2025-05-22 04:37:33Within seconds, Cynthia strutted out holding a stunning outfit draped over her arm.
“I had this tailored just for you,” she said, beaming like she’d just won an award. Antonio eyed the outfit. The tux was sharp. Jet-black with subtle gold embroidery, paired with a crisp white shirt and polished black dress shoes. “Tonight, you’re coming with me to the Bellagio Group’s charity gala,” Antonio raised an eyebrow, smiling. “You know these events aren’t really my scene.” And he wasn’t wrong. This wasn’t just any party. It was THE party. The Bellagio Group’s events were where the city’s elite gathered. Getting an invite was like being handed a golden ticket. Antonio didn’t care for the spotlight. Especially not the blinding kind that came with a red carpet and paparazzi. “Come on,” Cynthia pleaded, eyes wide. “Just be my plus one, pretty please?” Antonio sighed. Cynthia was like a little sister to him. He could never say no when she turned on the charm. Against his better judgment, he gave her a nod and reached for the tux. When he stepped in front of the mirror, even he had to admit - damn, he looked good. The tailored tux hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, accentuating his sharp features and his undeniable aura of authority. His dark hair was neatly styled, and the golden embroidery shimmered under the light, making him look like a man born for power. Cynthia practically lit up beside him. “You look gorgeous,” she said, eyes wide with pride. Antonio ran a hand through his freshly styled hair with a half-smile. “A jacket and jeans suit me better.” They left the company and stepped into a luxury car which headed to Celestine Hall, one of the most extravagant event venues in Gelrith City. The hall was renowned for hosting the grandest social events, and tonight was no exception. The event was meticulously organized by Bellagio Group’s Elite Events Department, the company’s specialized division that handled luxury functions. The hall was adorned with glittering chandeliers, red carpets, and golden floral arrangements that screamed wealth and prestige. As their car pulled up, the flashing lights of paparazzi cameras filled the air. Reporters eagerly surrounded the entrance, capturing the arrivals of the city’s elite. Just as Antonio was about to step out, his eyes caught sight of another luxury car arriving in front of them. The doors opened, and a stunning woman stepped out. The crowd gasped. The woman was Elaine, Antonio's ex-wife. She was breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in an off-shoulder crimson gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her long, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her red lips curved into a practiced, elegant smile. The cameras flashed wildly, capturing every angle of her dazzling appearance. Most of the guests were already aware of Elaine's divorce, as she had publicly announced it on her social media shortly after signing the divorce papers. “Did you see the post? It’s all over Insta—#ElaineUnchained. Divorce confirmed just hours ago!” "Oh, really? I can see she is now finally free and glowing!" Shortly after, another figure stepped out beside Elaine—tall, confident, with a smug smile playing on his lips. It was Harry Gibson. The moment people recognized him, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The murmurs turned into a roar of excitement. “Harry Gibson! That’s him!” “The man who’s about to seal the deal with Bellagio Group!” Laughter rippled through the crowd. The rumours were already everywhere that Harry was just about to seal a deal with Bellagio Group. "Look who’s by his side… Elaine Greene. I mean, look at them! Power couple goals!” “Elaine really upgraded, huh? From that loser to this?” And just as the cheering reached its peak, another car pulled up behind them. The door opened, and Antonio stepped out. There was a brief silence before it was quickly drowned out by murmurs—this time, not of admiration. “Wait a second… is that…?” “Oh my god. That’s her ex-husband.” “No way. He had the nerve to show his face here?” “Unbelievable. What’s he even doing here? Looking for scraps?” “Maybe he’s working tonight—probably valet or something.” “No, no. He’s dressed too well for that. Maybe they hired him to pour champagne.” “Ha! Whatever it is, it’s definitely beneath everyone else here.” The mocking grew louder, more pointed with laughter echoing. “I’ll bet he came to see what real success looks like. Must hurt watching someone else shine in his place.” “He’s probably hoping someone will pity-invite him inside. Poor guy.” Antonio heard most of the gossip but he didn’t flinch. He calmly adjusted his cufflinks and took in the scene with cool detachment, his expression unreadable. Then, his gaze locked onto a pair of familiar faces. It was Elaine and Harry. Their smiles faded in an instant. The confident glimmer in their eyes flickered into confusion… then disbelief. Elaine blinked as if her mind was playing tricks on her. She leaned closer to Harry, whispering in his ear, “What the hell is that loser doing here?” But even as she said it, something deeper twisted in her chest. She saw the confidence in Antonio’s eyes, the dignified poise in his step. And then—Cynthia. When Antonio turned to the car behind him and extended his hand, a tall, elegant woman stepped out, and the world seemed to pause for Elaine. Cynthia stepped out with grace, placing her hand in his. Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she emerged, her elegant presence turning heads. Gasps echoed through the gathering. “Who’s that with him?” “She’s gorgeous…” “Wait—isn’t that Cynthia Morris, the CEO of Bellagio Group?” Murmurs into her ears, Elaine’s heart pounded. What the hell? Antonio, that loser…is with…Cynthia Morris? The incredible female CEO of Bellagio Group?
