2025-10-27 13:46:31
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Chapter 9: The Counterattack
The banquet was ending, but the storm was far from over. Guests filed out of the glittering hall with one thought on their lips. Cole Walker had humiliated Vanessa, Derek, and now Jonathan Harlan. Cole stood by the balcony, overlooking the Dallas skyline, calm as stone. Yet behind him, he could feel it, Harlan’s gaze, sharp and calculating. The old man hadn’t lost yet.Two hours later, Cole stepped into his villa. The night was quiet, the city glowing in the distance. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat in his study, the events replaying in his mind.[Ding. System Alert: Counterstrike Detected][Initiator: Jonathan Harlan][Estimated Impact: High]Cole leaned back, swirling his drink. “Of course. The lion won’t go down without claws.”Moments later, his phone buzzed. Headlines flashed across the screen: “Breaking News: Cole Walker, Fraud or Fortune?”“Rumors Surface: Is Dallas’s New Billionaire a Criminal?”“Anonymous Sources Claim Walker’s Wealth Is Stolen.”Cole’s eyes na
Chapter 8: Cracks in the Empire
The clinking of glasses and murmurs of admiration filled the banquet hall once more, but beneath the surface, a current of unease rippled. Guests could sense it, the storm between Jonathan Harlan and Cole Walker hadn’t passed. It had only just begun.Cole stood calm, the picture of control, but the System’s faint blue glow lingered in his vision.[Ding. Primary Task: Expose Harlan’s Hidden Weaknesses][Deadline: 12 Hours][Reward: 25% Ownership of Harlan Real Estate Empire][Penalty: -50% Reputation]Cole smirked, his eyes flicking toward Harlan across the room. The old lion was still smiling, still sipping his wine, still basking in the illusion of control, but the cracks were there. Cole just needed to press.The banquet carried on. A jazz quartet struck up a tune, waiters delivered silver trays of hors d'oeuvres, and Dallas’s elite mingled nervously, stealing glances at Cole.Whispers followed him wherever he went. “That’s the man who destroyed Derek Stone in one night.”“And humi
Chapter 7: Breaking Derek Stone
The laughter still echoed through the banquet hall. Vanessa lay collapsed on the marble floor, her tears soaking into her gown, her humiliation complete. But the room’s attention shifted.All eyes turned toward Derek Stone. The man who had stolen Vanessa. The man who had mocked Cole, flaunted his wealth, and treated him like dirt.Derek’s face burned crimson. His fists clenched, the veins in his neck bulging as he pushed through the crowd toward Cole.“You bastard!” Derek roared, his voice cracking through the music and chatter. “You think you can humiliate her, humiliate me, and get away with it?”The room hushed. Guests leaned in, hungry for the confrontation. Cole didn’t flinch. He sipped his champagne with deliberate calm, eyes cold as steel. “Derek,” he said softly, “you’ve already humiliated yourself. I’m just giving everyone the front-row seat.”Gasps and chuckles rippled across the room. Derek’s jaw tightened. “You’re nothing but a fraud, Walker. You show up with a few rented
Chapter 6: Vanessa’s Fall
The banquet hall pulsed with chatter again, but the air had changed. The crowd wasn’t talking about Harlan’s empire, Derek’s investments, or even the gala itself.They were talking about Cole Walker. Every whisper circled back to him, the tuxedo, the entrance, the women at his side, the aura that made even Dallas’s power players step back.And Vanessa Walker was at the center of it, her humiliation written in bold across every whisper. “Did you see how he pushed her away?”“She begged him, and he rejected her in front of everyone.”“She was his wife. Left him for Derek Stone. And now… look at her.”Vanessa’s silver gown glittered under the chandeliers, but her face was pale. She tried to smile, to laugh, to pretend the whispers didn’t sting, but her trembling hands betrayed her.Cole stood calm, untouchable, sipping champagne. His eyes slid over Vanessa like she was nothing more than background noise. That hurt more than rejection. She tried again.Gathering her courage, Vanessa stepp
Chapter 5: The Final Countdown
The Highland villa pulsed with energy. Tailors, stylists, and jewelers moved in and out all day, adjusting fabrics, polishing accessories, confirming details.Cole Walker sat like a king in his study as his tuxedo was adjusted, his expression unreadable. The banquet was only one day away. Every second mattered.Ding. The System’s blue interface unfolded before him.[Banquet Countdown: 24 Hours][Status: High-Risk Event][Potential Rewards: Fleet of Luxury Cars, $2 Billion Boost, “Corporate Predator” Title, Global Reputation Increase][Warning: Failure will result in severe penalties]Cole raised an eyebrow. “Penalties?”The screen pulsed. [Penalty: Loss of all current assets]Cole’s jaw tightened. “So it’s win or die, huh?”[Ding. New Tool Unlocked: Prestige Aura][Effect: Host’s presence commands respect and submission. Duration: 3 hours. Recharge: 7 days]Cole’s lips curved into a dangerous smile. “Perfect. Just what I need for my entrance.”Across town, Vanessa sat in front of a mi
Chapter 4: Terms of Humiliation
Cole Walker’s phone buzzed again. He ignored it. Vanessa had been blowing up his messages since last night, calls, texts, even voicemails. Each one more desperate than the last.“Cole, please, let’s meet. I need to explain.”“It was a mistake. I was weak.”“We can fix this. Don’t shut me out.”Cole smirked, sipping his coffee on the villa’s balcony. Dallas sprawled beneath him, glittering in the morning sun.Her begging didn’t move him. In fact, it amused him. The same woman who had sneered at him, who had humiliated him when he was at rock bottom, was now crawling back. But this was only the beginning.Ding. The familiar blue panel appeared.[Upcoming Opportunity: Harlan & Co. Annual Banquet][Attendance: 300+ Dallas elites][Potential Humiliation Targets: Vanessa Walker, Derek Stone, Jonathan Harlan][Suggested Action: Public face-slapping][Reward: Fleet of Luxury Cars + $2 Billion Net Worth Boost]Cole’s eyes gleamed. “Perfect timing.”Later that afternoon, Cole strolled through H
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