All Chapters of Once Downtrodden; Now Divine: Chapter 181
- Chapter 190
213 chapters
Chapter 182
Donald slowed his steps instinctively, every instinct within him sharpening at the shift in atmosphere. The night air had been calm only moments before, the faint rustle of leaves and distant city sounds blending into a quiet backdrop. Now, something felt different. Not louder, not obvious—just wrong.Ahead, partially obscured by trimmed hedges and decorative lantern light, a man stood alone. His posture was rigid, shoulders tight as though carrying invisible weight. One hand was shoved deep into his coat pocket, the other held a phone pressed firmly against his ear. His head tilted slightly downward, voice low and controlled, as if deliberately suppressing emotion.Donald stopped immediately. He did not crouch or fidget. He simply stilled himself behind the hedge, allowing the shadows to conceal him. His breathing slowed, steady and measured, as his senses tuned in to every nuance of the conversation drifting through the night.“Yes, listen carefully,” the man said, his voice smooth
Chapter 183
Donald remained perfectly still as the man finished his call, every muscle in his body taut yet controlled. The caller’s voice had been measured, deliberate, and each word had carried a weight that immediately set Donald’s mind into motion.“I’ll make sure everything goes exactly as planned,” the man said in a low tone, calm, controlled. “You’ll be paid handsomely. Once she takes a sip, it will be done. No mistakes.”There was a brief pause. Even from this distance, Donald noted the slight adjustment of the man’s shoulders, the microshift of his weight as he listened intently. Then the corners of the man’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, a flash of confidence in an otherwise quiet night.“Good,” he replied into the phone. “I knew you’d understand. Just follow my instructions.”The call ended. The man slipped his phone back into his jacket pocket, adjusted his cufflinks, and straightened his tie as if he had merely concluded a routine business conversation. There was an eerie preci
Chapter 184
Donald adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and leaned back slightly in his chair as he listened to the laughter erupt around the VIP room. The man who had mocked him—a tall, sharp-featured individual with a smug look on his face—had apparently struck a chord with some of the attendees. Soon, the laughter spread like wildfire. Heads turned, shoulders shook, and a few people even slapped their knees as if the absurdity of the remark was too much to contain. Donald, however, did not flinch. A small, almost imperceptible smile curved at the edge of his lips. He observed the mockery as one would watch ants scrambling over a picnic blanket—amused, detached, and carefully noting every movement.He heard the man say, loud enough for several attendees to hear: “Look at him! Just by his attire alone, you can tell he’s a common low-life. Someone probably slipped him in here to see how long he could pretend to be important. Low lives are rarely intelligent, and yet, look at him… pretending to present
Chapter 185
The next day, the banquet hall shimmered with elegance, conversation, and anticipation. Chandeliers hung high above like constellations captured indoors, their golden light spilling gently over long tables dressed in crisp white linen. The polished marble floors reflected the glow, while towering floral centerpieces—white lilies, pale roses, and soft greenery—stood like quiet sentinels between place settings. The room was alive with dignitaries, executives, and influential personalities from across the city, all gathered for Elena Moretti’s exclusive banquet.The air carried a symphony of scents: roasted meats glazed to perfection, subtle spices drifting from delicately prepared sauces, fresh herbs crushed moments before plating, and the faint aroma of polished wood and fresh flowers. Laughter rose and fell in waves across the hall, accompanied by the refined clink of crystal glasses and murmurs of admiration for the lavish spread. It was an evening designed to impress—carefully curat
Chapter 186
Elena froze, her fork hovering mid-air, a look of surprise and confusion crossing her face. “Wait?” she asked softly, her voice carrying just enough for Donald to hear. “Mr Smith… wait? Everyone else is eating. Why are you asking me to stop?”Donald’s eyes swept across the table, noting the subtle movements of the staff and the glances of nearby guests. He allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to form, but his gaze immediately sharpened as it landed on Marco. The man remained seated arrogantly, posture rigid, eyes flicking between Donald and Elena with that same faint, calculating smirk. There was something deliberate in Marco’s composure, an arrogance born of confidence—or perhaps overconfidence—but Donald did not flinch. He exhaled slightly, steadying himself, and spoke with a tone that radiated calm authority.“Marco,” Donald said firmly, his voice low and deliberate, “you will wait as well.”The smirk on Marco’s face widened at first, his posture relaxing as if to mock the i
