The Beggar Husband She Divorced Is a Trillionaire

Chapter 8

Logan stood perfectly still, the weight of revelation pressing down on him like a physical force.

The ring.

Emma Laurent had lost a ring years ago. A ring that Vivian had stolen. A ring that matched the one Logan had carried with him for over a decade as the only proof that genuine kindness existed in the world.

Emma was the girl who had saved him.

Not Vivian.

Emma.

He looked at her now — standing at the entrance with her worn suit and her desperate hope, clutching that portfolio like it was the last chance she had left in the world. Her face was flushed with humiliation from Vivian's accusations, but there was still fire in her eyes. Still strength.

She had saved him once when he had nothing.

And now she was the one who needed saving.

Emma's brow furrowed as Vivian's words sank in. "A ring?" she murmured, almost to herself. "I did lose a ring years ago. I thought I'd just misplaced it, but—"

"Oh, spare me," Vivian snapped. "You 'lost' it. Right. Just like you 'accidentally' started sleeping with my husband."

"I never—" Emma started, her voice rising with frustration.

But she was cut off by the sound of the private elevator chiming.

Everyone turned.

The doors slid open, and Marcus Reed stepped out, flanked by four bodyguards in sharp black suits. He moved with the kind of authority that made people instinctively step back, his expression focused and businesslike as he headed toward the exit.

The reaction was immediate.

A ripple of recognition swept through the lobby like a wave. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Heads turned. People who had been focused on their own dinners and deals suddenly found reasons to look toward the elevator.

"Is that Marcus Reed?" someone whispered from a nearby table.

"The CEO of Imperial Group," another voice confirmed, barely containing their excitement. "In person."

The CEO of Imperial Group.

The man who controlled billions.

The man whose single decision could make or break entire industries.

The man who had just approved Vivian's partnership.

Vivian's eyes lit up like she'd just won the lottery. Her entire posture changed — shoulders back, chin lifted, a smile spreading across her face that was equal parts triumph and vindication. 

She immediately straightened, smoothing down her dress with deliberate, practiced movements, arranging her face into an expression of polished charm.

She glanced around the lobby, taking in the stares, the whispers, the obvious interest. And her smile widened.

This was her moment.

Brandon noticed the attention too. He puffed up beside her, his chest swelling with borrowed importance, one hand adjusting his tie.

"Mr. Reed!" Vivian called out, her voice carrying perfectly across the marble lobby — loud enough to be heard, but carefully modulated to sound casual, as if she spoke to billionaire CEOs every day.

Every eye in the room was now on her.

Marcus paused, his gaze shifting to her. His expression remained neutral, professional. "Yes?"

Vivian stepped forward, extending her hand with a smile that could have melted ice. "Vivian Chase. From Stellar Finance. I just wanted to personally thank you for approving our partnership. It's an incredible opportunity, and I assure you, we won't disappoint."

She said it loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear. Several people leaned closer, suddenly very interested in this woman who apparently had Marcus Reed's ear.

Brandon stepped forward as well, practically radiating smugness. "Brandon Holt, sir. I'm the one who facilitated the connection." He gestured vaguely around the restaurant. "Platinum member here at Vantage. If there's anything you need moving forward, anything at all, I'm at your service."

Vivian was glowing. She was standing in the most exclusive restaurant in Creston City, shaking hands with Marcus Reed, CEO of Imperial Group, while dozens of the city's elite watched.

This was everything she had ever wanted. Validation. Recognition. Power by association.

She shot a quick glance toward Emma, who stood near the entrance looking small and defeated, and her smile grew even sharper.

Marcus shook Vivian's hand briefly, his expression unchanged. "Ms. Chase. Mr. Holt."

"I know you're a busy man," Vivian continued, her voice warm and confident. "But I hope we'll have the opportunity to discuss our collaboration in more detail soon. Stellar Finance is fully committed to making this partnership a showcase for what Imperial Group can accomplish with the right allies."

