The boy's words caused Zane to freeze. With his hand protectively resting on the boy's back, he returned the hug.

Trembling and crying, Diana was drawn also into the embrace, her horror temporarily calmed by their warmth. Zane responded in a gentle tone, "Yes, I am your dad."

Diana sobbing uncontrollably as she held Zane close. His icy appearance simply broke down showing the guy she had known before—someone with the capacity for compassion and love.

Zane got up and supported Diana with his hand as she stood up. With a gentle tone, he said, "Let's go. We're heading home."

Victor approached, his expression filled with joy, just like the other men of the Iron Gang standing behind him. "Boss," he said quietly, "what should we do about the cleanup?"

Zane said, "Take care of it. Call Malcolm to handle the arrangements and bury my brother next to our father."

Victor said. "Understood, boss."

Diana and the boy were led to the car by Zane, who helped them in getting inside before hopping into the driver's seat.

"Zane… thank you for saving us," Diana said quietly as the automobile started to move. Diana was still clutching her son closely.

For a little while, Zane said nothing, his anger at Diana's choice to flee with his child still burning. He looked at the kid in the rearview mirror and his voice grew softer. "Kid, tell me your name."

With a pause, the kid looked at Diana. She put a kind touch on the boy's shoulder and added, "His name is Liam," with a loving smile. "Liam, this is your… father."

When Zane heard the word "this is your father," his chest tightened. The child gave him a shy nod as he gazed at him.

With occasional glances at the teenager and Diana in the rearview mirror, Zane sat silently for a half hour. Nobody said anything, everyone just waited calmly.

Zane's automobile soon reached his residence. Enclosed by tall walls and a massive iron gate that opened when the guards spotted the boss's car, the estate was vast. The mansion's modern construction combined stylish glass panels, and the road was surrounded with trimmed bushes.

Once inside, Zane opened the door and stepped out.

Inside, Maya was seating in the main hall. With the belt loosely wrapped at her waist, she wore a light blue bathrobe that clung to her thin body. With her bare feet resting on the soft couch and her skin glowing from the bath, she was idly flipping through the channels.

She looked towards the gate when she heard the faint sound of the car pulling in. Curious, Maya stood, tossing the remote onto the sofa. She adjusted her robe and walked towards the door.

Maya froze as she stepped outside. Zane was gently assisting a woman out of the car when she fixed her gaze on him. A fourteen-year-old boy emerged behind them, his curious eyes looking around the mansion.

Maya's chest tightened as her eyes settled on the woman. She didn't need an introduction, she knew exactly who she was. Diana. The woman Zane had loved before her, the one who had vanished, leaving behind only a note saying she couldn't be part of a life filled with gang violence.

She said, her voice shaking, "Zane… What's happening? Why is she here?"

Zane took a step forward. "This is Diana, as you have probably guessed, Maya. And this…" he said, pointing to Liam, "is probably my son. They will stay here going forward."

Maya's eyes grew wide and began to fill up with tears. She moved away and shook her head. "Your son? She simply appears after all these years, and they're living here now?" Tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice broke.

She turned and fled back into the house, sobbing, as Zane took a step towards her. He called after her,"Maya!" he called after her, but Diana gently grabbed his arm.

Diana whispered softly, "Let her go, Zane," with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "She needs time, and I also need to discuss everything with you.

Zane's expression was a mix of understanding and irritation as he looked at Diana. He nodded and let out a long sigh. "You're right," he responded quietly.

Just then, two of the servants emerged to welcome him. Sensing the tension, they glanced between Liam, Diana, Maya and Zane. With caution, one of them spoke. "Master Zane, welcome back."

"The car keys are inside," Zane added, "Park it." Additionally, prepare two rooms: one for Diana and one for Liam. Also, prepare a hot bath for me in another room."

The servants looked at one another but simply nodded. "Right away, sir," one said, rushing to do what he said.

Zane looked at Liam and Diana again. He continued, "Follow them," his voice a little softer. "Your rooms will be shown to you. We'll discuss this later." Since a lot has transpired today, he simply needs room to rest.

As they followed the servants inside, Diana nodded and held Liam's hand. The boy's eyes widened as he looked at the immense size of the mansion.

Despite her composure, Diana's eyes were distant, as memories of her time spent with Zane were suddenly returning.

The servant escorted them upstairs and opened a door to reveal a comfortable and equipped room for Liam. "This will be your room, sir," the maid replied, smiling politely.

Liam glanced up at Diana, who gave him a nod.

They proceeded to another room down the corridor. A slightly larger guest room, the maid opened the door. "And this is your room, ma'am," Diana was informed by the maid.