Chapter 187
“Miss Moretti,” Donald began gently, lowering his voice so only she and Marco could hear, “please don’t feel disturbed. I apologize if I interrupted the flow of the evening.”Elena blinked, still trying to process what had just happened. The hum of conversation around them continued, silverware clinking against fine porcelain, soft laughter drifting from nearby tables. Yet at their corner of the banquet, the air felt different—thicker, charged with something unspoken.“Disturbed?” she repeated quietly, her brows knitting together. “Mr Smith, you just stopped us from eating. Of course I’m going to ask why.”There was no hostility in her tone, only confusion wrapped in polite composure. She prided herself on maintaining grace in public settings, especially as host. But this situation had shifted the rhythm of the evening, and she could not ignore it.Donald inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her point. “And you’re right to ask,” he said calmly. “You deserve an explanation. But th
Chapter 188
Conversations from neighboring tables occasionally drifted toward them, as though proximity alone granted a better chance of overhearing something significant.And on the table before them were two plates that now seemed to carry far more weight than mere dinner.Elena’s plate was a masterpiece. It held an assortment of premium meats—tender lamb glazed in a dark wine reduction that shimmered beneath the soft light, slices of herb-roasted beef arranged in deliberate symmetry, delicate quail resting atop a bed of greens, and butter-seared scallops positioned beside saffron-infused rice whose golden hue suggested rarity and expense. Garnished vegetables, carved with artistic precision, framed the arrangement like edible sculpture. It was abundance on porcelain. The kind of plate prepared for a woman of influence, someone meant to be visibly honored.Marco’s plate, however, was noticeably simpler. A modest portion of roasted chicken, its skin crisp but unembellished. A smaller serving of
Chapter 189
Elena was now willing to exchange the food.But Marco was not.He stared at the plate before him—the lavish assortment of meats and delicacies that had originally been prepared for Elena—and then at his former plate now sitting in front of her. The rich glaze on the lamb caught the light. The scallops glistened. The saffron rice released a faint aroma of spice and butter. It was a plate designed to signal status.His jaw tightened.His fingers curled around the edge of the ivory tablecloth, wrinkling the fabric beneath his grip.“This is wrong,” he said flatly.Elena inhaled slowly, keeping her composure despite the tightening atmosphere. She could feel the eyes of nearby guests drifting toward them again. “Marco, we’ve already exchanged the plates.”“That doesn’t mean I accept it,” he replied sharply.Donald remained silent, observing. His posture was relaxed, shoulders squared, hands resting lightly against the table. His stillness contrasted sharply with Marco’s agitation.Marco’s
Chapter 190
Marco stood frozen beside his chair, Elena’s ultimatum still echoing in his mind.Forget about your job in my company if you cannot comply.Those words had struck deeper than any public embarrassment could have. Pride alone he could defend. Pride he could justify. But this—this threatened his livelihood, his position, the status he had worked carefully to build. His pride burned hot in his chest, but beneath it was something heavier and colder.Fear.He knew Elena was not a woman who spoke carelessly. She was measured. Strategic. If she made a declaration in public—especially in front of dignitaries, investors, and business partners—she would uphold it. She would not retract it to spare his ego.Marco swallowed.For a brief moment, defiance flickered stubbornly in his eyes. His jaw flexed as though he might still challenge her, still refuse out of sheer principle. The humiliation of the situation pressed against his ribs.But then reality settled in with crushing clarity.He had no ch
Chapter 191
Elena studied Marco carefully now, her gaze sharp and deliberate. The room still hummed with the polite clinks of cutlery and murmured conversation, but her attention was entirely on him. Every subtle movement, every twitch of expression, registered in her mind.“You should be the one grateful,” she said coolly, her voice no longer raised but still edged with authority. There was a firmness in her tone that brooked no argument. “If anyone should be complaining here, it should be me.”Marco paused mid-motion, his fork hovering above the plate. For a brief second, he seemed uncertain, caught between defiance and an almost subconscious awareness that he had crossed a line. His chest rose and fell rapidly, betraying the tension he was trying to mask with rigid posture.Elena gestured lightly toward the dish before him, the assortment of meats and delicacies that now rested on his plate. “My plate was clearly richer than yours,” she said, her voice crisp, analytical. “Assorted meats. Premi