Brandon leaned in slightly. "And if you ever need access to any of the city's more exclusive venues, Mr. Reed, I'd be happy to make introductions. I know everyone worth knowing in Creston City."

Logan stood several feet behind them, partially obscured by their positioning.

Marcus's eyes flicked toward him for the briefest moment and said nothing.

Emma, meanwhile, had taken a hesitant step forward, her portfolio clutched tightly to her chest.

 She looked diminished next to Vivian's polished confidence, her worn suit a stark contrast to Vivian's designer dress.

"Mr. Reed," she said, her voice steady despite the nervousness Logan could see in her posture. "I'm sorry to approach you like this, but I have a proposal. My company, Laurent Enterprises, has been developing—"

"Excuse me," Vivian cut in sharply, turning to Emma with a look of pure contempt. 

Her voice carried across the lobby, ensuring everyone heard. "What do you think you're doing?"

Emma blinked. "I'm trying to—"

"You're wasting Mr. Reed's time," Vivian said coldly. She turned back to Marcus with an apologetic smile, playing to the crowd now. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Reed. This woman doesn't understand boundaries. She's from a failing company that's on the verge of bankruptcy. Laurent Enterprises is a sinking ship. She has no business trying to pitch anything to Imperial Group."

Brandon nodded, his expression smug. "Her family's business has been bleeding money for years. She's desperate. Probably thought she could ambush you here and guilt you into giving her a handout."

Emma's face flushed red, but she held her ground. "That's not true. My company has viable projects. If you would just look at the proposal—"

"Viable?" Vivian laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. She glanced around the lobby, playing to her audience.

 "Your company is dying, Emma. Everyone knows it. You're drowning in debt, your investors have pulled out, and you're clinging to whatever scraps you can find. The fact that you think you're qualified to work with Imperial Group is honestly embarrassing."

"Ms. Chase is right," Brandon added, looking at Marcus with an expression of exaggerated concern.

"Laurent Enterprises isn't worth your time, sir. They don't have the capital, the infrastructure, or the credibility to partner with a company like Imperial Group. She's just wasting your evening."

"Is your company in financial trouble?" Marcus asked, his tone neutral.

The lobby went even quieter. Everyone was listening now.

Emma hesitated, biting her lips. She felt a strong urge to lie—to make herself look better—yet it clashed fiercely with her need to be honest.

"Yes," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "We've had setbacks. But we have strong projects in development. We just need the right partnership to—"

"She's desperate," Vivian interrupted, her voice cutting through Emma's words. "Desperate people make poor business partners, Mr. Reed. They take shortcuts. They make reckless decisions. Laurent Enterprises is a liability, not an opportunity."

Marcus frowned slightly, his gaze still on Emma.

"I appreciate the honesty, Ms. Laurent," he said slowly. "But I'm afraid Imperial Group isn't in a position to take on high-risk partnerships at this time. I suggest you focus on stabilizing your company before approaching larger conglomerates."

Emma's face fell, the hope draining out of her like water from a broken glass.

Vivian's smile was radiant now, triumphant. She had won. In front of everyone. She had dismissed Emma Laurent, defended Imperial Group's interests, and proven her value to Marcus Reed all in one smooth performance.

"You heard him, Emma," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Now stop embarrassing yourself and leave."

Brandon chuckled, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Yeah. Go fix your trainwreck of a company before you bother people who actually matter."

Emma’s face turned pale. She stood there for a moment, her hands trembling around the portfolio. Then, slowly, she nodded.

"I understand," she said quietly. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Reed."

She turned to leave.

And Logan's voice cut through the lobby like a blade.

"She's not the one who's unqualified."

Everyone froze.

The whispers stopped. Every single person in that lobby turned to look at the man who had just spoken.

Logan stepped forward, moving out from behind Vivian and Brandon, his hands in his pockets, his expression calm but his eyes carrying something cold and dangerous.

"What did you say?" Vivian asked, her voice sharp with disbelief, her triumphant smile cracking at the edges.

Logan's gaze shifted to her, steady and unflinching. "I said she's not the one who's unqualified for the partnership. You are."