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Chapter 593
Elias noticed it the moment she turned.Emily hadn’t fully walked out.She had stopped mid-decision, suspended between rejection and reconsideration. That small hesitation was not loud, not obvious, but to Elias it was more revealing than any spoken response could have been. It told him the resistance had not held completely. It had cracked just enough for doubt to enter.Then she turned back.Slowly.Not with conviction, but with recalculation—like someone reviewing a conclusion they had been too quick to finalize.And Elias smiled.Not openly.Not warmly.Not in a way meant to comfort or persuade.It was the kind of smile that appeared when a calculation finally aligned with expectation, when an outcome that had been statistically anticipated finally confirmed itself in reality.She was listening again.That was enough.Emily walked back toward her seat, her expression no longer sharp with refusal. Instead, it had shifted into something more controlled, more careful—like someone gua
Chapter 592
Emily stared at Elias for a moment, her expression caught in a narrow space between disbelief and irritation, as though she were trying to decide which emotion best matched the situation in front of her. The brief warmth that had surfaced earlier—fragile and unsteady, born from old memories, forgotten familiarity, and a flicker of nostalgia she had not expected to feel again—was now completely gone. It had been stripped away so cleanly it was almost unsettling, as if it had never existed at all. In its place remained something firmer, sharper, more grounded, and significantly less forgiving of what she was hearing.“You’re asking me,” she said slowly, deliberately spacing each word as though she was testing whether the sentence itself made sense when spoken aloud, “how you can reunite me with a man who is already married?”Elias remained exactly as he was, seated with quiet control, posture relaxed in a way that suggested ease rather than carelessness. His expression did not shift in
Chapter 591
The moment Emily admitted she knew Antonio Morris, Elias felt a subtle but distinct shift inside him.Not emotion in the traditional sense.Not excitement.Not surprise.Positioning.It was the feeling of a piece on a board confirming itself exactly where it needed to be, without force, without resistance, simply aligning into place as though it had always been meant to be there. Elias did not react outwardly. There was no visible change in posture or expression. But something in his eyes sharpened slightly, then softened into quiet satisfaction, the kind that came from validation rather than discovery.Good.That was the confirmation he needed.Across from him, Emily remained seated, but her posture had shifted slightly. There was a subtle uncertainty now, as if she had stepped into a moment that was beginning to feel heavier than she originally anticipated. As though her simple admission had unlocked something she could no longer see the full shape of.Elias allowed the silence to l
Chapter 590
When the investigator saw the transfer notification appear on his screen, he paused for a moment longer than usual, his eyes fixed on the amount as if confirming it had not been misread or duplicated by mistake. It was not merely generous. It was excessive in a way that immediately removed it from the category of professional payment and placed it into something more deliberate.It was far beyond what was required for introductions, arrangements, persuasion, or even extended effort.It was a statement.A confirmation of intent rather than a simple transaction.The investigator exhaled slowly through his nose, almost amused, though there was caution beneath the reaction.“Of course,” he muttered to himself. “He doesn’t do moderation.”He leaned back in his chair, still staring at the screen for a few seconds longer, letting the implication settle fully before locking the phone and setting it aside. Whatever Elias was building toward, it was no longer a simple inquiry or background sear
Chapter 589
As soon as Elias finished reading the email, the smirk on his face did not fade.Instead, it deepened slightly, as though something within him had finally aligned into place after a long period of uncertainty. He sat back in his chair, the faint glow of his laptop casting soft reflections across his face, highlighting the calm satisfaction in his expression. Emily Williams. A name that, to anyone else, would appear ordinary, unremarkable, easily forgotten. But in Elias’s mind, it was already transforming into something far more structured, far more intentional.Not a person.Not a memory.A tool.A point of access.A variable that could be shaped and positioned.He picked up his phone slowly, his movements deliberate and unhurried, as though the outcome of the call had already been decided before it began. Without hesitation, he dialed the investigator’s number and brought the phone to his ear.It rang twice.Then it was answered.“Elias,” the investigator’s voice came through calmly.
Chapter 588
Upon hearing Elias’s words, the investigator gave a slow, thoughtful nod, as though weighing not just the instruction itself but the scale of what it implied. He adjusted his posture slightly, already shifting mentally into work mode.“I’ll get back to you,” he said calmly, rising from the chair with unhurried confidence. “Once I’ve gathered enough—especially what you asked for.”Elias did not respond immediately. He simply watched him, his expression steady and unreadable, the kind of silence that suggested control rather than uncertainty. There was impatience there, but it was carefully contained, folded beneath composure like something deliberately restrained.The investigator straightened his jacket, ensuring everything sat properly before continuing.“I understand what you want,” he added. “And I’ll go deeper than most people would dare.”That, at last, was enough for Elias. Not reassurance, but confirmation of direction.A faint nod followed.“Do not waste time,” Elias said.The
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