That night, after the gala ended and the guests began leaving the ballroom, Valeria walked beside Javier toward the hotel lounge area. Soft music played while the crystal chandeliers reflected a warm golden glow.But Valeria’s steps halted when her eyes caught sight of a woman in a striking red dress near the bar. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips—not a friendly smile, but one laced with bitter memories.That woman was Cassandra Blake, a former business associate who had once cunningly manipulated a contract, causing Valeria to lose a major project.Cassandra turned, her eyes widening for a brief moment before she lifted her chin, trying to act as though their past had never happened. “Valeria,” she greeted in a sweet yet fake tone. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”Valeria looked at her calmly, her expression nearly blank. “An interesting coincidence.”Javier glanced at his wife, reading the subtle shift in her gaze. He didn’t speak, but he stepped half a pace back—gi

Javier Everhart sat at the corner table of a modest seaside café, dressed in a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of dark slacks, and worn leather shoes. To any onlooker, he appeared to be just another average man — someone without power, wealth, or influence. That was exactly how he liked it when he wasn’t in the spotlight.Valeria Solano, his wife, sat across from him in an elegant summer dress. She looked radiant, though she kept glancing at Javier with a faint smirk. “You do realize,” she said, stirring her coffee, “that someone will eventually recognize you.”“Not here,” Javier replied evenly. “These people don’t even imagine that a billionaire would sit in a place like this.”It was then that the conversation from the next table caught his attention. Three men in their mid-forties, dressed in flashy brands from head to toe, were seated there. Their voices were loud, as if they wanted the whole café to hear them.One of them glanced at Javier, snorted, and said

The murmurs in the luxurious restaurant swelled when Javier returned to his table after making a quick call. The group of overdressed elites at the next table didn’t bother lowering their voices anymore.“Look at him—wearing that plain shirt. He doesn’t belong here,” one man snickered, his gold watch gleaming under the chandelier’s light.A woman with diamond earrings leaned closer to her companions. “I bet he can’t even afford a glass of champagne here. Probably just here to take pictures for social media.”Javier heard it all. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even turn toward them. Years of negotiating with ruthless business sharks had taught him that silence could be the sharpest blade. But Valeria, his wife, noticed the tightening of his jaw.“Javier,” she whispered, her dark eyes flickering with warning. “Ignore them.”He gave her a calm smile. “I am ignoring them.”But the group wasn’t satisfied. A younger man, clearly trying to impress the women at his table, raised his voice deliberat