Diana thanked her and went inside. Diana was the only person in the room when the maid excused herself. Her fingers touched the edge of the bed as she glanced out the window in sadness. She said to herself, "What have I done, coming back here after all this time?"

For a while, Zane stood in front of Maya's door, his heart was heavy. He wanted to knock and say something, but he was unable to find the right words. He sighed for a while and then turned away.

After a while..

He entered into a luxurious place with smooth marble walls and a big soaking tub built into the floor in the Japanese style. The tub was filled with hot water that had a mild, soothing sandalwood aroma.

The water rose to Zane's shoulders as he got into the tub. He leaned his head back against the edge and closed his eyes for a time, but his mind would not allow him to rest. Like a tidal wave, memories of the past came flooding in.

She was around 12 years old, When I first saw her. She was standing in his father's grand hall, a timid girl with Messy hair and teary eyes, carrying her little luggage.

From the stairway, he gazed at her with interest, he was thirteen at the time. He had questioned his father, "Who is this?" In a sharp voice, his father announced, "She's staying with us now. Treat her with kindness."

He recalled how uncomfortable she had initially been, But as he and Darius played tag in the garden with her she became more at ease and her laughing could be heard throughout the hallways. They had spent hours together, viewing the stars, climbing trees, and sneaking into the kitchen for sweets.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

She was simply Diana back then, his friend and partner in mischievous activities. She was not involved in the ruthless society they would inherit, nor was she a member of the gang. She was only a little girl with a hopeful heart and lovely eyes.

Zane opened his eyes and sighed, the memory fading. The icy weight of reality remained despite the water's warmth. "What has gone wrong?"

Then his memory of the moment when everything changed began to return. His father's death had started a competition between him and Darius over iron gang leadership.

As memories flooded back, Zane stared at the moving water. Diana was later his everything, and he had once thought she would always be by his side.

However, one morning she suddenly vanished. He was still troubled by the note she left behind: *"I can't stay with you any longer, Zean. This gang violence is not something I want to be part of. I want to live a peaceful life away from all of this. I am sorry for leaving you Zean."*

He was lost by her sudden departure. For weeks, he questioned everything—was this fight with Darius, this struggle for power, truly worth it? The love of his life was gone, and the brother he grew up with had turned into his greatest enemy.

If it hadn't been for Maya, he might have lost everything. At a time, when he lost motivation and the will to fight for gang leadership, his mother had introduced him to Maya.

Thanks to Maya's constant support, he had slowly regained his confidence. With her at his side, Zane changed the momentum, taking back the control of the Iron Gang from Darius and making it rise back to its peak again.

But now, sitting there, Zane's thoughts drifted back to Darius. His brother was dead—killed by his own hand. He stared at his palm, the weight of his actions sinking in.

His mother and aunt had only ever asked one thing of them: "Promise us you'll never fight each other to the death."

With a heavy sigh, Zane felt the weight of his guilt pressing on him. He had broken that promise, and no victory could erase that.

Zane sighed deeply, running a hand through his damp hair. The weight of everything—Darius's death, Diana's return, the boy who might be his son—pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. He wasn't sure how he'd face his mother and aunt now. How could he explain what he'd done?

After what felt like an eternity, he rose from the tub, water falling down his muscular body. He wrapped a white towel around his waist and stepped out into the adjoining room, rubbing his face wearily with another towel.

He was shocked to see Diana seated on a chair. The Diana he remembered was not her. Her beauty had diminished into a more quiet elegance. Her face was free of makeup, and she was dressed simply, in a wrinkled blouse and a loose-fitting skirt. Her eyes bore the weight of a life full of hardships, and she appeared exhausted.

They were silent for a moment, both looking into each other's eyes. Zane stood there, his chest tightening as he took in the sight of her. This was not the confident, carefree woman he had fallen for. Time and hardships had shaped her into the woman she was now.

Diana looked at Zane, and said, "I understand that you're upset with me for going away, but I had no other option, Zane.. You and Darius were constantly fighting, dragging yourselves deeper into gang violence."

"When I found out I was pregnant, I felt hopeless about our child's future. You told me you don't want children and also who would look out for our child if you were hurt? I... I believed that the only option was to leave." As she talked, she started crying uncontrollably.

Hearing all this, Zane's eyes grew darker, he said, "Don't you feel even the slightest bit of shame for taking my son from me, Diana? I didn't say anything before because of the boy.? You think he was safer without his father? You should have known—he was safer here, with me, than out there, alone with you."

