Elaine and her family returned home in deep shame, the kind of shame that sits heavy in your chest and refuses to leave. The drive from Ambient Suites in a taxi was long and silent, each turn of the wheels against the asphalt dragging the weight of humiliation behind them. The only sounds were the occasional sigh from Rose or a frustrated mutter from Alder, their voices small, almost swallowed by the interior of the car. They had all imagined that the evening would be glamorous and effortless, a chance to taste the rarefied air of the city’s elite, to rub shoulders with wealth and sophistication. Instead, it had been a nightmare.Rose, sitting rigidly in the back seat, clasped her hands tightly in her lap, knuckles white with tension. She had always prided herself on the family’s ability to navigate elite circles, to sense hierarchies, to present themselves with the air of effortless refinement. Yet tonight, all of that carefully cultivated skill had crumbled. They had attempted to

Cynthia drew in a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the storm rising inside her chest. She had expected anger—she was not naïve—but the sheer force behind her father’s words struck her harder than she had prepared for. "Dad,” she said, her voice soft but steady, “I am not blind. I see perfectly well. And I know exactly who Antonio is, what he has done, and why he is a part of my life. I will not cut ties with him—not now, not ever. The only way I will ever sever those ties is on the day of my death, when I leave this world. Until then, Antonio is mine, and I am his. He has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. Everything I am, everything I do, has been influenced by him and his family. How could I possibly betray such a man?”Her father, Elias, stared at her in disbelief. Lines of frustration carved deeper into his forehead, and his jaw clenched so tightly.Elias’s face hardened further. “Cynthia, do not speak nonsense!” he barked, his voice sharpening l

“Elias,” Robert began, his voice smooth and deliberate, carrying that same quiet authority he had always possessed, “Cynthia is a fine girl. I’ve been thinking… she could get married to my second son, Kent. It would be a match made in heaven.”Elias’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing the idea for a moment. Yet, instead of protesting, he felt an unexpected surge of approval coursing through him. Kent, while not necessarily Elias’s first choice for a son-in-law or a strategic business ally, had demonstrated a sense of respect, discipline, and ambition that was rare among the young men of his generation. Beyond that, the Adams family was influential, and their fortune and network could provide opportunities that would be advantageous for both his daughter and the Greyson family. He clasped his hands together, considering his words carefully.“Robert,” Elias said slowly, choosing each word, “I see your point. Kent is indeed a good match. I will make sure that Cynthia and Kent

Elias Greyson had not slept properly for days. His mind had been a restless battlefield, thoughts clashing in endless circles, and none of the loops ever led him anywhere close to peace. Every attempt to close his eyes at night only summoned more frustration, more anxiety, and more anger. His daughter Cynthia—his jewel, his pride, the one person he had expected to remain loyal to his wishes—had blindsided him.She was engaged.And not just to anyone.To Antonio Morris.The mere sound of the Morris name made Elias’s blood boil.Antonio, in Elias’s eyes, symbolized everything dangerous: recklessness, ambition without control, and a sense of independence that threatened Elias’s authority.So when Cynthia had walked into their home days earlier, her eyes bright with love and determination, announcing her intention to marry Antonio Morris, Elias had felt something inside him shatter.But now—thanks to an unexpected conversation—things were shifting.Robert Adams had presented him with a

Elias stared at his daughter as though she had just spoken an impossible language. The words still hung in the air—sharp, unwavering, and bold. “If he is Robert Adams’s son, then I won’t marry him. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.” For a moment, even the air in the spacious living room seemed to tighten, almost compressing around them. Kent stood motionless, hands clasped calmly in front of him, his expression unreadable, while Elias’s eyes widened at Cynthia as if she had personally insulted him. The clock ticked somewhere in the background, but its sound seemed distant, almost irrelevant in the charged silence. “What?” Elias finally breathed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and frustration. “Cynthia, what did you just say?” Cynthia tightened her grip around her handbag, her chest rising and falling with sharp, uneven breaths. “You heard me, Dad. I can’t—no, I won’t—marry him.” Elias’s brows drew together, forming a sharp line of tension across his forehead. “Becaus