Nathan knew Taylor was stepping in to help him, but the warmth of her hand in his sent an unfamiliar sensation through his chest. It wasn’t discomfort—no, it was something else. A slow, persistent thrum beneath his ribs. The closeness, the way she confidently claimed him, made something shift inside him.
Natalia, on the other hand, was seething. Nathan has a new lover? Already? It made no sense. They had barely been divorced for long, yet here he was, standing beside a woman so effortlessly elegant and powerful. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in her gut, though she masked it behind a scoff.
James wasn’t faring any better. His pride had already taken a hit from seeing Nathan here, but learning about Taylor? His jaw clenched as he overheard the murmurs around them.
"That’s Taylor Monroe, right?”
“Yes! She’s the Head Manager of Narvo Bank. I heard she’s got immense authority over the bank’s investment business in the city."
"Unbelievable. Not only is she gorgeous, but she’s a powerhouse in the financial sector. That guy must be really lucky to have her by his side."
James’s grip on his cuff tightened. Head Manager? He only held a platinum card in Narvo Bank, and even at that level, someone of Taylor’s rank was practically unreachable. Yet, Nathan stood beside her like an equal.
He narrowed his eyes. So that’s why Nathan wasn’t arrested. It all made sense now. Taylor must have used her influence to clear whatever fraudulent mess Nathan had been accused of. And now, thanks to her connections, he was attending an event he otherwise wouldn’t have been qualified for.
Natalia’s lips pressed into a thin line as she digested the revelation. She had just left Nathan, and yet, it seemed he had landed on his feet—no, soared into something even better. A deep discomfort settled in her chest.
Taylor, sensing their thoughts, turned back with a slow, disapproving smirk. “I expected better from people who claim to have class,” she said coolly, then tugged Nathan’s hand gently. “Let’s not waste any more time here.”
And just like that, they walked past, leaving Natalia and James gaping.
Inside the hall, a different kind of attention was drawn. The moment James entered, the other guests swarmed, eager to curry favor with the Baron family’s heir.
“Mr. Baron! What an honor to see you here.”
“You’re looking as dashing as ever, sir.”
“Your family’s investments in the city are remarkable. We’d love an opportunity to collaborate.”
James straightened, his irritation from earlier fading as his pride swelled. He welcomed the flattery, his earlier frustrations slipping into the background.
Then, someone laughed lightly. “And of course, James and Natalia—you both make such a stunning couple! Truly a match made in high society.”
Natalia smiled, though something about the compliment didn’t sit well with her anymore. James, however, grinned wider.
“Well, we are quite the power pair,” he said, his chest puffing with satisfaction and pride.
As the evening progressed, the conversation among the guests shifted toward the highly anticipated auction. A well-dressed man holding a glass of wine leaned toward James with a knowing smile.
“I heard that during the auction, an extremely rare item will be up for bidding—a vintage ring,” he said, swirling his drink.
James arched a brow, intrigued. “A vintage ring?”
Another guest nodded eagerly. “Not just any ring. It’s part of the private collection of Sir Gregory Bakers, the president of Titan Business Alliance. He’s hosting this event, after all.”
Murmurs of admiration spread through the hall. “Sir Bakers has an incredible collection of rare antiques. The ring is one of his most prized possessions.”
A woman in a shimmering red gown sighed wistfully. “The price is bound to be exorbitant. Only someone of James Baron’s status and wealth could afford to bid on it.”
James smirked, puffing out his chest. “Well, if that’s the case, the ring is as good as mine.”
Standing nearby with Nathan, Taylor scoffed. “How bold of you to claim something that isn’t even in your hands yet,” she said, tilting her head.
James turned, trying to mask his irritation. “Oh? And why do you think so little of me, Miss Monroe?” He let out a short chuckle before casting a smirk toward Nathan. “I mean, no offense, but I think we both know I’m better than your boyfriend.”
Nathan remained impassive, while Taylor simply laughed—a rich, amused sound that caught the attention of those around.
“If Nathan wanted to,” she said, her voice carrying effortlessly, “he could buy out the entire auction.”
A hush fell over the crowd. Then, a few guests burst into laughter, their eyes flickering toward Nathan with ridicule.
“Buy out the auction?” someone muttered.
“Does she even know who she’s defending?” another scoffed.
A well-groomed man adjusted his cufflinks and shook his head. “Taylor, my dear, it’s admirable that you’re standing up for your… companion, but let’s be honest—everyone knows Nathan was just dumped by Natalia. It’s all over the city. He lost his place in high society which he never merited.”
“I wonder what trick he used to make her defend him like this,” another whispered.
Despite the hushed tones, the underlying scorn was evident. They were careful with their words, not wanting to offend Taylor directly, but their contempt for Nathan was clear.
Taylor’s expression remained unreadable, but Nathan could see the flicker of irritation in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Nathan barely paid any attention to the mockery. False pleasantries and shallow flattery didn’t interest him. He had no desire to prove anything to anyone.
He took a slow sip from his glass before finally speaking in a calm, steady voice.
“I’m not interested in buying the whole auction,” he said, his gaze locked onto James.
“But that ring—” He set down his glass, his tone turning firm.
“That is mine.”
The weight of his words settled over the crowd like a thunderclap, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.

