Ash nodded, masking her frustration with a forced smile. "Okay, Grandma."As she climbed back into her car, her thoughts simmered with rage. Simon. That bastard. How dare he put me through this nonsense? Her grip tightened on the steering wheel, and under her breath, she muttered, "He’ll pay for this. One way or another."The engine roared to life, but her mind was elsewhere, plotting her revenge. What a nuisance he is.When she finally arrived at the Katherine mansion, the matriarch was waiting, her expression calm but serious. "Ash, the chairman's secretary just sent us Simon’s new contact details."Ash blinked, caught off guard. "Wait... Simon didn’t block me? He changed his number?" A dark chuckle escaped her lips. "Wow, Simon. Well played. Thumbs up to you."The matriarch’s stern voice cut through Ash’s sarcasm. "Silence, Ash. Now, here's what you’re going to do. Call Simon and ask him to come over. You can apologize, like a proper wife, and we’ll avoid escalating this matter."A

The moment the matriarch stormed through the door, her fury was like a crackling flame. She didn’t pause; her hands swept across the hallway table, sending vase after vase crashing onto the marble floor. Each shattering blow echoed through the house, a warning to everyone within earshot—stay away. The staff scattered, whispering among themselves, too scared to even clean up the mess she left in her wake.But Ash wasn’t so lucky.“Ash!” The matriarch’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. Ash, halfway up the stairs, froze. Her heart raced as her grandmother’s footsteps grew closer. “Why did you have to cheat on Simon?”Ash swallowed hard, words caught in her throat, but the matriarch didn’t wait for an answer. “And with that useless Liam, no less. He’s done nothing for this family, and now neither have you!” Her words were laced with venom, each one sinking deep into Ash’s gut. “You’ve disgraced us.”Ash’s mouth was dry, her eyes fixed on the ground, wishing the floor would swal

As he entered the grand hall, the sight was nothing short of magnificent. The walls shimmered in rose gold, and silver petals cascaded from the ceiling like some kind of opulent rain. At one end, stars shone in an ethereal display, casting a soft glow across the room. A lone guitarist played smooth, mellow tunes, his fingers expertly dancing across the strings. The crowd was a mix of high society—men in perfectly tailored tuxedos and women adorned in luxurious ball gowns. Yet, to Simon, they were all actors in a charade, putting on airs to mask the hypocrisy that lies beneath their polished surfaces. He smirked to himself, disgusted at the disguise these so-called elites put on. Just as his mind started wandering deeper into his disdain for Skitt City's upper class, a soft tap on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts. He turned sharply, his gaze cold and calculating. There stood Esther, Ash’s younger sister. Her timid smile and innocent eyes seemed out of place amidst the lav

Simon stood before the bathroom mirror, his gaze steady as he dialed Beckley’s number. His reflection remained composed, though his mind was calculating every detail of what was to come. “Beckley,” Simon said, his tone smooth yet commanding. “I need a favor. Bring me the most popular male celebrity present at this event. Have him meet me in the men’s bathroom. Immediately.”Beckley responded with his usual promptness. “Consider it done, young master. He’ll be there in two to three minutes.”Simon slipped his phone back into his pocket, his jaw tightening as he awaited the final piece of his plan. Minutes later, Paris, a well-known celebrity with a sharp, charismatic presence, entered the bathroom. His every movement screamed confidence, a man used to attention and luxury. He smirked when he saw Simon, curious yet unbothered.“Mr. Simon,” Paris greeted casually. “What’s this about?”Simon wasted no time with small talk. “I need you to help me with something. You’ll be compensated gene

He unlocked the phone and saw a message from Del, his assistant: "Business meeting with foreign investors at Socok Club, 4 p.m."His jaw tightened as he read the message. Midnight. It wasn’t even morning yet, and already the weight of his schedule was pressing down on him. He fired off a terse reply: "Ok."He threw the phone on the bed beside him, running a hand over his face, the frustration simmering beneath his cool exterior. “Why the hell is Del messaging me at midnight?” he muttered to himself. This wasn’t the first time she’d disrupted what little downtime he had.Gosh, Del is such an annoying assistant, he thought bitterly. Always sending reminders at the worst times.He felt a pang of guilt almost immediately. Del wasn’t incompetent—far from it. She handled his chaotic schedule and endless demands better than anyone else ever had. But lately, everything felt overwhelming. No matter how well things went, there was always something new to deal with, some meeting, some investor,