The grand ballroom exuded opulence, with its glittering chandeliers and polished marble floors. Elena and Oliver finally entered the venue together, arm in arm, their earlier ordeal with security momentarily set aside. Heads turned as Elena’s graceful presence caught the attention of the guests. Her dark emerald gown shimmered under the soft golden lights, perfectly complementing Oliver’s tailored black tuxedo. Despite the whispers and glances, they proceeded confidently.Elena leaned closer to Oliver, her voice soft. “I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I can’t believe they treated you like that.”“Don’t worry about it,” Oliver replied, forcing a smile. “Let’s focus on making the most of tonight.”They made their way to a quiet corner where a few acquaintances of Elena greeted them warmly. Among them was Samantha, Elena’s old college friend.“Elena! You look stunning,” Samantha exclaimed before her eyes shifted to Oliver. “And this must be your husband. It’s lovely to finally meet yo

The tension from the café incident lingered throughout the day. Although Elena tried her best to cheer Oliver up with soft words and occasional touches, he couldn’t shake the frustration of being belittled. The encounter with that man had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he couldn’t understand why people felt the need to treat him that way. It wasn’t like he had asked to be put in a position of confrontation.As evening drew near, Elena suggested they go to a charity gala to help take their minds off things. The venue was lavish, and the atmosphere was filled with rich chatter and clinking glasses. Guests in elegant gowns and sharp tuxedos moved gracefully between tables, exchanging pleasantries. Elena’s presence at the event immediately drew attention, and Oliver couldn’t help but feel proud as they made their entrance.Yet, he was still unsettled. His thoughts kept returning to the earlier confrontation and the people who seemed to think they had the right to belittle him. Elen

Later that evening, the tension lingered like a storm cloud as Oliver paced the apartment. Elena sat on the couch, watching him with concern. His fists were clenched, and his jaw tightened with every step.“I can’t believe that smug bastard, Matthew,” Oliver muttered, his voice low but laced with anger. “He has no idea what I’ve been through, no idea what it’s like to claw your way out of hell just to be mocked for it.”“You don’t have to justify yourself to people like him,” Elena said gently, though her tone was firm. “He thrives on making others feel small. Don’t give him that power.”Oliver stopped pacing and turned to face her, his expression conflicted. “It’s not about justifying myself, Elena. It’s about respect. People like him think they can say whatever they want because they’ve never been knocked down a peg in their lives.”Elena stood, crossing the room to place a hand on his arm. “You’ve been through worse, Oliver. You’ve faced things that would break most people. Don’t l

Vanessa’s retreating figure lingered in Oliver’s mind long after she left, her parting words echoing like a taunt he couldn’t ignore. He slammed the door shut, the sound reverberating through the apartment.“Oliver,” Elena began hesitantly, “what are you going to do now?”“What I should’ve done years ago,” Oliver growled, pacing the room. “Take the fight to her. She thinks she’s untouchable, that she can bulldoze over people and walk away without consequences.”Elena hesitated before speaking. “If you push too hard, she’ll push back harder. And you know she doesn’t fight fair.”“I don’t care,” Oliver snapped, his voice sharp. “She’s been coming at me non-stop, and I’m done sitting back and taking it.”Elena frowned. “Don’t let her drag you down to her level, Oliver. That’s exactly what she wants.”Oliver clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. “She’s already done that. I just didn’t realize it until now.”The next morning, Oliver arrived at his family’s once-prosperous business, a

The sound of Vanessa’s sharp laugh echoed in Oliver’s ears long after he left her office. Each step he took away from her was heavy with the weight of their confrontation, but he knew this was far from over. She wouldn’t rest until she had torn him apart, piece by piece.Back in the dimly lit apartment, Elena was pacing. The worry in her expression deepened when she saw Oliver’s furrowed brow and clenched jaw.“Oliver, what did you say to her?” she asked, her voice tinged with panic.“I told her I’m coming for her,” Oliver replied bluntly, shrugging off his jacket. “She doesn’t scare me anymore.”Elena’s eyes widened. “You told her that? Oliver, do you know what you’ve done? Vanessa isn’t the kind of person who forgives insults. She’s going to destroy you!”Oliver leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “She can try. I’m not the same man she pushed around all those years ago.”“You think you can outplay Vanessa?” Elena asked, her voice rising. “She’s always been ten steps ahead of