The sound of porcelain shattering echoed through the kitchen. A plate slipped from Alexander’s wet fingers and crashed onto the marble floor, fragments scattering in all directions.Before he could even bend down, a sharp voice rang out. "Alexander, are you blind? That’s imported porcelain! Do you know how expensive that is?"The head servant, Mrs. Rowan, stood at the doorway with her arms folded, her expression filled with disdain, her lips curled slightly as she looked at him like he was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe.Alexander paused for a moment, then quietly crouched down to pick up the broken pieces. "I'm sorry," he said calmly.Mrs. Rowan scoffed. "Sorry? Sorry, fixes nothing. Ever since you married into the Wallace family, you've done nothing but waste resources. If not for Miss Aurelia's kindness, do you think someone like you would even be allowed to set foot in this house?"Alexander didn’t respond; he simply gathered the broken shards carefully, his movements s

The service cart rolled forward. Alexander lowered his head slightly, maintaining the posture of a waiter as he pushed past the crowd. The clinking of glasses, polite laughter, and flattering voices filled the luxurious banquet hall.Golden chandeliers cast warm light over the guests, creating an elegant atmosphere. Yet beneath the surface, tension brewed, and then the cart bumped into Nah Virel.The impact wasn’t hard, but enough to draw attention. Before Nah could react, Aurelia spoke first. “Careful with that.”Her voice was soft, gentle, yet firm enough to carry authority. “If you bump into someone, it won’t end well for anyone.”Her tone sounded like a reprimand, but there was no hostility in it, only quiet control. Alexander froze slightly. Even now, she still sounded like she was protecting him.Nah glanced at Alexander and gave a faint smile. “It’s fine. He didn’t mean it.”Then, as if noticing something, Nah looked again. His brows lifted slightly. “Alexander?”The name cut t

Alexander lay on the soft bed, staring quietly at the ceiling. The faint light of dawn slowly filtered through the curtains, painting pale streaks across the quiet bedroom. The house remained still and undisturbed, as though nothing had changed overnight.But inside Alexander, everything had changed.He had not slept at all, not even for a minute. It was the first time in his life that he had stayed awake the entire night. Strangely, his body did not feel tired. Instead, his mind felt unusually clear, as if the sleepless night had stripped away the last traces of hesitation in his heart.Because of his past experiences and harsh training, he had come to view pain not as suffering, but as a test of endurance he was meant to overcome.Alexander slowly sat up; the injuries from yesterday had mostly healed, leaving only faint bloodstains on his shirt. The torn fabric still marked the spot where the champagne rack had struck him. He glanced at his arm and found that not even a scar remain

The store manager personally led Alexander and the others down a quiet corridor. As they moved farther away, the noise of the café gradually faded behind them, replaced by a calm and insulated atmosphere.The hallway was elegantly decorated, with soft lighting reflecting off polished marble floors. Each step produced a faint echo, subtly emphasizing the contrast between this secluded space and the bustling dining area outside.Finally, they stopped before a discreet wooden door. The manager pushed it open respectfully and gestured inward. “Distinguished guests, please.”They stepped inside. The room was modest in size but exquisitely designed. Warm lighting cast a gentle glow across soft leather sofas arranged around a low wooden table, creating a private and intimate atmosphere that felt completely separate from the rest of the café.Aurelia’s best friend looked around curiously, her eyes widening with surprise. “After coming here so many times,” she said, clearly impressed, “this is

Perhaps it was true that joy could brighten one’s spirit; the brief moment of helping someone earlier had lightened the weight in Alexander’s chest, even if only slightly.As he walked along the quiet roadside, the afternoon sun gradually softened, turning golden as evening approached.For the first time in a long while, Alexander felt calm. It was not peace, but it was a rare calmness that allowed his thoughts to settle instead of constantly churning.The pressure that had been suffocating him these past few days seemed to loosen little by little; his thoughts slowly drifted toward the future, toward decisions he had been avoiding, and toward something that now felt inevitable."Divorce." The word formed quietly in his mind.For nearly three years, he had given up everything for Aurelia—his career, his independence, and his ambitions.Three years ago, when Aurelia’s company had just started, he had stood beside her through everything, they had invested together, made decisions togeth