"Do you even realize what you’ve just done?"Ethan’s voice was calm, almost quiet, yet it carried enough weight to settle over the hall like an invisible pressure, making the already suffocating silence feel even heavier as every gaze remained fixed on the shattered fragments of Pearl across the floor.The pearl still glowed faintly broken… yet undeniably unique.For a brief moment, no one moved.Then, Jenny let out a sharp laugh, the sound breaking the silence as she folded her arms, forcing confidence back into her posture."Stop acting like it’s something valuable," she said mockingly, her voice rising slightly as if to convince not just others, but herself. "It’s obviously fake, just another cheap trick to fool everyone, and look at how seriously you’re taking it."Sally scoffed immediately, stepping forward, her lips curling with disdain."Exactly," she added, her tone sharp and dismissive. "Do you really expect us to believe that something like that could be real? A man who coul

"What exactly did you just say?"Adrian’s voice was no longer calm, no longer steady, as his eyes remained fixed on Christian, searching his face as if trying to determine whether those words had truly been spoken or if his mind had simply betrayed him for a brief, dangerous moment.Christian told everything from the beginning till the end, how he got message of his mother through a friend of her, how his journey began in search of her."So, it's not something you found out recently?"Adrian asked with a flat tone, Christian did not answer immediately, because he already had.Everything that needed to be said had already been said.And in the silence that followed, Adrian understood.Not every detail, not every step, but enough.Enough to know that this was not a careless statement, not something spoken without certainty, and the way Christian held his gaze without hesitation only confirmed it further.The car remained still at the side of the road.The world outside continued as usu

"Why does it feel like this place has turned into a grand stage overnight… are we hosting a celebration party or conducting a political gathering?" Christian’s voice carried a faint trace of amusement as he stood at the top of the wide staircase, his gaze sweeping across the Sargent mansion’s grand hall that was now filled with distinguished guests, soft lights reflecting against polished floors, and quiet conversations weaving through the air like an unspoken network of power and observation.Tonight was not just a gathering, it was a statement, and everyone present knew it.The announcement of him becoming the CEO had already spread, and this gathering, though presented as a celebration, was nothing less than a declaration of position, influence, and control, and as Christian descended the steps with calm composure, every pair of eyes subtly shifted toward him, measuring, acknowledging, and in some cases… reassessing."Stand straight," Betty muttered under her breath as she adjuste

"Do you always enter someone’s room without their permission… or is this a special privilege you reserved only for yourself?" Christian’s voice came from behind, calm and steady, yet carrying a quiet sharpness that made Aurora pause mid-step as her fingers lightly traced the edge of a neatly arranged shelf, her gaze taking a look at the room that felt less like a bedroom and more like a carefully designed space where every detail had a special intention.She turned slowly.For a brief moment, she simply looked at him.Then her lips curved."An architectural student is always an architect," she said, her tone light as her gaze moved around once more. "Even your room feels like a blueprint… everything placed with purpose, isn't it?" Christian closed the door behind him without breaking eye contact, his expression unchanged as he stepped further inside."And you’re avoiding my question," he replied.Aurora tilted her head slightly."Do I need permission to enter your room?" she asked c

"Why are you so quiet…?" Aurora’s voice came out softer than usual, carrying a faint trace of hesitation as she lay still, her gaze fixed on the ceiling for a few seconds longer before slowly turning her head toward him.The morning light spilling gently across the room and making everything feel calmer… yet somehow more complicated than before.Christian was already awake, lying beside her silently without uttering a word.His eyes were open, though he wasn’t looking at her at first, as if he had been awake long enough to gather his thoughts but not enough to decide what to do with them."I could ask you the same thing," he replied after a moment, his voice sounded calm, though not as steady as it usually was.Aurora shifted slightly, pulling the sheet closer around herself without realizing it, her fingers gripping the edge lightly as she avoided his gaze for a brief second.'That’s because…" she began, then stopped, letting out a small breath before trying again. "This is… a littl