The peaceful moment at the dinner table shattered as Richard's fist slammed down, making the fine china rattle."I completely disagree!" His voice rose sharply, cutting through the calm atmosphere like a knife. "Benefits are far more important than happiness. That's the reality of the world we live in, Father!"Every head at the table turned toward him. The patriarch's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Richard was too worked up to notice."Wealthy people maintain their riches through strategic benefits and connections, not through some naive pursuit of happiness!" Richard's face was flushed, his words tumbling out in an angry rush. "Happiness is a luxury—something ordinary people chase because they have nothing else. But for families like ours? Happiness is completely irrelevant!"He jabbed his finger toward Vivian. "My daughter needs a husband who can elevate our position, who brings resources and influence to the table. Not some penniless nobody who offers nothing but empty promises an

As soon as Caden stepped forward from his seat, the cacophony of voices died down as if someone had turned off a switch. His presence, though physically unassuming, somehow commanded the room's attention in a way that silenced even Richard's blustering.Vivian turned toward him, her glacial blue eyes meeting his for a brief moment before she lowered her gaze. Her expression was conflicted—a rare crack in her usually impenetrable composure. She didn't know how to approach him after hearing these accusations again, after learning about the twenty million dollars, after everything that had been said.Part of her wanted to demand answers. Another part wanted to defend him. And a third part—the coldest, most calculating part—wanted to simply observe and gather all the facts before making any judgment.The grandmother, however, had no such hesitation. She rose from her seat, her posture regal despite her age, and fixed Caden with a stern, unyielding stare."Young man," her voice was sharp a

Two days had passed since the explosive dinner at the Montgomery estate. The tension in the household remained thick, with Richard and Patricia barely speaking to anyone, and the grandmother watching Caden with increasing scrutiny.Tonight, however, Vivian had escaped the suffocating atmosphere of family drama for the annual Los Angeles Children's Foundation charity gala—one of the most prestigious events of the social season. The ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel glittered with crystal chandeliers, designer gowns, and the carefully maintained smiles of the city's elite.Vivian stood near one of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hotel gardens, a champagne flute in her hand more for show than consumption. Her navy blue Valentino gown was understated elegance personified, and her dark hair was swept up in a sleek chignon that emphasized her glacial beauty."Vivian! There you are!"Madison Crawford appeared in a swirl of gold silk, her honey-blonde hair cascading over one sh

Vivian's jaw tightened as Madison's words continued to flow, each one chipping away at her composure. The way her best friend was speaking about Caden—as if he were less than human, as if he were some object to be discarded rather than a person with feelings and dignity—was pushing Vivian dangerously close to her breaking point.Her glacial exterior, usually so impenetrable, was cracking under the weight of her irritation."Madison." Vivian's voice was low but carried a sharp edge of warning. "That's enough."Madison blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in Vivian's tone. "What?""I said that's enough." Vivian kept her voice carefully modulated, mindful of the crowd around them and not wanting to draw attention. "You're speaking about my husband as if he's garbage. Whatever your opinions of him might be, he deserves basic respect as a human being.""Respect?" Madison's laugh was incredulous. "Vivian, I'm trying to help you see reason—""By dehumanizing him?" Vivian's eyes flashed. "B

Ella Richardson's face twisted into a sneer, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. She rolled her eyes dramatically at Derek's declaration, making sure her disdain was visible to everyone watching."Oh, please!" Ella's voice rang out even louder than before, ensuring every ear in the vicinity could hear. "Don't make me laugh, Derek Chen! You think you can just rewrite reality because it's inconvenient?"Derek's face flushed with anger. "I'm telling you the facts—""The facts?" Ella laughed harshly. "Let me tell you the real facts, since apparently everyone here has been kept in the dark!"She turned to address the growing crowd around them, her voice taking on the quality of someone delivering juicy gossip at a tabloid press conference."Vivian Montgomery is absolutely married! It's completely legal and official!" Ella announced, her words falling like bombs into the tense silence. "And her husband? Oh, this is the best part—he's a penniless, worthless imbecile who has absolu