“You’re nothing,” Marcus spat. “You always were. You still are. No matter what stories you tell yourself or the photos you doctor. You’ll always be the broke kid who sits alone at lunch.”The words lingered like poison in the air, floating above the glossy mahogany table surrounded by laughter and high-end suits. Javier Everhart sat quietly among his former classmates, his expression unchanged. His plain white t-shirt and scuffed sneakers contrasted sharply against the elegance of the five-star restaurant. Yet, he didn’t seem embarrassed. He never did.Marcus leaned forward, veins slightly bulging at his neck. “God, look at you. You think dropping a photoshopped wedding picture on the table will make us believe you married Valeria Solano? What are you, delusional?”“Maybe he’s method acting,” Dean offered sarcastically. “Living the role of ‘delusional broke man who thinks he bagged a billionaire wife.’ I’d give that performance a solid ten.”“Javier,” Helena added sweetly, “I’m saying

Helena leaned closer to Javier. “You… you really ordered all this?”Javier gave a mild nod, not touching the opulent food that surrounded them. “Figured we should enjoy something special.”“But… you’re…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes darted across the line of silver carts, each one holding a dish that screamed wealth. Gold-dusted caviar. Otoro sashimi. Wagyu beef that shimmered under the ambient light like silk.“Just Javier,” he said simply, as if it were enough.It wasn’t.Marcus slammed his palm on the table, making several people jump. “This doesn’t make sense!” His voice was loud, laced with disbelief and fury. “Y

Javier stepped out of the private dining room, buttoning his jacket again. The two women trailed after him like guilty shadows.“Will there be anything else we can assist you with, sir?” the receptionist asked, her voice a little too quick.Javier glanced over his shoulder. “No. I’ve seen what I needed to see.”She nodded, relief flickering across her face.But Javier didn’t head straight for the exit. Instead, he walked—unhurried—towards the corner bar where a middle-aged man in a tailored vest was speaking to the bartender.“Mr. Alvarez,” Javier greeted, his tone smooth.The man turned, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Mr. Everhart? I didn’t know you were in town.” His voice warmed instantly. “A pleasure, as always.”The receptionist froze a few steps away, her color draining.Javier extended a hand, shaking firmly. “I was here to inspect a table for tonight. My wife has a reservation.”Alvarez smiled broadly. “Ah, of course. You could have told the staff—they’d have rolled out the r

The evening was supposed to be quiet. Valeria had been invited to a high-profile charity dinner at the vineyard estate of the Monteverdi family — some of the oldest wine magnates in Italy. Javier had agreed to accompany her, despite his distaste for such social gatherings.From the moment they arrived, Javier noticed the glances. The measuring eyes. The way people seemed to look past him when they greeted Valeria.He was dressed in a simple charcoal suit — no designer label, no watch worth a year’s salary, just a plain leather strap around his wrist. It wasn’t because he couldn’t afford more. It was because he didn’t need to.But to them… it was all they saw.Valeria was quickly swept away by acquaintances, leaving Javier at the edge of the terrace. He didn’t mind — until two men approached.“Well, you must be Valeria’s… driver?” one of them asked with a smirk.Javier’s expression didn’t change. “Husband.”The second man raised an eyebrow. “Husband? Really? Valeria Solano married… you

The ballroom glittered with chandeliers and the hum of polite conversation. The annual Rosenthal Charity Gala was the crown jewel of the city’s high-society events, drawing every prominent figure, socialite, and power broker in town. Javier Everhart, in a tailored black tuxedo, entered with Valeria on his arm, her emerald silk gown catching the light like ripples on water.They were halfway across the room when a loud, theatrical voice broke the air.“Oh my,” a tall woman with diamonds dripping from her ears said loudly enough for several nearby guests to hear. “I didn’t realize they were letting in… outsiders this year.”Her companions—three women with identical smirks—giggled behind their champagne glasses.Valeria’s fingers tightened slightly on Javier’s arm, but she kept her head high. “Good evening,” she said smoothly.The woman’s eyes flicked over Valeria’s gown. “That’s… cute. Did you borrow it? Oh, wait—maybe it’s one of those department store replicas. Very brave to wear that