All Chapters of Abandoned In Prison, Now They Regret!: Chapter 321
- Chapter 330
410 chapters
CHAPTER 321
Steven hesitated. Then he smiled. “I’ll tell you another night.” Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “That sounds mysterious.” “It is.” They kept dancing slowly. The city lights reflected across the glass behind them. And for the first time in weeks, Steven Kahuna felt completely at peace. Not as a businessman. Not as the head of an empire. But simply as a man standing with the woman he loved in a quiet restaurant beside the river. And somewhere deep in his mind... Elias Smith’s voice echoed softly. “Live a little.” Tonight, Steven finally was. ***** The night in Riverage City had grown quieter by the time Steven and Jennifer stepped outside the restaurant. The river breeze carried a cool softness that only came after midnight. The streets were calmer now, the earlier bustle of the city fading into scattered headlights and distant traffic humming along the waterfront roads. Jennifer wrapped her arms lightly around herself as they walked toward Steven’s car.
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The laughter in the penthouse slowly faded into a comfortable quiet. Elias finished the last sip of his whiskey and stood up, stretching his back slightly. “Alright,” he said, setting the glass down. “I’ve tormented you enough for one night.” Steven leaned back in his chair with a tired smile. “That’s very generous of you.” Elias walked past him toward the hallway. But before disappearing into the guest wing, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “You like her,” he said simply. Steven didn’t answer immediately. Instead he stared out at the glowing skyline of the city. “I do.” Elias nodded once. “Then don’t let your empire scare her away.” And with that, he left the room. Steven sat there for a while longer, the quiet of the penthouse wrapping around him. The city lights stretched endlessly outside the glass walls, but his mind was somewhere else entirely. Jennifer. Her smile. Her laugh. The way she held onto his jacket like it meant something.
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Jennifer’s lips curved into a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Smith.” Elias rose slowly, his height and presence immediately commanding attention, yet there was a gentle warmth in his tone. “Call me Elias. Please.” Jennifer nodded. “Elias. Thank you.” Steven grinned, clearly enjoying the dynamic. “See? Not so bad.” Elias’s gaze shifted to Steven. “And you,” he said, his voice softer but firm, “I hope you’ve been taking good care of her.” Steven’s throat went dry for a second, then he nodded. “I have. I promise.” Elias’s eyes softened slightly. “Good. Because she deserves nothing less than your best.” Jennifer felt a warmth spread through her chest at the way Elias spoke not just to Steven, but to her, too. She could see the pride in his eyes, the subtle approval of the way Steven treated her. They settled into the living room, Steven poured tea for Jennifer, and Elias returned to his whiskey. The conversation started lightly, stories and jokes
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Steven hesitated, caught between the usual rules of propriety and the overwhelming urge to simply be near her. Finally, he gave in, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You realize this is a big step,” he said, trying to keep his tone teasing. Jennifer tilted her head, smiling up at him. “I know. But I feel… safe. With you.” The words hit him in a way that nothing else had in years. He shifted slightly, sitting beside her, their knees almost touching. “I like that you feel safe,” he murmured. Jennifer scooted closer, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. “I always feel safe when I’m with you.” Steven’s hand found hers, lacing their fingers together. He felt a flutter in his chest—a mixture of excitement, tenderness, and something deeper he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time. They stayed like that for a while, talking quietly about nothing and everything, laughter spilling between them in gentle waves. Occasionally, Steven would brush a strand of hair from her
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Breakfast at the penthouse turned out to be far livelier than Steven had expected. Elias had already taken control of the kitchen by the time Steven and Jennifer stepped in. The scent of fresh coffee, toasted bread, and something far more elaborate filled the air. Jennifer looked genuinely impressed. “I didn’t know you cooked,” she said. Elias turned from the stove with a calm smile. “I raised this boy alone for years. If I didn’t cook, he would have grown up on instant noodles and bad decisions, besides, I wanted to treat you to an unforgettable breakfast.” Steven leaned against the counter. “That’s an exaggeration.” Elias raised an eyebrow. “You once tried to cook pasta without water.” Jennifer burst out laughing. “You didn’t.” Steven sighed. “I was twelve.” “Old enough to read instructions,” Elias replied. The three of them sat down at the long dining table overlooking the river. Morning sunlight filled the room, making the entire space feel warmer tha
