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Chapter 187
Hall, Celestial HotelThe entire hall had been transformed for Xander Verrick’s seventieth birthday. Fifty tables, draped in silk and surrounded by polished chairs, filled the space. Crystal chandeliers lit the room in a warm glow, and the air was thick with perfume, champagne, and power.Waitstaff moved in crisp uniforms, directing guests and managing the flood of expensive gifts at the reception.Xander stood near the grand entrance, suited in a deep charcoal ensemble, his gray hair slicked back. Despite his age, he still carried himself like a man who owned the city. On either side were his sons, Elias and Aiden, both equally well-dressed, their expressions carefully neutral as they greeted guests.A staff member read off gift announcements like a town crier.“From Mr. David Joned of Green Corporation: an original Monet painting. 'Happy birthday to Mr. Xander Verrick.'”A ripple of impressed murmurs.“From Mr. Zenith Oxford of Hunter Property Group: a century-old Pine Bonsai Tree.
Chapter 186
The following day.Selena adjusted her earrings in front of the mirror, trying not to let the nerves show on her face. Today was the day. Xander Verrick’s seventieth birthday banquet. The one event in high society that could make or break reputations overnight.For Selena and her family, it was a high-stakes performance—especially after what had happened recently.Everyone was dressed to impress. Her father had pulled out his only designer suit. Her mother kept adjusting the sleeves of her rented evening gown. Even her younger brother had shaved for the first time in weeks.But just as they were about to step out the front door, Selena froze.“The gift,” she said, her voice sharp with panic. “Jaden—did you bring the gift?”She turned around so fast her earring almost flew off. Her mother gasped. Her father cursed under his breath.A beat passed.Then Jaden reached calmly into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a small, worn-out box.“Right here,” he said with a quiet smile.Selena b
Chapter 185
“Dad, since tomorrow’s your seventieth, why don’t we use it to make a statement?”Xander looked up from his reading glasses, not responding yet.Elias continued, “Publicly bar Vane and his disgrace of a family from attending. Announce it in front of everyone. Make it clear—they’re no longer part of the Verrick bloodline.”Aiden smirked and picked up the thread. “Exactly. Imagine the humiliation if they show up at the banquet, parading around like they still belong. We’d be the laughingstock of every guest there.”He gave a short laugh. “It’s your milestone celebration. We can’t have stains like them ruin it.”Xander said nothing for a beat. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk before he finally looked up, sharp-eyed and unamused.“Let them come.”Elias’s brow furrowed. “Dad?”Aiden looked visibly disappointed.But Xander's voice was calm and deliberate. “Declan Raze already stepped back. If we go the extra mile to exile them now, what will the others say? That we’re petty?
Chapter 184
There was something off about the whole thing—and Selena felt it in her bones.She sat silently in her room, fingers lightly tapping her knee, mind turning over every detail of the morning's events.Declan Raze showing up like that, practically begging? That didn’t just happen. Not with a man like him. Not without someone pulling strings behind the scenes.And the only one who could’ve done that… was Jaden.But Jaden didn’t have that kind of reach.At least, not on his own.Her lips pressed into a thin line as a name resurfaced.Morix Sable.That's the only thing that would make sense? he'd showed up at Mia's school and somehow had a close relationship with Jaden and even helped them deal with the Kranes, so if anyone could handle a man like Declan it'd be that same Morix. Maybe Jaden had find a way to reach out to him for help again.She just knew if Jaden was truly asking favor from Morix then it wouldn't last forever, because one day he's going to disappoint them and they're going
Chapter 183
“Do you think he’s lost his mind?” Selena asked, her brow furrowed, voice low with disbelief.Jaden tilted his head, eyes calm as ever. “Not quite. He’s just… relieved. That kind of panic and pride don’t mix well. Man’s high on desperation.”His smile lingered, unreadable.Selena glanced back toward the door where Declan had vanished. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the spectacle. A man like Declan Raze—begging on his knees? It didn’t sit right.She turned to the others. Vane and Nora looked just as confused, their expressions frozen in quiet disbelief. No one had touched their breakfast.The silence hung for a beat.Then, once they all returned to the table and tried to act like things were normal, Vane finally broke the quiet.“I have to ask,” he said, eyeing Jaden closely. “Earlier… you said Mr. Raze would show up today. You were so sure of it.” He narrowed his eyes. “Tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with what just happened?”Jaden leaned back slightly in his
Chapter 182
Declan Raze’s breath hitched as he tightened his grip on the crutches, his knuckles pale against the cold steel.“It seems… Ms. Verrick still isn’t convinced of my sincerity,” he said, voice hoarse, barely keeping the strain out of his tone.Selena said nothing. Her arms were folded across her chest, her expression unreadable—eyes cold, chin raised, posture stiff. Vane stood behind her, jaw tense, Nora clutching the edge of the dining table as if needing something to hold on to.Declan forced a broken chuckle. “I don’t blame you. Not after the man I’ve been. My arrogance... my ignorance... it poisoned everything. It made me blind, and it made you doubt the truth of what I feel now.”He drew in a breath through clenched teeth. “But please. I beg you… believe me when I say this—I'm truly, deeply sorry.”Then, in a flash that stunned everyone in the room, Declan flung his crutches aside. They clattered violently to the floor. The man—leg in a full plaster cast—lurched forward with sheer
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