LOGINThe ballroom was still buzzing long after Miranda, Noah, and the Jones siblings had left.If anything, the atmosphere had become worse.Because Adrian Cole had completely lost his mind.“Delete it!”He pointed at a man holding up his phone.“I said delete it!”The man immediately took two more pictures.The flash went off.Adrian nearly lunged at him.“Are you deaf?”Another flash.Another phone.Another video.More whispers.More recording.More gossip.The more Adrian shouted, the more people filmed him.At this point, he was bleeding from the mouth, his shirt was disheveled, one side of his face was swollen, and his hair looked like he'd gone through a hurricane.Which only made him look even more entertaining.“Delete everything!”Someone laughed.Someone else whispered.“Keep recording.”Another phone appeared.Adrian looked ready to murder somebody.Unfortunately for him, the internet loved disasters.And tonight… He was the disaster.“Adrian.”Richard grabbed his shoulder.“Lea
Miranda hesitated. It was as if she were trying to control herself… maybe from saying something so hurtful. She couldn’t resist the urge in the end. “There’s nothing I wanted to say that I haven’t said… except that I didn’t appreciate you making a ridiculous sacrifice for me. This is my mess; I’d sort it out myself, so I’d advise you to sort yours as well before things get out of hand.” Her response even made everyone more confused. “Can we go now, really?” Miranda said to Colin. “Sure… yes… ermmm. We can. We should. They are bringing the car.” Miranda looked at Noah briefly. She looked disappointed. Same as Noah. He looked really hurt. “Noted. Let me know when you get home,” Noah said. Not sure who the statement was for because after what Miranda just said to Noah, Colin didn’t think it should be for her. And it can’t be for him either because they don’t do that before… maybe it was for Clara, he concluded. But then, Colin raised an eyebrow.“You aren’t going with us?”“
Melissa heard the question, but in her head, the answer came instantly.Yes.Yes, it really was.Because how was she supposed to say it?How was she supposed to explain that while Adrian was punching people and Miranda was being humiliated and Noah was getting dragged into chaos, she was somewhere else entirely?With Richard.And even now, standing under everyone’s eyes, she could still feel the echo of that mistake sitting heavy in her chest.But she said nothing.Because the truth would only make things worse.Everything looked normal until Noah arrived about an hour ago. Everything shifted with his arrival.Maybe it was just for Melissa because every other person treated him like he was royalty. But when he looked at Melissa, there was this killing gaze that almost sent her jumping off a cliff. The air changed.Melissa’s fingers tightened slightly around her clutch. The last time at the Jones’s house, he had warned her not to mess with Colin’s heart. He said Colin had been hurt b
Miranda looked seconds away from exploding. She was breathing so fast noah couldn’t bear it.“Can you please calm down?” “No!” Noah stood there, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, genuinely confused about why she seemed more upset with him than with Adrian.“Why are you this angry, Miranda?” “Because you claimed my baby!”Her voice rose.“I was only trying to protect you… protect your…”“Protect me?” She yelled. Then she immediately lowered it again; someone exiting the venue glanced their way.“Protect me? But you claimed my baby in front of hundreds of people!”Noah blinked.“I was trying to help.”“Help?”Miranda laughed.The sound was sharp and disbelieving.“Help?”“Yes.”“How exactly was that helping?”“He wouldn't leave you alone. And I thought you didn’t want him to know who the baby’s father is.”“So your solution was to tell everyone you're the father?”Noah opened his mouth.Closed it.Opened it again.“Well... when you say it like that…”“Because that's exactly wha
Miranda dragged Noah back. “That’s enough!” Then she looked directly into Adrian's eyes.The disgust on her face was impossible to miss.“You disgust me.”Silence.Adrian felt the words hit harder than Colin's fists.Because there was no anger in them.No hatred.No sadness.Only disgust.As if she couldn't even bear looking at him anymore.Then Miranda turned away.“Let's go.”Noah nodded.Without another glance, the two started walking toward the exit, Miranda practically pushing Noah. Adrian remained frozen as he watched them leave, unable to stop them. The second they disappeared through the doors, Clara finally exploded.She marched toward Adrian. “Are you happy now?”Adrian looked at her.Clara pointed toward the exit.“What was her offence? Throughout the time she was married to you, you treated her like trash. You and your family bullied her because you thought she meant nothing. Now that you’re finally divorced, you won’t let her be. Why?” Clara slapped his chest. “Why?
Adrian turned sharply toward Noah.The room had fallen completely silent.Every guest seemed frozen in place.Noah stood a few feet away, calm despite the tension radiating from Adrian.“What did you just say?” Adrian demanded.Noah folded his arms.“I said I'm certain nothing here belongs to you.”A murmur spread through the crowd.Adrian stared at him for several seconds.Then, surprisingly, he asked.“Then is there something here that belongs to you?”The question stunned everyone.Even Colin blinked.Adrian laughed bitterly.“I know the baby isn't mine.”Miranda's eyes widened slightly.Noah narrowed his gaze.Adrian looked directly at Miranda.“There’s no way in hell the baby is mine.”His voice was quieter now.“I know that for sure.”The room remained silent.Then Adrian looked back at Noah.“But perhaps… if the baby isn't mine...” he said slowly. “Then is it yours?”A collective gasp erupted.Clara nearly choked.Several reporters are already keen on doing their jobs.Colin's
The Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Imperial was a sea of shimmering crystal, cascading orchids, and the low, vibrant hum of high society. Tonight, the Jones family wasn’t just throwing a party; they were reclaiming what was theirs. The event was monumental, drawing prominent politicians, business ty
The Jones family dining room was lively that morning.It has been since Miranda’s return. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bathing the long dining table in a warm glow.The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.A second later, Colin appeared."Sorry, sorry, sorry," he said
The drive blurred.Adrian sat in the back seat with his head tilted against the window, his eyes half-open, his breath heavy with alcohol and bitterness. The city lights stretched and broke apart outside the glass, turning into long, meaningless lines of gold and red.His driver glanced at him thr
“Richard…”“Don’t.” Richard raised one hand, warning him before he could continue. “Don’t even start.”Adrian’s throat moved. “You haven’t heard what I want to say.”“I have,” Richard snapped. “You want to go after Melissa. You want me to use whatever little relationship I’m building with her to ge







