2025-09-02 17:21:50The white-haired man with glasses gave the four people a sharp look.
“We’re sorry, Mr. Ramos, but we received a report that these two guests were disturbing our customers,” said one of the staff members, pointing toward Selene.Calmly, Selene took out her silver membership card and said, “VIP user here. I expect comfort and safety—not being in the same room with a rapist!”
The store manager nodded subtly. The card Selene had was the second-highest ranking in the store. They offered three membership levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, based on spending.
Since getting engaged to Gideon and launching her influencer career as a seductive socialite, Selene frequently shopped here.
To qualify for a Silver card, customers had to spend five million dollars—three million for Bronze, and ten million for Gold. She wouldn’t have that kind of money if she weren’t leeching off wealthy men using her body and oversized chest.“What are you waiting for, Manager? Do you think they outrank me? Ask this woman what card she has!” Selene snapped cynically.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. May I see your membership card?” the manager asked Vivienne.
Vivienne quietly presented her Bronze card.
“What this woman said is slander. We never bothered her—she was the one who attacked us!” Vivienne said.
The manager sighed heavily. He had no choice. Selene was clearly a VIP customer far above Vivienne.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to leave. I don’t want any more incidents that could disturb the other guests,” the manager said.
He signaled the guards to escort Vivienne and Evan out. Just as the staff reached for them, Evan suddenly held out a card that made the manager’s eyes widen in shock.
“W-What… Prive Noir?” the manager murmured, staring at Evan with visible concern.
Just as the mentors had said—Prive Noir was no ordinary black card.
The pitch-black card looked as if it was made from perfectly polished obsidian, with gold edges shimmering like twilight. In the center, a raised diamond emblem glinted with a lifelike glow—signifying absolute, undisputed status. This card wasn’t just an accessory—it was a symbol of power.
The manager froze. He’d heard rumors of the legendary Prive Noir—a card issued directly by the founder of a global luxury fashion conglomerate. Fewer than ten existed in the world.
How could a former convict like Evan have one?“What the hell is going on?!” Selene snapped.
“Um, Sir… may I check and verify your card?” the manager asked.
“Sure, go ahead. Confirm whether or not you have the right to throw me out,” Evan replied casually.
“No way! I bet you stole that. There’s no way someone like you owns something like that!” Selene sneered, backed up by Gideon’s smug grin.
Selene’s accusations only deepened the manager’s suspicion. He signaled discreetly with his eyes to his four staff members to surround Evan.
The tense atmosphere confused Vivienne. In her heart, she believed the card was really Evan’s—but she also wondered how he had gotten it.
“If you're going to guard me, maybe it’s best you verify the card quickly,” Evan said calmly.
“Alright. Let’s go to my office,” the manager said firmly.
The four staff members encircled Evan, ensuring he didn’t escape—but his aura was so commanding that none dared touch him.
Behind them, Vivienne walked anxiously, hoping this wouldn’t spiral into another problem for Evan.
“Why don’t you just do what our family says? Why are you still defending that rapist, Vivienne?” Selene sneered, walking beside her.
Vivienne ignored her, keeping her eyes on Evan.
“You saw how I got myself the perfect fiancé, right? If you want, we can introduce you to some rich widowers who work with Gideon,” Selene added with a smug laugh.
“Say one more word, and I won’t stay silent anymore!” Vivienne snapped, glaring at her.
They reached the manager’s office, where the manager immediately began typing furiously into his computer to verify the card.
“If it turns out you stole it, I’ll gladly escort you back to prison,” Selene said with glee.
“Yeah, and I’ll escort Vivienne home,” Gideon chimed in, earning a hard punch to the stomach from Selene.
Evan ignored their nonsense, his eyes fixed calmly on the manager—whose face was now turning pale.
There was panic in the man’s eyes as he glanced back and forth between the screen and Evan.Evan gave a slight nod and a knowing smile, signaling the manager to stay calm about what he was seeing.
The manager stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Evan, stunning everyone in the room.
“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Caleum. I didn’t realize you were a VIP Code Zero!” the manager said, his voice trembling with fear.
All four staff members instantly bowed with him.
“What the hell is VIP Code Zero?! Whatever it is, I still don’t believe that rapist has any legitimate authority!” Selene shouted.
She stormed toward the manager and yanked him up from his bow, hurling baseless accusations.
