That afternoon, the island resort became even busier after news about the Black Crest auction spread among the guests. Luxury cars lined the entrance while wealthy elites, celebrities, and investors moved through the marble lobby wearing expensive suits and designer gowns.Everywhere people talked about only one thing.Luca. The mysterious man personally invited by the Black Crest organizers.Meanwhile, inside the VIP lounge, Alessandro nearly crushed his glass after overhearing another conversation nearby.“I heard the organizers upgraded his seat personally.”“That means they value him highly.”One businessman laughed softly. “Meanwhile someone else keeps acting like a jealous stray dog.”Several people chuckled immediately. Alessandro’s face darkened violently.Beside him, Isabella calmly reviewed documents on her tablet while completely ignoring the surrounding whispers.At least outwardly. But internally—even she could feel the atmosphere shifting around Luca more and more.Aless

The private elevator doors closed slowly while silence consumed the luxurious lobby downstairs. Countless elites remained frozen watching Luca leave beside the Black Crest chairman personally.Nobody expected such treatment.Especially not for Luca.Meanwhile Alessandro stood motionless near the center of the lobby with an ugly expression on his face. His mind felt completely chaotic now.The chairman himself came personally. Personally. Not for Lorenzo. For Luca.That reality shattered his remaining confidence badly.Nearby whispers spread nonstop again.“My God…”“The chairman greeted him first.”“Who exactly is Luca Gray?”One wealthy businessman smirked faintly. “Definitely not someone ordinary.”Another laughed quietly. “Meanwhile somebody kept calling him trash publicly all week.”Several people immediately glanced toward Alessandro afterward.Those looks felt worse than direct insults.Because now—People openly pitied him.Meanwhile Isabella quietly stared toward the closed el

The dark-blue diamond ring shimmered beneath the spotlight like a piece of the midnight sky itself.The entire auction hall fell silent. Every pair of eyes locked onto the display case.Even people who had remained indifferent throughout the auction suddenly sat upright.The host smiled proudly.“Ladies and gentlemen, the Midnight Crown.”A soft murmur swept through the crowd.“It actually exists.”“I thought it was in a private collection.”“This is worth a fortune.”Meanwhile, Isabella stared at the ring without blinking.Years ago, during a rare quiet evening, she had casually mentioned it while reading a luxury magazine.At the time, Luca had been sitting beside her.She never expected him to remember. She never expected herself to remember either.Yet the image remained vivid. Back then, he had simply smiled and listened. Like he always did.Beside her, Alessandro noticed her reaction immediately.“You like it?”Isabella finally looked away from the stage.“It doesn't matter.”“Y

The luxury vehicle moved quietly through the island road while the ocean waves crashed against distant cliffs. The atmosphere inside was suffocating. Neither Isabella nor Alessandro spoke for several minutes. The silence felt heavier than any argument. Finally, Alessandro forced a smile. “Don't think too much about what happened tonight.” Isabella kept her eyes on the dark scenery outside. “I'm not.” “You are.” “No.” Her answer was calm. Cold. Controlled. Yet Alessandro could tell she was distracted. The problem was obvious. Everything tonight had revolved around Luca. Again. And Alessandro hated it. “He got lucky,” Alessandro said casually. Isabella finally glanced at him. “Lucky?” “Yes.” “He met powerful people.” “That's all.” Isabella looked away again. She didn't answer. Because even she knew that explanation sounded weak. Very weak. The vehicle soon arrived at the luxury resort. Employees immediately opened the doors. “Welcome back, Miss.” Isa

The conference center stood near the northern coast of the island, overlooking the ocean. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed sunlight to pour into the luxurious building, creating an atmosphere of prestige and exclusivity.Inside the largest conference room, several executives were already seated.Film investors. Production company owners. Distribution executives.Every person present held significant influence in the entertainment industry.The moment Luca entered alongside Lorenzo, conversations immediately stopped.Numerous eyes turned toward him. Several executives stood up. Others smiled politely.The respect was impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, Lorenzo calmly took his seat.“Let's begin.”The meeting officially started. Across the room, an executive adjusted his glasses.“Mr. Gray, we're honored you accepted the invitation.”Luca nodded.“Thank you.” Another executive smiled.“We've reviewed the proposal.”“And?”Luca asked calmly. The executive's smile widened.“We want to move f