"And Darius... he's dead now. Do you understand? None of this would've happened if you hadn't left and gotten caught."

Zane went closer and grabbed Diana's chin, making her turn to face him. He said, "Look at me, Diana," in a serious and rude voice. I'm sick of listening to your reasons. What you thought at the time or the reason you left doesn't matter to me.

But Zane stopped, his eyes softening, as soon as Diana's eyes began to fill up with tears. Letting out an annoyed sigh, he let go of her chin. He repeated, "Just leave. Take your tears and go. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

With a shiver Diana got up and moved slowly towards the door. She paused at the door's edge and turned around, her eyes watery. With a shaky voice, she said, "I'm sorry, Zane." Without waiting for a response, she walked out and closed the door.

With a sad sigh, Zane fell onto the bed. His mind was racing with thoughts. He kept thinking about Maya and their happiness before Diana returned and ruined it all.

He was surprised by how much the memories of Maya's upset face hurt. "What am I supposed to do?" With a hand over his hair, Zane spoke softly. He felt tired, and as he closed his eyes, the sleep took over him.

In the morning, as the servants opened the door, Zane woke instantly, his reflexes sharp from years of training. They entered quietly, tidying the room. Zane got up, prepared for the day, and had the breakfast the servants brought him. Afterward, he decided to speak with Maya to apologize, but on his way to her room, he found Diana and Liam sitting at the dining table.

"Zane, why don't you join us for breakfast?" Diana shouted as he passed by through the corridor.

After giving her a quick glance, Zane shook his head. "I've already eaten."

But before he could leave, Liam turned to face him, longing in his wide, hopeful eyes. "Daddy, can you join us, please? It is my first time having breakfast with a full family.

After some hesitation, Zane moved to the dining table and took a seat beside Liam. The child, with his untidy brown hair falling over his forehead, held Zane's arm while wearing a basic white shirt and blue shorts. Liam whispered, "I really missed you," in an emotional voice.

Zane placed a hand on Liam's head and said in a gentle voice, "I missed you too, son."

Diana, wearing a long brown skirt and a light blue top, sat silently across the table. She wore her hair loosely in a bun, and her face had a soft, motherly touch despite her weariness. Silently, she observed them, a small smile forming on her lips as she took in the scene before her.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of a door opening. When Zane looked up, he saw Maya leaving her room and making her way over to the dining table. Her wet hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, still drying from her bath. She wore a black top and grey shorts that highlighted her lean, sexy figure. But it wasn't her appearance that caught Zane's attention, but it was her red eyes.

The sight made Zane's chest tighten. She had been crying, and he knew it. He felt a feeling of guilt, but before he could speak, Maya walked up to the table and sat down next to him, crossing her arms. Her sharp eyes, once so full of warmth, were now cold and distant.

Unaware of the tense environment, Liam smiled and put up a little plate with a sandwich before the tension could build. "Look, Dad! This is made by Mommy. He said, "Here, eat it!" with a lively tone.

Zane looked at the sandwich and paused. He thought about Diana, who had never been good at cooking and frequently said that the kitchen wasn't her area. But here she was, preparing their son's meals. He hadn't anticipated how much she had changed.

Maya complained, her irritation barely concealed. "We have chefs, kid. Why would Zane eat her food? They make better meals than this."

Liam's eager eye pulled Zane back as he turned to face her, his lips opening to reply. Zane said softly, "Let me try," and reached for the sandwich. He took it in his hands and chewed carefully. It wasn't horrible, but the bread was a little too toasted, and the filling was not equally distributed. He was about to say something comfortable when he swallowed it.

Maya grabbed the sandwich out of his hand before he could do so. She said sharply, "Let me taste." She chewed on the sandwich without waiting for a reply, her gaze narrowing. She remarked simply, "It's not even that good," and put the partially consumed sandwich back on the plate. "This is not as good as what the chefs cook. Diana, why even bother to prepare food?

Diana's fingers tightened on the skirt's edge as her face became nervous. However, she remained silent and lowered her gaze and acted like she was avoiding the dispute from getting more heated.

Liam's joyful smile shifted, and he quietly grabbed another sandwich piece.

They never expected Maya to interfere while Zane was eating a sandwich.

Maya folded her arms and reclined in her chair. "Don't you think you should say something to me, Zane?" she asked in a frustrated tone.

Zane was about to reply when his stomach began to growl uncontrollably. He instinctively held the region where a sharp pain broke through his abdomen, just below his ribs. He leaned forward a little as his face twisted in pain.

