2025-02-26 19:14:41"I'm sorry, Karvel. I can't go through with this marriage."
In the president's office of Carter Group, Mariya, the CEO, stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her expression as cold as her words.
Dressed in an elegant dress, she looked every inch the aloof beauty the tabloids loved to praise.
Across from her sat a man—handsome but plainly dressed.
"Mariya, what are you saying?" Karvel's voice trembled slightly. "We agreed on this, didn’t we?"
They had. The plan was clear: the day Carter Group went public; they would end their three-year relationship and finally get married. But now—
"I'm going to be honest with you."
"Karvel, the distance between us… it’s just too big now. Don’t you see?"
"It’s like heaven and earth. And to me… it’s just a burden."
A burden?
Karvel stared at her, stunned.
He hadn’t expected Mariya to say that.
The woman whose company he’d helped save from bankruptcy.
Carter Group’s success today? His doing.
Mariya’s achievements? He'd been there every step of the way.
But now, in her moment of glory, he had become a weight to cast off.
"I know this must hurt," she added, voice soft but distant. "So let me make it up to you. After canceling the engagement, I’ll give you compensation. Enough for you to live comfortably."
She opened her designer handbag and pulled out a pen and a checkbook.
Karvel didn’t stop her. He watched in silence as she wrote down a number: ten million.
As she handed him the check, she felt more unfamiliar than ever.
"Is this all our relationship meant to you? Money?" he asked, eyes locked on hers.
For a second, something flickered in Mariya’s expression. But it quickly vanished behind a mask of cool detachment.
"If you think it’s not enough, I can give you more—until you’re satisfied."
Karvel’s heart sank.
"So this is final? You’re really ending it?"
Mariya turned her face toward the window, lips pressed into a tight line. "If that’s how you see it, then so be it."
She was now a billionaire CEO. Men lined up to catch her eye.
Karvel? Just a regular man. In every way, he is now out of place in her world.
This marriage… it was far too ordinary for Mariya's future.
"That’s right. You’re the CEO now. There will be countless men rushing to pursue you."
"And I? I’m a nobody. Of course I don’t deserve a goddess like you."
His self-mocking smile said more than any words.
Mariya frowned slightly. "Karvel… I won’t deny you’ve done a lot for me. But it’s just not what I want anymore."
"Take the money. Consider it payment for your time and effort."
She pushed the check toward him again.
But Karvel didn’t even glance at it.
"Ten million. Impressive generosity, Miss. But I don’t need your money."
He stood up, ready to leave.
Seeing him turn away, Mariya's brows knit together. Her voice turned sharper.
“You’re a good person, but my world has changed. I need more resources to take my business further, but you have nothing, Karvel. My husband should be a more powerful man.”
"Karvel, I suggest you take it. Don’t let your pride ruin you. Do you even realize it? You could never make this much in a lifetime!"
But Karvel didn’t flinch.
To him, ten million was nothing.
However, the last thing Karvel ever expected was that he would one day face the humiliation of being rejected.
After all, he was once hailed as the God of War, now the reigning Underground King.
Having grown up alone in an orphanage without any family, Karvel had clawed his way through countless battles to become the Underground King he was today.
All he had ever wanted was to live a quiet, happy life with Mariya, which was why he had never revealed his true identity to her.
Maybe it was better this way. At least now Karvel could finally see how Mariya truly viewed him.
Suddenly, Mariya's secretary burst into the room.
"Miss, young Master Vincent is here to see you again!" The secretary couldn't hide her excitement.
"Miss, you are so lucky! Mr. Vincent Langford is holding a huge bouquet of red roses and waiting for you. How romantic!"
Upon hearing this, both Mariya and Karvel were taken aback.
Karvel looked at Mariya in disbelief.
Seeing that Karvel was still there, the secretary was merciless.
"Karvel, why are you still bothering our CEO? Get out of here! You and Miss Mariya belong to completely different worlds now. Your presence is nothing but a stumbling block to our CEO!"
Still not satisfied, she let out a cold snort, grabbed a box from her bag, and threw it at Karvel.
"You still have all these tattered things at our Miss's place! This is a publicly listed company, and we don't have room for your junk!"
The calm expression on Karvel's face instantly turned stern.
It was the engagement ring he had carefully prepared for Mariya, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Even if they wouldn't get married, there was no need to belittle his feelings like this.
Seeing the secretary becoming more and more tactless, Mariya shook her head and signaled her to leave.
"I heard you've been getting close to Vincent Langford lately. I thought it was just baseless gossip. Are you calling off our engagement because of him?"
Mariya was about to say no.
But after thinking for a moment, she finally nodded.
"You could put it that way."
