, you’ll be part of the Sterling Family. Then Victoria Blake wouldn’t dare to retaliate even if she wanted to!”

Ethan scoffed with disdain. “As if a mere Victoria Blake could walk all over my wife? In her dreams!”

“Wow, Stinky Daddy, you’re so domineering! I love it!”

“Get lost. By the way, why would The Crown Pavilion offer to host Victoria Blake’s wedding for free?”

Mia Sterling sighed. “I didn’t want to, but Xander Steele himself came to make the arrangements!”

“I see!”

“Stinky Daddy, do you think Victoria Blake is really marrying into a prominent family?”

“Why, you think so too?” Ethan asked in return.

Mia Sterling shook her head, saying scornfully, “Victoria Blake is so ugly and causes so much drama. No heir of a prominent family would fancy her unless he was blind. But what I don’t understand is why Xander Steele would personally act as the matchmaker!”

Ethan smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll know by noon tomorrow!”

“Stinky Daddy, do you have some insider information?”

“Of course I do. But if I spoil the mystery now, there won’t be a surprise tomorrow at noon!”

Mia Sterling froze for a moment, then she hugged Ethan’s arm even tighter.

“Stinky Daddy, no wonder you’re so sure you won’t divorce her!”

“Alright, let go of my arm. If you don’t, my arm is going to get hard too!”

PFFT.

Mia Sterling burst into laughter, bent over and shaking uncontrollably.

When they got back to the villa, it was already deep into the night.

Serena was still awake. She was worried about Ethan, and naturally, she was also concerned about Mia Sterling.

For Mia Sterling to personally call for help, it must have been a serious matter.

Serena was worried that Ethan wouldn’t be able to handle it. She wanted to help, but she knew she had little influence and couldn’t be of much use. So all she could do was wait.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ethan and Mia Sterling returned, talking and laughing together.

For some reason, the sight of them made her heart sour with jealousy. The thought that she and Ethan were divorcing tomorrow, after which he would register his marriage with Mia Sterling, made her even more despondent.

Ethan hadn’t expected to find Serena waiting in the villa’s courtyard. He quickly walked over to her.

“Waiting for us?” Ethan asked softly.

Serena nodded, her gaze shifting to Mia Sterling.

“Are you alright?” Serena asked with concern.

A touch of warmth bloomed in Mia Sterling’s heart. She smiled and said, “Madam, thank you for your concern. I’m fine. Luckily Ethan arrived in time, otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable!”

“As long as you’re fine. You should get some rest. I’m going to bed too!”

Mia Sterling nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Serena was about to leave, Ethan said nothing and simply scooped her up into his arms.

Serena’s breath hitched, and she looked up at Ethan with a hint of shyness. Indeed, she hadn’t expected Ethan to sweep her into a princess carry out of the blue.

“Ethan, p-put me down!” she chided softly.

But Ethan acted as if he hadn’t heard her, carrying her into the villa with long strides.

Watching their receding backs, Mia Sterling felt a pang of jealousy. She knew Ethan loved Serena. She also knew it was impossible for him to give up Serena and register a marriage with her. Yet even with this clear understanding, she couldn’t help but feel sad.

Mia Sterling gave a melancholy smile and turned to enter the villa.

As he gently laid Serena on the bed, Ethan saw the unmistakable sorrow hidden in her eyes under the dim light.

“Are you unhappy?” he asked, his heart aching for her.

Serena shook her head. “It’s nothing, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Silly girl, I really was just saving someone. I wasn’t doing anything behind your back,” Ethan said with a doting expression.

Waves of warmth washed over Serena’s heart. She was truly moved.

“I’m not worried about that.”

“Then why are you so crestfallen?”

“I…” Serena trailed off, suddenly finding it hard to continue.

She couldn’t possibly tell Ethan she was jealous, could she? She couldn’t tell him that the thought of their divorce tomorrow was making her miserable, could she?

Ethan pulled her into his arms. He said with a grin, “Alright, no more sadness. Let’s continue what we didn’t finish earlier!”

“No, don’t!” Serena quickly objected.

Ethan looked at her, puzzled.

“Why not?”

“I… I’m not in the mood anymore!” Serena forced herself to say.

It was the truth. But moods could be cultivated. Yet Serena didn’t want to. She didn’t want to continue what they’d started before. She suddenly felt that since they were about to get a divorce, if they did that sort of thing now… what would that make this?

But Ethan didn’t care about that. He kissed her fiercely, his lips passionate and domineering.

Serena was taken aback. Her beautiful, peach-blossom-like eyes flew wide open. She stared blankly at Ethan, forgetting to respond, even forgetting to breathe.

Just as Ethan was about to press his advantage, Serena suddenly pushed him away.

Ethan was about to speak, but two streams of hot tears flowed from her beautiful eyes.

Ethan panicked. “Honey, why are you crying? If you don’t like it, I’ll stop kissing you, okay? Please don’t cry!”