2025-01-20 16:44:00The atmosphere in the Rolls-Royce was tense. Dylan sat in silence, his jaw clenched as the weight of his recent phone call with Jane lingered. Sensing his unease, John Nelson leaned forward, his face dark with anger.
“Young Master,” John said, his voice low and serious, “after hearing how your ex-wife treated you and Molly, I have to ask—should we reconsider this cooperation with her company? People like her don’t deserve your help.”
Dylan’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at John. “John, I'm always happy to help my wife's company. But now...Jane is not my wife anymore.”
His voice was calm, but his words carried a firm edge.
John nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful. “I see.”
The convoy arrived at the grand entrance of the Royal Elysian Hotel, where a red carpet had been rolled out. Luxury cars lined the driveway, with elegantly dressed guests mingling outside.
John glanced at his granddaughter Helen, who had remained quiet the entire ride. Her shyness was evident, but John saw this as an opportunity to let her spend more time with Dylan.
“Helen,” John said gently, “why don’t you accompany the Young Master inside? I’ll handle the business side of things with Jane’s company for now.”
Helen’s cheeks flushed pink, but she nodded obediently. “Of course, Grandpa.”
John stepped out of the car first, flanked by several attendants. Dylan exited next, holding Molly’s hand, followed closely by Helen.
As John walked away with his aides, Dylan and Helen made their way into the hotel. The grandeur of the lobby was breathtaking—crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and marble floors gleamed under the warm lights.
But the moment they stepped inside, Dylan’s expression darkened. Across the lobby, Jane stood in an elegant emerald gown, her hair styled perfectly, her makeup immaculate. Beside her was a chubby man in a poorly fitted suit, whose gold watch seemed comically oversized for his wrist. His confident smirk gave him an air of self-importance that clashed with the sophistication of the surroundings.
Dylan sighed, hoping to avoid a confrontation, but Jane’s sharp eyes caught sight of him. Her expression twisted in anger, and she stormed toward him, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floor.
“You!” Jane spat, pointing an accusing finger at Dylan. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby guests and security.
Dylan looked at Jane. He had never imagined that the kind girl he once deeply loved would turn out like this.
His jaw tightened, and he replied coolly, “I don’t think I owe you an explanation.”
Jane’s face turned red with fury. “Don’t lie to me! You’ve been stalking me, haven’t you? How else would a nobody like you end up in a place like this?”
Dylan sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Stalking you? Don’t flatter yourself. I was invited here by the Nelson family to have a meal.”
Jane let out a harsh laugh, loud enough to draw the attention of nearby guests, and the chubby man beside her joined in, his round belly shaking.
“By the Nelson family?” Jane sneered. “Dylan, do you hear yourself? The Nelsons don’t associate with people like you.”
The chubby man stepped forward, puffing out his chest, his smirk widening. “Is this your ex-husband, Jane? The one you told me about? He doesn’t look like much.”
Jane crossed her arms and sneered. “That’s him. Dylan Grenville. A broke, useless man with no status or money. He’s probably here to cause trouble.”
Dylan met Jane’s scornful gaze, his expression unchanging. “Believe what you want,” he said indifferently. “I have no reason to explain myself to you.”
The man still smirking said, “allow me to introduce myself. I’m Bobby Jackson, a billionaire entrepreneur and someone who’s very well-acquainted with the Nelsons. If you really were invited by them, I’d know.”
“In fact, I can call them right now and confirm whether you’re telling the truth.” He continued.
Dylan remained unfazed. “Believe what you want,” he repeated calmly.
Jane smirked, placing a hand on Bobby’s arm. “Bobby’s the one who helped me secure the cooperation with the Nelson family,” she said proudly. “You think you can compete with him? Don’t make me laugh.”
Around them, murmurs of admiration rose from onlookers.
“She’s with Bobby Jackson? Isn’t he one of the city’s richest men?”
“No wonder she’s so confident. Her ex-husband looks like a joke next to him.”
Dylan’s lips curled into a faint smile, but he said nothing.
Helen, who had been silent until now, couldn’t contain herself any longer. She suddenly burst into laughter, the sound light but unmistakably mocking.
