The night in Kyoto was thick with indulgence.

Kevin Shaw sprawled across the VIP lounge’s leather couch, surrounded by his sycophantic entourage. Several scantily clad hostesses clung to him, their fingers tracing teasing patterns over his chest.

"Mr. Shaw, one more drink~" A red-haired girl pouted, pressing a glass to his lips.

He threw his head back and drained it, the icy liquor sliding down his throat—yet it did nothing to quench the fury simmering in his veins.

A month.

A whole month since his father had lashed him bloody with a belt, leaving him confined like a beaten dog. Only today had the whip marks finally scabbed over.

"Mr. Shaw is so generous!" Another girl simpered, her fingers already inching toward his bulging wallet.

Kevin sneered and flung a wad of cash into the air. Bills fluttered down like confetti, sending the women shrieking and scrambling.

His bleary gaze flicked to the two black-suited bodyguards stationed nearby—his father’s watchdogs.

The alcohol burned through him, dragging him back to that humiliating night. Luna White had not only cost him billions but turned him into a laughingstock among his peers. Worse, his father had personally apologized to her and even handed over a piece of land!

Crash!

He slammed his glass onto the table, shattering it.

"Something wrong, Mr. Shaw?" His cronies leaned in.

"Nothing." His lips twisted into a vicious grin as he cracked open another bottle of whiskey. "Tonight, we drink till we drop."

The liquor seared his stomach, sharpening his thirst for revenge. Once his father let his guard down, he’d make Luna White beg for death. So she thought Andrew Smith’s protection made her untouchable? He’d see how much the man wanted her after she was ruined.

"Again!" He tipped the bottle straight into his mouth, amber liquid spilling down his chin, soaking his shirt.

In his drunken haze, he imagined Luna on her knees, pleading. The fantasy sent dark satisfaction surging through him, and he burst into laughter.

One of the bodyguards frowned and stepped forward. "Young Master, it’s time to go."

"Piss off!" Kevin kicked over the coffee table, staggering to his feet as the women screamed. "I’m not… done drinking yet—"

Before he could finish, the world tilted. He collapsed face-first onto the couch, unconscious.

The last thing flickering through his mind was a blood-soaked plan for vengeance.
###hapter 334: Crimson Waltz

Kevin Shaw shot to his feet, his bloodshot eyes burning like twin flames.

He staggered, gripping the sofa for support as his fingers tore at his shirt collar. Buttons scattered across the floor, a few striking the glass coffee table with sharp cracks.

"Get off me!" He shoved away the woman attempting to steady him. She crashed into a floor lamp with a pained cry.

Frantically ripping off his clothes, he exposed his sweat-slicked chest and threw back his head with an animalistic roar.

Laughter died in the VIP booth.

On the dance floor, the singer continued crooning a love ballad. Couples swayed to the melody, oblivious to the disturbance.

Kevin lurched into the swirling crowd.

The sea of dancers parted. Like a rabid beast, he convulsed at the center, pounding his fists against his chest with dull thuds.

"Kevin's going wild!" His friends whistled and joined in. The music abruptly switched to deafening disco.

The entire dance floor erupted.

Then—

A bloodcurdling scream pierced the night.

The music cut off.

When security pushed through the crowd, they found Kevin curled on the floor. Blood seeped from every facial orifice, his pupils dilated and unfocused.

......

......

Sean Shaw tapped the investigation report on his desk.

New leads had emerged from Six Paths Village. Women's Committee Director Amy Miller had indeed adopted a baby girl years ago. Meanwhile, the White couple who delivered Julia Shaw's baby were expecting their own child at the time.

The puzzle deepened—Amy now had no children. Under questioning, she'd clammed up completely.

Stranger still, Luna White's records clearly identified her as the Whites' biological daughter.

Sean massaged his temples.

The threads tangled further—Luna's uncanny resemblance to Julia, Amy's vanished adopted daughter, the deceased Dr. White and his wife...

The truth remained veiled.

A sudden realization made him bolt upright. His elbow knocked over the coffee cup, dark liquid soaking the crucial report.