Alex stood in the living room, shaking his head with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Mia Vinda Richardson was nothing if not determined. When she wanted something, she found a way to get it—even if it meant completely changing her approach.At least she's not pushing the job thing anymore, Alex thought. That's something.True to her word, Mia emerged from her bedroom exactly twenty minutes later, transformed from the casual woman in a bathrobe to the polished CEO. She wore a tailored navy blue dress that was both professional and elegant, her hair pulled back in a sleek bun, her makeup subtle but perfect. Diamond studs glinted in her ears, and she carried a leather briefcase that probably cost more than Alex's entire wardrobe."Ready?" she asked with a bright smile."You look..." Alex searched for the right word. "Very professional."Mia's smile widened. "That's the idea. Come on, we don't want to be late."They took the elevator down to the building's underground parking gar

Ben's eyes caught something then—the glint of metal in Alex's hand. He squinted, focusing on the car key Alex was holding, and his expression transformed into one of malicious glee."Oh my God," Ben laughed, pointing at the key. "You're a driver now? Is that it? You're driving someone around like a chauffeur?" He turned to Lisa, still laughing. "Did you see this? Your ex-husband has been reduced to driving people around. That's rich!"Lisa looked at the key, and despite herself, something flickered in her eyes—concern? Pity? But it was gone in an instant, replaced by her trademark cold disdain."A driver," she repeated, shaking her head. "I suppose it makes sense. It's probably the best job you can get with your limited skills. At least you're employed, I guess. That's something."Ben moved closer to Alex, his eyes fixed on the luxury car key with its distinctive logo. "You know what's really pathetic? You're probably driving around in some rich person's car, pretending it's yours. Pl

The sound of Mia's slap echoed through Romano's café like a thunderclap, reverberating off the elegant walls and silencing every conversation. The impact sent Ben stumbling backward several steps, his expensive loafers scraping against the polished floor as he struggled to maintain his balance.His hand flew to his cheek, fingers pressing against the rapidly reddening skin. His jaw literally dropped open, his eyes blinking rapidly as if he couldn't quite process what had just happened. Ben Marshall—smooth-talking businessman, master manipulator, Lisa's chosen companion—had just been publicly slapped by a woman half his size."You... you hit me," Ben stammered, his voice coming out higher pitched than normal. "You actually... in front of everyone..."Every customer in the café had their eyes glued to the scene. Phones were out, recording. The baristas had stopped mid-pour. Even Mr. Romano stood frozen, his expression caught somewhere between shock and barely suppressed satisfaction.Li

The words "Alex is mine" hung in the air like a decree, freezing everyone in place. The café became so silent that the soft hum of the espresso machine sounded deafening. Even the barista who'd been wiping down the counter stopped mid-wipe, cloth suspended in midair.For several long seconds, nobody moved. Nobody spoke. It was as if Mia's declaration had cast a spell over the entire establishment.Then, slowly, reactions began to ripple through the crowd. Whispers started up. Phones that had been lowered rose again, recording resumed. Eyes darted between Mia, Alex, and the shell-shocked Lisa.Alex, feeling the weight of every stare, quickly stepped closer to Mia. He leaned in, his voice a urgent whisper. "Mia, you shouldn't say things like that. People are going to misunderstand. They're going to think we're—""What are you scared of?" Mia whispered back, her eyes still locked on Lisa's devastated face.Alex's mouth opened, then closed. He tried again. "I'm not scared, I just—people w

The crack of Alex's hand meeting Ben's face echoed through Romano's café like a gunshot. For a moment, time seemed to freeze—everyone processing what had just happened, what quiet, gentle Alex Carter had just done.Ben's head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, his eyes rolling back briefly. He swayed on his feet, his expensive Italian shoes struggling to find purchase on the polished floor. His hand flew to his face, and he let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a whimper—an almost animalistic wail of pain and shock."Oh God," Ben moaned, his voice distorted. "My face... you broke my face..."His cheek was already swelling visibly, the skin turning an angry red that would definitely bruise purple by evening. Combined with the handprint from Mia's earlier slap on his other cheek, Ben looked like he'd gone several rounds in a boxing ring and lost spectacularly.Lisa stood frozen for a heartbeat, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then something snapped, and she r