*****Apart from Lucius and Julius, another person who also recognized Xavier was Victor. Immediately, the memory of what had happened two days ago at OceanView estate crashed back into him like a sledgehammer, causing his pulse to spike, the heat of hatred almost igniting, but Grace’s words…“Husband.”The single word struck harder than any physical blow could.The sound continued ringing in his head like the bell of a catholic church, shaking him to his core until he felt empty.His jaw tightened, but his body betrayed him... he froze, his eyes widening like someone had just told him the earth was flat after swearing his entire life it was round.….Meanwhile, as the men in the hall processed Grace’s declaration and their gazes snapped toward Xavier, the women finally allowed their attention to shift to Grace herself.And when they finally saw her clearly… saw her beauty, their collective reaction mirrored the men’s reaction to Xavier.Only, instead of stunned curiosity or

*****'Oh no… oh no no no. I just embarrassed myself in front of an upper-rank heiress. I… I’ve dug my grave. I’m done for. Absolutely done for.'Sarah panicked even more, her instincts screaming at her to deny everything, to twist her words and claim she had been misunderstood, certain that the noble families would defend their own, protect one of their members, and turn the wrath back onto her.But then she caught the weight of those eyes… hundreds of them.Every single one locked on her, unblinking and piercing, with a heat so sharp it froze her blood.Seeing this, a violent shiver racked Sarah’s frame, directly understanding that if she dared to twist the truth now, even by a hair, they would see through it instantly. And when they did, regret wouldn’t matter… because she wouldn’t survive long enough to feel it.Her chest heaved heavily, her breath turning shallow.Ultimately, she turned her head slowly, fear tightening every muscle, until her gaze returned to the woman who

*****Sarah’s performance was so convincing that many in the hall instantly pitied her, seeing her as a delicate, innocent woman who had once been ensnared by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.“It’s okay, sis,” a woman in the first section shouted, her voice harsh, eager to join in the mob.Then she sneered and jabbed her finger toward another target. “At least you had the courage to dump him once you learned what he truly was! Not like some so-called cold goddess here, who always struts around as emitting coldness and indifference, as if she’s untouchable, constantly looking down on everyone, only to cling to an ex-convict in the end!”Her words sliced through the air like a whip, causing all eyes to follow her finger. It was pointed at Grace.In the next second, disgust and disbelief ignited in their eyes. It was as if the fragile halo Grace had usually worn had now been torn away and replaced with jagged, gleaming horns.“All the strong, powerful, wealthy men in this city have cour

*****For a moment that felt like an eternity after the announcement dropped, the grand hall was enveloped in a silence so absolute that it could have suffocated a heartbeat.It was so intense that a single pin falling to the ground right now would not just echo, but it would explode in the hall like thunder, shaking every bone to the core and making everyone flinch in fright.From the first section of the hall to the third, every face has the same expression… wide eyes, dropped jaws, and bodies frozen in place.It was as though the entire hall had just been told the world was ending in ten minutes, and the countdown had already started.No matter who they were and what their background was, every last one of them froze solid, their earlier chatter and sneering forgotten.Even Sarah, whose elation had only just shot straight through the roof, at the sort of unexpected humiliation Xavier and Grace were about to receive, felt her malice disappearing, completely overtaken by shock.

*****Only about four people in the entire hall remained composed at this moment.The first was Julius, who was seated calmly in the third section, his sharp eyes fixed not on the chaotic nobles, but on one man… Xavier.Unlike the rest, Xavier hadn’t flinched.He uttered a word, fidgeted, or so much as shifted in his chair.The only reaction Julius had caught on his face was a subtle lift of Xavier’s brow at the initial announcement of the Myrons’ arrival, and after that… nothing.He had stood there lazily since his arrival, his posture relaxed, and his expression unreadable.It was the look of someone utterly unconcerned, as if everything, even the news of the Myrons’ arrival, were no more important than hearing a servant announce dinner was ready.And that baffling calm sent Julius’s blood rushing with excitement.He continued studying Xavier’s every line and every twitch… or rather, the complete lack of them.He searched desperate