After dinner, Jaden stepped out alone into the cool evening air.The night sky over Ironvale was calm. He got into his old Polo, started the engine, and began backing out of the garage.But something caught his eye.A faint movement — a shadow by the trees at the edge of the yard.He narrowed his gaze. The corner of his mouth twitched. Whoever it was thought they were being sneaky, but the faint shuffle of shoes and the flicker of long hair in the dim light gave it away instantly.He stopped the car, rolled down the window, and said flatly, “Morganna, I saw you. Don’t hide.”There was a brief pause, then she emerged from behind the tree, her arms crossed and her face twisted into irritation. “Who said I was hiding?” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, you prick.”Jaden couldn’t help it — he laughed, low and amused. “Right. Because standing behind a tree in the dark is just something people do for fun.”She glared at him but didn’t answer.He knew exactly what she

Jaden’s brows furrowed, a faint crease forming between them. Morganna’s patience was already wearing thin. Nora’s smug tone and dismissive smirk were too much.“What kind of attitude is this?” Morganna snapped, her voice sharp. “Get your boss here right now!”Nora hesitated, clearly irritated, but before she could answer, a small commotion came from the far end of the shop. A man in a tailored suit approached, surrounded by two floor managers. His walk carried confidence, the kind that came from money and name recognition.The moment his eyes landed on Morganna, his face lit up. “Morganna? It’s really you!” he exclaimed with visible delight.Morganna’s annoyance instantly shifted into indignation. She crossed her arms and turned to him sharply. “Hugo Chamberlain, you came at the right time. Look at your staff’s behavior—this is how they treat customers? I can’t believe you’d keep someone like her in your store.”The atmosphere in the shop shifted immediately.Hugo Chamberlain. The son

The air in the store turned electric.Everyone—salespeople, managers, and even a few customers who had been quietly browsing—froze when Hugo made his arrogant challenge.If Jaden could show he had a hundred million, he could buy the Evermore pink diamond necklace for only ten million.For a moment, whispers filled the store.“Did he just say ten million?”“That’s a ninety percent discount!”“If that guy can really pull it off, he’d be walking away with a fortune’s worth of jewelry!”Eyes turned toward Jaden, filled with curiosity, envy, and disbelief.It was a dream offer—but no one believed he could do it. Not this man. Not the guy who had driven here in a worn-out Polo, dressed like someone running weekend errands.The staff shared quick, knowing glances. Hugo’s condition wasn’t generosity—it was humiliation dressed as a joke.They all knew it.He’s baiting him.And everyone expected Jaden to back down.Morganna’s stomach twisted into knots. The entire situation had spiraled far bey

Hugo’s world crumbled in a few raw seconds. His confident swagger collapsed into a ragged, stunned glare. He could not believe it. Perpetual Love was their empire. It paid for cars, parties, family prestige. It was how the Chamberlains showed they mattered in Ironvale.“This cannot be,” he barked, voice cracking. “This store belongs to us. It is our money machine. How could my father sell it without telling me? Who do you think you are?”He fumbled for his phone and jabbed at it. Roden Chamberlain’s name flashed on the screen. Hugo picked up with a shaking hand, trying to find command inside panic.On the other end his father’s voice trembled with rage and bewilderment. “My son, what have you done? Who did you offend this time? The family is ruined. Perpetual Love was bought out minutes ago. Who signed those papers?”“You little rascal,” Roden spat, anger flaring. “I will break your legs when I get back.”Hugo’s face went white. The next level of humiliation hit when he realized this

Morganna blinked, taken aback by Jaden’s calm response. It wasn’t what she expected—but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made.Being unemployed and being broke weren’t the same thing. Not for a man like him.Still, curiosity got the better of her. “As far as I know,” she said, turning to look at him, “Perpetual Love is the Chamberlains’ golden goose. Everyone in Ironvale knows it’s worth over eight hundred million. How did you buy it from Roden Chamberlain for just five hundred million—and do it in under ten minutes?”Jaden’s lips curved slightly, his tone even and calm. “Because I gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”That was all he said. No details, no explanation.Morganna rolled her eyes. “You and your mysterious answers.”He smiled faintly but didn’t respond, keeping his eyes on the road as the Polo glided smoothly through the quiet evening streets. The city lights streaked across the windshield, painting flashes of gold across his face.She studied him for a lo