Adrian stood alone in the dining room, staring at the table he had spent the entire evening preparing.There were several dishes— dishes that he knew Vanessa liked.Or at least, used to like.Steam no longer rose from any of them as everything had gone cold.He checked the clock again.11:56 p.m.The silverware gleamed under the warm lights, but the room still felt cold. Too quiet. Too empty for a day that was supposed to mean something.Adrian let out a soft breath, not quite a sigh. His expression barely shifted, but a faint, wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.Anniversary dinner for two, and only one person showed up.He looked down at his phone. Ten missed calls, all from him to the same person.Not a single reply.He set the phone down with a calmness that didn’t match the tightness in his chest.Lily had sat at the table earlier, swinging her legs under her chair, asking when Mommy would come home.He told her soon, he told her to be patient, he told her it was a specia

Adrian's expression didn’t soften—not even a little.His eyes were calm, steady, and cold as he looked at Monica .His voice, low and controlled as he finally spoke.“Whatever I can or cannot afford,” he said slowly, “is not your concern.”Monica let out a disbelieving laugh, the kind that was meant to belittle him.She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head mockingly.“Oh, really? Not my concern?” she said, dragging her words out with emphasis.“Adrian, do you even hear yourself? You think a single thing in this situation isn’t my concern? I’m Vanessa's lawyer. Her best friend. The one cleaning up the mess you made. Everything about you is my concern.”Her tone was sharp, each word dripping with sarcasm.She looked him up and down as if trying to find something else to mock about him.“So go on,” she added. “Act brave. Act like you’re not completely out of your depth.”Before Adrian could respond, a small voice, tight and shaking with anger, drifted from behind him.“You

Adrian's expression turned cold.The calm indifference he had maintained since leaving the house was gone.It wasn’t rage. It wasn’t agitation either.Victor noticed immediately.The old man’s brows knitted together as he studied Adrian's profile.Years of experience had taught him how to read faces, and Adrian's was one he took very seriously.The old man’s face darkened as well.“Who offended you?” Victor asked in a low voice even though he already knew who it was.His tone carried suppressed anger. “Tell me.”Adrian didn’t answer that question.He leaned slightly back against the seat and looked out the car window, his gaze distant and indifferent, as if whatever had angered him was already beneath his attention.Buildings passed by in a blur. Cars slowed and accelerated. None of it seemed to register.Victor followed his line of sight, then frowned.Adrian's silence was answer enough.After a brief pause, Victor asked another question, choosing his words carefully.“Will the coope

Charles and Vanessa had been somewhat nervous.The moment Elaine’s words rang through the lobby, however, their tension shattered instantly.It was as if an invisible weight had been lifted off their shoulders.They burst into laughter.Loud and unrestrained.The kind of laughter that came from certainty—from knowing they had already won.As if they had just watched a bad joke finally collapse in front of an audience.“Did you hear that?” Charles said between laughs, one hand clutching his stomach as though the scene before him was simply too entertaining. “Security is coming. This is priceless.”His shoulders shook as he laughed again, not even bothering to hide his mockery.Vanessa's lips curled upward slowly as relief washed over her entire body.She exhaled. Of course, she knew it.From the very beginning, she had known it.Adrian was lying.How could the Rand family possibly have anything to do with him?The idea itself was ridiculous.Several security guards approached quickly,

As the manager left the banquet hall, the other people inside quickly gathered around Vanessa and Charles.Glasses clinked softly as people shifted closer, forming a loose circle around Vanessa.The elegant music in the background was livelier now, almost celebratory, matching the mood of the crowd.Several guests moved closer, glasses in hand, their expressions full of enthusiasm.“Vanesaa,” one man said warmly, lifting his glass slightly toward her, “this cooperation with the Rand family is truly impressive. Not many people have that kind of opportunity.”“Yes, exactly,” another person chimed in quickly, nodding repeatedly. “Your company has really risen fast these past months. We’ve all been watching closely.”A woman beside him smiled politely. “I heard your company is about to be listed. With the Rand family backing you, your future is basically guaranteed.”Others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with calculation rather than pure admiration.“If possible,” someone added wi