The following morning, Wula called Selena.Her voice was soft and contrite — nothing like the woman who had stood in Rosary Teahouse the day before looking murderous. “Selena, I’ve been thinking about yesterday. I was out of line. I shouldn’t have spoken to you and Jaden the way I did. I’m sorry.”Selena was quiet for a moment. “It’s fine,” she said, though not without a trace of awkwardness. “Jaden wasn’t entirely without fault either. I’ve spoken to him about it.”Wula let the apology settle just long enough to seem genuine, then moved smoothly forward. “I’m glad to hear that. Listen — it’s actually my birthday today. I’m putting together a small party tonight at Ironvale Hotel, just friends, nothing too formal. I’d love for you and Jaden to come.”A brief pause on the other end. “I’m not sure if Jaden is free tonight.”“It’s an evening party,” Wula said lightly. “It’s not like either of you has work at that hour.” She let a note of vulnerability slip into her voice. “Unless you’re

With Selena gone and Tommy conveniently elsewhere, the table had narrowed down to just Jaden, Wula, and her friends.Wula looked at Jaden across the rim of her champagne glass. She had been watching him on and off all evening, telling herself it was strategic, that this was simply a means to an end. But sitting this close now, with the soft lighting catching the angles of his face and that faint, unhurried smile that seemed to belong to a man who was never quite caught off guard — she felt something shift beneath the calculation.He really was absurdly good-looking. The kind of face that improved the longer you studied it.She set her glass down and leaned forward slightly, letting her posture do its own work. “Jaden,” she said, her voice dropping into something lower and more deliberate.He glanced over. “Yes?”“The more I look at you tonight, the more I think Selena has extraordinarily good taste.” She held his gaze with a smile that made no effort to be anything other than what it

Tommy smiled. “Leave it to me. I’ll have someone snatch Rosemary and put her on her knees while she brews you tea. After that, I’ll deal with Jaden and Selena properly.”Wula looked satisfied with that.What she didn’t know was that Tommy’s interest in Rosemary had very little to do with avenging Wula’s bruised pride. Rosemary came from a prominent family in Bluelock City — old money, deep connections, the kind of background that made most people in Ironvale treat her with careful deference. Nobody touched Rosemary . It simply wasn’t done.Tommy was not most people.He had spent his formative years as a mercenary across Southeast Asia, moving through environments where the currency was violence and the clientele ranged from tribal warlords to army generals to drug lords who ran entire provinces. He had seen the full spectrum of human ruthlessness and had carved out a reputation within it. Eventually that reputation had brought him to Balo Nagger’s attention, and he had become the man

Rex watched as the rain soaked through Rosemary’s gown, the wet fabric clinging to her figure. He let his eyes linger longer than necessary before smirking.“Mr. Valkyrie wants to see you, Rosemary. Be a good girl and come quietly.” He tilted his head. “Unless you’d prefer we carry you.”Rosemary’s face drained of color, but her voice stayed sharp. “You barged into my teahouse, drove out my customers, and now you’re hunting me through the streets in the rain. Do you people think the law simply doesn’t apply to you?”Rex laughed. It was the laugh of someone who had never once had to consider the question seriously. “Mr. Nagger has the final say in this city. Shimmer Corporation is the law — for commoners like you, anyway.” He raised his hand without looking back. “Take her.”His men moved forward.Then they stopped.Rex turned to see what had halted them.A tall figure stood at the edge of the alley, holding a black umbrella, rain drumming steadily against it. He wasn’t moving quickly.

The moment the words left her mouth, Jaden’s expression did not change.“We’ve only just met,” he said calmly. “I can’t say whether I like you or dislike you. But I already love someone. Don’t ask me questions like that again.”His voice was neither cold nor gentle. It was simply final.Rosemary lowered her gaze. A faint bitterness rose in her chest.This was the first time in her life that she had felt drawn to a man. Yet before anything could even begin, it was already over.And the reason was simple.He belonged to someone else.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Outside, the rain continued to pour against the windows of the Bentley.The city lights blurred behind the falling water as the car moved steadily through the night.Not long after, the vehicle slowed and stopped in front of a luxurious residential area.Rosary Bay Luxury Villas.Tall iron gates stood at the entrance, and the quiet neighborhood was lined with expensive mansions hidden behind trees and tall walls.Morix g