LOGINA voice called out to him from the nearby sitting room. Vivian, Debra's younger sister, walked through the doorway holding a glass of wine. Her eyes went wide when she saw her nephew looking like he'd just lost a fight."Oh my God!" The wine glass almost slipped from her fingers, but she caught it before the red liquid could splash across the white floor like blood. "Matthew! What happened to your face?!"Vivian's shriek brought others running immediately!Wendy, Matthew's younger sister, came rushing down the grand staircase. She was nineteen, beautiful, and spoiled beyond belief. "What's all the screaming about..."She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her brother."Matthew?!" Wendy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "What happened to you? Who did this?""Someone's going to pay," Matthew hissed through his broken mouth. Every word sent sharp pain shooting through his jaw, and when he spoke it was like whistling through the gap. "That bastard is dead! Do you hear me? He is d
After Matthew got dragged out of the restaurant like some common criminal, Maxwell and Sophia finally returned to their meal, both cutting into their food as if nothing unusual had happened whatsoever.The other diners were still whispering excitedly among themselves, stealing glances at their table every few seconds. But Maxwell and Sophia ignored them completely, focused entirely on their plates.Sophia watched him for a long moment, her intelligent eyes studying his face with obvious curiosity. She picked up her fork, then set it down again without taking a bite."Maxwell," she said finally, her voice careful but direct. "I have to ask. How exactly are you related to Matthew Lexus?"Maxwell looked up from his plate, meeting her gaze. He'd known this question was coming sooner or later. After that dramatic scene, how could she not be curious about the connection?"You already know I'm a Sterling," Maxwell said slowly, choosing his words with care. "Victoria Sterling's nephew and the
The impact was thunderous. The entire table shook violently; plates rattled and glasses tipped over, spilling wine and water across the white linen. Matthew's nose made a sickening crunching sound as it connected with the solid wood.Maxwell didn't want to do this and had been holding himself back all this time. But what was he supposed to do? Mathew was refusing to leave, "I told you to leave," Maxwell said coldly, his voice absolutely devoid of emotion.Eyes wide and mouth agape, Chloe was speechless. She came out of her shock and screamed, a shrill, piercing sound that brought the entire restaurant to a standstill. She scrambled to her boyfriend side as he pulled his face up, groaning. Blood was already gushing from his mouth, staining his hands and his expensive shirt. He coughed, and two white objects clattered onto the table. His front teeth."My teeth!" Matthew hissed, his voice whistling through the gap. He cupped his mouth, staring at the bloody molars in his palm with wide
"Hawthorne?" Matthew’s voice cut through the air, smooth as silk and twice as cold. He let a mocking smile play on his lips as he stepped closer to the table. “And you’re having lunch with him? My apologies, Ms Hawthorne. I had no idea your family's standards had become so… charitable.”Sophia looked up, her expression unreadable. “Yes. Is there an issue?”“An issue? No, not at all.” Matthew pulled out the empty chair at their table without asking, the legs scraping against the marble floor with deliberate friction. He sat heavily, leaning forward like a concerned friend. “It’s just a bit tragic. I don’t know if Maxwell mentioned it between the appetizers, but my brother is currently a professional failure. Last I heard, he was desperately scraping by with delivery jobs and warehouse work. Living paycheck to paycheck like the embarrassment he is.”Chloe, Matthew’s girlfriend, slid into the seat next to Sophia without invitation. She didn't look at Maxwell; she looked at her own reflec
Matthew still hadn't noticed Maxwell yet. He was too busy talking to the hostess and flashing that irritating smile that made Maxwell's stomach turn.A beautiful woman stood beside him, dressed in a red pencil skirt and designer blouse that screamed wealth and privilege. Probably Matthew's girlfriend, if Maxwell had to guess. She looked exactly the type, polished, poised, artificial. Exactly the kind of shallow woman the Lexus family would approve of for their precious golden son.Maxwell's hands clenched into fists under the table, his knuckles turning white.Of all the restaurants in this entire massive city, Matthew had to walk into this one? Right now? At this exact moment?What kind of terrible luck was this?!Normally Maxwell wouldn't be bothered by coincidences like this. The city was big, sure, but the circles wealthy people moved in were surprisingly small. Running into familiar faces wasn't unusual at all.But Matthew wasn't just anyone. Matthew was trouble. Always had been,
But then again, Maxwell thought, wasn't it equally possible that Artemis had been trying to manipulate him instead? Poisoning the well before Sophia could even establish a friendship?Besides, what harm could one lunch do? He was hungry anyway after that brutal training session. And Sophia had seemed genuinely friendly at the gala, not calculating or manipulative at all.Sure, she'd clearly enjoyed watching Artemis lose the watch auction, but that seemed more like harmless competitive fun than genuine malice.Besides, Maxwell was hungry. And the alternative was going home to his empty penthouse and ordering takeout alone."Yeah, I'm free," Maxwell said finally. "Where did you want to meet?""Do you know Bistro Laurent downtown?" Sophia asked. "It's a French place, very low-key despite the fancy name. Good food, quiet atmosphere, perfect for actually having a conversation.""I can find it," Maxwell said, already pulling out his phone to check the address."Excellent! I'll meet you ther







