Chapter TwoElena walked away with Lucas, her heels striking the floor with a rhythm that felt far too steady for the storm in her chest. She told herself this was right—that Adrian would be better off without her, that she was better off without him. Yet when he signed without hesitation, without even taking the envelope, something inside her twisted.She had expected anger, his pleading. Just anything to show he doesn't want to leave. But he had simply let go.That quiet acceptance followed her long after she stepped out of the diner. She pressed her lips together, convincing herself that her world no longer had space for him. And still… The faint sting of loss clung to her like smoke.Meanwhile, Adrian stayed behind, staring at the empty doorway where Elena had stood. For a long moment, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Just silence, and a ring digging into his palm.“Compensation…” he muttered bitterly.If nothing else, today had taught him the weight of money. It could build e

Chapter FourMargaret and Sophia left the bank with their faces dark and twisted. They dared not utter another word after Catherine Moretti’s warning, but beneath their silence burned resentment—resentment aimed squarely at Adrian.“That stray dog won’t be laughing for long,” Margaret hissed. “The moment the bank investigates, they’ll discover that card is fake. And when they do, not even Catherine Moretti will be able to protect him. He’ll be dragged off in chains, and the consequences he faces will make today look merciful.”Sophia’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Let him bask in the spotlight for now. The higher he climbs, the harder he’ll fall.”Margaret pulled out her phone at once. She dialed Elena, her tone urgent, weaving lies with practiced ease.“Elena, listen carefully—Adrian hit me. And worse, he’s mixed up with criminals. He showed the bank a forged black card and tricked that woman Moretti into believing him. But it won’t last. When the truth comes out, he’ll be arres

Chapter Six Silence swept the crowd. Elena’s breath caught, her fingers curling into fists at her side. Lucas forced a smile, though his teeth clenched. “Honored guest…? He's poor and useless, and I don't understand whatever he must have said to you, Miss Catherine, he's a liar. Don't allow him to trick you.”“ Do I look like someone who can be tricked in your eyes? Trust me, I'm smarter than that.” Catherine snorted, took Adrian’s arm, and walked into the banquet hall without paying them any further attention.Elena’s heart twisted as she followed Lucas into the banquet hall. She had just divorced Adrian—barely freed herself, she thought—and yet, in what felt like a blink, he stood confidently at the side of a woman like Catherine Moretti. A woman more powerful, more dazzling, more untouchable than Elena could ever dream of being.The discomfort gnawed at her chest, bitter and sharp.But so what? He was still trying to rely on women to make a living. Thinking of that, a hint of

Chapter EightLucas Brown’s sneered as Adrian calmly raised his paddle. To Lucas, there could be only one explanation—Adrian was relying on Catherine Moretti’s backing. Without her, he was nothing.So, the fool thinks he’s clever because Catherine is sitting beside him? He really has no idea how these auctions work.He had been to Armstrong’s private auctions before, and he knew the rules better than most: bidders were strictly responsible for their own payments. No one, not even someone like Catherine Moretti, could pay on behalf of another. If Adrian thought he could use her name to throw weight around, then he was walking straight into a trap.Suppressing his glee, Lucas decided not to expose Adrian just yet. Instead, he raised his paddle lazily, adding a modest increment to the price.“Ten million, three hundred thousand.”The crowd turned toward him, murmuring approval.“Mr. Brown is still competing.”“Of course—he’s not going to lose to Adrian Cole of all people.”Lucas smirked

Chapter TenThe hall was still buzzing from the shock of the verification when Lucas Brown leaned in toward Catherine Moretti, his smirk slick with venom.“Catherine,” he said in a tone just loud enough for the surrounding guests to hear, “don’t let him drag you into his mess. You should distance yourself now before he implicates you further. That man is a lowlife, a street dog. Everyone here knows it. He’s not worthy of being seen with you.”The insult drew a ripple of laughter from a few guests eager to side with Lucas. Some nodded, whispering to each other as if his words carried weight.But Catherine’s glass paused midair. Slowly, she turned her head toward him, her expression cool, her gaze razor sharp.“If anyone here should be ashamed,” she said icily, “it’s you, Lucas Brown. A man whose only weapon is his mouth. You do nothing but rant and hurl insults, hoping someone will mistake noise for power.”Her voice carried, clear and deliberate, silencing a portion of the crowd. A fl