146“She’s way out of your league,” Derek muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “What’s a woman like that doing with a loser like you?”Allvar’s eyes narrowed as he shot Derek a pointed look. “You know, Derek, maybe you’re right. A woman like Seraphina deserves someone who actually knows how to appreciate her.” He leaned in slightly, his tone turning just a shade colder. “Someone who knows not to mess with her, or anyone she cares about.”Derek scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Appreciate her? You think you’re capable of that? Don’t kid yourself, Allvar. You’re just playing a role, and when the act is up, she’ll see you for what you really are.”Seraphina stepped closer to Allvar, a smirk playing on her lips. She glanced briefly at Derek before locking eyes with Allvar. “You’re just jealous, Derek,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a sharp knife. “Because despite everything you’ve tried, Allvar’s got something you’ll never have—
147Derek couldn’t hold back anymore. He took another step forward, his battered body tense despite the bandages wrapped around his arm and leg. Each movement seemed to remind him of his recent defeat—an embarrassment he could barely swallow. The crowd’s attention only fueled the fire simmering in his eyes. He pointed a shaky finger at Seraphina, his voice a dangerous growl. “You think this is over? You think just because you play at loyalty, you’ve won?”Allvar’s expression hardened as he noted the bandages. There was a part of him that almost pitied Derek. Almost. But seeing the way Derek’s jaw tightened, the way his eyes glittered with barely-contained fury, he knew this confrontation was inevitable. “Derek, listen to yourself,” Allvar said, his voice measured, calm in the face of Derek’s storm. “You’re injured. You should be resting, not dragging yourself here to—”“Silence!” Derek’s face twisted, veins standing out like cords against his neck. “I don’t need your pity or your fa
148Derek’s eyes burned with fury, his hands shaking at his sides. “You think you’ve won, huh, Allvar? Well, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.”Allvar couldn’t help himself. He burst into laughter, shaking his head as he looked Derek up and down. It wasn’t the response Derek was expecting, and it only made him angrier. “Really, Derek? You think you can scare me with that empty threat?”“What’s so funny?” Derek demanded, his voice thick with disbelief, his fists clenched at his sides.Serena raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two men as she stepped a little closer to Allvar. “Yeah, what’s so funny?” she echoed, her tone sharp but curious. “This looks pretty serious to me.”Allvar wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. “Oh, it’s just... it’s just that you’ve been trying so hard to be the big bad wolf, Derek,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “But you’re not fooling anyone. Especially not me.”
149The tension in the air was thick as Derek lunged forward, his fury blinding him to the pain in his limbs. Before he could make another move, a group of salespeople appeared, rushing over in a hurry to break up the scene."Hey, hey! What do you think you’re doing?" one of them, a tall woman with a stern expression, demanded as she stepped between Derek and Allvar, holding up a hand. "This is a public space! You can’t go around fighting here."Serena, still flushed with anger, pointed an accusing finger at Allvar. “It’s him! He’s the one causing all this trouble!” she spat, glaring at him.Allvar raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Me? No, Serena, it’s Derek who wanted to make a scene,” he said calmly, shaking his head. “I’m just here minding my business.”Derek’s face flushed red with rage. “You’re lying, Allvar! You’re always trying to get under my skin! You think you’re so much better than me!”“Allvar doesn’t need to do anything t
150Derek and Serena made their way toward the cashier, their footsteps heavy with tension. Derek’s fists were still clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to take deep breaths, trying to calm his rising fury. Serena, walking just ahead of him, couldn’t help but throw one last venomous glance over her shoulder at Allvar and Seraphina.At the counter, Allvar and Seraphina finally arrived, their presence commanding attention. They placed their items on the counter with casual ease, though both of them seemed keenly aware of the eyes still on them. Seraphina, her usual calm demeanor intact, gave a small, polite smile to the cashier, who was busy scanning their items."Anything else?" the cashier asked, her voice professional but tinged with the annoyance that had begun to simmer from the earlier scene.Allvar glanced at Seraphina and shook his head. "No, that’ll be all," he said smoothly, his eyes narrowing slightly as Derek’s voice echoed from
151 Allvar turned to the cashier, his expression calm but his words firm. "I'm afraid there's been a slight... complication," he said, his gaze briefly flicking to Serena, who was watching the scene unfold with a barely concealed smirk. "What kind of complication?" the cashier asked, her brow furrowing. Seraphina spoke up, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes. "I seem to have misplaced my wallet," she explained, her fingers still searching her purse in vain. "I'm not sure what happened to it." The cashier's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I see," she said, her tone diplomatic. "Well, if you'd like, we can hold your items here while you look for it." Allvar nodded, his gaze still fixed on Serena. "That would be much appreciated," he said, his voice laced with a subtle warning. Serena, unable to contain her glee, stepped forward, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Oh, dear, that
