The guards seized the manager, ignoring his protests and cries for mercy. His desperate pleas fell on deaf ears as they dragged him toward the exit. Once so confident in his authority, the manager was now a crumbling wreck, thrown onto the street outside. Meanwhile, the middle-aged man who had confronted Dave earlier stood pale and trembling as he recognized Carl Mullen, a figure he'd only seen on local TV and heard about in business circles. His knees nearly buckled at the realization of whom he had just crossed paths with. However, his mistress who was beside him, emboldened by her earlier defiance, opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, a sharp slap from the middle-aged man silenced her. The slap echoed through the store, stunning everyone. "Keep shut?!" The man yelled at her. Tears welled up in the woman's eyes and she was too shocked to respond. She had planned to challenge Carl, insisting she was a more important customer and demanding that

As the evening wore on, the three friends shared a celebratory dinner, toasting to the upcoming charity event and the opportunities it promised. Ava couldn’t help but dream about what membership in the Kevton Chamber of Commerce would mean. She envisioned new business deals, expanded networks, and a strengthened position for her family’s enterprise. The future seemed brighter than ever! After dinner, the sound of a car arriving drew their attention. Dave had returned after completing his tasks at Velcro Group. As he walked into the mansion, Jerry and Hannah noticing him, eyed him with disdain. Hannah broke the silence, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, look who decided to show up. Just in time for dinner, as usual. How convenient!" Dave however ignored her, maintaining his composure. “The freeloader is nothing compared to Jerry, who not only got Ava a beautiful jewellery gift but also helped her secure an invitation to the charity gala," Hannah continued,

"I'm sure you've never had a chance to handle even 2% of that all your life, so it should be more than enough for you to start fresh somewhere else, far away from me!” Ava added. Dave looked at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “$200,000?” he echoed, his voice calm but with a slight edge. “Why do you think so little of our marriage, Ava? Is that all it’s worth to you?” Ava’s expression hardened. She had expected him to accept the offer without question—perhaps even be grateful! But his response only angered her. “This marriage,” she spat, “is shit. It doesn’t even exist in my eyes." "How can I call this a marriage when I’m stuck with a pauper?" "You’re not my husband, Dave. You’re just someone I was forced to marry!” Her words were harsh, cutting through the air like a knife. But Dave remained unfazed. He had heard worse before and had grown a thick skin already. So instead of retaliating, he shrugged. “If that’s how you feel,” he said with a smirk

Dave watched Ava with his lips curling into a faint smile. Although he knew the invitation cards weren't sent by Jerry, he chose not to reveal the truth. After all, Ava would eventually discover it on her own. Gordon leaned in to examine the invitation, his face brightening with approval. “Excellent work, Ava. This is exactly the kind of progress I was hoping for. Keep it up, and you’ll make us all proud.” Ava beamed with smiles at her grandfather’s praise. Almost immediately, Gordon glanced at Dave. For a moment, she felt a surge of triumph, as if everything was falling into place just as she had planned. “Dave, I think it would be a good idea if you became Ava’s assistant. You could help her with her work, reduce her stress, and the two of you would have more opportunities to spend time together and understand each other better.” The suggestion hit Ava like a ton of bricks! The thought of Dave following her around all day, pretending to be her assistant, was unbea

As soon as Dave mentioned having his own money, Ava’s parents, Greg and Joyce Smith, exchanged sceptical glances. Greg shook his head, unable to believe Dave's audacity. How could a nobody like Dave have the guts to say he had money?! “Money, huh?” Greg scoffed, his voice thick with derision. “You expect us to believe that you’ve got your own money, but you’re still here, living off of our daughter?” Joyce folded her arms tightly across her chest, her eyes narrowing as she looked Dave up and down. “You see, we know your type. Just trying to get a free ride, aren’t you? Do you think you can mooch off our family and live comfortably without lifting a finger? Well, let me tell you, it’s not going to work!” Dave stood calmly, his face betraying no emotion despite the biting words being thrown at him. And before everyone knew it, Gordon, Ava’s grandfather, stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. “Enough!” Gordon said firmly, his voice carrying