Bob forced a laugh, though his face betrayed his unease. “Rita, don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to humiliate me. I would never get you something fake.”But Rita’s expression didn’t change. Her gaze was steady, unreadable, and that silence—heavy, expectant—made his heart pound.A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. He swallowed hard.Damn it.His mind raced back to the purchase. He never got it at an auction. That was just something he said to make it sound prestigious. The truth? He’d bought it for thirty thousand dollars in a dingy little antique shop run by some foreigner. The only expensive part of the gift was the box—five thousand dollars for packaging alone, just to make it look high-end.At the time, he thought it was a steal. Now, it felt like a noose tightening around his neck.How the hell did Jeffery know?Shame burned through him, hot and unbearable. His ears rang. He clenched his fists, rage bubbling beneath the surface. He spun toward Jeffery, his voice sha

Jeffery leaned back in his chair, studying Rita carefully. She was serious about this.Not just in an opportunistic way—this was a calculated move, a long-term play.He folded his arms. “Alright, let’s talk logistics. You want mass production? That means ingredients. Some of these aren’t exactly stocked on pharmacy shelves.”Rita smiled. “That’s where I come in. I have connections. People who can get us the materials, no matter how rare.”Jeffery arched a brow. “At what cost?”She shrugged. “Does it matter?”He smirked. “To you? No. To me? It affects production timelines, quality control, consistency.”She nodded, appreciating his thoroughness. “That’s why you’ll handle refining. I’ll make sure the supply never runs dry.”Jeffery drummed his fingers on the table, thinking. “Scaling up isn’t just about having materials. It’s about ensuring every single pill is as potent as the first batch.”Rita leaned forward. “Then we control the process. Small-batch production, limited supply at fir

Cora gave a slow nod, a satisfied smile curving her lips. "Smart move, Aadam. Aligning with Bob will open doors for you."She turned thoughtful, her eyes scanning the glittering ballroom. Then, as if struck by a thought, she asked, "Between the Prescots and the Stirlings, who holds more power?"Aadam exhaled, shaking his head. "That’s like comparing a chicken to a phoenix. The Prescots may have influence here, but the Stirlings? They operate on a whole different level—global connections, old money, untouchable power."But then, his lips curled into a smirk, his tone turning sly. "Speaking of power, did you know Bob’s got a thing for Rita Stirling? He’s been after her for ages, even came back to Oakland because of all the rumors surrounding her and Jeffery."Cora's eyes widened, excitement flashing in them. "Wait—so that bastard Jeffery… does this mean he's in trouble?"Aadam chuckled, a dark glint in his gaze. "Bingo. Bob’s not the type to take no for an answer, especially when it

The surrounding conversations quieted as Bob stood before Jeffery, his glare sharp with hostility. But Jeffery, unfazed, met his gaze with a bored expression, as if Bob was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.Bob’s sneer deepened. “I don’t remember giving you an invitation,” he spat. “Why the hell is a worthless nobody like you at my party?”Jeffery barely reacted. He tilted his head slightly, his voice calm. “I’m here representing Rita Stirling. Is that a problem?”Bob’s sneer faltered, his face twisting with barely restrained rage. His fists clenched at his sides, jealousy burning in his eyes.“You?” he barked. “Who the hell gave you the right to represent Rita? I never gave you permission to be here!”Jeffery smirked. “I didn’t ask for your permission.” He leaned back lazily. “But if you want me gone, go ahead. Just don’t expect Rita to accept any of your invitations in the future.”Bob’s entire body tensed. A vein throbbed at his temple, his face darkening with fury.The crow

There was a great silence as everyone watched what was happening, no one daring to interfere.It wasn't as if they even wanted to interfere in the first place. They all supported Bob and despised Steve and Jeffery.If anything, they wanted both of them to suffer and be humiliated by Bob in the past.The two people who wanted Jeffery's and Steve's humiliation more than anyone else were none other than Aadam and Cora.And they wanted it really badly. In fact, they couldn't control themselves any longer and clenched their fists as they watched what was happening.Seeing the gazes of everyone on him, Steve couldn't help but feel a great sense of humiliation he had never felt in his entire life.The gazes that were on him were filled with so much mockery and contempt. It was as if everyone was staring at a piece of trash and not a human being."Why are you being so quiet now?" Bob asked as he snickered. "I thought you were being so high and mighty some seconds ago. Where did that courage g