The rain was falling adding to the cool atmosphere. Dorian stood in the private room of an expensive restaurant in the financial district, a place known for its elegance. The location was Victor Reyes's choice which showed three things: wealth, status, power . It was the kind of place where power brokers made deals, where the staff knew to be invisible and the soundproofed buildings ensured privacy.Victor Reyes arrived ten minutes late, which Dorian suspected was intentional. The former CEO of Meridian Logistics entered with the bearing of a man who'd never truly accepted his fall from grace. He was tall, silver-haired, dressed in a navy suit that probably cost more than most people's monthly salary. His handshake was firm, his smile forced, and his eyes held the cold look of someone who'd spent decades navigating corporate warfare."Mr. Dorian," Reyes said, his voice was calm. "Thank you for agreeing to meet on such short notice.""You said you had a proposal that would interest me

Dorian laid three folders on the hotel table in front of them and named each one with a single-word label: SOCIAL, CORPORATE, PERSONAL."The proposal is simple," Dorian began, tapping the first folder. "But it does require that you be absolutely ruthless. Are you prepared for that?Victoria's jaw tightened. "After what Elias did to us? Try me."Dorian's smile was thin, approving. He opened the SOCIAL folder first, revealing photographs of elegant women at various charity events, country club gatherings, and private dinner parties. Victoria recognized every face-her friends, her social circle, the women she'd lunched with for twenty years."Mrs. Shaw, you still have something Elias can never touch: your position in society," Dorian said. "These women trust you. They admire you, even in your reduced circumstances. Some even pity you, which makes them more inclined to listen.""What do you want me to do?" Victoria asked, though something in her tone suggested she already knew."Make use

The children's hospital gala was the social event of the season held in the grand ballroom of the Metropolitan hotel. The ballroom was an elegant one as it has the chandelier which was being hung on the ceiling as it shone with different lights, five hundred of the city's most influential and wealthiest citizens stood under the light as they mingled with each other, expanding their connections. Victoria Shaw stood near the wine cellar, her emerald dress was glittering under the lights as she had a cold expression on her face.Across the room, Elias Vance stood near the auction tables, Sera's arm is intertwined with his arm. They had this aura, as their appearance screamed success. It generated envy and jealousy among other elites as they had heard of Vance's pathetic tales. Some couldn't help but feel sorry for them while others had pure anger towards them.Sera smiled at what a donor said but Victoria knew better, she had studied her daughter to know her expression. The smile did not

Preston Shaw sat in front of Dorian in a private room at Ashford Hotel, a bottle of wine was in front of them. The expensive ones that Preston could no longer afford but Dorian had ordered it. The curtains were drawn and the doors were locked. Preston sets his phone in a way to block signals.The information that he was about to release was crucial. One that required absolute secrecy."You look like a man ready to confess his sins" Dorian said pouring the wine into the glasses and gave one of the wine to Preston."That's exactly what I am doing." Preston said, accepting the wine but not drinking it immediately. "You wanted weapons against Elias Vance. I'm about to give you information, one that can be used to create mutual destruction and leave Elias in crumbles. The only downside to this matter is that once I dish out the information, there's no going back."Dorian dropped the glass on the table as a hidden glint could be seen in his eyes."From a reliable source, it was stated that

The restaurant was called Belle Vista, a quiet Italian restaurant that's seen in the quiet corner of the arts district. Sera had discovered the spot a few weeks ago and she loved it so much that it became her new favorite place.Victoria had heard of it and had chosen this place with the thought that Sera would let down her defences the moment they began to discuss.Victoria arrived early as she secured her table near the window. She dressed casually but elegantly. Her aura depicting one of a concerned mother and not that of a powerful socialite. The brown envelope that rested on her lap contained images of Elias entering Dr. Isabella Chen's office building at odd hours, surveillance files documenting his investigation of the Shaw family before his relationship with Sera, financial records that could be interpreted as suspicious.Some of the pictures were real while some of them were falsified. All of this had one purpose: To destroy the trust that Sera had for her husband.Sera arriv