The sharp sound of Caro's slap echoed down the aisle, drawing nearby shoppers' attention. Caro's chest heaved with rage as she glared at Bruce, who stood motionless, one hand slowly rising to touch his reddening cheek."How dare you?" she exclaimed angrily. "Willis is my fiancé. He is worth a hundred of you. I won't let you insult him in my presence."Bruce said nothing. He just stared at her with a deadpan expression. "Willis is a successful executive at Shepherd Group," Caro continued, her voice growing louder. "He has money, status, and respect. Everything you don't. He would never end up like you—broke and pathetic."Sophie stepped forward, shaking her head. "Shame on you, Bruce. Seriously. Your wife left you for a better man. Get over it."Bianca gave a vigorous nod. "Yeah, get lost. You're such a sore loser. You can't even afford decent clothes. Willis owns properties, investments, and offshore accounts. What do you have? Nothing!"Bruce slowly lowered his hand from his cheek.

A convoy of luxury cars made its way up the long driveway of the Shepherd estate, bringing the world's most powerful men to Bruce Dominic Shepherd's doorstep.Uniformed valets were swiftly whisking away Rolls Royces. Bentleys. Lamborghinis. A limited-edition Bugatti that costs more than most people's homes. Over a hundred uniformed staff were positioned throughout the grounds, opening doors and escorting guests.Caro's car pulled up behind a gleaming Maybach, and for a moment, she couldn't move.The guests she saw were men and women of wealth and influence. Among the faces she recognized was a former prime minister. Three tech industry billionaires. The owner of a media empire that extended across six continents. Heirs to royal families and oil barons. The mansion towering ahead of her was so enormous she immediately confused it with a stadium. "Miss?" The valet opened her door, offering a gloved hand.Steadying her breath, Caro gathered her emerald gown and stepped out slowly. "T

As soon as Bruce reached the bottom of the staircase, the crowd swarmed around him like iron filings attracted to a magnet.The former prime minister was the first to approach him, his face breaking into a respectful smile. "Congratulations on your succession appointment, Mr. Shepherd. It's a great honor to meet you face-to-face."Bruce inclined his head slightly, the diamonds on his mask catching the light. "Thank you, Prime Minister. The pleasure is mine."When Bruce spoke, his voice was deep and breathy. There was something hypnotic about it as though it wrapped itself around the listener like warm silk. He had trained his vocals overnight to sound like this. Bruce shook hands with each guest in turn, his cape flowing behind him as he moved. He said only a few chosen words, acknowledging and welcoming his guests without sounding arrogant. Strangely, that only made his presence feel even heavier.When Bruce Dominic Shepherd spoke, people listened. When he said little, they hung o

Bruce moved through the crowd, nodding briefly to guests who attempted to intercept him. His cape flowed behind him as he passed through a door at the edge of the reception hall, leaving the music and laughter behind.The corridor beyond was quiet, lit by soft sconces along the walls. Bruce walked down until he pushed through a final door that opened onto the staff gate area.The cool night air hit him in the face.Willis stood ahead, under the harsh security lights, trembling between two massive bodyguards. His server's uniform was disheveled, his black mask removed to reveal a face pale as chalk and glistening with sweat. Behind him, the two guards cracked their knuckles in unison, terrifying Willis.Oswald stood before them, holding a small glass between his gloved fingers.As Bruce approached, Oswald turned and bowed deeply."Master Bruce." He extended his hand, revealing the vial. "We apprehended Mr. Stone and found this in his pocket. He intended to poison you."Bruce took the

Willis stared at the security guard, his eyes hardening. "How is that even possible?" he asked, his voice rising. "Do you know who I am? I am Willis Stone! I'm engaged to Caro Griffin!"The security guard narrowed his eyes in contempt. "Yeah, I know who you are. You're that fella who tried to poison Bruce Dominic Shepherd. Shame on you."The words struck Willis like a slap."How dare you?" Willis's face flushed red. "You're just a gatekeeper! I could have you fired for this!"The guard crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing. His expression didn't change. He just stood there, blocking the entrance like a wall.Willis seethed with anger. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He took a step forward. "You're making a big mistake," Willis snarled. "When Caro hears about this, you'd regret treating me like this.""Then call her," the guard sneered. "I dare you.""Oh, you bet I would," Willis said, pulling out his phone with trembling fingers as he scrolled through his conta