Latest Chapter
Chapter 154
Amelia stood in her suite, barefoot, a glass of red wine dangling from her fingers. The room was dark, lit only by the pale glow of the city lights beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass wall. She stared out at the corners of the High Lake Hotel below and the glittering sprawl of the city stretching into the horizon. The world looked so calm from up here, so distant from the storm brewing inside her.She raised her phone, thumb hovering over Nathan's contact name before she pressed it. The dial tone rang in her ear once. Twice. Three times. No answer. She tried again. Nothing.Her grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles whitening. She lifted it slightly, fury flaring in her chest, ready to smash it against the marble wall, then stopped herself.She muttered through clenched teeth, "Dammit, Nathan."She lowered her hand slowly, breathing out in frustration. "I hate this. I hate that you're not picking my calls."She sipped the wine and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. "The laun
Chapter 153
Lugard gave a dismissive snort. “His records are not all that impressive to me.”Louisa almost hissed. Everything Rowan said sounded remarkable. Even she had heard about Teslow Valley. But she knew her father would rather choke on sand than acknowledge the man who once humiliated him.With a grunt, Lugard tossed the envelope and papers to the couch. “You can go.”Rowan bowed again. He turned toward the door but paused, as if just realizing Louisa’s presence. He bowed slightly to her.She nodded back.When he left, she quietly folded her knitting. She just wanted to finish it upstairs, away from the thick tension that always suffocated the lounge. As she stood, hoping to slip out unnoticed, his voice rang.“I need to pull Nathan down.”Louisa hesitated. She reached for the stairs again.“Don’t pretend like you didn’t hear me!” Lugard barked.She froze, teeth clenched. Slowly, she turned back.“I see how selfish you've grown to be. You don't care about what bothers me!" “I do care abou
Chapter 152
Thelma paced her room, a smug smile dancing on her lips as she stared at the phone in her hand, Nathan’s phone. The device was still damp from the juice she had spilled on it earlier, the screen dark and lifeless. She checked her wristwatch again.Twenty minutes. Just enough time to stall him.Perfect.Her men should have finished the job by now. She only hoped Natalia wouldn’t get curious and come barging into the room.Acting quickly, she plugged in her hand dryer and switched it on, pointing it at the phone. The sound of hot air filled the room, and she positioned herself so that if anyone walked in, they’d see her trying to "save" the phone.Her phone beeped.She grabbed it with a glint in her eyes and opened the message.Paul: "It’s done, ma'am. The package is secure. Taylor is with us."Thelma's lips stretched into a smile. She dropped her phone on the bed and exhaled in satisfaction."Both plans were successful," she murmured to herself. "Beautiful."She switched off the hand d
Chapter 151
Thelma giggled to herself, took a few deep breaths to calm the giddiness in her chest, then stashed Nathan’s phone under the hem of her blouse. Her expression neutralized, she opened the bathroom door and slipped out quietly.As she approached the dining room, she saw Nathan just entering from the opposite hallway. Perfect timing.She quickened her pace and entered the room. Just as Nathan was taking his seat at the table, Thelma walked past him toward her own chair. In one swift move, she let the phone slip from under her blouse. It fell, landing right at Nathan’s foot.She gasped loudly.“Sorry, Nathan!” she said quickly. “My hand must have swept your phone off the table. It dropped.”Natalia looked at her, narrowing her eyes slightly.Nathan bent to pick the phone, but Thelma moved quicker. With a kind smile, she scooped it up and gently dropped it beside his plate.“I hope it’s working,” she said with a concerned tone.Nathan nodded and pressed the power button. The phone came to
Chapter 150
Nathan said nothing as he pushed back a close couch his hand landed on with more force than necessary. The scraping sound earned no glance from anyone, but the clenched jaw he carried betrayed the storm churning in him. He stepped away from Natalia, avoiding her gaze, his fingers curling and uncurling as if seeking release.Behind him, Joyce let out a loud grumble. "Mother really needs to see an optician. A snake? Really?" she muttered, shaking her head and rolling her eyes before marching back to the dining table.Nathan was just about to follow suit when he caught sight of Natalia, standing still by the wall, her gaze fixed sharply on him. Her arms crossed."What?" He motioned at her, eyebrows lifted as he halted, his body halfway turned.She didn't move. "You rushed to come save me again."He squinted. "Excuse you?"She waved as if dismissing his denial before it came. "Don't bother denying it, Nathan. The moment my mother said she saw a snake, you probably recalled I hated snakes
Chapter 149
At ten past seven, the dining room in Thelma's home was filled with the scent of freshly cooked delicacies. Roasted garlic mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, grilled asparagus, and tender filet mignon with herb butter sat elegantly on fine porcelain. The clinking of cutlery and the low hum of idle chatter filled the air.Nathan sat across from Natalia, his posture relaxed but eyes observant. Though he appeared calm, an edge of wariness lingered in his gaze. Something felt off about the evening. Still, curiosity and the desire for clarity had drawn him here."Have some more carrots, Nathan," Thelma offered sweetly, using a silver spoon to add a generous serving to his plate. "I made most of the dishes myself."Nathan looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly before he gave a polite nod. "They taste good. Thank you."Natalia blinked, setting down her glass. "You cooked?"Thelma smiled. "Of course. And Natalia helped. Didn't you, dear?"Natalia gave a hesitant smile. "I did... some."The
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