“You must’ve made a mistake! Your eyes are failing! You—Kyaa!”
Selene screamed as one of the staff pulled her backward, causing her to fall to the floor.
“Hey! How dare you do that to my fiancée!” Gideon shouted.
He didn’t truly care about Selene—but he wanted to show off in front of Vivienne.
Gideon shoved the staff holding Selene and helped her up.
“You people are insane! Don’t you know who my fiancée is?! You’re siding with this rapist in some ridiculous charade! I’ll make this go viral—no one will want to shop here again!” Selene screamed.
“Calm down, honey. We’ll get even with that rapist properly. If he flashed some sketchy card, I can also prove that I don’t belong on the same level as a criminal!” Gideon said pompously.
The manager chuckled and said, “And what’s your point, sir? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You’ve humiliated Gideon Dane Griff. You know Griff Luxury, don’t you? Do you want both my parents—two of the most respected businesspeople in this city—to come down on you for disgracing our family just to defend a rapist?!” Gideon yelled.
But the manager stood his ground, smiling calmly.
“My apologies for what has happened today. Clearly, we haven’t delivered the best service to distinguished guests like yourselves. Therefore, I must ask you and your companion to leave, Mr. Gideon.”
Gideon’s face turned red with humiliation. His showboating had failed miserably.
Selene had reached her limit. She shrieked and suddenly kicked Evan in the leg.
“You bastard! You rapist! You ruined my reputation!”
She raised her hand to slap Evan—but he caught her wrist mid-air, gripping tightly until she cried out in pain.
“Argh! Let go!”
Gideon moved as if to intervene, but Evan’s cold glare froze him in place.
Evan shoved Selene’s arm away harshly, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Her bag spilled open, and something interesting rolled out—her phone, with the screen still lit, showing explicit photos sent to a contact named “Husband #2.”“What the fuck?!” Gideon muttered.
Selene panicked and scrambled for her phone, but Evan kicked it toward Gideon.
In an instant, Gideon picked it up. His eyes widened. His face darkened.
“Babe, I can explain!” Selene pleaded, reaching for him.
But what she got in return was a hard slap.
“Honey!” Selene cried.
She grabbed Gideon’s arm, but he shoved her off and slammed the phone into her hands before storming out without another word.
“Honey! Gideon, don’t leave!”
Tears streamed down Selene’s face. Losing control, she turned her rage on Vivienne.
“You whore! You shameless tramp! You slept with a rapist and destroyed my life!”
Her eyes locked onto a vase on the manager’s desk. She grabbed it and hurled it at Vivienne.
“No!” the manager shouted—his quick reflexes catching the vase mid-air before it could hit Vivienne.
“Are you insane?! That vase is worth more than your entire shopping history here!”
Selene stood frozen, hands clasped together, struggling to speak.
“Hand over your card, Ma’am,” the manager said firmly.
“What? Why?”
“Give me your membership card before I take it myself!”
Selene had no choice. Reluctantly, she handed it over.
“As of now, you are no longer a VIP member and are permanently blacklisted from visiting any of our outlets—worldwide!”
Selene was speechless. “What?! You can’t do that—I—”
“Escort her out and alert security to flag her face!” the manager ordered sharply.
“No! Don’t throw me out!” Selene screamed.
But it was done. Two staff members grabbed her and dragged her toward the exit. Her shrieks echoed even as the doors closed behind her.
“You’ll regret humiliating me like this! I swear I’ll make you pay!”
