Even through the phone, Isabe could sense that Emanuele was very angry at the moment. Her heart couldn’t help but tremble a few times. God, she was genuinely afraid of him. It was like a mouse facing a cat. From the very beginning of this game, she had been at a disadvantage. Could the man beside her be the trump card to turn the situation around?


    Isabe wasn’t entirely sure, but one thing she could confirm was that rk didn’t seem to fear Emanuele. Despite sensing Emanuele’s anger, his actions remained rxed. One hand casually rested on the steering wheel, and the other held Isabe’s phone, his face still sporting a somewhat gentle smile.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    “Isabe is right next to me. We’re about to have dinner. Emanuele, is it because Isabe’s mother wants her toe home for dinner again?” rk spoke without a hint of fear. They were equals in status, both from influential families, and they had been in contact for a while, so rk knew what kind of person Emanuele was. He understood his brutality, coldness, and explosive temper, but he wasn’t afraid. In fact, he sometimes found a strange enjoyment in witnessing Emanuele’s cruelty.


    “No,” Emanuele replied, realizing that finding another excuse would be too clumsy. Only a fool would believe it. “Where are you having dinner? I’ll join you.”


    Hearing that Emanuele wanted to join them for dinner, rk was taken aback. “You, a busy man, are off work so early? And you have time to join us for dinner?”


    Emanuele nced around at his current surroundings. At this moment, he was in one of their dungeons, facing a man covered in blood who had just died. The body was gradually stiffening. Emanuele had even pulled out all the man’s fingernails and brutally whipped him with a chili-infused whip, leaving not a patch of unharmed skin. But this man had refused to reveal any information about their leader’s whereabouts, even though it was clear he had entered Chicago, and more turmoil was about to unfold.


    Emanuele was truly busy, but he couldn’t forget to eat.


    “It’s okay; there’s always time for a meal,” Emanuele replied, asking rk to send him the restaurant information after they decided where to eat.


    Ending the call, rk turned to Isabe. “Your stepbrother wants to have dinner with us. It’s quite amazing. To be honest, I haven’t had many meals with him.”


    Despite their close rtionship, they always seemed to miss each other due to their busy schedules. Plus, rk’s attention was often diverted to ying with women, and he would only meet Emanuele asionally during their bi-monthly meetings.


    Today, Emanuele unexpectedly wanted to have dinner with them? Isabe didn’t know if it had anything to do with her.


    When had Emanuele be so persistent? Thinking of what had happenedst night, Isabe fell into distress. She didn’t want to go through that again. Emanuele was a contradiction. He allowed her to marry rk, but he didn’t allow her to date someone else first?


    She didn’t understand, and she didn’t want to back down any longer. Retreating further would only make her more passive and eventually strip her of all the rights she should have. With this in mind, Isabe bit her lip and firmly grabbed rk’s arm that was resting on the steering wheel.


    “I can’t help but feel that my brother is a bit scary,” she said, trying to make herself appear pitiable. Her delicate and vulnerable appearance,bined with her looks, had a powerful effect on men.


    rk’s heart was stirred when Isabe voluntarily ced her hand on his arm. Her hand was so small, soft, and looked pristine white. It was incredibly enticing, making him want to hold it and kiss it. But, of course, he restrained himself. However, deep down, he couldn’t help but think that no woman could resist his charm. Even though Isabe had initially acted cold, she had surely been won over by his charm now!


    “Isabe, you don’t need to be afraid of him. Although Emanuele may seem intimidating, he won’t harm you as long as you don’t betray him. You’re his stepsister, and as long as you don’t pose a threat, he won’t do anything to hurt you,” rk reassured Isabe.


    Isabe wasn’t entirely convinced. She had tried to distance herself from their family since the beginning, but Emanuele continued to threaten her with her life. Even though she repeatedly assured him that she wouldn’t conflict with his interests, he refused to let her go. Could she truly believe that someone like him wouldn’t harm the innocent?


    “rk, aren’t you afraid of him?” Isabe asked with her big, blinking eyes, looking remarkably innocent.


    rk couldn’t help but burst intoughter at Isabe’s question, finding it so cute. “Isabe, Emanuele and I are equals. We have a business rtionship. When he needs me, I need him. Why should I be afraid of him?”


    Isabe realized rk’s perspective and lowered her gaze, hiding the calcting glint in her eyes. Since rk and Emanuele were in a cooperative rtionship, with neither fearing the other, did that mean she could use rk as her support? She knew rk was an unreliable yboy, pursuing her might just be a passing fancy. She had no intentions of getting involved with someone like him. But if possible, during this time when he was fascinated by her, she could find a way to make rk help her break free from Emanuele’s control.


    In the end, rk chose the Michelin-starred restaurant where they had intended to dine with Isabe the previous day. He called Emanuele, and not long after, Emanuele arrived, taking a seat directly next to Isabe.


    As soon as he sat down, Isabe smelled the strong scent of blood emanating from Emanuele. It was clear it wasn’t his blood. There was only one possibility-this man had just killed someone!


    The smell was intense, and even rk, sitting across from Emanuele, noticed it. He furrowed his brow and asked, “Emanuele, did you juste back after killing someone? Your clothes reek of blood.”


    Emanuele nodded, his expression indifferent, as if killing someone was as normal as chopping an onion. What a devil! Sitting next to him, Isabe’s body was covered in goosebumps. Did this man have a heart at all? How could hee to dinner right after killing someone?


    Isabe quickly realized that not only was he unbothered, but he also talked openly about the act of killing.


    “He was Sicilian. I pulled out all his fingernails and whipped his entire body until it was covered in wounds, like a rag. But he still refused to reveal their leader’s whereabouts. So, I made sure he’d never talk again-I pulled out his tongue,” Emanuele described nonchntly.


    Listening to Emanuele’s ount, Isabe felt that familiar choking sensation returning. Her stomach churned, and a nauseating feeling surged from her stomach to her throat. She couldn’t sit still any longer and abruptly stood up.