The Billionaire's Retribution

Chapter 138

The rest of the evening was a blur of forced smiles and shallow conversations. Marcus moved through the crowd, shaking hands with investors and donors, but his mind stayed on Magnus. Every interaction felt like a distraction, a waste of time compared to the real threat lurking just across the room.

Meanwhile, Magnus worked the crowd with effortless charm, spinning tales of his “unjust imprisonment” and painting himself as the victim of Marcus’s ambition. The guests, eager for gossip, lapped up his stories, their opinions of Marcus slowly souring with every word Magnus uttered.

Mara stayed close to Marcus, her presence a steadying influence, but even she could sense the tide turning against them. Whispers followed them wherever they went, and the once-warm smiles of the guests grew colder, more guarded.

“Marcus,” Mara whispered as they approached the bar, “he’s poisoning them against you.”

“I know,” Marcus muttered, grabbing a glass of whiskey from the bartender. “But we can’t confront