. . Landon was thoroughly dissatisfied when he saw that Elena’s old high school friends had joined them at their table, despite his clear opposition to the idea. Elena, for reasons he couldn’t quite fathom, had permitted them to sit with them. What was supposed to be a quiet, private dinner for just the two of them had suddenly become anything but intimate. What surprised Landon the most was the fact that Elena had allowed them to join, even though it was obvious she wasn’t comfortable with their presence. She seemed tense, her shoulders stiff, and her smile was strained. It puzzled him deeply. Why had she invited them to sit down when it was clear she would have preferred to be alone with him? Yet, Landon couldn’t ask her directly, not with the others present. And since Elena had already made her decision, he had no choice but to let it go for the time being. The mischievous group settled themselves at the table, quickly making themselves at home as they placed their orders. It wa

. . “Beat these three men up! Make sure they learn their lesson!” Don Sebastian commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. As soon as the order was given, Riley, Gideon, and the other man in their group all turned pale as though the blood had drained from their faces. Fear gripped them instantly. “Please, Don Sebastian! Have mercy on us!” Riley immediately fell to his knees, groveling for forgiveness. His voice trembled with desperation. “We didn’t know it was you, we swear!” “We didn’t know what we were doing!” Gideon joined in, his voice equally panicked. “Please, don’t just beat us! We’ll do anything to make it right!” “Yeah, don’t beat us!” the third man pleaded as well, his eyes wide with terror. “We’ll do whatever you want! We’ll leave the table if that’s what you want—just don’t hurt us!” “Stop,” Don Sebastian said, his voice low but commanding enough to halt the pleas momentarily. His gaze swept over the three trembling men, and he raised a hand, signaling for his men

..Riley, Diana, and Gideon could not take their eyes off Landon in that intense, surreal moment. The image of Don Sebastian fleeing from the restaurant in utter panic replayed in their minds over and over, like a loop they couldn't escape. It was as if their brains refused to process what had just happened. The terrifying man who had caused them so much fear had shown pure terror toward Landon, and they couldn’t begin to understand why.They were baffled. How could a figure as intimidating as Don Sebastian be so afraid of someone like Landon? What was the source of this mysterious power? Elena, on the other hand, was equally shocked. However, unlike the others, her surprise didn’t linger for too long. She knew a crucial detail that the others didn’t—Landon was the owner of Grey Group, a detail that he had subtly gestured for her to keep secret from her old classmates. That small gesture had stopped her from revealing his true identity during the chaos.However, Elena hadn’t expected

. . “Why are you calling him a loser, Mom?” Elena couldn’t comprehend why her mother would make such a rude and insensitive remark about someone she didn’t even know well. “Do you really need to ask me that, Elena? His answer to my question made everything clear,” Kathy’s voice dripped with disdain as she spoke. “He’s an orphan, raised by a simple, hardworking family. Clearly, he’s not from wealth or status. How can someone like that take our family to the next level? He’s just not suitable for you!” Kathy’s teeth were clenched in frustration as she struggled to keep her voice from escalating into a full-blown shout. Elena felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. She shook her head and sighed deeply. “Mom, you can’t just judge a book by its cover all the time. There’s so much more to people than what you see at first glance.” Elena knew, deep down, that if Kathy ever found out about Landon’s true identity as the owner of the powerful and influential Grey Group, she would fall

. . "Happy birthday once again, Minister Wilson," Daniel said as he smiled and extended his hand for a firm handshake, wishing the minister a heartfelt birthday greeting. "God bless you, my boy," Minister Wilson responded with a warm smile, his hand resting briefly on Daniel’s shoulder as they shook hands, exuding the kind of warmth only a seasoned statesman could offer. After Daniel finished exchanging pleasantries with the two influential men, he made his way back to where Riley, Diana, and Gideon were waiting for him. Their faces beamed with admiration, eager to praise him for his accomplishment. “Wow, Daniel, you are absolutely incredible,” Diana gushed, her eyes gleaming with admiration. In her mind, she couldn’t help but wish she could be with someone like Daniel—a man of power, status, and influence. "Yeah, I completely agree with Diana," Riley chimed in enthusiastically, his eyes wide with respect. "To shake hands with Silas Katz is no small feat. I work in Grey Group mys