Maya's hand flew to her own stomach, and she froze. Her voice trembled as she shouted, "What... what is this?" The pain grew worse as it moved up into her chest, and she pushed her hand to her lower abdomen.

Sweat was building on Zane's forehead as he gritted his teeth. As he struggled to endure the intense discomfort, his breathing became shallow. He muttered, "Something... isn't right."

Maya held the table's edge as she fought to stay strong while her body felt pain. "Zane... we are poisoned by someone?" Her voice was barely audible.

Suddenly, Diana started laughing, her tone growing darker. She reached into her blouse and from her breast she pulled out a gun and pointed it towards Zean.

Zane's eyes widened in shock, his body already heavy with the effects of the poison. Despite the pain, he asked, "What the hell are you doing, Diana?!" in a tone that was something between confused and angry.

Maya cried out in pain. "It hurts, Zane! "Help me!"

The boy, who had been quietly watching from the table, suddenly pushed back his chair and rushed toward the room. A smile spread across his face, and in the chaos, a small gun remained hidden in his hand. "See ya, fake Dad!" he said, his voice filled with mockery. "My job here is done."

But instead of leaving right away, he started moving around the room, grabbing anything valuable he could find. With his boss dead, he still needed his payment—so why not take a few things for himself? The thought made him smile as he moved around the house.

Zane attempted to call for assistance, his teeth hardened. "James! Clara! Get in here, someone! His voice was weak as he called out.

Diana's laughter cut him off. With a voice full of hatred, she spoke, "No one's coming Zean. Thanks to the sandwiches I made, they're all asleep now. However, your was unique, the poison was only in yours sandwich.

Zane remained upright and supported himself by leaning against the dining table. "Why, Diana?" he clenched his teeth and questioned. Why are you doing this?"

Diana's face was filled with sorrow and rage. "Why?" she shouted. "You killed Darius—your own brother—for a casino! You're a monster, Zane! You're a monster.

He wanted to take over your Casino, yes, but you didn't have to kill him. You destroyed everything. And now, I'll destroy everything you have.

Her hand trembled as tears filled up in her eyes. She thought about the time she had spent with Darius, how happy they had been. From the very beginning, they were in love. But to break Zane's motivation to compete and make him give up the Iron gang, she and Darius had come up with a plan. They made Zane fall for her, hoping that once she disappeared, he would lose his motivation, and Darius could take over the gang.

But that bitch Maya ruined everything.

Her voice shook with anger as she said, "Before you die, I'm going to make you feel what it's like to lose someone you love. Just like you took Darius from me, I'll take this bitch from you."

She turned the gun toward Maya, who was in pain, barely conscious. "Say goodbye to her, Zane," Diana said with a twisted smile.

Zane's heart pounded as adrenaline surged through him, momentarily numbing the pain. He roared, "No!" and lunged forward with all his remaining strength, knocking over a chair in the process. His hand instinctively went to the small knife hidden in his shirt—the same knife he had used to cut Diana's rope yesterday.

*Boom!*

The gunshot echoed through the room as Diana fired. Zane felt pain in his chest, but he didn't stop. With yell, he drove the knife into Diana's chest, the blade sinking deep.

Blood came out from the wound as Diana staggered backward, her eyes wide with shock. She held the knife, her breaths ragged. "You… can't… save her," she is poison… It's too late. She'll die… just like you…"

Her legs weakened, and she collapsed onto the floor, blood pooling around her. Her twisted smile remained as she laughed, her voice fading into silence.

Zane stumbled back, holding his bleeding side. His vision blurred, and he fell to his knees. His gaze went to Maya, who fell over the table and was unconscious.

Desperation took over as Zane pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling while he put it into emergency call mode.

Victor quickly picks up as he notices the boss's phone coming. In a casual tone he asked, "Boss? What's going on?"

Zane's voice was weak, each word a struggle. "Victor… get here… save Maya… please…"

"Boss? Boss! Are you okay?!" Victor's voice grew worried, but Zane could no longer respond.

The phone slipped from his hand as his strength gave out. He collapsed onto the floor beside Diana's lifeless body, their blood pooling together. His eyes slowly closed, his last thought filled with regret and longing for a future he would never see.

____________________

Hello everyone, it's me, the author. I just want to let you know that this is the end of Volume 1. The next part will focus on the MC's reincarnation and introduce some basic details about the cultivation world, such as cultivation realms.

In the future, there will also be a side story explaining how the MC got the system. This side story will be written after I finish this novel and start a new one titled Dead Men Tell the Best Tales on Webnovel. The side story will provide a better understanding of why everything happened the way it did.