Victor remained slumped on the couch, his head still heavy in his hands, the weight of his despair pressing down almost unbearably upon him. His wife and daughter lingered quietly in the background, their subdued expressions carefully masking the private relief simmering beneath the surface. Suddenly, a firm knock echoed against the front door, shattering the silence and startling everyone in the room. Victor lifted his head sharply, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Who could possibly be at the door at this hour?" he muttered, fully aware every guest had already departed the estate. Nadia glanced toward her mother, unease flickering visibly across her expression. "Did one of the guests forget something?" Her mother shook her head firmly. "Unlikely. Everyone has already gone." The knock returned, steady and deliberate, impossible to ignore any longer. Victor rose slowly to his feet, his legs feeling strangely heavy with every step he took toward the door. He pulled it open, and

"Hello, Clara," Kai said, his tone polite yet carefully guarded. "Dr. Kai," Clara began, her voice carrying a curious blend of warmth and quiet unease. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, but... I wanted to invite you to a banquet we're hosting this evening. It's in celebration of my grandfather's successful recovery." Kai's jaw tightened slightly at the invitation. The idea of mingling through a formal event held no appeal whatsoever, especially after the exhausting drama he had endured over the past few days. He had no desire to surround himself with crowds at the moment, preferring instead to focus entirely on securing his new home. Clara paused, still awaiting his response, and Kai could hear her draw a quiet breath before continuing. "I understand you're busy. But there's something about tonight's gathering you might find genuinely interesting." "What's that?" Kai asked, his curiosity sparking despite his reluctance to attend. "There's a particular guest arriving tonight," she s

The grand gates of Kai's newly purchased villa creaked open as he stepped out of his taxi, trying to settle into his new home and to shed the chaos he had left behind at Nadia's household. Walking inside, he ran his hand along the smooth banister of the staircase, appreciating the sense of peace the space provided. "This is a fresh start," he said quietly to himself. "No more distractions, no more unnecessary insults." He spent the following hours settling in, unpacking his essentials and familiarizing himself with the villa's layout. The silence proved soothing, though it did not last long. A knock at the door broke sharply through the calm. Kai straightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he approached the entrance. When he opened it, Marlow stood there, his posture respectful yet his expression unmistakably serious. "Mr. Kai." Marlow said, bowing slightly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you." "Come in," Kai said simply, sensing without needing to be told that something had g

Kai stood still, his gaze flickering toward Desmond, who was now nearly foaming at the mouth with rage. He didn't move, didn't speak, letting Desmond's words hang uselessly in the air. Should I step in? he thought briefly. But the idea dissolved as quickly as it had formed. Desmond's behavior was beyond all reason—intervening would only be a waste of his time. "You think you're better than me, Kai?" Desmond spat, his voice cutting sharply through the hallway. His disheveled clothes and wild expression made him look like a man clinging desperately to the last shreds of his pride. "Walking around here like you actually belong! Guards, grab him! I'm telling you, he's sneaking out without paying! Look at him—does he look like someone who has the money to eat in a place like this?" Kai remained silent, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply against Desmond's frenzy. He could see the guards glancing toward him now, hesitation flickering visibly in their eyes. One of the guards, the leade

Nadia stood rooted in place, her confidence crumbling as she replayed the entire scene over and over in her mind. Landon's unexpected reaction to Kai had thrown her completely off balance. Instead of tearing Kai down, exactly as she had meticulously planned, Landon had greeted him with what almost seemed like genuine respect—or perhaps caution. Her mind raced furiously, trying to piece together the fragments. Why would Landon back off so suddenly? He's never one to hold his tongue, especially when he was already furious about Kai using Clara's name to lie and pretend. And why was he behaving as though Kai wasn't just some nobody? Across the courtyard, Kai adjusted his jacket and walked away from Nadia, his steps deliberate yet entirely unhurried. He didn't so much as glance in her direction, his sheer indifference stinging far more than any sharp remark could ever have managed. Nadia clenched her fists, watching Kai walk away, the sight only making her look more foolish in her own e