As Jack Sullivan and Lisa walked further into the reunion, the familiar faces from their high school days filled the room.Some smiled with genuine warmth, others barely hid their judgmental stares, but no one looked at them quite the same.Jack didn’t care about the whispers. He had Lisa by his side and that was all that mattered.Still, it was hard to ignore the faint murmurs that rippled through the crowd as people noticed Lisa’s expensive clothes.Her designer dress and stylish accessories were clearly the talk of the night.“Did she really marry him for money?” someone whispered.Jack didn’t look back, but he could feel the prying eyes. He hadn’t needed to prove anything to these people, yet their judgment still stung.Lisa, however, simply ignored the whispers.She leaned closer to Jack, her fingers gently brushing his arm.“Let them talk, babe,” she whispered with a smile, clearly unaffected by the rumors. Her voice was low and tender, her love for Jack evident in the way she l

AS he watched Peter,The man hadn’t changed—he was still using people, still putting on that fake charm. The same man who misused class funds back in high school and tried to force Xavier into paying more money for the school event. It was clear to Jack that Peter had only gotten where he was by being shameless.Peter, however, wasn’t looking at Jack. His eyes were focused on Lisa. He had always thought she was out of Jack’s league, and now that they were married, he had no intention of letting her stay with him. Peter thought Jack was a fool, too stupid to realize that Lisa would eventually get bored of him. In his mind, he had every chance to pull Lisa away from Jack."Lisa, why don’t you come sit with me?" Peter's voice was smooth, his smile all but oozing insincerity. He motioned to the seat next to him, a couple of rows away from Jack. "I’ve got some medicine and hot water. You must be tired from all the excitement."Lisa immediately stiffened. She didn’t even have to think twice

After the awkward room assignments, the group was trying to make the best of their situation. The elegant architecture and serene surroundings were impressive, but for Xavier, the unfairness of the situation weighed heavily on him. He had always been the hardworking one, a chef, yet here he was, being treated like less than everyone else.“You really think you deserve one of the suites, Xavier?” Peter Park sneered, standing with his arms crossed as he looked down at the frustrated chef. His smug expression made Xavier’s blood boil. “You’re just a cook, nothing more. A cook doesn’t get a fancy room like the rest of them.”Xavier’s face flushed with anger. He wasn’t about to back down. “I’m a damn good chef, Peter. I deserve more than this. You know that.”Peter scoffed, dismissing Xavier’s protest with a wave of his hand. “Oh please, don’t start with that.” His tone was mocking, dripping with arrogance. “You’re lucky you even get to stay here. I’m the vice president of Darkeis Winery,

Peter Park was fuming. His plan to humiliate Jack Sullivan and Lisa Johnson had backfired spectacularly. The warehouse—a dirty, neglected space—was supposed to be the ultimate punishment for Jack’s boldness.He expected them to suffer in the awful conditions and come crawling back to him for help. Lisa would surely beg him to fix the situation, wouldn’t she?But instead, Jack had walked confidently into the luxurious lakeside villa, the most exclusive and expensive accommodation on the property.The same villa that was usually reserved for Boss Raymond himself. The audacity.Peter’s jaw tightened as he watched them leave the villa.He couldn’t believe his eyes. Had Jack actually managed to break into the place? That was the only explanation.He couldn't fathom how Jack could have had access to a place meant only for the owner of Darkeis Winery.He was seething with anger, but he couldn’t just stand there. His pride wouldn’t let him. So, he sent Lisa Johnson a message, hoping to stir u

Xavier, who had been standing off to the side, couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up, glaring at Peter. “You’ve got no right to talk to Jack like that. He’s not some thief, and you know it!” Xavier’s voice boomed, the anger clear in his tone.Peter’s eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a snarl. “Oh, so you’re going to defend him now, Xavier? Just a cook at the winery, trying to play hero?” Peter scoffed. “Maybe I should fire you for siding with a criminal.”Xavier’s jaw tightened. “You’re ridiculous, Peter.” He didn’t back down, even though he knew Peter could make his life difficult at work. But Peter didn’t care—he was so consumed by his desire to tear Jack down that he completely lost sight of reason.“Fine! You’re fired, Xavier.” Peter’s voice rang out with cruel finality. "I’ll have your apron and your job taken from you first thing tomorrow."The room went silent. Xavier had always been a loyal worker at the winery, and hearing Peter's words was like a slap to the face. The