Fyren ordered Zaring to gather all his men and have them assemble on standby.
Once again, he dialed Eliza's number.
"What do you want now? If you want to get back with Cora, that's your business—leave me out of it!"
"I'm not getting back with her. This is urgent—Cora's in serious danger. Only Otto can save her now, so we need to find Otto."
"Her problems are none of my concern. I barely know her."
"Then do you know me? Even if we're not friends, we've... been in contact for over three years, right?"
Fyren was genuinely desperate: "Just consider it me begging you. Do me this favor, okay?"
Eliza sighed, "The landlord came back and said Otto has already checked out."
For a moment, Fyren was at a complete loss.
Cora had run off like a kite with its string cut—vanished without a trace.
Eliza asked, "What kind of danger is she in?"
Fyren replied, "If we don't find her tonight, everything will fall apart."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I'm serious," Fyren said. "I'm desperate."
"Otto's just a bodyguard I fired. He shouldn't even know Cora!"
Right!
Fyren then remembered—this plotline hadn't even happened yet. He was the one who triggered it prematurely. If he found Otto now, the guy would probably be just as confused.
He doesn't even know Cora at this point!
Eliza could tell Fyren was genuinely frantic.
Relenting, she said, "I can check Hogan's schedule for you."
"Yes! Hurry—I'll wait!"
Eliza worked quickly and soon discovered Hogan had booked a suite at the Sky Hyland Hotel an hour earlier.
Fyren left a quick message: "Huge thanks."
Eliza hurriedly asked, "What are you planning?"
But Fyren had already hung up.
...
Fyren arrived at the Sky Hyland Hotel with thirty security guards in tow.
No one dared to stop them.
Like a mob boss leading a raid, Fyren marched at the front, the thirty-strong group storming straight to the top floor.
Hotel security didn't intervene—the front desk scrambled to call the police instead.
At the suite door, they had a staff member knock. When no one answered, Hogan's panicked voice shouted from inside, cursing at the staff to leave.
Fyren forced the employee to swipe the keycard. The moment the door unlocked, he burst in—Hogan didn't get a full sentence out before Fyren's punch sent him sprawling.
Inside, the scene was set: an elaborate dinner, candlelight, wine...
Fyren was furious, pointing at Hogan and barking orders:
"Drag him out and beat him! Beat him to a pulp!"
Hogan lay on the ground, shouting:
"Fyren, don't you dare hit me! I'm—ah!"
Zaring didn't hesitate. His loyalty was absolute.
To him, Fyren was the sky. Fyren was God. Fyren was the only person in this world worth following and worshipping.
He wouldn't just attack Hogan—if Fyren ordered it, he'd storm the underworld itself with a blade to challenge the King of Hell.
Zaring dragged Hogan out to the crowd of thirty security guards. Most couldn't even get close enough to join in, but Hogan's screams were distracting enough.
A thoughtful staff member closed the suite door behind them.
Fyren rushed inside, calling out:
"Cora! Cora!"
The suite was spacious, but finding Cora wasn't difficult.
She lay sprawled across the large bed, disheveled, her body writhing like a serpent.
Her flawless figure seemed to radiate heat.
Her toned thighs clenched together, twisting back and forth as they gripped the sheets.
Her skin glistened with sweat, making her appear even more alluring.
Cora's face was flushed deep red, her breathing ragged. When she saw Fyren, a flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes.
"Fyren... save me... please..."
Fyren's heart ached with fury and sorrow.
He quickly removed his jacket and draped it over Cora, then scooped her into his arms and headed for the door.
Cora knew she was safe now.
Though her mind was foggy, recognizing Fyren brought her overwhelming relief.
Yet her body's instincts betrayed her—soft, kitten-like whimpers escaped her lips, each one tugging at Fyren's heart.
She clung to his neck desperately. The commotion had left Fyren sweating, and his masculine scent seemed to intoxicate her further.
His raw, primal aura overwhelmed Cora's senses. She nuzzled against his neck obsessively before finally surrendering to impulse—kissing and caressing him shamelessly...
As Fyren reached the doorway, the security guards parted. Hogan, battered and pleading, cried out:
"Fyren, we've known each other for years! Spare me this time, I—"
Fyren silenced him with a kick to the face and strode toward the elevator.
...
Back at his private villa, Fyren struggled to calm Cora.
He'd given her three bottles of water, wiped her face, even patted her chest—nothing worked.
By now, Cora had lost all restraint, her advances growing bolder by the second...
Xena entered the house to find Cora still clinging to Fyren, her hands roaming his body as she whispered in his ear:
"Brother...I feel so awful...help me...you're so good...you're the best..."
Xena's expression darkened:
"Fyren, how dare you take advantage of Cora like this?"
Beads of sweat formed on Fyren's forehead:
"Use your brain! Why would I call you here if that was my intention?"
Xena frowned and nodded:
"What's going on then?"
"Save her first, I'll explain later."
Fyren restrained Cora while Xena administered a sedative. Though it didn't work immediately, Cora gradually calmed down, though her clouded eyes still followed Fyren pleadingly.
The night passed in restless turmoil.
Xena proved why she was renowned as a medical genius. Despite her usual eccentric demeanor, when it came to practicing medicine, her focus became deadly serious.
When Cora finally settled, both Xena and Fyren collapsed in exhaustion.
Then came the police knocking at the door.
Once again, Zoey took Fyren into custody.
