Selene watched bitterly as Reed wrapped his long arm possessively around Miyu's waist, pulling her closer into his firm embrace as they navigated the outer edge of the velvet rope.The gesture was smooth, intimate, and effortlessly confident, the kind of casual touch that spoke volumes of a deep, unshakeable familiarity. Watching the way Miyu leaned comfortably into his side made Selene's stomach churn violently with a sudden, toxic wave of jealousy.‘Since when did he start looking so utterly attractive?’ she wondered bitterly, her eyes hungrily tracing the tantalizing, tanned skin of his chest, which had been purposefully left exposed by the slightly unbuttoned top of his tailored silk shirt.He had always been a handsome man, but in the past, he had been quiet, predictable, and entirely too submissive to her whims. Now, there was something entirely different radiating from him, an aura of absolute power, dynamic presence, and lethal confidence that washed over the crowd like heat

Within the blink of an eye, Reed grabbed Lucas's wrist in a vise grip, forcing him to instantly drop Miyu's arm.The movement was lightning fast, almost completely imperceptible to the surrounding observers. One moment Lucas's fingers were aggressively digging into Miyu's skin; the next, his wrist was being crushed within a merciless grip of pure iron.But even after forcing Lucas to release her, Reed held onto the wrist, slowly increasing the pressure of his grip. He squeezed until Lucas was desperately biting his lower lip to stop himself from groaning aloud in front of the people, his face flushing as dark red as the flesh of a ripe watermelon. The thick veins in Lucas's neck bulged dangerously against his collar, and unbidden tears of sheer agony welled up in his eyes. He stood bent at the waist, looking like a man who was about to physically shatter into pieces under the crushing torque."Reed, it's enough," came Miyu's soft, composure-restoring voice.Her slender hand gently to

When the heavy cinema house lights slowly faded back on, the theater erupted into an immediate, standing ovation. It was as if they were trying to blow the roof away with their nonstop clapping.As if pulled by an invisible, electric current, every single person in the grand auditorium rose to their feet. The thunderous wall of applause filled the expanse, rolling across the velvet seats in overwhelming waves of raw appreciation, awe, and genuine admiration. High-society elites, harsh critics, veteran directors, and seasoned A-list actors were cheering, whistling, and wiping tears from their eyes, completely swept up in the emotional power of Alan Chen’s masterwork and the actors he had used as his medium.Reed rose to his feet with an indulgent, calm smile, turning toward Miyu and Alan Chen as he clapped. Alan too got to his feet with an indulgent smile and looked down at Miyu.She remained seated for a moment, her dark eyes filling with hot, unbidden tears. She looked thoroughly ov

"Mr. Lane, what do you think of my suggestion?" Cole started eagerly, his voice carrying a subtle note of desperation that he tried desperately to mask beneath a veneer of professional confidence.He leaned forward in his leather executive chair, his knuckles white as his fingers gripped the polished edge of his mahogany desk. When nothing but a heavy, unreadable silence stretched over the line, Cole pressed on with persistent, calculated urgency."You must consider that you are relatively new to the intricate background of Ruby City," Cole offered smoothly, attempting to assume the posture of a seasoned mentor. "You don't yet know the right players to align with or the hidden pitfalls of this market. Let me act as your premier guide. I know this territory inside and out, every political channel, every financial lever, every family lineage. I know precisely who to trust and who to avoid. With my regional power and your capital, you could accomplish so much more than you ever imagined.

Selene pressed up against Reed, her body molding against his in a way that was calculated and deliberately provocative. Her perfume was cloying and heavy, nothing like the sweet floral scent that he had found captivating during his naive years, but now her scent was completely suffocating and repulsive."Don't act like you don't miss me, Reed," Selene purred, leaning closer as her voice dropped into the sultry, persuasive tone that had once made him weak. Her manicured fingers trailed up his chest over his silk lapel, her eyes dark with false promise and manufactured vulnerability. "I know you still think about me when you're alone. I know you still want me. You can't just erase everything we were to each other."At her touch, Reed turned into a statue of solid rock, his eyes glinting with a dangerous, red-hot fury. His entire frame went rigid, his jaw clenching so hard the muscles jumped beneath his skin with barely contained rage. The attempt at subtle seduction was a cheap perfor