It was so funny for Helen because she knew the Nelson family was only cooperating with Jane for Dylan's sake and now she was saying this nonsense.
Everyone turned to look at her. Jane’s eyes narrowed, and her voice dripped with venom. “And who is she? Your new girlfriend, Dylan? Is this why you’ve been acting so bold lately? Have you been cheating on me all along?”
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213“She finally divorced you,” Lisa said, the words slicing the air like glass. Her voice was calmer now, but only because she knew she’d drawn blood. “Finally. And thank God she did. Jane is building a life now—a future. Something you would have ruined if she’d stayed. You dragged her down long enough.”The words settled over the sidewalk like ash. A few onlookers had stopped, heads turning, phones subtly raised. The city had its own rhythm—cars hissing by on wet asphalt, neon lights flickering in windows—but all of it dimmed under Lisa’s voice.Dylan stood frozen for a beat too long. His hands curled into fists, not out of anger, but restraint. His heart pounded like a war drum behind his ribs. He wanted to yell, to peel back her lies in front of everyone, to lay out the complexities of what had really happened—what Jane had chosen to ignore, what she had run from long before any betrayal.But he knew how this would look.Lisa always knew how to hold a stage. How to paint herself i
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212Chapter 212 – Fractures at DawnThe city hadn’t fully woken up yet. Eridale slouched under the heavy gray hush of morning after rain, its streets glistening with residue from the night’s storm. Neon signs blinked over shuttered cafes, their distorted reflections swirling in rain-slicked puddles. A chill wind swept between the buildings, stirring discarded flyers and making everything feel just a little too quiet.Dylan pulled the collar of his coat higher against the cold, scanning the block as he and Lilith turned the corner onto Davlin Street. The wet asphalt whispered beneath their boots.“That’s it,” Lilith muttered beside him, nodding toward a narrow, unmarked door set between two upscale boutiques. “Veridian Bistro.”He followed her gaze. From the outside, it looked like nothing. Just another door in a city full of secrets. But Dylan knew better—Veridian was no ordinary bistro. It was a front. A meeting ground for people who didn’t like to be seen. High-end criminals, washed
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211The next morning came too quickly for Jane. The weight of the decision hung heavily over her, despite the calm façade she had tried to maintain. Her phone buzzed incessantly, messages from Lisa, Adam, and even Linda, all eager to confirm their plans to transfer their funds. The excitement from the previous night had only grown stronger with each passing hour, but Jane’s unease had deepened in equal measure.She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being led down a path she shouldn’t follow, a path paved with promises and lies. As she scrolled through the group chat, her eyes caught a message from Bobby: “It’s all set. Ready when you are, Jane. Don’t let fear dictate your future. This is your chance.”The words sent a cold shiver down her spine. There it was again—the subtle pressure, the quiet threat wrapped in a smooth, convincing tone. Bobby was a master at this. He knew exactly how to manipulate people, how to make them think they were making their own choices while all alon
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210But then, there was Jane. She had barely spoken all evening, her quiet demeanor setting her apart from the rest. She had been sitting at the edge of the group, her eyes downcast, staring into her untouched champagne. Her fingers traced the rim of her glass absentmindedly as she listened to her friends talk about their investments, their dreams. It was so easy for them, so quick to jump in. But Jane wasn’t so sure. She could feel the unease creeping in, the tug in her gut telling her that something wasn’t right. They were so eager, so willing to throw everything into Bobby’s hands. So naïve.“You’re not worried about the risks?” she asked quietly, her voice almost lost amidst the chatter. The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment before Bobby’s eyes flicked toward her, catching the subtle challenge in her tone.Bobby’s smile didn’t falter. He leaned forward just enough to catch her gaze, his eyes dark and steady, like a predator eyeing its prey. “Worried? No,” he said, his v
