A room designed in a classical style stood wrapped in an atmosphere that felt both ancient and heavy, its corners drowned in an almost unnatural darkness.

There, within the dim chamber, a figure could be seen standing motionless, its body veiled by thick, shifting waves of black energy. The majority of its form was swallowed by shadow, but what remained visible revealed broad shoulders and a massive back, covered with a rough texture of skin tinted faintly red. Its elongated neck stretched upward, allowing just a glimpse of the silhouette of a head—one that seemed to bear a protrusion, as though a horn had sprouted from its crown.

BEEP!

The sharp electronic sound of the door echoed.

The figure stirred slightly, turning its body enough to reveal a pair of glowing yellow eyes, their centers marked by black vertical pupils that shone with a predatory gleam.

Moments later, the heavy door slid open, and three figures appeared before it.

Sonu and Aliena stood upright at the entrance, while another—Sappe—lay collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious. His entire body was convulsing, enveloped by erratic sparks of black electricity that pulsed and flickered outward in unstable bursts.

Almost instantly, both Sonu and Aliena bent down in unison, lowering their heads, their eyes half-lidded as though weighed down by dread. Tension was carved onto their expressions as they addressed the room with reverence.

"Father," they spoke in perfect unison.

Inside, upon a large chair that resembled a throne, a mature man sat shrouded in shadows so thick that his full figure was concealed. At that precise moment, his eyes snapped open, radiant enough to pierce through the darkness like a beam of light cutting into fog. A wave of oppressive energy surged outward, crashing into the three djinn and forcing their bodies slightly backward, as though a storm wind had swept through the room.

Without further words, Sonu and Aliena lifted Sappe, carrying him inside. The massive door slid closed behind them, sealing the chamber once more without the touch of any hand.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Virellano residence, the morning unfolded in absolute chaos—one of the most turbulent mornings in the history of the estate.

Both the western wing and the eastern balcony had suffered severe structural damage. By sheer coincidence, a group of construction workers had been scheduled for other tasks within the estate that day, and they were hastily redirected to prioritize repairs on the damaged areas instead.

Dedy, Uncle Acok, and one of the construction workers were receiving urgent medical attention from the family's private medical team. The rest of the household staff struggled to continue their routines as usual, though unease lingered heavily in the air. Gradually, family members began gathering in the garden, each of them carrying faint traces of lingering trauma from what had occurred.

Vianna was already present, while David had gone to the underground bunker to escort their parents back into the open.

Yura, who had only recently finished beating Al into submission, was also preparing to leave. The morning had turned into something utterly unpredictable for her—especially after the dreadful events of the previous night at the café.

After offering her farewells to Aurielle, Clarista, and Vianna, she and Devy began making their way toward the front, accompanied by Al, who walked beside them with a casual air as they exchanged words.

"What exactly is your purpose here?" Al asked plainly.

"Isn't it obvious? I was looking for you. You're bound to me now, so how could I not come looking?" Yura replied sharply, still sounding annoyed as she shoved her phone into Al's hand.

"What's this?" Al asked, blinking in confusion at the sudden gesture.

"Are you stupid? We're a couple now. Couples need each other's contacts." Her tone was sharp and impatient.

Al fell silent for a brief moment. He exhaled, glanced toward Devy as if for confirmation, and then fixed his gaze back on Yura with a serious look.

"Are you really sure you want me to help you with this whole fake relationship drama of yours?" he asked in a steady voice.

Yura stopped walking, forcing both Al and Devy to halt as well. She stared forward with sharp eyes, then turned back toward him, curling her lips into a sly smile.

"Are you still trying to negotiate with me?" Yura asked, pressing her dominance into the air between them.

Al held her gaze, then slowly shifted his eyes around. His glance briefly landed on his older sisters, who were clearly sneaking looks in their direction. He smiled faintly, then turned his focus back to Yura with an unwavering expression.

Their eyes locked. And even though Yura's aura radiated with dominance, for reasons she couldn't explain, Al's presence felt far heavier—overwhelming, even. It compelled her into silence, forcing her to listen to the young man in front of her.

Without hesitation, Al raised his right hand, gently patting the top of Yura's head.

"I'll… help you," he said, his voice flat but carrying a calm firmness. "But stop acting so arrogant. It's really irritating."

Yura froze. Her eyes widened, her chest tightening with a faint pulse. Never before had anyone dared touch her without permission—normally, such insolence would ignite her fury instantly. And yet, she found herself unmoving, overwhelmed by a rush of conflicted emotions, accepting the gesture in stunned silence.

Devy, too, was struck speechless. She had already known Al to be strong, reliable, even... admirable. She also knew Yura had a fondness for him. But to see him act so boldly, daring to pat the head of a noble heiress like Yura—it was far beyond what she had ever expected.

Yura's thoughts scrambled as she regained some composure. She quickly brushed his hand away.

"Y-You touched me…" she stammered, trying to sound irritated but unable to mask her surprise.

Al tilted his head, puzzled.

"And what's wrong with that? You've been holding my hand since earlier… and even hitting me. You're allowed to touch me, so why can't I do the same?"

Yura faltered, caught off guard by his reasoning.

"Of course…" she muttered, folding her arms. "I own you. I can do whatever I want. But you can only touch me if I allow it."

Al sighed, shaking his head.

"Ugh… this isn't going to work out smoothly. You're still clinging to that arrogant attitude."

"Arrogant?! Who are you calling arrogant?!" Yura snapped, her irritation flaring again.

