“Mr. Kane,” Clara called out stiffly, “I came here on behalf of Madam Hart. These are divorce papers. All you need to do is sign.” She dropped a folder on the table between them and crossed her arms.Seated behind the prison’s glass booth was Adrian Kane, but he didn’t look broken. He sat tall and with his eyes sharp, as though prison hadn’t touched him at all, and Clara immediately disliked it because she thought a convict should look defeated, and not like he owned the place.Adrian didn’t even look at the folder but instead leaned back and studied her. His voice was calm but carried a quiet authority “Tell her to come in person. If she wants this divorce, she’ll have to look me in the eye while asking for it.”Clara’s brows shot up “Excuse me?” “I won’t sign unless Elena brings it herself” Adrian’s lips curved in a mocking half-smile.Clara let out a dry laugh “You really think you’re in a position to bargain? Look around you, Kane. You’re a convict. Madam Hart is running a billio

The black sedan rolled to a stop outside hotel entrance and Adrian’s hand was already on the door handle when Seraphina leaned in with her lips curving into a playful pout.“You’re really going to make me walk in alone?” she asked. “People will see me and think I was stood up.”Adrian didn’t even look at her “Go inside first. I’ll follow later.”Her eyes narrowed “You make it sound like I’m some liability.”“You’re the daughter of the Chamber of Commerce president” Adrian said evenly. “Eyes follow you everywhere, and I can’t afford to be dragged into gossip.”“Tch, always so cautious” Seraphina muttered. She leaned closer suddenly, brushing her lips against his cheek in a quick kiss “Fine. Consider that your punishment for ditching me.”Adrian stiffened because he was caught off guard. Seraphina smiled, pushed the door open and sauntered off with hips swaying deliberately and Adrian could only shake his head.He stepped out a moment later, straightened his jacket only to freeze at t

“Adrian, are you still holding onto that thing?” Seraphina asked with her voice sharper than usual as she stopped in front of him but he didn’t lift his head because his eyes were glued to the broken necklace resting in his palm.“It’s ruined” she added while folding her arms. “You’ve been staring at it for over an hour. What do you think will happen? That it’ll fix itself?”Adrian finally muttered “You don’t understand.”“Then explain it to me” She crouched in front of him, reaching for the chain. “Give it to me. I’ll find someone to repair it.”“No” His grip tightened instantly.Her brows furrowed “Adrian, stop being stubborn, I know the best jeweler in the city, and they can restore anything. You think clinging to broken pieces will bring your mother back?”That word hit him like a strike and his head snapped up with his eyes dark “Don’t say it like that, this isn’t just a piece of jewelry; it’s her memory and the only thing I have left of her, and it’s gone because of them.”Serap

The hall fell silent the instant Seraphina’s voice rang out, with her presence slicing through the tension like a blade and her gaze cold as it swept across the scene.Elena stiffened with her chin lifting as she regarded the woman “And who exactly are you?” Her voice dripped arrogance. “What gives you the right to step into my personal matters?”Seraphina’s lips curved faintly “Personal matters?” she echoed. “I only asked a question. Or is even that too much for you to handle?”Victor leaned toward Elena, with his eyes never leaving Seraphina “Careful” he murmured under his breath. “This woman isn’t ordinary.”Elena ignored him “You’re right about one thing. I don’t tolerate strangers meddling in my affairs. So unless you plan on introducing yourself, stay out of it.”Adrian’s voice cut in, calm but edged with steel “Elena, if we’re talking about meddling, shouldn’t I be the one asking questions?”Her head whipped toward him “Excuse me?”He held her gaze without blinking “What exactl

Victor became still and the arrogant mile he had earlier had now melted into pani having noticed that Darius Cortez eyes had darkened. His throat went dry while he forced a shaky laugh moving forward with his two hands raised “Brother Cortez” he said with a trembling voice.“I swear, that was just a misunderstanding! My mouth was faster than my brain, and you know how it gets sometimes. Don’t take it to heart, alright?” Victor added.Darius simply stood there looking at him with sharp eyes and a calm expression without responding while a faint smile that promised trouble tugged at his lips “Misunderstanding?” he repeated slowly with a mocking tone, “That’s what you call it now?”Victor’s laughter faded “I was just… just joking around, I didn’t mean anything serious”Darius tilted his head with his voice dripping with scorn “Oh, I remember your joke… ‘Who does he think he is? I don’t care who he is… I don’t care if he’s the king of the world’ That’s what you said, wasn’t it?”Victor’s