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209 Adam looked up, his face a mask of calm. “I mean, what’s not to consider? Bobby’s offering us a seat at the table. You know how rare that is.” His words were matter-of-fact, but there was a certain eagerness in his eyes, a glimmer of excitement that he couldn’t hide. He was already sold. Linda, ever the practical one, nodded, her fingers tapping on the edge of her glass. “I don’t know. It sounds like a solid opportunity. Bobby’s track record speaks for itself.” The table was buzzing now, the tension thickening with every passing second. Jane felt herself shrinking in her seat. Everyone else was on board, their minds already made up. She was the only one left holding back, and she hated the feeling. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Bobby was pulling the strings, drawing them all in like moths to a flame. She leaned back, rubbing her temples, trying to quiet the storm inside her head. The words kept swirling around, crashing into one another. “I
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208 “Wait,” Jane said slowly, her brow furrowing. “Didn’t you pitch something like this to ForwardTech last year? I remember the prototype.”Bobby blinked—just a fraction too long. His eyes darted around the table, landing on her for a beat longer than necessary. “That was… similar, but flawed. This one’s new. Better team. Better model.”Jane could sense the words slipping from his mouth too smoothly. It wasn’t the first time he’d said something that didn’t quite sit right with her, but this time there was something sharper in the air. A fine thread of doubt, like static crackling on the edge of a storm.Adam, who had been staring at the screen of his phone, looked up with a casual air that masked his curiosity. “What happened with ForwardTech, though? I remember the buzz last year. They were practically salivating over this.”Bobby shrugged, the motion too careful, too rehearsed. “They weren’t ready,” he said smoothly. “And frankly, their ethics were sketchy. I don’t want to work w
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207Jane’s breath hitched as Bobby reached into his pocket again.The room, already hushed, seemed to freeze entirely. All eyes were locked on him—some mouths slightly agape, others tight with expectation. Lisa had both hands clasped under her chin like she was praying. Even the jazz from the corner speakers had faded out, as if the room itself held its breath.And then, slowly, deliberately, Bobby pulled something out.Not a ring box.A folded piece of paper.Lisa blinked, then narrowed her eyes. “Wait. That’s… not velvet.”The mood cracked like porcelain. A collective gasp followed by awkward chuckles and confused glances circled the table like ripples on a lake.Bobby didn’t seem fazed. He smiled that polished, camera-ready smile. “This one,” he said smoothly, waving the paper slightly, “isn’t for right now. I’ll ask it while we eat.”Lisa leaned toward Jane, her mouth close to her ear. “Did we just get emotionally blue-balled?”Jane tried to smile, but a pit had opened in her stom
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206The night deepened, wrapping the penthouse in a velvet hush, broken only by the soft clinking of glasses and the low hum of jazz playing in the background. From the corner of the room, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a glittering skyline, the lights of the city twinkling like a thousand secrets waiting to be whispered.Jane stood by the minibar, swirling her champagne gently as she stared out the window. Behind her, the soft thrum of voices filled the space—laughter, banter, and just the right level of intoxicated excitement to make the room buzz without spinning out of control.Lisa appeared beside her like a ghost in heels, sipping her wine and smirking. “So… he’s pulling out all the stops. Private penthouse? Classy guest list? Jazz that sounds like it was handpicked by a man who owns three turtlenecks?”Jane gave her a look. “He doesn’t own a single turtleneck.”Lisa waved dismissively. “He feels like a man who could. Come on, Jane. Is this just a ‘you crushed the quarter’ pa
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205Jane’s apartment,The phone buzzed against the marble countertop, its soft vibration cutting through the heavy silence of the apartment. Jane turned from the window, where the city skyline glinted under the sinking sun, and eyed the screen with reluctant curiosity.Bobby.She hesitated only a second before swiping to answer.“Hey,” she said, her voice a little more tired than she intended.“Jane,” Bobby’s voice poured through, smooth, steady, and warm like whiskey on a winter night. “You home?”“Just walked in,” she replied, tugging her heels off one at a time. “What’s up?”“I was thinking…” he began, then paused. There was a quiet thud in the background. “No. Actually, I decided. We’re celebrating tonight.”Jane blinked, tossing her shoes aside. “Celebrating what?”“You,” he said simply. “You pulled off the impossible this quarter. The board knows it, I know it, and frankly, the city should know it too. So—champagne, skyline, music. My place. I want your mom and Adam there, too.
