Karvel Cross stood silently in front of Vivian Fairchild’s office door, his expression composed but his mind running cold calculations.He had been patient long enough.It was time.Adjusting the cuff of his jacket, he knocked once, then pushed the door open without waiting for permission.Vivian sat behind her desk, flipping through some papers with stiff, jerky motions. The moment she saw him, her entire body seemed to tense further, her eyes hardening into something unfamiliar.Karvel’s sharp instincts caught the shift immediately."Vivian," he greeted with his usual calm. "It’s time we had that conversation."She didn’t look up. "I’m busy."Karvel raised an eyebrow. Busy? That wasn’t the woman who had once practically dragged him into her world with stubborn persistence."You said you knew what I wanted," he continued, stepping inside, voice steady. "I think it’s about time you told me."Vivian slapped the papers onto the desk, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she

Leo Romano lounged arrogantly in his seat at the center of the upscale restaurant, a glass of red wine swirling lazily in his hand. Across from him sat Mariya Carter , her mother, and her brother Ethan Carter, all gathered around a lavish spread of food most of the city’s elite could only dream of affording.Leo’s smile was wide and self-satisfied as he recounted his latest triumph."So there I was," he said with a theatrical wave of his hand, "sitting in Vivian Fairchild’s office, and she had the audacity to defend that bum, Karvel Cross. Can you believe it?"Mariya forced a polite smile, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.Leo leaned in, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "But I put her in her place. Told her she could either have her little company… or her little pet project. Gave her forty-eight hours to make the right choice."Mrs. Carter clapped her hands together in delight. "Mr. Romano, you’re incredible! That woman thought too highly of herself anyway."Ethan laughed loudly

The tension in the Imperial Star Hotel’s restaurant was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.Karvel Cross walked away from the Carter family’s table, his expression cool and unbothered. He had no intention of getting dragged into their petty games any longer.But Ethan Carter, drunk on the power of sitting beside Leo Romano and the false sense of importance it gave him, wasn’t about to let Karvel walk away so easily.“You liar!” Ethan shouted, rising sharply from his seat, his face red with both alcohol and rage. “You think you can just stroll in here, say whatever you want, and walk off like you’re better than us?!”Mariya Carter flinched, her stomach twisting with anxiety.Before anyone could stop him, Ethan staggered toward Karvel and raised his hand to slap him.The room seemed to hold its breath.Karvel caught Ethan’s wrist midair without even turning his head. His fingers tightened just enough to make Ethan wince in pain.And then—SMACK!Karvel delivered a slap so resound