152The words hit like a slap in the face. Allvar’s eyes darkened, his usually calm demeanor now strained as the cashier’s attitude shifted. "You’re threatening us?" he asked, his voice low but dangerously firm.Seraphina, her patience wearing thin, took a step forward, her eyes blazing. "We’ve been nothing but polite," she said, her voice unwavering. "And we don’t need to explain ourselves to you, Serena, or anyone else."Serena tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, of course, you don’t need to explain, do you?" she mocked. "You’ve got the whole thing figured out. A woman of mystery and lies, pretending to be something she’s not." Derek snorted, crossing his arms. "And don’t forget the poor, sad little man with her," he added, his voice dripping with derision. "A perfect pair of losers, if you ask me."Seraphina’s eyes flicked to Allvar, her expression unwavering, but her voice cut through the growing tension. "We will pay," she sai
153Derek’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise breaking his smug expression. “Oh, big hero, are we?” he jeered, but there was a hint of disappointment in his tone. He hadn’t expected Allvar to be able to step in.Serena’s smile faltered for a split second before she covered it with a sneer. “Well, well. Allvar to the rescue,” she said mockingly. “Didn’t see that one coming.”Serena’s smirk spread wider as Derek burst into laughter, the sound harsh and filled with disbelief. “You?” Derek managed between gasps, his eyes gleaming with derision. “Pay for all this? What a joke! You think anyone’s buying that, Allvar? You’re nothing but a worthless, pauper loser pretending to be something you’re not.”Serena’s laughter joined his, sharp and biting. She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing as they roved over Allvar’s plain, worn jacket and scuffed shoes. “You can barely afford lunch, let alone a bill of $240,785.67,” she sneered. “What’s the plan, Al
214---As Mrs. Abbott, Jake, and Edgar exited the conference room, their previously subdued demeanors shifted the moment they were out of Allvar’s sight. They huddled in a secluded corner of the hallway, their hushed voices sharp and venomous.“This pompous ass thinks he’s untouchable,” Jake growled, his fingers gripping the edge of his tablet so tightly it looked like it might snap.Edgar, still pale, rubbed his temples. “He’s bluffing. He must be. There’s no way he has concrete evidence.”Mrs. Abbott narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Evidence or not, he’s already on to us. We need to act fast before he turns this into a power play.”Jake leaned in, lowering his voice further. “He practically told us he’s waiting for us to slip up. If we don’t counter this, we’ll lose everything—and he’ll come out looking like the damn hero.”Edgar shook his head. “I told you the offshore accounts were too risky. Now we’re all in the crosshairs.”Mrs. Abbott snapped, “Don’t star
213The next day at Waterfall Corporation, Darwin leaned back in his sleek leather chair, a smug grin etched across his face. He tapped his fingers against the polished oak desk, his thoughts swimming with satisfaction. Yesterday's encounter with Serena and Derek had been nothing short of delightful. The way they’d left—angry, humiliated, and seething—was a perfect appetizer to the meal of revenge he was planning. “This is just the beginning,” he muttered under his breath, his smile widening. Serena. Her name alone sent a rush of anger through him, but he kept it buried beneath his polished exterior. She had dumped him, publicly no less, treating him like some disposable piece of her glamorous world. And Derek? That self-righteous fool had dared to tarnish his reputation with those baseless allegations. Oh, they would both pay, and dearly. A knock at the door broke his train of thought, and Clarabelle, his efficient and ever-loyal secretary, stepped in. She carried her tablet in
Serena's grip on Derek's arm tightened as they reached the entrance. Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and her eyes darted around as if looking for answers in the gleaming marble floor or the polished chrome fixtures. The silence between them was suffocating, filled with unspoken accusations and the sting of embarrassment.“I can’t believe we let him play us like that,” Serena hissed, her nails digging into Derek’s sleeve. “We’re not just going to let him get away with this, are we?”Derek’s jaw clenched, but he kept his eyes fixed on the revolving door in front of them. “And what do you suggest we do, Serena? March back in there and challenge a man who could buy and sell us ten times over?”Serena’s eyes flashed with anger. “No, but we’re not going to crawl away with our tails between our legs either. We need to hit him where it hurts—his reputation, his alliances. If he thinks he’s untouchable, we’ll show him he’s not.”Derek scoffed, the bitterness in his voice cutting thro
