Oliver squared his shoulders and stepped closer to Vanessa, the air between them thick with animosity. The receptionist nearby pretended not to notice, but Oliver could feel the curious glances of the other employees. Vanessa loved an audience, but this time, Oliver would use it against her.“You’ve made your threats, Vanessa,” Oliver began, his voice steady but cutting. “Now let’s see if you have the spine to back them up without hiding behind forged documents and lies.”Vanessa’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Forged? Oh, darling, those documents are as real as the mess you’ve made of your life. Do you think you’re some kind of hero? Newsflash: you’re just a failure clinging to a dream no one cares about anymore.”Oliver leaned closer, his voice low but dangerous. “Say whatever you want about me, but if you go near Elena again, I swear you’ll regret it.”Vanessa’s eyes narrowed slightly, the challenge in his tone striking a nerve. “And what will you do, Oliver? Run to the authoriti

The days that followed were chaotic. Oliver had expected Vanessa to retaliate, but her ruthlessness still managed to surprise him. She unleashed a media campaign that painted him as a vindictive ex-con incapable of running a company. Fabricated stories of his time in prison began circulating, each more ridiculous than the last.“Elena, are you sure you’re okay?” Oliver asked as they sat together in his apartment one evening. Her face was pale, and she looked exhausted.“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction. “It’s just hard seeing all of this out there. People are talking about you like they know who you are, and it’s infuriating.”Oliver reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “This will pass. People thrive on scandals, but their attention spans are short. Vanessa’s game is desperation.”Elena nodded but said nothing, her silence a reminder of the toll the situation was taking on her.***Oliver arrived at the office to find Liam waiting for him, looking unusuall

The car ride back to the city was quiet, but the tension hung in the air like a thick fog. Elena sat with her arms crossed, staring out the window, while Oliver focused on the road ahead. The encounter with Henry and Charlotte lingered in their minds, though neither wanted to be the first to bring it up.Finally, Elena broke the silence. “I can’t stop thinking about what they said,” she muttered, her voice sharp.Oliver sighed, keeping his eyes on the road. “Let it go, Elena. People like them aren’t worth your time.”“But they insulted you,” she snapped, turning to face him. “They insulted us. How can you just act like it doesn’t matter?”“It doesn’t,” Oliver replied calmly. “Their opinions mean nothing to me.”Elena shook her head, frustrated. “You’re too patient, Oliver. If it were me, I would’ve put them in their place.”He glanced at her briefly, his lips curving into a small, wry smile. “And then what? We’d spend the rest of the day feeling angry and resentful. Trust me, it’s not

The city streets blurred past as Oliver and Elena walked in silence, his hand gripping hers firmly but gently. The tension in his shoulders told her he was anything but calm, though he hadn’t let Marcus’s insults visibly faze him.“Oliver,” Elena finally broke the silence, her voice soft but resolute. “You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. That man—he was horrible. What he said—”“It doesn’t matter,” Oliver cut her off, his voice low. “Marcus has always been that way. Arrogant. Cruel. He knows how to get under someone’s skin.”“But you didn’t deserve any of that,” she pressed. “And he had no right to talk to you—or me—like that.”Oliver stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His dark eyes met hers, filled with a storm of emotions he was struggling to suppress. “Elena, I’ve been called worse. I’ve done worse. I can’t erase my past, and people like Marcus will always remind me of it.”She frowned, her heart aching at the pain he carried. “You’re not that man anymore, Oliver. I wish you

The quiet hum of the café returned after Julian’s dramatic exit, but the tension lingered like an unwelcome guest. Elena leaned back in her chair, her lavender latte untouched, her mind replaying every scathing word Julian had said.“Do you think he’ll actually try something?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with worry.Oliver’s calm gaze met hers, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. “Julian’s type thrives on intimidation, but they rarely follow through. He wanted a reaction, and when he didn’t get what he hoped for, he left.”“But he didn’t back down, either,” Elena pointed out, her brows furrowing. “He’s arrogant. People like him don’t let things go easily.”Oliver gave a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “If he’s foolish enough to test me, he’ll learn the hard way that I’m not someone to push around.”Elena admired Oliver’s calm composure, but part of her hated how people constantly tried to drag him down. It wasn’t just Julian—Damian, Marcus, and co