162 The laughter echoed like a cacophony of mocking crows as Allvar stepped out of the sedan. The moment he emerged, dressed in the midnight-blue suit with subtle silver embroidery, heads turned, and eyes widened with barely concealed amusement. The brilliance of their own shimmering, gem-encrusted ensembles outshone his understated attire, or so they thought. “Look at that,” a young man whispered to his companion, struggling to suppress a grin. “Did he get lost on his way to a funeral?” “Must be a new servant trying to make a statement,” another voice chimed in, followed by a snicker. The crowd erupted in low chuckles, a symphony of arrogance that twisted through the cool night air. Allvar’s jaw clenched, but his expression remained neutral. He took a deep breath, allowing the whispers to slide off him like rain on a stone. This was exactly what he expected. He tightened his grip on the keys in his hand, tossing them back into the car before striding forward, his shoulders squa

164The guards moved, reaching for Allvar with practiced precision. Allvar’s heart thudded, the heat of humiliation and fury coursing through him like fire. He took a step back, raising his hands defensively. “Don’t touch me.”The taller guard’s expression darkened, and he lunged. “Enough of this—”Before he could finish, the guards’ hands closed in around Allvar, their expressions a mix of irritation and relish. Allvar's breath quickened, his heart thundering beneath his ribs as he forced himself to stand tall. He met the taller guard's glare with a defiance he barely felt."Touch me again, and you’ll regret it," Allvar warned, his voice low and tight.The guard sneered, throwing back his head with a bark of laughter. The sound was quickly picked up by the onlookers, who jeered and clapped as if this were some grand show meant for their amusement."Regret it, will we?" the second guard, the one with a scar cutting across his cheek, mocked. He pushed Allvar back, the movement rough en

166Derek descended the grand staircase, his polished shoes clicking against the marble steps as he approached the glittering ballroom below. The space was alive with movement—women in flowing gowns and men in tailored suits mingled beneath a cascade of crystal chandeliers. The low hum of conversation mixed with the clinking of glasses and the soft strains of a string quartet in the corner. Derek’s eyes immediately scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces.His father, Victor, stood near the center of the room, commanding attention as he spoke with an air of authority. Beside him was Victoria’s father, Richard, his deep laugh carrying over the noise of the gathering. Victoria stood nearby, her gold dress shimmering under the light as she sipped champagne, her expression carefully neutral but her sharp eyes surveying the room.As Derek approached, Victor spotted him and gestured sharply for him to come over. “Derek,” Victor said, his voice loud and commanding. “Come meet some o

Derek’s sharp voice cut through the tension hanging in the air. “Is there a problem here?”Allvar’s eyes flicked toward Derek, the man who had just entered the conversation. The moment Derek’s gaze met his, Allvar could see the recognition—though it was followed by a mix of confusion and disdain.Derek’s expression shifted from one of curiosity to outright shock. “What the hell are you doing here?” he spat, his voice laced with disbelief. “This is a private event, not some free-for-all. How’d you manage to sneak in? Didn’t think people like you could afford an invite.”Victoria’s eyes narrowed as Derek’s words settled, the smirk returning to her lips. She tilted her head, taking a step back as though she could sense the shift in power. “Looks like you’ve got some explaining to do, Allvar,” she taunted. “It’s not exactly a place for... well, people like you.”Allvar stood there for a beat, his gaze never leaving Derek. He could feel the familiar knot of frustration twisting in his gut,

170Victoria’s nails dug into her palm as she glared at Allvar’s retreating figure. Her lips curled into a sneer as she turned to Derek, her voice a low hiss. “Are we really going to let him walk away like that? He just humiliated us in front of everyone!”Derek’s jaw tightened, his gaze still locked on Allvar. “He’s lucky I didn’t smash that smug look off his face,” he growled, slamming the champagne flute onto the nearest table. “We can’t let him get away with this.”“Damn right we can’t.” Victoria’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she took a determined step forward. “He thinks he can talk down to us and just walk away? Not a chance.”Derek grabbed her arm, his grip firm. “What are you planning, Victoria? You can’t just march up to him again and make an even bigger scene.”She yanked her arm free, her glare cutting. “You think I care about a scene? This isn’t over, Derek. Not until that arrogant bastard knows his place.” She spun on her heel, stalking after Allvar