That morning, Louis was inspecting the progress of his new restaurant branch near Valmont’s port district. Maia and Vanessa stood by the expansion board, going over import logistics and delayed shipments. Scarlett had just returned from a northern medical conference and joined them on-site.The air shifted when a man in a slate-gray suit arrived, flanked by two lawyers and a secretary.“Louis Moreau,” the man said coldly.Louis turned, his brows furrowed. “Ronan Vesqel?”Scarlett stiffened, Vanessa instinctively stepped forward defensively.Ronan Vesqel—an ex-investor who once rejected Louis’s culinary vision. A ruthless businessman who had previously taken over a close friend’s restaurant and sold it to a foreign conglomerate.“I hear you’re building an ‘empire,’” Ronan sneered. “Too bad your foundation is still fragile.”“I don’t need your approval, Ronan,” Louis replied firmly.Ronan smirked and pulled out a stack of documents. “But you’ll need this. I’ve just bought 15% of your pr

Maia stared at her monitor, analyzing every frame and detail with practiced precision. Her suspicions about “Mizuki Kaede” had only deepened.The woman’s records were too perfect. No childhood history. No medical logs. Just... blank.Typing furiously, Maia breached the diplomatic database of the Japanese consulate.A few seconds later:Real Name: Kazue OriharaAffiliation: Orion Foods Group – Director of Asian Strategic OpsAlias: Mizuki Kaede – Japanese cultural ambassador“Got you,” Maia whispered with a triumphant smirk.Back at the mansion, Louis Moreau had just emerged from his private kitchen, where he was testing a new dish: Beef Wellington with black garlic truffle sauce and Provençal white carrot purée. The aroma still lingered, rich and intoxicating.Scarlett was on the sofa, laptop open on her lap. Vanessa sat nearby, reviewing Louis’s international asset reports. Both looked up as Louis entered.“Louis,” Scarlett said. “Maia just confirmed it. Mizuki’s real identity is out

The Valmont sky glowed gold as Louis stood inside the private kitchen of Griya Tawang. Before him were ingredients laid out with surgical precision—fresh Norwegian salmon, vibrant green asparagus, Meyer lemons, and freshly clipped thyme from Scarlett’s herb garden.Today wasn’t just any day.Today was Vanessa’s birthday.Scarlett and Maia had helped orchestrate the perfect distraction all afternoon so Louis could prepare a private dinner for the woman who now handled his empire’s finances.Vanessa's Birthday MenuAmuse-bouche: Fresh oysters with white wine vinaigrette and edible blossoms.Appetizer: Baby spinach salad with pomegranate, crumbled feta, and honey-lemon dressing.Main Course: Pan-Seared Norwegian Salmon with lemon-thyme beurre blanc, served with roasted asparagus and duchess potatoes.Dessert: Caramel mille-feuille with espresso mousse and edible gold flakes.Drink: Sparkling elderflower with rose petal garnish.When Vanessa entered the softly lit dining room, she froze i

The restaurant had never felt this tense.Louis stood at the plating station of L’Empire de Louis, his brow furrowed as he checked the temperature on a cut of Miyazaki A5 Wagyu. It needed thirty more seconds—just enough time to glance toward the door where Scarlett had just entered, holding a small vial of unfamiliar seasoning."Where did that come from?" he asked.Scarlett looked up. “The supplier said it was from our regular batch—but the label looks... off.”Louis’s eyes sharpened. “Toss it. We’re not taking risks.”Meanwhile, Vanessa sat in the back office, staring at her encrypted email. The subject line made her blood run cold: "We know your weakness. Pull out, or he falls."Someone was threatening her—someone who knew about her past ties to the inner financial circles of Valmont's elite.And Maia, unaware of all this, had just returned from a quiet meeting with a local food blogger—only to realize the woman had been wired. The "blogger" was no other than a shadow reporter worki

The living room was thick with tension.Scarlett sat near the window, her fingers clenched around a cup of untouched tea. Vanessa stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall like a statue carved from marble. Louis paced in the center, torn between strategy and frustration.Maia sat calmly on the armrest of the sofa, flipping her notepad shut. “The photos were taken two days ago. I’ve traced the metadata. They were uploaded by a burner account connected to—”“Dominique Renard,” Vanessa finished flatly.Louis stopped pacing. “That bastard.”Maia nodded. “He’s planning something bigger. This was only the bait.”Vanessa’s voice cut sharp. “We need a statement. A clear one. Before the public turns.”Scarlett finally stood. “No. Not yet.” Her voice was ice. “If we speak now, we’re dancing to his tune. We wait... and hit back harder.”Louis looked between them. “Then what do you suggest?”Scarlett wa