"You don't even realize it yourself," Al replied calmly, shaking his head once more. "Forget it… Just go back and think it through. Contact me when you've made up your mind. I don't have the patience to deal with too many arrogant and irrational people at once…"

He handed her phone back into her hands.

"…because there are already far too many irrational people around me." His words lingered as he glanced toward his sisters, and then into the distance—where Edward, Sandra, and David were approaching from the garden path.

With that, Al resumed walking, subtly signaling for Yura and Devy to move along as well.

Yura followed his gaze and, upon noticing David drawing closer, felt an unwelcome chill of discomfort. She turned to Devy, her face conflicted, as though uncertain what to do. She still wanted to say more to Al, but David's presence made her uneasy.

The two girls exchanged a quick nod, silently agreeing that it would be better to leave for now. They fell in line, trailing behind Al.

---

At the same time, Aurielle, Vianna and Clarista were whispering among themselves, having just witnessed the scene of Al patting Yura's head. From their perspective, the interaction looked surprisingly intimate—eerily similar to how couples usually behaved. The sight was baffling. How could a noblewoman like Yura possibly have feelings for someone like Al? Or…

"Did Al flaunt his identity as part of this family? Did he use the Virellano name to chase after girls outside?" Clarista asked suspiciously.

Vianna, still looking tired, suddenly perked up. The theory struck her as plausible. How else could Yura be interested in Al if not for the Virellano name? And the fact that Yura had come all the way to the Virellano estate looking for Al—that seemed to confirm it. Because how could Yura, who had been living abroad for so many years, suddenly know that Al was living here?

"Sis, don't you think that kid really did use our family's name to approach women?" Vianna asked Aurielle accusingly.

Aurielle, her eyes still puffy from tears, paused in thought. What her sisters suggested was, in many ways, a logical assumption. And yet, something about it didn't sit right with her.

If Al truly managed to win over someone as popular as Yura by leveraging the Virellano name, would that be so terrible? In fact, it might actually be advantageous—an alliance with the prestigious Atenri family could strengthen their business ties. The idea secretly pleased her.

"Siiiisss? Sis!?" Clarista and Vianna called out in unison, noticing that Aurielle had gone silent, lost in thought.

Aurielle snapped out of her daze, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Ah… sorry, I'm still a little shaken. But… honestly, if he can get Yura, what's the harm in using the family name? As long as he doesn't go overboard, right?"

Vianna blinked awkwardly. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Yet her sister's reasoning made some sense. Even if their pride resisted the idea of Al making use of the family name, Aurielle's reasoning carried a certain weight. If it truly resulted in securing someone like Yura, then perhaps it wasn't such a bad outcome after all.

After all, what family would refuse to strengthen their ties with a powerful household like the Atenri? Especially the Virellanos—who, despite their immense wealth and business connections, were still just a single household of ten main members, with no extended branches to rely on. In that sense, gaining more people to stand by their side could only be seen as a benefit.

Clarista, however, frowned in annoyance at Aurielle's answer.

"But sis… don't you know that David has liked Yura for a long time?" she protested.

The words struck Aurielle and Vianna like a sudden shock. Their thoughts tangled in confusion.

"Really? I think I do remember rumors about David and Yura liking each other. So it was true? But then… what about Nayala?" Aurielle murmured, analyzing aloud.

Clarista found herself speechless now that Nayala's name—David's fiancée—had been dragged into the discussion.

"What's wrong with a man like David having more than one partner?" Vianna chimed in innocently.

Both sisters stared at her in disbelief. The discussion only grew more tangled, sprouting ideas that left them all more troubled than before.

"Vianna… as a woman, would you want your partner to have other women?" Aurielle asked firmly.

"Hmmm…" Vianna muttered, scratching her cheek with an awkward smile. "I don't really think much about romance, haha."

"Ugh… you…" Aurielle groaned in frustration.

"Huff… Let's just talk about it later. The mood isn't right for this kind of discussion—and besides, Mom and Dad haven't even arrived yet."

Vianna nodded.

Clarista also agreed. With a sigh, she turned away and sat down beside Fani on a garden bench.

"Sorry you had to hear all this nonsense," she muttered wearily, unwilling to continue discussing youthful relationship drama.

"Hehe, it's fine," Fani replied warmly. "Though… I kind of agree with part of it."

"Hm? Agree with what?" Clarista asked, tilting her head.

"That a great man… deserves to be surrounded by great women," Fani said simply, her gaze fixed on the distance—on Al, who was walking away alongside Yura and Devy.

Clarista sat frozen. On one hand, she wouldn't mind if it were David. But on the other, she personally rejected the idea. She was the type of woman who firmly believed in monogamy.

"Huff… I don't know, Fani. Let's not talk about it anymore. We'll see how things unfold," she muttered, lowering her head as weariness finally began to weigh her down.

Not long after, David returned with their parents, Edward and Sandra, who were immediately embraced by their daughters. The family reunited warmly, though traces of fear from earlier events still lingered in their hearts.

But for David, the moment was far from harmonious. His eyes kept drifting toward Al and Yura, their closeness gnawing at him like a blade. It wasn't just his disdain for Al anymore—it was the fact that this orphan boy was now intimately involved with one of the girls David had set his sights on for his own future harem. He could not accept it.

His face darkened. His eyes sharpened into a glare as he muttered inwardly.

Just wait, orphan boy. Just wait. Enjoy yourself while you still can. Because when the time comes…

He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging across his knuckles.

…your story will end.

---

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.