جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

“You weren’t lying when you said you could pay me back now,” Romero said, his eyes glinting with interest as Lucas entered the casino, handing over the money for his debt. The money had come from Seren, and now it had settled the account.“Now you’ve got my attention,” Romero continued with a sly smile. “I want to know who this ‘Ace’ of yours is, the one in Bernard’s power.”“I’ll tell you soon enough,” Lucas replied, walking toward a table where some gamblers were playing. “But for now, I need to recover what I lost yesterday.”Romero smiled again and gestured to one of his men. “I want to know what this guy is hiding. Bernard isn’t the type to trust easily. Follow him. Find out everything he’s keeping secret.”“Yes, Boss,” the man responded without hesitation.Romero glanced at Lucas, who laughed lightly at the table. Romero’s mind raced with ways to use the man and this so-called ‘Ace’ to his advantage. Especially since he was itching for revenge against the young Rafael, the one w

“It’s not a huge amount,” Seren said softly, standing in the middle of her parents’ living room as she handed her father her bankbook. “But I think we can use it to start a small business.”They had just finished a simple birthday celebration, hers and Anna’s.For the first time in her life, Seren had experienced what it felt like to be celebrated. Even if she didn’t know most of the guests, it didn’t matter. She had felt welcomed. Accepted.For a moment, she wondered. What if it had always been like this?Her father glanced at the bankbook, then quickly took it from her hands. His eyes flickered with interest as he checked the balance.Miguel leaned over, peering at it as well, mentally calculating the amount before looking back at his sister.“Why are you giving this to us?” Miguel asked, his tone edged with suspicion.“Because I want to stay here,” Seren answered honestly. “I don’t want to go back to the mansion anymore.”

“A hundred million, going once,” the auctioneer announced, her voice echoing across the grand hall. A pause followed, thick, expectant.“A hundred million, going twice.”Her fingers tightened around the gavel.“Sold---for one hundred million to Mr. Rafael De Luna.” The gavel struck.Silence fell.No one dared to challenge the bid, not against a De Luna. Everyone in the room understood the unspoken rule: if Rafael De Luna wanted something, the price would only rise until it was his. Competing was pointless. Expensive. Dangerous.The auctioneer drew a breath, preparing to introduce the next item. “Wait.”Chairs shifted.All eyes turned as Chloe De Silva rose from her seat with quiet confidence. Without asking permission, she made her way to the stage, heels clicking softly against the polished floor.“I have something I’d like to present,” she said, offering the auctioneer a polite but firm smile. A murmur rippled through

Rafael didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. She already knew. He would not be her choice.“I was dragged into your world,” she said, voice firmer now, “into your rules, your enemies, your decisions.”“You don’t get to stand here and ask me what I want after deciding everything for me.”Silence pressed down again. But this time, it belonged entirely to her.Dean’s eyes widened, stunned, as she turned her gaze just briefly toward him, a flicker of acknowledgment, and then returned her attention to Rafael.“I didn’t choose this life,” she said. “And I refuse to become your possession.”Her words hung in the air, heavy and resolute.“If you want an answer,” she continued, “then hear it properly.”Rafael’s lips pressed into a thin line. A heartbeat later, he spoke, low and measured.“That’s enough.”He took a step back. Seren frowned slightly, sensing the unusual restraint in him, something she didn’t understand, yet inst

“You’re finally awake.”Rafael’s voice drifted from across the room.Seren stirred, her body heavy as she pushed herself upright. The world came back to her in fragments: dim lighting, the low hum of air conditioning, the faint glow of a laptop screen. Her gaze landed on him.He sat on the sofa, posture relaxed, attention fixed on whatever was on his screen. The soft light reflected off the lenses of his glasses, something she had never seen him wear before. It made him look different. Sharper. More distant.For a moment, he didn’t even acknowledge her.Seren swallowed and looked around.This wasn’t her room.The space was too polished, too immaculate, sleek furniture, muted tones, everything expensive without trying too hard. A hotel suite. A high-end one.Her eyes snapped to the digital clock on the bedside table.2:00 AM. A chill crept up her spine. How long had she been out?Memory came rushing back all at once, sharp and unforgiving.The auction hall. The suffocating air. The way