*****“Hahahaha!”Lucas, one of the youngest, wealthiest entrepreneurs, the most handsome in the crowd… and one of Grace’s many failed suitors, burst into a raucous laugh, shattering the heavy silence.His shoulders shook as he pointed at Grace like a man watching a circus act.“As expected of President Grace, able to divert every situation!” he sneered through his laughter. “You really expect us to believe that? That this… this nobody is your husband? What a convenient excuse to cover up blatant favoritism!”His mockery was loud and theatrical, his laughter echoing through the lobby like a villain in a bad stage play.At first, the crowd blinked in confusion, unsure if they should laugh or stay stunned. But then slowly, realization began to dawn on them, and just like that, murmurs spread, and disbelief curdled into indignation.“This seemed to be right,” someone muttered under their breath. “She has never dated anyone before, let alone marry, so where does this husband come f

*****The balding man was stunned for a moment. But then finally, his lips began to twitch, his face betraying the shock that had frozen him for a moment too long.A sharp jolt ran through his frame as reality crashed over him like a rogue wave.“You… you dare?” he roared, his voice rising like an animal cornered.Veins bulged at his temples, his complexion darkening as fury twisted his face into something nearly unrecognizable. Rage oozed from every pore, his mouth contorting grotesquely as he barked out his next words.“You want to throw me out? Do you have any idea who I am? Do you think you can humiliate me like this and walk away unscathed? Have you lost your mind… or forgotten my status?”His shriek ricocheted through the marble lobby, echoing like the tantrum of a dethroned tyrant. He looked deranged, unhinged… like a man who had just watched his power crumble to dust.And Grace?Grace didn’t even flinch.She didn’t so much as bat an eyelid. Instead, she stood rooted,

*****Starry Sky Restaurant.The name alone stirred memories... faint, sharp, and oddly sweet.This was the very place where Xavier and Grace had met officially for the first time, weeks ago. The place where strangers had sat across from each other under bright lights and an expensive roof, pretending to be business acquaintances. Where they had finalized their abrupt wedding agreement over a table set with fine linen and even finer indifference.But back then, everything between them had been business. Mechanical. Cold.Grace had spoken like she was hosting a board meeting… stoic, polished, completely uninterested. Her eyes had been icy mirrors of disinterest, her tone clipped, her posture stiff.Xavier, on his part, had tried to match her detachment, but he couldn’t help being vaguely intrigued by her commanding presence… if not a little irritated by her unflinching apathy.She hadn’t smiled once that evening. Not even a twitch of her lips. She had treated him the way one wou

*****Xavier had been ready to obliterate the so-called “elites,” stirring up the tension in his wife’s company earlier.Like… who the hell did they think they were, treating his wife with such condescension?No one spoke down to Grace “Wilson,” Xavier Wilson’s wife, and walked away without consequence.And yet… Xavier had held himself back. Not because he lacked the power, but because he understood the stakes.This wasn’t just another corporate scuffle. This was a test. A silent, aggressive challenge that would determine whether Grace… and Sky Group would be seen as legitimate players or naive upstarts, pushovers.Sky Group’s meteoric rise had ruffled feathers.Just days ago, they had been a small, practically nameless company, but their ascension had disrupted the equilibrium. The old guard… the so-called titans of industry obviously wouldn’t be pleased.Nobody likes being overshadowed, least of all by someone who hadn’t played by their rules.So, naturally, they pushed. Th

*****For a moment, Grace didn’t know whether to smile, cry, or laugh at Xavier’s serious statement. But then she opened her mouth to retort.However, even before she could find the perfect word to retort with, Xaver was already speaking again.“Do you know what it means to be the kind of woman only I deserve?” he asked smoothly, leaning forward again as though delivering profound gospel. “It means you’re the best of the best. Top-tier. Better than ninety-nine-point nine percent of all women out there.”Grace was flabbergasted.She sat frozen, torn between flattery and the sheer audacity of his ego. She had no idea whether to laugh, smack him with her napkin, or just let her head collapse onto the table.Eventually, she released a half-choked laugh. “Still as narcissistic as ever,” she muttered, shaking her head as if trying to dislodge his words.And just like that, the tension shattered.The heavy atmosphere dissipated, melting away like fro