The VVIP lounge of Shen Hospital was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning.
Erica Shen sat in an armchair, her posture sharp, her expression colder than the marble floor beneath her feet as she turned to Susan, her trusted aide, and spoke with a voice that carried both command and warning, "Investigate and find the bastard who did this to my granddaughter, Rachel... Do it now, and do it fast... I'm going to deal with them myself—severely."
"Yes, Madam Shen." Susan bowed slightly and left the lounge immediately to carry out the investigation.
Fifteen minutes later, the glass door slid open again and Susan walked in, holding a sleek tablet, extending the tablet to Erica as she said, "Madam Shen, I'm done with the investigation of the culprit behind Miss Shen's hit-and-run accident... I have prepared a report about him, I also included his background information."
Erica took the tablet and began to scroll through the file but as she scrolled further, her eyes froze when she saw the name and photograph on the screen of the tablet. – Liam Paige.
Her grip tightened on the tablet as memories she had buried long ago rose up in sharp, vivid detail, flooding her mind like a wave with the force of a wrecking ball.
---
### **Flashback – Twelve Years Ago.**
The night air in River City was thick with smoke and the stench of burning rubber.
Screams echoed faintly in the distance, but no one dared to step forward.
On the cracked asphalt road was the twisted wreckage of a black Range Rover crushed against the guardrail due to the brakes suddenly failing.
Inside the black Range Rover, Gabriel Shen—a tall and unbelievably handsome young man with striking facial features that could rival Olympian gods, and with the calm poise of a man who could command any room—was the **Trillionaire Chairman, CEO, and President of Shen Group**.
But now, he lay motionless on the ground, his tailored suit was torn, and blood seeped from a deep wound on his forehead.
Beside him was Madonna Shen, his wife and the mother of his daughter—her face was stunning even in tragedy as she lay motionless on the ground, her customized 'DONNA' brand gown was torn, and blood seeped out from a deep wound on her forehead, neck, legs, and waist....
Madonna Shen had been more than a wife and mother to Gabriel and Rachel Shen — she was a household name in Norpond, a popular country with a rich history and culture in *Vesterous*, one of the most celebrated of the eight continents in the world.
Her name, clothes, and designs had spread far beyond her homeland, from *Vesterous* to North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa.
Billions across dozens of nations — each with their own languages, customs, and traditions — revered her work and many believed she was not just gifted, but a goddess who had descended from the divine realm to the mortal realm, to grace humanity with beauty and elegance through her creations.
Even the global fashion world had crowned her with a title she wore effortlessly — the new *Queen of the Fashion World*.
Known across Vesterous continent, Norpornd, and far beyond as the founder, CEO, the head fashion designer and the genius brain behind the luxury masterpieces produced by the well sought after luxury clothing brand **DONNA, One of the many Subsidiary luxury clothing Brand Companies under Shen Apparel, a parent apparel company under Shen Group, its parent company. **, she had been adored by billions.
People worshipped and chased after her anywhere she went as"the Queen of the Fashion World," believing her to be the reincarnation of Misa Eriya Kurt, the legendary designer who had died decades earlier.
But now, her delicate face was pale with blood streaking down her temple.
Between them lay Rachel—only twelve years old then—her long lashes still against her cheeks, her face smeared with dust and blood, her dress torn from the impact... She was unconscious, her small frame trembling faintly in the cold.
A crowd had gathered at a distance. Whispers rippled through them.
"Should we go and help?" Asked a concerned middle-aged man.
"No… it looks dangerous... What if we get into trouble?" A young woman asked with fear and terror lacing in her voice.
"We should call and wait for the police to come and help them... This way, no one of us present would get into trouble if something goes wrong ." A middled-aged woman suggested to the crowd, a suggestion they all agreed with as none of them present had the guts to step forward.
Then, came into the crowd, a boy—a fifteen years old, lanky but strong boy who was dressed in faded clothes and was wearing a worn out shoes.
The boy hurriedly pushed and rushed out of the crowd and headed straight to the accident scene without hesitation.
His eyes were wide with urgency as he ignored the fearful murmurs and bent beside Rachel, gently but firmly lifting her into his arms with the girl's head slumping against his shoulder due to lack of energy.
He then turned to the unconscious Gabriel and Madonna, his face tightening.
One by one, he dragged and lifted them into a battered sedan parked nearby which belonged to the boss of the local restaurant that he work part-time at after coming back from school.
His hands were shaking, his clothes stained with their blood, but his determination to rescue them didn't waver.
Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, the boy slammed the car door shut, ran to the driver's seat, and sped off into the night, rushing the unconscious Gabriel, Madonna and Rachel Shen toward the nearest hospital.
That boy… was Liam Paige.
---
Erica's lips pressed into a thin line as she handed the tablet back to Susan.
Sighing heavily in defeat, she stared at Susan with a sharp gaze and said,"The culprit, Liam Paige, leave him alone for now. He's an acquaintance and a very important person to Rachel so we wait until Rachel wakes up and see how she chooses to handle him."
Susan feeling disappointed but having no choice but to obey Erica's order, slouched her shoulder and gave a slight nod before bowing at Erica and turning to leave the lounge.
---
Liam Paige drove his sleek white BMW out of a bar parking lot, the tires moving with high speed against the smooth asphalt.
Instead of heading home, he made his way toward a luxurious plaza.
Inside the luxurious plaza was **Chixia**, an elegant art gallery owned by DY Group, a multi-billion-dollar empire and run by Charlotte Dylan—an art-loving female CEO, a popular socialite, the second daughter and a wealthy heiress of the influential and wealthy Dylan family based in Oceana City, the capital city of the Republic of Gilead.
