Nathan stood before the towering gates of Dynasty Group, his facial expression serious. Liera's call had been abrupt, her voice strained and tight, unusual for someone so composed. Something was wrong. He glanced at the estate's massive structure, its glass walls glinting like polished obsidian under the sun. As he stepped closer to the security post, one of the guards eyed him with disdain. "Who are you, and what business do you have here?" the guard demanded, his tone lacking courtesy. "I'm here to see Liera." "Liera? You mean Madam Liera Dolph? And you address her by name? Are you mad?" "Yeah," the second guard chimed in. "You dare call her by name? Liera Dolph, the General Manager of Dynasty Group? You must be insane."Nathan checked his wristwatch, his composure as cold as steel. That subtle action only fueled their irritation."Look at him! Acting like he's someone important," the first guard sneered. "You dress like a commoner and expect to see Madam Liera?"Nathan lifted

Nathan slammed the car door shut with a quiet thud and strode toward the towering city hall like a man on a mission. The city’s crest gleamed above the entrance, but Nathan barely noticed. His jaw was locked, eyes forward. He pushed the glass doors open and walked into the marbled reception like he owned the place. At the front desk, a petite woman with curled lashes and glossy lips looked up from her screen.“Hello. I’m here to see the Mayor,” Nathan said, calm but firm.She looked him over—creased black shirt, no tie, no name badge—like she was mentally tossing him into a trash bin. “Sorry, there are no cleaner positions available in this building.”Nathan’s brows twitched. “Excuse me?” he asked, voice dropping slightly. “I said I’m here to see the Mayor.”The woman’s nose flared. “I’m now deaf. I heard you,” she snapped, clearly offended. “But I think you're stupid to walk into a government building acting like you're the Mayor’s boss. Do you have an appointment? If yes, show me.

Braxton Miller stood stiffly in the center of the grand living room of the Miller house, the velvet carpet beneath his shoes suddenly feeling like thorns beneath his feet. The room was vast, chandelier-lit, with gold-plated picture frames and luxury screaming from every corner, yet nothing could shield him from the storm brewing before him.Across from him stood his towering mother, Madeline, her figure sharp in an emerald satin gown, her heels clicking ominously as she paced. Beside her sat his aged yet stern grandfather, Silas, his eyes hidden behind golden spectacles, his hands resting on an ivory cane that tapped against the marble floor with impatience.“What did you say happened at the birthday banquet of Mr. Johnson Monroe?” Madeline’s voice snapped like a whip. Her eyes, cold as ice, bore into him.Braxton swallowed thickly. “I’m sorry, Mother. I’m sorry, Grandfather. I had planned everything, but—”“You planned everything, yet you ended up humiliated?” Silas interrupted sharp

The next day, Natalia dressed simply yet smartly, her outfit speaking volumes of subtle elegance. A cream silk blouse tucked neatly into high-waisted charcoal trousers gave her a graceful yet businesslike edge. She pinned her chestnut-brown hair into a soft bun, letting a few strands fall at the sides of her face to frame her delicate cheekbones. A touch of nude lipstick added warmth to her anxious expression as she stepped into the tall glass building of Gaius Group.Inside Robert Gaius’s office, everything smelled of wealth and sharp decisiveness. The walls were lined with dark wood, interrupted only by a single large window that let in beams of filtered sunlight. Robert sat behind his mahogany desk, dressed impeccably in a navy-blue suit with a subtle silver pocket square. His presence was calm, but his eyes sparkled with mild amusement as Natalia walked in.“Good morning,” she greeted, lowering her eyes respectfully.“Morning, Natalia,” he said warmly, gesturing for her to take a

Moments later, Natalia turned into the driveway, the still morning sun settled over the neighborhood, painting the skies in shades of light orange. Her tires crunched softly on the gravel, the sound oddly loud in the stillness around her. She parked, resting her head briefly on the steering wheel before reaching for her bag.With a sigh, she opened the door and stepped out. The air was cool and still. She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder but paused.Her fingers twitched as she remembered.Heath.That moment by the car, how he had taken her hand with such careful gentleness and pressed his lips to her knuckles.It had completely caught her off guard. She hadn’t seen it coming. And worse, she had pulled away just after he kissed her.A wave of guilt tightened her chest. Nathan…Even though they were no longer together, the gesture had felt wrong. Like a betrayal.But Heath was a friend. She shook her head. “If it had been someone else, I would have slapped them… but Heath