Sitting in the police station interrogation room, Fyren had an epiphany.
This couldn't continue.
His connections to these female protagonists were becoming dangerously entangled.
Locking Otto up for a day had backfired spectacularly - instead he'd:
Saved Chloe's mother
Recovered over two billion for Eliza
Rescued Cora from Hogan's predatory scheme
And gotten repeatedly involved with Xena
All while being detained twice in one day.
This wasn't how the plot was supposed to unfold!
If I can't handle you all, can't I at least escape?
Tomorrow he'd buy a ticket straight to:
Southlandia
Eastern Wu
Western Shu
Or even Western Liang
If necessary, he'd leave Asia entirely - Ukraine, Donbass, Kashmir...
He'd stay gone three years, five years, maybe forever. With his wealth, he could live lavishly anywhere. Why stay in Crystalpeak City waiting for Otto to kill him?
Decision made.
You want to unite the four families? Fine! Take them! I'm done with this.
...
As for who actually drugged Cora - Hogan or Fyren - the truth remained murky.
Hogan would never confess. The consequences were too severe - the Chen family's retaliation alone would destroy him.
So he stubbornly denied any knowledge, insisting Cora had come to him willingly, and that Fyren was the one who had barged in violently.
Of course Fyren accused Hogan, but there was no concrete evidence.
Cora's own statement implicated Hogan, claiming Fyren had warned her against meeting him.
Rather than supporting Fyren's innocence, this somehow became evidence making him a prime suspect.
Right. Is Fyren some kind of prophet?
Did he predict the drugging before it even happened? Is he clairvoyant?
But Fyren's subsequent actions spoke differently - he'd summoned Xena to detoxify Cora.
Eliza also testified that Fyren had urgently contacted her to locate the hotel and rescue Cora.
The situation was thoroughly chaotic.
Zoey remained absolutely convinced of Fyren's guilt.
Him? A hero? Don't make me laugh - he must have been the one who drugged her.
Something must have gone wrong midway, forcing him to switch from villain to savior.
Yet all three women involved - Eliza, Cora, and Xena - unanimously insisted Fyren had saved the day.
This made Zoey furious enough to spit blood.
What kind of hold does Fyren have over them? Three elite women from powerful families all defending him?
These weren't ordinary women. Each had exceptional achievements in their fields.
Granted, their privileged backgrounds and elite educations gave them advantages, making their success expected.
Logically, their judgment, perspective, and intelligence should far surpass average people's.
So why were they all fooled by Fyren?!
Infuriating!
Especially Eliza. Frankly, she was the golden girl of Crystalpeak City - everyone's ideal role model.
Hadn't she been at her wit's end with Fyren recently? Ready to explode from frustration with him?
So why was she now testifying for his innocence?
With the crime scene contaminated and evidence lacking, solving this case would take considerable time.
Given reasonable doubt, neither Fyren nor Hogan could be detained.
After spending the night in the detention room, Fyren emerged disheveled - hair tangled, clothes wrinkled, face unwashed.
Stepping outside, he found Eliza, Xena and Chloe all waiting.
Chloe rushed over as her assistant team immediately replaced Fyren's jacket with fresh clothing.
"Fyren, are you alright?" Chloe asked anxiously.
"Yeah, fine." Fyren glanced at Eliza and Xena. "Why are you all here?"
Xena smiled, "To testify for you! You have no idea how hard I worked to convince them you're actually a good person - I must have used half a ton of saliva defending you!"
"Thanks."
Fyren turned to Eliza, "Sorry for keeping you up all night."
"It's fine." Eliza, as composed as ever, glanced at Zoey, "Are we free to go now?"
Zoey grimaced, "Sure. But you, Fyren—"
"Yes?"
Zoey held up a restraining order, "You're prohibited from leaving Crystalpeak City until this case is resolved. If you need to travel abroad, you must obtain our permission. And you'll remain on call at all times."
Fyren was stunned.
[Isn't this perfect timing? I was just about to escape this damn city!]
[Shit! Now I'm stuck in Crystalpeak City competing with Otto for women?]
Xena stifled a laugh.
Eliza narrowed her eyes: Can she hear Fyren's thoughts too?
Zoey misinterpreted his expression, convinced Fyren was the mastermind trying to evade justice.
She smirked, "Thinking of running, Fyren? You won't escape. I'll find the evidence and put you behind bars where you belong."
Fyren nodded obediently.
[Go ahead, you stupid bitch.]
[Instead of catching real criminals, you're obsessed with me. Fine by me - the more you hate me, the safer I am.]
Zoey frowned, "What's wrong with this guy? How does my hating him make him safer?"
And who's this Otto he keeps mentally mentioning?
He seems to think Otto and I know each other...
That's a lead worth noting!
Xena cheerfully interrupted, "Come on, big guy, you must be starving. I'll treat you to dinner!"
Fyren offered a weak smile.
Eliza said, "I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave."
"Eliza." Fyren called after her.
"What?"
"Thank you," Fyren smiled genuinely, "for believing in me."
Eliza studied him, "You owe me."
"Yes, yes, of course! I'll... I'll buy you dinner sometime. Wait, no—not dinner. I'll... get you a gift! What would you like? A car? Gold watch? Designer coat?"
Eliza stated calmly, "If you want to repay me, get engaged to me."
"Sure, no problem, I'll just— Wait, WHAT?!" Fyren's voice cracked in shock.