The phone on the side table continued to ring, its screen lighting up over and over again. Neither of us noticed it. The only thing filling the room was the sound of our own breathing.Ten minutes earlier, the room had fallen into complete silence as our staring contest began. We had been looking directly into each other's eyes for nearly forty seconds without either of us blinking.As the seconds passed, I noticed Vanessa's cheeks slowly turning red beneath the warm lights. The calm, confident woman I had known all evening was gradually losing her composure. Watching her struggle to keep a straight face, I couldn't help thinking she looked unexpectedly adorable.A laugh escaped me before I could stop it, breaking the silence between us.Vanessa blinked immediately and let out a small gasp before narrowing her eyes at me. She puffed out her cheeks, grabbed a freshly poured glass, and pushed it into my hand."You cheated," she complained with a playful glare. "You laughed on purpose to

Just then, the phone on the side table began vibrating again, its ringtone cutting through the moment between us.Vanessa paused, her lips only inches from mine. She glanced at the glowing screen and sighed softly."It's her again," she murmured.I looked over and saw Sloane's name flashing across the display for the fifth time that night.I had no desire to answer. For one peaceful moment, I wanted to forget she had ever been part of my life.But the phone refused to stop ringing.With a quiet sigh, I reached over, picked it up, and answered the call.Before I could say a single word, Sloane's cold voice exploded through the speaker."Riven! Did you actually lay your hands on my brother tonight?""I did," I replied calmly, my grip tightening around the phone. "If you'd let me explain, your mother and Julian were trying to—""I don't care about your excuses!" she snapped, cutting me off before I could finish. "Julian is just a kid, Riven. Even if he said something wrong or lost his te

I lowered the phone and set it face down on the table. The silence of the hotel lounge settled back in, thick and heavy. Vanessa pulled her arms back from my shoulders, her eyes searching my face."Was that Sloane?" she asked quietly."Yeah," I replied, staring at the blank screen. "We're getting divorced the day after tomorrow."Vanessa looked down, her shoulders dropping a little as a sad look crossed her face. "So she's really going through with it. Riven, are you going to be okay?""I need to get some sleep before tomorrow," I said, dodging the question as I stood up. "Thanks for the drinks, Vanessa. For everything tonight."She gave a weak, bittersweet smile. "Yeah. Big day tomorrow. Don't let them get to you, Riven. You deserve a lot better than what they gave you."I nodded, picked up my suitcase, and headed toward the elevators. Back in my room, I lay awake for a while, staring at the ceiling. A flicker of guilt passed through my chest. "Was I too easy on her tonight? Or too h

Linnea led me straight into her main executive office. She walked over to a door at the back of the room and pushed it open, gesturing for me to step inside. I saw her private lounge next door, filled with her personal things, a few changes of clothes hanging on a rack, a pair of indoor slippers by the couch.Linnea’s cheeks flushed a sudden red crimson, and she quickly stepped ahead of me to clear a stray files folder from the cushions. "I am so sorry, Boss. It is a bit untidy. Please do not mind the mess. I've practically been living out of this office lately.""It is perfectly fine, Linnea," I said, setting my jacket down. "I am the one intruding on your private space. Besides, I need to stay out of sight for a moment. I do not want to reveal my identity to the public just yet.”"I understand," Linnea said, straightening up and adjusting her glasses. "I'll handle the first meeting while you listen from here. The glass is soundproof from the other side, she won't hear you or know

Linnea folded her hands on the desk, looking directly at the stunned woman across from her. "Ms. Chase, after further consideration, Veridian Global is officially expressing our full willingness to cooperate with ZenChip Company."Lyra sat completely frozen, her mind spinning as she tried to process the words. She was utterly shocked, entirely unable to understand why this powerful director had changed her mind so suddenly after being so cold just a moment ago. "Director Linnea, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but why the sudden turnaround? I need to know the reason."Linnea offered a calm, smooth smile. "Let's just say I highly respect your determination, and I find myself genuinely liking your personality."Lyra was still deeply puzzled. She opened her mouth, about to press further for a real business explanation, when the door to the adjoining private lounge swung open."I apologize for the disruption," I said, stepping out into the main office. "I was resting in the lounge an