The tension inside the car was palpable, though Oliver’s calm demeanor never wavered. He drove in silence, the soft hum of the engine filling the void. Elena kept glancing at him, trying to gauge his emotions. Though he appeared unaffected, she knew better—Oliver’s calm exterior often masked a storm brewing beneath the surface.“Are you really okay?” Elena finally broke the silence, her voice soft but insistent.Oliver’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly before he relaxed again.“I’m fine.”“You don’t have to pretend with me,” she pressed. “Those things they said… they were cruel.”Oliver let out a quiet sigh, his eyes fixed on the road. “Elena, I’ve dealt with worse. Words don’t break me anymore.”“But they’re trying to provoke you,” she said, frustration creeping into her voice. “And I hate that they think they can get away with it.”Oliver’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “That’s their mistake. Let them think they’ve won. People like Julian and Vincent thriv

Luca Devereaux was furious. His face was red, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap. The entire room had seen Oliver Roberts turn his so-called public humiliation into a display of dominance. And now, Luca was the one left looking like a fool.Julian and Vincent stood awkwardly beside him, clearly unsure whether they should comfort him or distance themselves before he lashed out.“Luca…” Julian muttered.“Shut up,” Luca snapped. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. “That bastard just embarrassed me in front of everyone.”Vincent chuckled nervously. “Well, to be fair, you kind of—”Luca shot him a murderous glare, and Vincent immediately shut his mouth.Meanwhile, Oliver and Elena were making their way toward the exit, unfazed by the chaos they left behind.Elena smirked. “Luca looked like he was about to explode.”Oliver chuckled. “He’s the type who can’t handle losing. That makes him predictable.”Elena raised an eyebrow. “You think he’ll t

The cold steel pressed against the back of Oliver’s skull, but his smirk didn’t waver. If anything, it deepened."Really, Luca?" Oliver’s voice was calm, almost amused. "Pulling a gun on me in the middle of a conversation? That’s desperate. Even for you."Luca laughed, but there was an edge of nervousness in it. "Desperate times, Roberts."Dominic Castellano leaned forward, watching the scene with mild interest. He swirled the remaining bourbon in his glass. "Desperation is an ugly thing. But sometimes, it gets the job done."Oliver remained still. "You think I came here unprepared?"Luca scoffed. "What, you got a sniper on the roof? A hidden weapon in your jacket? Let me guess, some thug waiting outside to come running in and save you?"Oliver chuckled. "You talk too much, Luca."Dominic exhaled through his nose, setting his drink down. He looked at the man holding the gun behind Oliver. "Pull the trigger."Luca’s eyes widened slightly. "Wait—""Do it," Dominic repeated, his tone bor

Elena’s fingers tightened around Oliver’s wrist as she read the message again."You should’ve taken Dominic’s offer. Now, you won’t have a choice."Her breath was uneven. “Oliver… this isn’t a joke.”Oliver took another sip of his wine, utterly unbothered. “I know.”Elena frowned. “Then why are you so calm?”He set his glass down, his lips twitching slightly. “Because they think they have power over me.” He leaned back, fingers tapping lightly against the table. “That’s their first mistake.”Elena exhaled sharply, glancing around. The restaurant was still bustling with chatter and laughter, oblivious to the silent war brewing beneath its polished chandeliers.Nathaniel and Isabelle had left, but their insult still hung in the air. And now, Dominic’s shadow loomed over them.“They don’t know who you are,” she murmured.Oliver smiled. “And I prefer it that way.”His phone vibrated again.This time, he didn’t check it immediately.By the time they left the restaurant, the city was cloake

The city lights flickered against the cracked windshield as Oliver drove in silence.Elena kept glancing at him, waiting for a reaction.The attack, the car chase, the cryptic message—most men would be shaken.But Oliver Roberts wasn’t like most men.He didn’t look angry. He didn’t look worried.He looked bored.That terrified her more than anything.Finally, she broke the silence.“That was a message, wasn’t it?”Oliver exhaled through his nose. “It was a test.”Elena frowned. “A test?”Oliver nodded, gripping the steering wheel. “They wanted to see how I’d react. If I panicked. If I ran.”His fingers tapped against the dashboard.“They wanted to see if I was really the man people whisper about.”Elena swallowed. “And?”Oliver smirked. “Now they know.”***They pulled up to a private parking lot.The moment they stepped out, a man in a black suit was already waiting for them.No words were exchanged.Just a nod.Oliver returned the gesture before turning to Elena. “Go home.”Elena’s