It’s a misunderstanding

John Lopez had been enjoying a bit of playful teasing at Alice Moon's expense. There was no real reason to hide his identity as the elusive Master of Clouds anymore.

When Alice discovered the truth, John admitted it without hesitation.

In an instant, Alice's beautiful eyes welled with tears. She had idolized this person for so long, never imagining that he was her own brother. For most people, the revelation would have been exhilarating. But for Alice, the true realization hit deeper—it was not just about the identity of Master of Clouds. What really moved her was how John had quietly orchestrated things to protect her. In order to help her vent her anger, John had gone through the trouble of holding an auction and making her the center of attention. If Alice hadn't uncovered his secret, he would have kept it hidden forever, allowing her to remain blissfully unaware of the effort he had put into her happiness.

This was not just about him being her brother. This was about silent protection. It was a warm feeling, like finding a safe haven where she could finally let down all her defenses.

"Little John…" Alice murmured, overwhelmed with emotion, and threw her arms around him. But in her rush, she lost her balance, and the two of them toppled to the ground.

John couldn't help but deadpan, "Alice, although you're moved, don't take advantage of me."

As the King of Horizon, John was a man of principles.

Alice's laughter filled the room as she raised her head and smiled teasingly at him. "Am I not pretty?"

With a sly grin, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked down at him, her gaze flirtatious.

John's composure slipped. He was supposed to be a dignified, principled man. But right now, he was fighting a battle within himself. This was his sister. He couldn't lose control.

Trying to push Alice away, he was suddenly interrupted by a chilling voice from the doorway.

"It seems that you're having a good time!"

Queenie Yeats stood there, arms crossed over her chest, her face as cold as ice.

John froze. His blood ran cold, and he quickly scrambled to explain, "Ah-huh… Queenie, it's a misunderstanding…"

Before he could get another word out, Queenie's sharp slap landed on his face with a force that almost made him dizzy.

The sting on his cheek was nothing compared to the shock of his eldest sister's disapproving glare.

After delivering her lesson, Queenie turned to Alice and said, "Third sister, you can stay in my room from now on, just in case you two start causing trouble."

Alice, a little sheepish, stuck her tongue out but obeyed, knowing better than to argue with Queenie.

Meanwhile, in the underground casino of New York, things were heating up.

At the heart of the casino, surrounded by a dozen half-naked men covered in dragon and tiger tattoos, the scene was anything but ordinary. The tension was palpable.

At the center of it all stood Dracul, the terrifying boss, a massive cigar clenched between his teeth. His mere presence sent a chill through the room.

Gary Williams, trembling and on his knees, was trying to explain himself.

"Mr. Dracul, didn't you say I had a week to pay off my debt? It hasn't even been a full week yet…"

"Fuck you!" Dracul snarled, his patience snapping. He took the cigar from his mouth and jabbed it onto Gary's forehead, the hot end burning his skin. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

A few days ago, Gary had made a deal with Karl Holland, promising to discredit Queenie in exchange for help paying off his gambling debts. However, the sudden appearance of the Duke of Southern River had thrown everything off balance. Karl was unable to protect himself, let alone help Gary, so Gary had tried to flee.

But Dracul wasn't about to let him escape that easily.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to run! I was just going to the train station to find some girls, you know? It's cheap there…" Gary stammered, his voice shaking in desperation.

Dracul's eyes narrowed in contempt. "You're fucking kidding me."

With a brutal slap across Gary's face, Dracul sneered, "You've got some fucking nerve."

Gary, panicking, quickly backpedaled. "Please, Mr. Dracul, trust me. I can get the money. You know, Queenie Yeats is my sister. She's rich, and she's close with the Duke of Southern River!"

The mention of the Duke of Southern River seemed to catch Dracul's attention. He paused, his men falling silent.

Gary saw his opening and quickly seized it. "Yes, the Duke of Southern River. My sister is his woman."

Dracul's face froze for a moment before his deep laughter echoed through the room. His men joined in, their mocking chuckles adding to the tension.

"Gary, hah, you really do have some imagination," Dracul laughed. "Why don't you just say your sister is the woman of the King of Horizon? Maybe we'll believe that too."

Gary's face turned pale, realizing that his claim was falling apart.

"Mr. Dracul, I swear I'm not lying…" Gary pleaded, but his words were met with another resounding slap.

Dracul's face hardened, and his voice dropped low, cold with menace. "Don't waste my time. Call your sister for the money now."

Gary hesitated, his mind racing. "She won't trust me anymore," he said, his voice trembling. "But if you send a video to her, threatening Grandpa Wodehouse, she'll pay. She'll do anything for him."

Dracul's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "A good son, huh?"

With one swift kick, Dracul sent Gary crashing to the floor.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Dracul growled, the dark atmosphere thick with menace.