“What? You—you actually pulled it off?” Philips stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief, panic clawing at his chest.The realization that his precious land would slip right into Ophelia’s grasp gnawed at him mercilessly.“Yes,” Ophelia replied happily. “I met Jessica Golden!”“No way!” Olivia sneered, her voice dripping venomous disbelief.“Absolutely impossible! You’re telling me you got face-to-face with Jessica Golden herself? Don’t make me laugh!”“Oh, I did more than meet her,” Ophelia replied with smug triumph, lifting her chin defiantly."Jessica Golden personally handed me the signed contract.”Her words detonated across the room, stunning silence gripping every heart.Philips slammed his hand violently onto the polished mahogany table, eyes blazing with fury."Ophelia, do you seriously think we’re idiots?” he spat viciously."Jessica Golden of the Golden Guild is a titan among the city's elite. Why in God’s name would she lower herself to even glance in your direction? Do you

Alex felt a surge of deep satisfaction flood through him at Viscountess D’Arcy’s pronouncement, his tense shoulders finally easing with relief.Beside him, Ophelia D’Arcy's face blossomed into a serene smile, her long-held anxieties gently melting away.At last, the coveted headship was within her grasp.No longer would she suffer from scornful glances and whispered mockeries.Her parents, whose heads had long been bowed beneath the weight of ridicule, could finally stand tall, pride radiating from every pore.Viscountess D’Arcy turned sharply, eyes glittering with anticipation as she fixed her granddaughter with a piercing stare.“Ophelia, there’s something important I require of you.”“Of course, Grandma,” Ophelia responded immediately, her voice respectful yet wary. “What would you have me do?”The old woman leaned closer, her voice dripping with ambitious fervor. “I want you to personally invite Miss Jessica Golden to tomorrow’s banquet.”She paused, her eyes igniting with fiery e

"People from the Guild are already here, seizing our assets as collateral," the butler continued frantically."The banks caught wind, too—they’re calling in all loans since our agreement with the Golden Guild was the security! We’re ruined, sir! Our capital is gone! Bankruptcy is inevitable!"Robert felt a chill run down his spine as cold sweat broke across his forehead. The world spun sickeningly around him. "We're finished…," he whispered, barely audible.Suddenly, Robert’s knees buckled beneath him, sending him crashing pathetically to the pavement. His phone slipped from trembling fingers, shattering into shards on the unforgiving ground. Crawling desperately, he clasped his hands toward Alex, trembling uncontrollably, utterly broken."Who… who the hell are you?" Robert’s voice cracked, a whimpering plea. "It was you, wasn’t it? You destroyed me!"The crowd gasped audibly, utterly astonished at the sight before them—the powerful Robert Carrillo kneeling pitifully before Alex Leonha

Rain hammered relentlessly against the battered taxi windows, each droplet streaking across the glass like tears on a grieving face.The ride back to the crumbling Leonhard estate stretched in an oppressive silence, punctuated only by the groaning of the worn suspension and the driver’s muffled coughs.Ophelia sat huddled close to Alex, hands still shaking, the aftermath of betrayal etched painfully on her delicate features.Alex broke the silence first, his voice calm yet resolute. "You won't ever have to set foot near those vultures again, Ophelia. From now on, you're one of us—a Leonhard."She exhaled softly, her breath fogging the cold window. "Why do they despise me so deeply?""They don't despise you," Alex answered, eyes steady and filled with a quiet fury."They're just greedy, ruthless animals. Human greed knows nothing but itself. Let them drown in it. We'll build something better, something they'll envy from afar."Ophelia’s lips curled into a weary smile, tinged with irony

Alex Leonhard raised an eyebrow in quiet surprise upon hearing Philips had also booked a suite at Heaven Hotel.What were the odds? Jessica Golden herself had casually mentioned that she owned the place.Hadn't she prepared something special for him in the restaurant already?Meanwhile, Michael stood slack-jawed, eyes bulging with exaggerated amazement.“God almighty, Philips!” Michael burst out. “You actually snagged a reservation at the Heaven Hotel’s VIP suite restaurant? That ain’t no easy feat!”Philips flashed a smug, wolfish grin, puffing out his chest like a rooster."Truth be told, aside from that elusive Platinum Suite restaurant, which, of course, is beyond even my formidable reach, booking anything else in this place is mere child's play."His boasting, though gilded with bravado, masked a desperate scramble behind the scenes.In truth, Viscountess D’Arcy herself had exhausted her network of favors to secure that reservation.Still, Philips paraded his success with brazen