Dr. Jones finally lifted his head, rage burning behind his pain. His voice cracked, but pride forced the words out.“Enough… stop this… whatever you did, stop it now!”Alex’s gaze slid toward him, cold and unchanging.“Then start bowing,” he said, voice like ice.Dr. Jones’s lips twisted with fury. His hand dug into his thigh, nails biting through the fabric until blood seeped through. “You think… I will bow to you? Who the hell do you think you are—”He never finished.The younger doctor broke first. Tears streaked his face as he dragged himself forward, half-crawling, half-collapsing.“I’m sorry! Please—please forgive me! Ahhh—please… forgive me!” His forehead slammed against the floor as he begged, over and over.“Forgive me! Forgive me!” His voice shattered as he whispered numbers under his breath, as if counting could save him.The sound of his frantic bows filled the room, echoing against the walls.The other doctors froze, their faces pale. Some stared in disbelief. Others lower

Cassandra smirked wider at his glare. “What? Don’t look at me like that. I’m dead serious. That’s how desperate I am.”“You never shut up,” Alex muttered.“And you never say enough,” she fired back, folding her arms. “So? Are you coming with me or not?”His eyes narrowed, but his mouth stayed shut.This woman was insane. First, she joked about marriage. Now this? Who the hell tossed words like that around so casually?She’s completely out of her mind.Yet… those eyes. Behind the sly smile and sharp teasing, there was something else—desperation.He wanted to brush her off. He should. But something inside him stirred, uncomfortably familiar.Damn it… why is it always women like her?Sophia’s face flashed in his mind. Those piercing eyes. That same dangerous charm. The memory clawed at him, and Cassandra suddenly felt different—and not different at all.He clicked his tongue, irritated with himself. Why am I even letting this nonsense get in my head?Finally, he exhaled sharply. “Fine.”

Cara heard it, and her face twisted like she’d just bitten into poison. She followed Sophia’s gaze, and when her eyes landed on Alex, her lips curled.“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Her voice was low, sharp, dripping with disgust.“Why the hell is he here? In a place like this?”Sophia stiffened, words choking in her throat.Ethan caught it too. His ears never missed a name, especially one that carried weight. A slow smile stretched across his lips.“Well, well,” Ethan said lightly, swirling his drink before setting it aside.“Alex, was it?” His eyes flicked toward Sophia, alive with interest.“That’s not just any name. An old one. An important one, isn’t it?” His tone made it clear—he already knew.Sophia swallowed hard. Her voice came out tight. “He… used to be my husband.”That was all Ethan needed. His eyes gleamed with opportunity. This was his chance to carve deeper into her life, to prove he could destroy even the shadows of her past.He straightened, flashing his practic

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he tracked Cassandra and Alex disappearing into the crowd.His jaw clenched, though his posture stayed composed, arms folded tight across his chest. “Hmph… she’s beautiful,” he muttered under his breath.“But if she’s with that Alex, she clearly isn’t thinking straight.”Cara’s lips pressed thin, her eyes blazing with venom.“That bitch,” she spat, her voice low and shaking with rage. “How dare she just stroll in here like she owns the place—ugh! I hate her!”Sophia drew a slow breath, steadying the fire in the air. Her gaze locked on both of them, calm yet unyielding.“Enough,” she said firmly. “Forget them. What matters now is which Dupont shows up tonight. That’s what everyone’s waiting for. That’s where our focus needs to be.”Ethan straightened, confidence returning to his stance. A sharp smile curved across his face.“You’re right, Sophia. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get the perfect chance to meet them. Trust me.”Sophia’s expression softened, gratit

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. For a moment she stood frozen, staring into the mirror.The reflection staring back at her was calm, collected—but inside, it felt like the floor was splitting open beneath her feet.Not on the list.Her lips pressed tight, but her voice cracked anyway. “Are you sure, Cara?”Cara’s hands trembled around her phone. She nodded hard. “Yes. I swear it’s true. A friend of mine was one of the organizers.She said it’s already decided.” Her voice splintered, sharp with anger. “It has to be because of her. Because of Cassandra Dupont, doesn’t it?”Sophia’s chest clenched. Could it really be that simple? Months of work—sleepless nights, endless revisions—swept aside like nothing. All because of Cassandra Dupont?Cara’s mouth twisted with fury. “Or because of earlier? Of course! We didn’t know she was a Dupont. But Alex knew. That bastard knew and said nothing! He stood there and let us look like fools. How low can you sink?”She kept spitting curses, but S