Emily had never been one to back down, but as she stumbled towards the door, her face flushed with humiliation, her thoughts were a tangled mess. How could she have been so blind? How could she have dismissed him so easily? The man she had thought was just some arrogant, rich playboy was, in fact, a billionaire with more power than she had ever imagined. The realization was like a punch to her stomach, leaving her breathless.She could still feel the weight of Allvar's gaze on her, his icy eyes cutting through her with the precision of a sharp blade. It wasn’t just the shock of his wealth that had shaken her—it was the way he had handled the situation. The way he had turned the tables, dismantling their arrogance with effortless ease. The way he had put Derek and Serena in their place without so much as raising his voice. It was as if he had orchestrated the whole thing from the very beginning, knowing exactly how it would play out."Did you hear him?" Serena whispered, her voice bare
Derek’s face hardened as he tried to muster whatever defiance he could. "What do you want from us? Haven’t you done enough already?" His voice was laced with false bravado, but his shaking hands gave him away.Allvar stepped forward, his polished leather shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. His sharp, tailored suit made him look even more imposing. He tilted his head slightly, studying Derek as if he were an insignificant insect. "Done enough?" he repeated, his voice calm, dangerously so. "You mocked me, insulted me, and attempted to humiliate me in public. And now, you think you can walk away without facing the consequences?"Serena whimpered, clutching Derek’s arm tighter. "W-we didn’t know who you were! We didn’t mean—""Didn’t mean?" Allvar’s icy gaze locked onto hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What you mean is you didn’t think I was someone who could fight back. That’s always the problem with people like you. You respect power only when it’s shoved in your face."Emily
209Mr. Alves froze, the receiver trembling in his grip as the weight of the words settled over him. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes flickering nervously to Allvar, who still stood there, calm and composed."Y-you can't be serious..." Alves whispered, as if trying to reason with the invisible figure on the other end of the phone.The voice was cold and unforgiving. "I don’t make jokes about business, Mr. Alves. You’ve disrespected someone you shouldn’t have. Pack your things. Security will escort you out shortly."The line clicked dead.For a moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the restaurant's air conditioning. Derek and Serena gaped at the manager, their smug smiles wiped clean."What did—" Derek started, his voice cracking."Vacant?" Serena’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. "H-he said vacant!?"Mr. Alves stumbled back, his face still ghostly pale. "T-this is impossible," he muttered, eyes darting to Allvar, who now smiled ever so faintly,
208Allvar clenched his fists in anger, grinding his teeth at Derek's audacity. Serena scowled with flaming cheeks, rolling her eyes dismissively.Allvar remained composed, arching a brow at their reaction. "There seems to be an issue here that requires your assistance," Allvar replied calmly into the phone.On the other end of the line, the voice grew sharp with concern. "What sort of situation, Young Master? Are you alright?"Allvar couldn't help but let a small, wry smile flicker across his face, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I've been accused of theft, of all things," he explained, his voice laced with disbelief. "The manager here refuses to believe the gold card is mine. He's threatening to call security on me."He went on and relayed all the events that had transpired, describing how he had been openly mocked and ridiculed by the manager.The butler listened attentively, a frown forming on his aged face. Such disrespect towards the young master wa
Allvar's lips curled into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor betraying none of the turmoil his accusers expected. “How… How did this hobo come into possession of this?" Mr. Alves gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as he scrutinized the exclusive card in his hand. Allvar remained impassive, his posture relaxed as he watched Mr. Alves struggle to reconcile the elegant card with the man before him. The manager cleared his throat, masking his astonishment with an air of accusation. His gaze darkened as he fixed Allvar with an intense glare. “You’re a criminal! Where did you get this card? This isn’t something just anyone can own. Where did you steal it from?” “From my family," Allvar replied casually, his tone devoid of concern. Emily froze, her pale face reflecting her confusion. She trusted Allvar's integrity but couldn't fathom how he had acquired such an item. In stark contrast, Derek and Serena scoffed simultaneously, their eyes rolling in unison. “Like your pathetic fam
206“Hey!! You're making a mistake here!” Serena called out in a harsh voice, her face scowling at the waiter, who turned slightly to acknowledge them once more.“Do you know who this man is?!” she demanded, pointing dramatically at Derek, who had the audacity to look smug. Emily could only roll her eyes at their theatrics.With newfound determination, Serena stomped toward their direction, intent on blocking their path. She crossed her arms and glared daggers at the trio. Pleased with the development, Derek swaggered forward to join her, standing beside her like a soldier in solidarity. He eyed the waiter and Allvar with disdain, sneering as if he owned the entire establishment.“Do you know who I am?!” Derek bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Do you realize what weight my family name carries? How dare you relegate me to the background just to attend to this nobody?!”He jabbed a finger toward Allvar, his contempt thinly veiled, while the waiter’s face twisted in confusion