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The café Elias Smith chose that afternoon was quiet in the way only very expensive places manage to be. It sat along the riverfront of Riverage City, tucked between two glass office towers. The kind of place where conversations were soft, the coffee was served in porcelain instead of paper, and the waiters moved like ghosts who had signed contracts promising never to interrupt important people. Elias liked places like this. Not because of luxury. But because powerful people could speak freely there. He arrived early. Of course he did. The old man had never been late a day in his life. He sat by the window with a cup of black coffee and watched the river traffic slide by slowly. Barges moved lazily across the water. A small ferry crossed toward the opposite bank. The city hummed with its usual calm arrogance. Elias checked his watch. Right on time. The café door opened. Louisa Payne walked in. Even from across the room she carried the unmistakable presence of
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Finally she said softly, “You know… Jennifer sounded very happy on the phone last night.” Elias smiled knowingly. “I believe she is.” Louisa looked out the window at the river. “She deserves that.” “Yes.” “And Steven…” Elias tilted his head. “Yes?” “He deserves someone who reminds him he’s still human.” Elias laughed softly. “That’s exactly what I told him.” Louisa shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this.” “What?” “I’m actually glad they found each other.” Elias raised his coffee cup. “There you go.” Louisa pointed a finger at him. “Don’t get too smug.” “I would never.” “You absolutely would.” Elias grinned. She sighed again but this time it sounded lighter. “Alright.” Elias raised an eyebrow. “Alright?” Louisa nodded. “I’ll stop worrying.” “That’s progress.” “But if anything ever threatens my daughter—” Elias interrupted calmly. “Steven will handle it.” Louisa smiled slightly. “I know.” She stood up. E
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But something in his expression shifted slightly. Jennifer noticed. “What?” Steven hesitated. “Nothing.” Steven looked out the window toward the river. “What's going on?“ “Nothing really.” But in truth, he knew better. The Black Ledger was built on silence. It thrived in the shadows. And the moment people started talking about it, even casually, the system had a way of noticing. Jennifer nudged him gently. “Hey.” Steven looked back at her. “You promised today was a day off.” Steven smiled slightly. “You’re right.” She rested her head on his shoulder again. “So stop thinking about anything be it power structures.” Steven chuckled. “Easier said than done.” Jennifer closed her eyes comfortably. “Well for the next few hours…” She wrapped her arm around his. “You’re just Steven.” Steven looked down at her. “And what does that mean?” Jennifer smiled softly. “It means you’re my boyfriend who owes me dinner tonight.” Steven laughed q
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Jennifer burst out laughing. “You are not.” Steven chuckled. “…Maybe a little.” They got into the car. The drive back was calm. But Steven’s mind had already moved ahead. Later that evening, back in his penthouse, Steven picked up his phone. Dialed a number, it rang twice and then... “Steven!” Finn Guler’s voice boomed from the other end. “To what do I owe this call?” Steven smiled faintly. “Good evening, Finn.” “Good evening, my boy! It’s been too long.” “It has.” A brief pause. Then Steven spoke calmly. “I had lunch today at the Riverfront Resort.” “Ah! Excellent place.” “Yes.” Another pause. “And I happened to see your daughter there.” Silence. “…You saw Dianna?” “Yes.” “What was she doing there?” Steven leaned back in his chair. “She was serving my table.” There was a long pause. Then... “What?” Steven kept his tone neutral. “She’s working there.” Finn’s voice dropped. “That’s impossible.” “I saw her myself.” An
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Neither of them spoke. Because both of them knew that the very moment they got home, everything would come out. The Guler mansion stood tall and immovable, just like the man who owned it. The car pulled in, the doors opened and the storm began. The moment they stepped inside, Finn turned. “What exactly do you think you were doing?” Dianna didn’t flinch. “I’m working.” Finn stared at her like she had just spoken another language. “You call that working?” “Yes.” “You are a Guler.” “And I’m also a human being.” Finn let out a sharp breath. “No. Right now, you’re a woman making terrible decisions and calling it independence.” Dianna’s eyes flashed. “At least I’m doing something.” “Oh, you’re doing something alright.” Finn paced once across the room, then turned back. “You had everything.” His voice rose slightly now. “Everything.” Dianna’s jaw tightened. “And I still do.” Finn laughed. That same sharp, disbelieving sound from earlier.