MasukNathan scrambled to his uncle’s side, his voice high and frantic. "Uncle? Uncle, can you hear me?"He began loosening Stanley’s silk collar, his hands shaking. As he leaned in close, Nathan noticed a slight, rhythmic twitch in Stanley’s eyelids. The realization hit him like a physical blow: his uncle was faking. Stanley wasn't dying; he was hiding. Every word Jack had said was true, and Stanley was using a "medical emergency" as a shield.Nathan looked up at Damien, desperate to end the nightmare. "Mr. Blackwood, please... let's do this some other time. My uncle needs immediate medical help!" He signaled frantically for the Vale bodyguards to carry the patriarch out.Damien didn't move. He simply tilted his head, a dark glint in his eyes. "Medical help? It’s a fortunate coincidence, then. I happen to know a few skills in medicine myself."Nathan’s jaw dropped. "You must be joking, sir! We all know you are a businessman. Please, let’s not toy with my uncle’s life!"Without a word, Dami
Everyone was in awe, staring at Damien as he spoke. The guests were all curious to know what show Damien was talking about.Nathan's hand curled into a fist. He muttered quietly, "Why is this man here? He's going to ruin everything."Stanley, who stood beside him, heard everything. He placed his hand in front of Nathan, stopping him. Nathan looked at him, and Stanley whispered, "Let me handle this”.After speaking with Nathan, Stanley turned to face Damien. A flattering smile stretched across his lips as he stepped forward. "Mr. Blackwood," Stanley began, his tone dripping with a fake, oily warmth. "Welcome to the Vale gala. We didn't expect such an esteemed guest. Tell me... what 'show' is it that you’re referring to?”.Damien did not so much as glance in his direction. His eyes remained fixed on Nathan, cold and unwavering, as though Stanley were nothing more than furniture in the room. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, deliberate, each word landing like a blade. "Mr. Nathan.
Stephen Vale stepped out of the shadows of the crowd. A ripple of confusion followed his every step. The elites were genuinely surprised to see him; Stephen had always been the "Quiet Vale," a ghost in the family tree who rarely made his presence known at these gaudy events. He lacked Ethan’s former spark and Nathan’s polished charisma, making him easy to overlook until now.Stephen took a shaky breath, his eyes darting toward Ethan for a split second before landing on the crowd. "Yes," he began, his voice thin but carrying through the silent hall. "I’m here to clear my cousin's name of all the accusations against him."The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of a brewing scandal.Nathan’s mask finally began to slip. He moved toward Stephen with a sudden, predatory speed, his hands outstretched as if to comfort him, though his eyes told a different story."Cousin," Nathan interrupted, his voice tight and clearly agitated. "Don't let Ethan
Nathan stood at the foot of the marble staircase, his silhouette framed by the glittering chandeliers of the Sharry Hotel. He was smiling widely at Ethan a smile that used to mean safety and brotherhood, but now felt like the baring of a predator's teeth. Ethan stared at him, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. He barely recognized the man standing before him. His mentor, his protector... his brother had vanished, replaced by this stranger. And the hair, Nathan had dyed his hair a bright, artificial gold. It was a calculated move, a physical theft of Ethan’s identity as the "Golden Son" of the Vale family. Nathan noticed Ethan’s lingering gaze. Misinterpreting the shock for admiration, his chest puffed out with an instant, ugly pride. He tilted his head, the light catching his new hair. "It looks like you've missed me, brother," Nathan said, his voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. He began to move toward Ethan, the rhythmic click-click-click of his designer shoes e
Ethan looked back, but the crackling energy that had filled the space between them vanished the moment Damien stepped back. Ethan stood there, his breath still shallow, watching as Damien’s expression smoothed into a mask of nothing but cold indifference. The heated gaze that had just made Ethan’s skin prickle was gone, replaced by a void that was even more terrifying.Damien turned toward the door without a word, his movements swift and concise.Ethan stared at his back, stunned. He had expected... something. A lingering look, a final word, or perhaps a confirmation of the sparks that had just passed between them. But Damien was like a ghost, already mentally moving on to the next task. To Ethan, Damien was the most unpredictable person he had ever met a man who could touch you like you were the only person in the world and then forget you existed a second later."Wait," Ethan called out, his voice sounding more desperate than he intended.Damien stopped. He didn't turn around, but t
Ethan pushed the heavy thoughts of the Vales aside and focused on the reflection in the mirror. Julio’s masterpiece was a black satin suit, but it wasn't just plain fabric; a delicate silver flower design wound across the shoulders and chest, glittering under the studio lights like stardust. Ethan ran his fingers over the embroidery, stunned. He finally understood why Julio was the most sought-after designer in the country he had turned a traditional black silhouette into something ethereal. When Ethan stepped back out into the main room, the bickering between Elijah and Julio died instantly. Julio let out a loud "Wow!" and started clapping, his eyes bright with professional pride. He circled Ethan, whistling low. "You’re going to turn heads tonight, lad. Absolute perfection!" Ethan felt a flush of heat creep up his neck, offering a shy smile. "Thanks." Elijah, who had been leaning against a display case, just snorted and looked away. "Oh, please. He just looks a bit better th
The kiss was hungry and warm , Damien's lips parted and his tongue slipped into Ethan's mouth, slow and teasing, tasting him while his hand tightened at his waist. For a second the kiss deepened, mouths moving together, heat building between them.Then the movement… stopped.The man who had just pre
The car glided toward a towering structure of glass and chrome that seemed to pierce the very clouds. Sky Mall.It wasn't an ordinary shopping center; it was a shopping mall where the rich shopped, a place where the air itself smelled of expensive perfume and old money. Ethan stared out the window,
The interior of the SUV was a silent vault, but inside, Ethan was a storm. His palms were slick against the fabric of his school trousers, and his heart felt like a trapped bird beating against his ribs. He had been informed that he was going to the press conference."Don’t say anything irrational,
Damien got into the car, aware that Ethan was behind him. Earlier, he had spoken with Elijah and made it clear that Ethan was to be taken elsewhere after the press conference, Damien had other matters to attend to. When Elijah relayed this to Ethan, Damien caught the flicker of disappointment on hi







