The earlier kidnapping attempt had delayed them by nearly half an hour. The black sedan rolled smoothly through the gates of the Grand Charity Auction just as the morning sun cast a golden glow across the marble façade of the building.By the time Alexander and Clara arrived at the Grand Harbor Charity Auction, the entrance had already transformed into a spectacle of wealth and influence. Luxury cars worth millions lined the driveway, their polished surfaces reflecting the warm glow of towering lights. Elegantly dressed guests moved across a long crimson carpet that stretched toward the massive glass doors of the convention hall, while reporters lingered nearby, eager to capture every notable arrival.Inside, crystal chandeliers cast a golden brilliance through the transparent walls, and security personnel in black suits carefully examined each invitation before granting access.Alexander stepped out first, his instincts taking over as his eyes swept across the surroundings in a qui

“No…” she whispered under her breath. “That can’t be possible.”“Nahir,” she called.He turned to her, still irritated. “What is it?”She did not look away from Alexander. “Do you remember the banquet the night you returned? The chairman we never saw clearly?”Nahir nodded. “Of course.”Aurelia hesitated. “Don’t you think… he looks very similar to Alexander?”For a brief moment, Nahir’s pupils contracted.But years of practiced deception allowed him to recover almost instantly. He let out a dismissive laugh.“Aura, you’re overthinking it. Alexander?” He glanced toward him with open disdain. “Do you really think a live-in son-in-law who spent three years cooking and cleaning could possibly be someone like that? He doesn’t even have the qualifications to stand among people of that level.”Aurelia bit her lower lip. “I suppose… it does sound ridiculous.”Yet the unease in her chest refused to fade.The elevator doors slid shut, cutting him from view as the unsettling question remained, l

“So,” Nahir began, raising his voice just enough for nearby guests to overhear, “did you hear everything?”Alexander slowly lifted his gaze to meet him.With his arms folded proudly across his chest, Nahir continued, “Aurelia just secured the biggest business deal of her career.” A smug laugh followed as he added, “And she did it thanks to me.”He deliberately glanced toward Aurelia before continuing, his tone filled with self-satisfaction. “Harbor International’s cooperation will multiply Aurelia Cosmetics’ profits many times over. They’ll expand overseas, and the company’s value will skyrocket into the hundreds of millions.”Leaning slightly closer, he lowered his voice just enough to make it cutting rather than loud. “So tell me, what exactly have you ever done for her?”Around them, conversations began to slow as several guests subtly shifted their attention in this direction. Even Clara’s expression darkened with displeasure.Alexander, however, remained seated, his posture relaxe

Alexander had already turned away, as though the matter no longer concerned him. Clara stood quietly at his side, offering neither comment nor reaction, while Nahir remained beside Aurelia with visible pride, convinced that he had secured yet another victory.And yet, to everyone’s surprise, Aurelia stepped forward. “Alexander!”Her voice rang out louder than she intended, cutting cleanly through the heavy atmosphere and drawing the attention of those who had tried so hard to appear uninterested.Alexander stopped.For a brief moment, the entire hall seemed to hold its breath, as though waiting to see what would happen next.Aurelia quickly closed the distance between them until she stood within arm’s reach. Before he could take another step, she reached out and caught his sleeve, her fingers tightening instinctively.“You can’t just walk away like this.”Alexander lowered his gaze to her hand before slowly lifting his eyes to meet hers. His expression was unnervingly calm, devoid of a

Even those who had never heard of him could sense the obsession lurking beneath his calm demeanor.For a brief instant, Clara’s face lost all color as memories surged forward: the desperate escape, the elite guards who had died protecting her, the blood, the screams, and the endless drop into darkness.Her breathing faltered.Then Alexander's firm hand closed around Elliot’s wrist; his grip was unyielding, stopping Elliot’s movement completely. “Take your hand off her,” he said.The two men locked eyes, neither willing to yield an inch. The air between them grew heavy, charged with the promise of violence.Elliot glanced down at Alexander’s hand before raising his gaze again. “And if I don’t?”Alexander’s answer came without hesitation. “Then you’ll lose it.”At once, Elliot’s bodyguards stepped forward. The tension escalated instantly, as though a single misstep could turn the elegant auction hall into a battlefield.Elliot studied Alexander for several long seconds, then, slowly, he