It was already the next day.Morning light slipped gently through the thin curtains, casting soft lines across Liam's small room. The place was quiet—too quiet for someone who had barely slept. His phone had been buzzing nonstop since early dawn.Penelope.Her name kept flashing across the screen. Call after call. Message after message. She wanted to come pick him up for the audition.Liam sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the phone in his hand. He knew why she was calling so much. He knew what this meant. Awkwardness. Questions. Doubt.But then again… what exactly was he trying to hide?He let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly. He wasn't someone who knew how to pretend. He wasn't someone who could act like something he wasn't. So why should he start now?He gave her his address. That alone was enough of an answer."I'm just an E-level citizen…" he muttered quietly to himself. "That's the truth."And he didn't run from the truth. Not even a little.Barely five minutes pa

Benjamin's lips slowly curved into a smile. Not a warm one. Not even a thoughtful one. It was the kind of smile that came from complete dismissal."No," he said calmly into the phone. "There's absolutely nothing there."His tone was steady, almost relaxed, as if everything David had just said meant nothing to him. "I can assure you," he continued, his voice lowering slightly, "there's absolutely nothing." He let out a faint chuckle under his breath. "And not just nothing… that guy is a worthless bastard."Benjamin's eyes drifted toward the crowd again, watching people move, laugh, pose for cameras—as if the conversation he was having didn't matter at all. "He's useless," he added flatly. "I see no reason why you should even be worrying yourself about something like this."There was a pause on the other end, but Benjamin didn't wait. "Are you trying to say you saw someone who looked like him?" he asked, raising a brow slightly. "Because that would make more sense." His voice turned fir

The moment Liam's words landed in the air, something subtle shifted in Penelope's expression.She didn't look shocked. She didn't look confused. Instead… she looked intrigued. Her eyes slowly moved from Victoria to Liam again, as if she was studying a story she had only just been introduced to. A story that was far more interesting than the surface showed.And then she spoke."Ex-wife?"The word rolled off her tongue softly, almost thoughtfully. For a brief second, her mind tried to process it logically. Victoria… married to him? Her gaze drifted to Victoria. She was standing there—beautiful, confident, polished—but suddenly, in Penelope's eyes, she looked… different. Not stronger. Not better. Just… smaller.Penelope's lips pressed together slightly as she thought deeper. How did someone like her even get a man like Liam? That thought lingered for a moment. Then slowly faded. Not because it wasn't interesting… but because she had already made her decision. Her attention shifted. Her p

The moment everyone settled inside, the grand hall of the venue carried a heavy, expectant silence.Rows of polished chairs were filled with guests dressed in luxury—tailored suits, designer gowns, expensive watches catching every glint of light. The air itself felt curated, as if even the silence had a price tag.At the very front— the most exclusive section, the reserved seats— there sat Liam and Penelope. Side by side. Unshaken. Completely calm. Too calm. Their presence alone disrupted the balance of the room without them even trying.Behind them, Victoria sat stiffly in her chair, her posture straight but her expression already twisted with irritation. Benjamin sat beside her, equally composed—but with a sharper edge in his eyes now. The moment Victoria saw them clearly seated at the front, her fingers tightened around her armrest. Her jaw clenched. Hard.Then she scoffed under her breath. "Just look at him," she muttered, loud enough for Benjamin to hear. "Sitting there like he's

At that moment, the atmosphere in the auction hall shifted once again. This time… it was different. The lights dimmed slightly, and three well-dressed attendants walked in slowly from the side entrance. Their steps were careful, synchronized, as if they were carrying something far more valuable than gold. In their hands was a glass box. A deep red cloth covered it completely, hiding whatever was within. The crowd leaned forward almost at the same time, curiosity rising like a wave. The attendants reached the center stage. Then, with slow, deliberate movement… they removed the cloth. The moment the ring was revealed— a faint gasp spread across the hall. Even without explanation, everyone could tell. This was not ordinary. It sat quietly inside the glass box, yet it carried a presence that was hard to ignore. The design was ancient, detailed with patterns that looked almost alive under the light. The stone at the center shimmered faintly, not too bright… but enough to draw every ey