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Latest Chapter
163
The first week of January brought a deep, steady rhythm to Villa Seraphine. The initial holiday quiet had seamlessly dissolved into a period of quiet productivity, where long-term plans were drafted, refined, and set into motion with the calm efficiency that defined the Caelis-LaRue household.High above the coastline, the sky over Saint-Tropez was a pale, icy blue, washed clean by the brisk mistral wind that blew across the peninsula. Sunlight spilled into the villa’s upper gallery, reflecting off polished marble floors and highlighting the rich textures of architectural linen, dark walnut, and brushed brass.Inside the gallery's private drafting wing, Leo sat at a wide, tilted oak table. At thirteen, his focus was unshakeable. A physical scale model of the Lyon Foundation's central library complex sat before him, illuminated by a warm balance lamp. He was using a fine scalpel to trim a strip of miniature timber veneer, fitting it carefully along the interior curve of the model’s upp
162
On the first morning of the new year, the sky above Saint-Tropez opened into a brilliant vault of pale turquoise. A light, crisp northern breeze swept down from the snow-capped Alps, carrying the sharp scent of mountain pine across the granite headlands to mingle with the clean, briny spray of the sea.At Villa Seraphine, the morning began not with the sharp ring of secure communications or the tense briefing of security personnel, but with the quiet, rhythmic crunch of gravel underfoot.Evan walked along the upper stone terrace, dressed in a thick dark navy cardigan over an open-collared white shirt. His dark eyes scanned the wide expanse of the Mediterranean—not looking for thermal signatures or unfamiliar vessels, but watching the way the pale golden sunlight danced across the tranquil, obsidian swells. His posture was broad, imposing, and entirely relaxed, the physical embodiment of a man who had secured his world so completely that nothing remained to threaten it.He paused near
161
A crisp alpine frost glittered on the stone balustrades of Villa Seraphine, while the Mediterranean below lay motionless, a vast sheet of pale sapphire reflecting the soft lavender and gold of the early winter dawn.Inside the villa’s primary conservatory, warmth radiated from a monumental hearth constructed of rough-hewn granite. Floor-to-ceiling glass arches offered an unobstructed panorama of the coastline, casting long, geometric patterns of golden light across the terracotta tile floor.Evan stood near the center archway, holding a porcelain cup of dark roasted coffee. Dressed in a dark charcoal cashmere sweater and tailored trousers, he watched the distant horizon where the sun was slowly lifting over the sea. His broad shoulders were relaxed, his posture easy and unhurried—the quiet, grounded presence of a man whose sanctuary was absolute.Beside him, Vivienne sat at a wide teak cutting table draped with swatches of heavy midnight-blue velvet and hand-woven Lyon silks. She wore
160
As the final days of December approached, an extraordinary tranquility settled over the estate. The morning sun rose over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in a breathtaking wash of pale gold and liquid amber, clearing the thin morning haze off the water and warming the ancient stone terraces of Villa Seraphine.In the long, sun-drenched corridor connecting the private residential quarters to the design wing, the quiet rustle of silk and the soft hum of quiet activity created a comforting rhythm. The estate was entering its end-of-year period—not a time of frantic deadlines or urgent security measures, but a season of reflection, consolidation, and quiet celebration.Inside the spacious private study on the main floor, Evan sat behind a massive desk of reclaimed olive wood. The room was bathed in golden light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling arched windows that opened onto the lower orange groves. Dressed in a dark navy knit shirt with his sleeves pushed up, Evan was reviewing the final
159
The morning after Christmas broke over Saint-Tropez with a brilliant, golden stillness. The light dusting of snow that had blanketed the granite terraces the night before had melted under the early sun, leaving the cypress trees and ancient olive groves dripping with clear, crystalline water. The air was sharp, cold, and invigorated by the fresh alpine wind blowing gently off the distant mountain peaks.Inside the quiet sanctuary of the villa's private design gallery, morning light poured through the tall arched windows, illuminating the vast oak cutting tables, shelves of Lyon silk rolls, and framed architectural renderings that lined the whitewashed stone walls.Vivienne stood at the central work table wearing a dark grey cashmere dress, her hair swept up into an effortless, graceful knot. She was examining a series of hand-woven embroidery swatches destined for the upcoming spring foundation exhibition in Lucerne. Beside her, a silver pot of herbal tea steamed softly in the cool ro
158
Christmas Eve on the Côte d’Azur brought a rare, tranquil magic to Villa Seraphine. A soft, powdery dusting of snow—an uncommon gift from the northern winds sweeping off the Maritime Alps—lay lightly across the upper granite terraces, dusting the dark needles of the stone pines and outlining the stone balustrades in clean white lace.Far below, the Mediterranean remained a deep, motionless indigo, reflecting the pale silver glow of a full moon that hung high in a cloudless, star-dusted sky.Inside the grand living room, the atmosphere was bathed in a deep, welcoming warmth. A massive fire of seasoned olive logs crackled inside the stone hearth, sending showers of golden sparks up the chimney and filling the room with the fragrance of burning wood, dry fir branches, and sweet cinnamon.The floor-to-ceiling arched windows were left uncovered, allowing the moonlight to blend seamlessly with the warm amber glow of the room's iron chandeliers and table lamps.Evan stood by the hearth, look
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