"Alright, then. I wish you both happiness." Karvel realized there was nothing more to say, stood up, and left the office.
Mariya didn’t respond.
She just felt a strange emptiness inside—like something precious had just slipped through her fingers.
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CHAPTER 53
The evening air was crisp as Karvel Cross stepped out of Fairchild Enterprises. His expression was neutral, his gait slow and seemingly careless, as if he had all the time in the world.But inside, he was sharply alert.They're watching.Karvel didn't even need to look over his shoulder. His instincts, honed from years of operating in shadows, screamed the moment he crossed the lobby. He felt the eyes trailing him from a distance—the careful, measured footsteps.Amateur, he thought with quiet contempt. Vivian should've hired someone better if she wanted to track me.Instead of heading straight for his car parked nearby, he turned off the main street into a narrow alleyway between two office buildings, the kind of alley where a man could disappear without a trace.The tail followed.Exactly as I expected, Karvel thought, his mind already several steps ahead. Let's see who's pulling the strings.The moment Karvel stepped around a sharp bend in the alley, he moved swiftly, disappearing b
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Karvel Cross stood silently in front of Vivian Fairchild’s office door, his expression composed but his mind running cold calculations.He had been patient long enough.It was time.Adjusting the cuff of his jacket, he knocked once, then pushed the door open without waiting for permission.Vivian sat behind her desk, flipping through some papers with stiff, jerky motions. The moment she saw him, her entire body seemed to tense further, her eyes hardening into something unfamiliar.Karvel’s sharp instincts caught the shift immediately."Vivian," he greeted with his usual calm. "It’s time we had that conversation."She didn’t look up. "I’m busy."Karvel raised an eyebrow. Busy? That wasn’t the woman who had once practically dragged him into her world with stubborn persistence."You said you knew what I wanted," he continued, stepping inside, voice steady. "I think it’s about time you told me."Vivian slapped the papers onto the desk, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she
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Chapter 50
Vivian Fairchild sat stiffly in her office, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her mind buzzing with unresolved questions.Karvel Cross’s calm dismissal at the gala gnawed at her. Nothing? He called that chaos "nothing"? Two titans almost tore the room apart because of him, and he acted like it was no big deal.Across from her, Sophia Yale leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me everything again. Slowly."Vivian sighed and recounted the night from beginning to end—how Karvel arrived, how Leo Romano stirred up trouble, how Markos defended Karvel, and how Karvel himself remained infuriatingly nonchalant throughout.When she was done, Sophia drummed her nails on the desk thoughtfully. "It doesn’t add up.""I know," Vivian agreed. "Markos isn’t the type to step in for just anyone."Sophia nodded. "He doesn’t waste time on nobodies. And you said this isn't even the first time?"Vivian nodded. "He also backed Karvel during that orphanage event. Remember when Karvel donated a hundred millio
CHAPTER 49
Mariya Carter hurried after Vivian Fairchild , her heels clicking sharply against the marble as she caught up near the corridor leading out of the ballroom."Vivian, wait!" Mariya called, reaching out.Vivian spun around, eyes blazing. "Save it, Mariya. I'm not interested in anything you have to say."She really believes I betrayed him intentionally, Mariya thought, her chest tightening. When will I stop paying for my past mistakes?"I didn't tell Leo to go after Karvel! I had nothing to do with it!" Mariya insisted, desperation edging her voice.Vivian laughed bitterly. "You expect me to believe that? After the way you threw yourself at Leo the moment Karvel walked in?"She's so blinded by her infatuation with Karvel that she can't see reason, Vivian thought angrily. How dare she play innocent now?"I was just networking!" Mariya protested, her voice rising. "I didn't know who he was—who he is!"Vivian shook her head, disgusted. "Karvel saved you. Your family. And the first chance yo
CHAPTER 48
The grand ballroom buzzed with tension as every eye turned toward the scene unfolding between Markos, Leo Romano, and Karvel Cross.Whispers rippled across the luxurious crowd."Isn't that Markos—the richest man in Carson City?""Why's he defending that guy?""Maybe he just feels sorry for him.""Yeah, must be charity. That man's just a washed-up ex."Despite their murmuring, no one dared to step closer. Most of the attendees, steeped in shallow judgments, couldn't see past Karvel's calm demeanor and simple black suit. To them, he looked like an attractive nobody, lucky enough to catch the eye of a few powerful women.Fools, Karvel thought, maintaining his composed facade. They see what they want to see. A pretty face, a nobody. Exactly as I've planned it.But Mariya Carter wasn't like most of them.Standing at the edge of the crowd, her hands curled into fists as she watched the interaction sharply. No, she thought, this isn't just kindness. This is the second time someone powerful h