When Liam stepped into her office doorway, smiling and waving at her, Charlotte's expression soured immediately as she stopped typing the mail she was typing on her sleek desktop computer that was on top of her sleek desk.
Raising her head to glare at him, she snapped and coldly said, "You have some nerve showing up here, Liam after leaving me all by myself at the hotel.... I'm still mad at you so leave now, or I'll call security."
Liam rested on the doorway, barely holding back his laughter.
Seeing Liam still standing on the doorway, Charlotte's face turned frosty as she yelled and loudly barked at him, saying, "LEAVE!! Don't let me embarrass you by calling security to throw you out!"
Liam ignored her threat, strolling in and perching himself on her desk like he owned the place.
He locked gaze with her and told her she looked cute, making Charlotte to breath heavily in exasperation.
He then started to play with her, chatting, teasing, and stealing quick kisses despite her frowns.
Then, with one sly comment made by him, Charlotte's cheeks and ears turned crimson but before she could speak, Liam pulled her closer and kissed her deeply—the kiss was hot and unrestrained and Charlotte melted into the kiss, moaning softly, her earlier anger evaporating.
They made out in the office, his hands roaming, her breath quick and shallow.
After making out, Liam gently fixed her hair and planted a kiss on her forehead as he smiled at her and said, "Don't forget about the investment you promised to send to me this afternoon."
Charlotte wrapped her hand around his neck and kissed him before nodding her head and entwining her fingers with Liam's as she smiled at him and said,"Don't worry about that... Relax and wait to receive the funds because I'll make sure it is approved by my dad and sent to Paige Corporation later today."
But…" She grabbed his groin lightly over his trousers, her lips curving in mischief. "I've missed having this in my mouth."
Liam laughed at her words and said,"Don't worry... Anytime you crave me, I'll come running."
She blushed, pushing him toward the door playfully.
They took the elevator down, walked through the lobby, and stepped into the parking lot.
Before letting him go, Charlotte kissed him again.
But Liam wasn't ready to leave as he slid his hand under her skirt, his fingers finding her clitoris, making Charlotte to gasp with heat pooling between her thighs.
Pushing him away, she fled back inside, covering her red face with her hands.
Liam stayed in the lot a moment longer, smirking at how easily he could shift her mood.
Finally, he got into his BMW and sped toward his parents' villa in the wealthy MN neighborhood of Mina District, River City—a home Rachel had bought for his parents out of love and gratitude.
Inside the living room, his father Jacob Paige, Chairman of Paige Corporation, hurled an expensive porcelain vase and a wine glass at him and yelled at him, saying, "Asshole! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Liam's voice rose to meet his father's fury.
They got into an argument about Rachel that later turned heated with neither of them backing down for the other until, Amanda Paige—Jacob's wife and mother to Liam and Rita—stormed in, frowning at them as she stood between them, shooting an icy glare at them, saying, "If you two don't stop, I'll end my life right here in front of you and I mean it!! What is wrong with the both of you? You are father and son for crying out loud!!!"
The room immediately fell silent.
Jacob's breath was caught in his throat while Liam turned away and stormed up the staircase, heading for his room while gripping the railings until his knuckles whitened.
Arriving at his room, Liam swept his arm across the table, sending everything crashing to the floor as he cursed and said out angry words loudly.
With his anger boiling, he punched a wall of his room and winced in pain before bringing out four bottles of strong liquor from his stash and downed them one after another.
The burn of the strong liquor hit his throat like fire, and soon he was drunk, muttering incoherent words before collapsing on his bed.
Hours later—At 1:20 in the afternoon—he woke up with a pounding headache and reached for some hangover pills kept in his drawer, poured himself a glass of water and swallowed the hangover pills before walking out of his room, shutting the door behind him as he headed to the dining room where his now-calm parents were seated, waiting for him to come and join them.
As soon as he sat down, the meals were dished out by a kitchen maid before starting to eat in silence after the kitchen maid left.
They kept eating in silence until Amanda broke the awkward silence and said, "Liam how are you fairing with the current project you are working on at the company?"
"Mom, It's fine and everything have been going smoothly," Liam replied shortly.
"What about the investment fund promised to us by Miss Dylan?" Jacob asked, glancing at Liam as he paused to cut his beef.
"Don't worry yourself about the investment fund because it's not for you, Old Man." Liam replied, his voice laced with controlled coldness.
"Honey, did you hear what he just called me? He's has started again... Always—
"Enough, Jacob! Liam, apologize to your father." Amanda banged her hand on the dining table and yelled at them as she shot Liam a disappointed look..
Liam's face turned into a guilty expression as he said,"Mom, please don't look at me like this, you heard everything dad said to me today because of Rachel."
"Apologize to your father," Amanda snapped at Liam, her face etching with disappointment.
Liam, who always craved his mother's love and attention and could die if she is disappointed at him, turned his gaze to Jacob and said, "I'm sorry, Dad."
Jacob rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever!"
Before Liam could say a word, he shot him a sharp look as he said,"What about the investment fund that was promised to us by Miss Dylan of DY Group?"
"It would arrive in our company's bank account this afternoon." Liam replied, his voice laced with anticipation of the incoming funds as he began to make a plan of how he will use the company to sponsor a project inside his head.
Meanwhile, as soon as both parents heard the investment fund would be arriving at the company's bank account, their face brightened into a smile while raising their glasses.
"To the success of the project," Jacob said warmly as he made a toast.
"And to the growth of Paige Corporation," Amanda added, clinking glasses with Jacob before shooting a fierce look that made Liam to raise his glass.
The three then made another toast as they clinked their wine glasses.