Faye stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribs as she studied Yemin with new eyes. The restaurant's opulent lighting seemed to dim around them, casting everything else into shadow.This wasn't normal.The CEO of Ravol Company—one of the most formidable figures in the business world—had followed Yemin's subtle command without hesitation or question. It wasn't mere respect or professional courtesy.It was obedience.And that terrified her to her core.Who the hell is he? The question echoed in her mind, demanding an answer she couldn't fathom.Yemin had said nothing. He had merely raised a hand—a simple, elegant gesture—and just like that, the punishment had ceased. As if he controlled the very air in the room.Katherine and James should have recognized the shift then. They should have retreated into silence, should have understood the precarious edge they stood upon.But instead—Katherine, still kneeling on the polished floor, her makeup streaked and her face flushed crimson,

The atmosphere inside the Katherine residence was tense and suffocating. Katherine sat stiffly on the couch, her jaw clenched, an ice pack pressed to her still-swollen cheek. How dare he humiliate me like this, she thought, the memory of the restaurant scene replaying in her mind like a nightmare on loop. James paced back and forth like a caged animal."I can't believe that bastard," he growled, throwing his arms up. "Everything we built—gone, just like that!" "Because of him," Katherine spat, the word like venom on her tongue. "That worthless roach of a man—Yemin." James turned sharply. "And the worst part? Everyone at the restaurant… they saw. They all saw us getting slapped, dragged out like trash. How the hell do we come back from that?Our reputation in tatters in front of the exact people we needed to impress.”Before Katherine could answer, her phone buzzed. It was her mother. Within seconds, her entire family had gathered in the living room after the call. Faces were pale, vo

Faye sat stiffly in the luxurious office, her project proposal folder resting lightly on her lap. Every corner of the room exuded wealth and power—pristine glass walls, polished mahogany accents, sleek black furniture with gold trim.This was Morgan Group.The best, the biggest, and most elite business conglomerate in the city.She had prepared herself mentally for a grueling interrogation, a detailed vetting of her struggling company’s past, maybe even subtle humiliation meant to weed out weak applicants.But instead—Chairman Hargrove, the formidable CEO of Group A, stood from his desk with a warm smile and extended his hand toward her.“Miss Langford,” he greeted, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please, have a seat.”Faye blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, shaking his hand. “Thank you. I appreciate you making time to see me so soon.”Chairman Hargrove nodded. “I’ve already reviewed your proposal. It’s promising.”She hesitated. “You have?”He smiled faintly. “Chairman Morgan’

Katherine's face contorted with fury as she spotted Faye emerging from Group A's headquarters, clutching what was unmistakably a signed contract.The smile on Faye's face was like salt in an open wound—a contract that should have been hers, a triumph that had been stolen from her."Look at her," Katherine spat, grabbing James's arm. "Grinning like she's accomplished something impressive."James scowled. "She probably slept her way to that contract. There's no other explanation."Faye noticed Katherine and James standing near the entrance. Her smile faltered as guilt washed over her. Taking a deep breath, she approached them."Katherine, I—""Save it," Katherine cut her off, voice dripping with venom. "Enjoy your little victory while it lasts. We both know your pathetic company doesn't have what it takes to fulfill a contract of this magnitude."Faye winced at the harshness. "I didn't plan for any of this to happen. I just came to present my proposal and—""And what?" Katherine stepped

Yemin leaned forward, his eyes focused intently on Faye as she spoke about the ring. The background noise of the café seemed to fade away as he waited for her answer."Actually," Faye said, stirring her coffee absently, "I think Katherine mentioned something about it when she was hurling accusations at me. But I'm not sure why you're asking about it?""I'm curious," Yemin replied carefully. "She mentioned you had a ring similar to one I own."Faye's brow furrowed as she searched her memories. "I did have a special ring once. It had an unusual pattern—almost like half of a complete design. I haven't seen it in years though.""Do you remember how you got it?" Yemin asked, his heart racing."It was a gift," Faye smiled softly at the recollection. "From a young boy, actually. I was maybe eleven or twelve at the time. I found him under a bridge during a rainstorm. He looked half-starved, poor thing."Yemin's breath caught in his throat. "What did you do?""I shared my lunch with him," Faye