The aroma of grilled meat mixed with spices filled the air. Louis Moreau stood in front of the stove, his hands moving swiftly to adjust the flame while ensuring the wagyu steak he was grilling reached perfection. Sweat trickled down his temple, but his eyes remained sharp, filled with focus.Le Ciel de Paris was as busy as ever. Tonight, high-class guests filled the tables, their wine glasses shimmering under the warm light as they conversed in thick French accents, laced with arrogance. To them, food wasn’t just a meal—it was an art that had to be flawless.“Louis! If you delay one more order, I’ll strike your name off the permanent staff list!” The harsh voice of Executive Chef Vincent Lemoine rang through the kitchen. The tall man, his presence commanding, stared at him with sharp eyes, full of impatience.Louis didn’t flinch. His hands continued slicing the meat with precision. “This steak needs to be perfect, Chef. Fifteen more seconds.”Vincent stepped closer, his jaw tightenin

Celeste had truly left him.--- The sun was already high when Louis finally fell asleep. But his sleep was restless. A few hours later, loud knocks on the door jolted him awake. With a heavy head, he stumbled to the door and opened it. A man in an expensive suit stood before him, his expression unreadable. "Louis Moreau?" Louis squinted. "Who are you?" The man pulled an envelope from his jacket and handed it to him. "I’m Celeste Moreau’s attorney. This is an official document she asked me to deliver." Louis took the envelope cautiously. He broke the seal and read the contents. And as he absorbed each word, his blood boiled. Celeste was filing for divorce. And worse—she was demanding full custody of Mathéo. Louis gripped the paper tightly, his hands trembling. He looked up at the lawyer, his gaze burning with fury. "She can’t do this." The man remained unfazed. "She already has. The first hearing is in two weeks." Louis held his breath, forcing himself to stay calm. C

Jean, now terrified, turned and ran without looking back.The woman didn’t chase him. Lowering her pistol, she walked toward Louis, who lay motionless on the ground.She crouched, her gaze scanning his bruised and bloodied face with an unreadable expression."Look at you," she murmured. "Someone really wants you dead."Louis tried to speak, but only blood spilled from his lips. His vision darkened further.The woman sighed, then effortlessly lifted his battered body as if he were nothing more than a doll."You owe me your life, Chef."That was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness completely.---When Louis opened his eyes, the sound of crashing waves greeted him.He lay on a soft bed, inside a room with a large window overlooking the sea.The coast?His head pounded, but he could feel bandages wrapped around various parts of his body."Ah, you’re finally awake."The woman’s voice came from the corner of the room.Louis turned his head, seeing his rescuer seated on a ch

[Ding! Congratulations! Scarlett Valentine has now become the first woman in your harem.][System Bonus: 100,000 System Points, "Master Negotiator" Ability, and "Absolute Charm" Skill.][Additional Reward: Scarlett now has complete loyalty to you. She will do anything to support your success.]Louis blinked as a series of system notifications appeared in his mind. For a moment, he thought it was just an illusion or a dream, but the strange sensation coursing through his body proved otherwise. His body felt lighter, his mind sharper, and somehow, he could sense something different in the way Scarlett looked at him.This harem system was full of surprises.In front of him, Scarlett Valentine sat elegantly, crossing her long legs with grace. A deep red satin gown hugged her figure perfectly, exuding an aura of confidence that was unmistakably hers. In her hand, a glass of wine swirled slowly, creating a hypnotic vortex of crimson.Louis observed her with curiosity. Scarlett had always po

Celeste rose from her seat, gracefully slipping her arm through Pierre’s. Before leaving, she stopped beside Louis and leaned in, whispering softly."I hope you can survive this, Louis."He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with raw pain.She smiled faintly before adding in a voice so low only he could hear,"Because after this, you have nothing left."With that, Celeste and Pierre walked away, leaving Louis frozen in place.His hands remained clenched on the table, his entire body numb.Scarlett stayed by his side, saying nothing.And deep inside Louis… something shifted.If they thought he would simply crumble and fade into nothingness…They were dead wrong.This wasn’t the end.This was the beginning of his revenge.Chapter 9 – The Kindling FlameLouis sat motionless in his chair, his eyes still fixed on the courtroom door that Celeste and Pierre had just walked through. His breathing was heavy, filled with restrained anger. His heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousa