"I’ll get going now," Karvel said, rising from his seat with a determined smile. "I want to take my wife out for a proper dinner date. She’s been through so much these past days, and I don’t want her drowning in worry anymore. Tonight, I just want to make her happy… and let her see that I’m no longer angry with her." His voice softened at the end, almost tender.Grandpa Jackson’s eyes crinkled as he nodded in approval. "That’s good, boy. A man who knows how to cherish his wife will always have strength in his home. Go make her smile. That’s worth more than any business deal."Karvel’s lips curved into a grateful smile. "Thank you, Grandpa. I’ll remember that."Turning toward the doorway, he caught Morrison waiting as usual, half-distracted with his planner. "Morrison, can you please come with me?," Karvel called. "I need to get a dinner gown, shoes, and some other things for Elena. Something elegant, something that will make her glow. I’ll need your eye for details."Morrison looked u

"Are you sure you don't want me to try the other dresses on?" Elena asked softly, tilting her head as she studied Karvel’s expression. Her hands smoothed down the fabric of the gown she currently wore, as though she was trying to read his reaction in every flicker of his eyes.Karvel nodded firmly, his gaze lingering on her longer than she expected. "I think I love this one," he said, his voice low but certain. There was something in the way he looked at her—like the dress itself didn’t matter, only the woman standing before him.Elena’s lips curved into a teasing smile. "You might like another one even better. There’s one dress I’ve always loved, ever since I first saw it on the website." Her eyes glittered with mischief as though she wanted to challenge his confidence.Karvel leaned back slightly, folding his arms across his chest, pretending to be unmoved though the sight of her already had him captivated. "Fine," he said after a pause, his voice carrying the trace of amusement. "T

Once seated, Elena trailed her fingers lightly across the edge of the menu, though her eyes strayed toward Karvel more often than the food options. “You always surprise me,” she admitted softly.“In a good way, I hope.”She nodded, leaning slightly forward. “In the kind of way that makes me wonder what you’re really planning.”Karvel’s lips curved faintly, his gaze steady on her. “Maybe I’m not planning anything. Maybe I just want to see you smile more often.”Her heart skipped, and she quickly lowered her eyes back to the menu, pretending to study it. Yet no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through her.The waiter arrived, taking their orders with quiet efficiency before retreating.For a few moments, silence settled again—comfortable, almost intimate. Then Elena spoke, her voice quieter now. “You know… Liza mentioned something earlier. About the Jacksons.” She paused, gauging his reaction. “She’s convinced the young master will be her husband one day

The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. Elena stirred first, her eyes fluttering open to the quiet stillness. A soft smile spread across her lips when she turned and saw Karvel still asleep beside her.For a moment, she simply watched him—the calm rise and fall of his chest, the faint shadows of tiredness that softened his strong features, the way the morning light seemed to rest kindly on him.“We really look like a married couple now,” she whispered to herself with a little laugh, her heart swelling with a warmth she didn’t often admit aloud. Slowly, she reached out, letting her fingers trace lightly against his cheek.Karvel’s eyes snapped open instantly, sharp as though he had only been pretending to sleep. But the sternness melted the second he saw her.“Good morning,” Elena greeted quickly, pulling her hand back and sitting up in bed as though caught in the act.Karvel’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Good morning

For a moment, no one spoke. The board members exchanged glances, each weighing whether to press him further or concede that the young vice chairman had already passed the first test.Then a woman seated halfway down the table leaned forward, her dark suit sharp, her gaze sharper. Ms. Yvonne Park Head of Finance. Karvel remembered Morrison’s note about her: calculating, ambitious, and not easily swayed by charm.“Impressive analysis,” she said coolly, “but numbers alone don’t secure a future. Leadership does. People follow strength, not just ideas. Tell me, Mr. Vice Chairman—how do you plan to earn the loyalty of thousands of employees who don’t even know your name yet?”The question struck like an arrow, and the room buzzed again. Even Morrison’s expression tightened, watching carefully to see how Karvel would answer.Karvel let the tension hang, his eyes sweeping the table slowly, deliberately, until every board member felt the weight of his silence. Then, he spoke, his tone calm but