As Cynthia’s cold words hung in the air, the intense anger on Luis’s face slowly crumbled. The harsh, aggressive glare melted into sudden panic as the reality of what she had just said hit him."CeCe... wait," Luis stammered, his voice dropping into a desperate, shaky tone. "Please... just wait. Don't say that.""I'm done talking, Luis," Cynthia said, turning her back on him."No, CeCe, please!" Luis pleaded, reaching out frantically. He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, trying to pull her back toward him. "Look at me! I'm sorry! I just lost my temper! You can't just throw away everything we've built since we were kids!"Before Cynthia could yank her arm free, Ethan stepped smoothly into the space between them.Ethan’s hand came down like an iron grip on Luis’s forearm, squeezing hard enough to instantly break Luis's hold on Cynthia's wrist. Ethan pushed Luis back, creating a firm, unyielding barrier between them."Keep your hands off her," Ethan said, his voice dropping into a l

Ethan stepped out of the private car in front of The Sovereign, Manhattan’s most exclusive private members' club. The entrance was quiet, guarded by silver-suited doormen, completely hidden from the bustling city streets.When the invitation had arrived anonymously at his door earlier that afternoon, Ethan had been genuinely shocked. An ornate, wax-sealed card for a private lounge where only legacy elite were permitted was not something that showed up by accident. His initial instinct had been to call Cynthia and ask if she knew anything about it. But as his fingers hovered over her contact name, he stopped himself.He knew how the minds of people like Luis worked. An anonymous invite to an ultra-exclusive venue meant one thing: Luis was planning something, and he specifically didn't want Cynthia anywhere near it. If Ethan brought Cynthia along, Luis would simply play nice and hide behind a polite mask. But if Ethan walked in alone, Luis would expose his hand completely. Ethan decided

Luis watched Chloe’s lip quiver, her hands shaking as Ethan's cold words hung in the air. The entire VIP lounge was captivated by the spectacle. Nathan, John, and Carter were practically leaning over the table, thoroughly entertained by the raw, messy drama unfolding right before their eyes.Nobody was paying attention to Luis. Sensing the opportunity, Luis kept his eyes fixed on Chloe while his left hand slipped smoothly into the inner pocket of his tailored jacket. His fingers closed around a tiny, dark glass vial."Look, Chloe," Luis interrupted smoothly, stepping toward them with fake sympathy. "Ethan's clearly upset. Why don't you take a breather? Give the man a minute to process.""I don't need a breather, Luis," Chloe snapped, wiping a tear from her cheek, her voice thick with frustration. "This is between me and Ethan""Of course it is," Luis said gently, placing a comforting hand on her arm and subtly pivoting his body. The movement blocked Chloe's and everyone else's direct

Ethan stood at the perimeter of the VIP lounge, watching Luis was completely unravelling, making a crude and unhinged spectacle of himself on the couch while Vanessa frantically tried to disentangle herself from his slurred, uncoordinated grip.Nearby, wealthy investors were whispering in disgust, waiters were rushing to call management, and Carter and John were standing back in helpless, pale-faced panic.Ethan smoothly pulled his smartphone from his coat pocket, adjusted the focal lens, making sure the lighting clearly captured every single angle: Luis's flushed, sweat-glistening face, his half-unbuttoned designer shirt, the surrounding velvet cushions of The Sovereign, and his disgraceful, out-of-control behavior in full view of Manhattan’s elite.Ethan recorded a twenty-second video clip. Every detail was sharp, undeniable, and impossible to pass off as a mistake or a bad angle."Ethan..." Chloe whimpered from behind him, her voice trembling as she watched him lower the phone. "Wh

Cynthia stood near the large window of her private lounge, looking down at the central courtyard of Aethelgard University. Her hands were folded over her blue dress waiting for Ethan to arrive after calling him over.A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," Cynthia said, turning around.The door opened, and Ethan walked in. He wore a simple shirt, dark jacket and grey trousers. He held two paper cups from the campus café in his hands. He walked over to the table and set one cup down in front of her."I got you warm green tea," Ethan said. He pulled out a chair and sat down, taking a sip from his own cup. "You looked like you had a long morning."Cynthia did not pick up the tea. She stayed standing, watching his face. "Thanks, Ethan.""Is everything alright?" Ethan asked. He looked up at her with a calm expression. "Sarah and Mia were leaving when I came up. They said you were resting.""I was thinking," Cynthia said. She walked over to the table and sat down across from him. "Ethan, wh