At that mont Liam’s face tightened the mont Chloe’s words sank in. His hands balled into fists at his side, but he didn’t speak imdiately. He just stared at her, eyes narrowed, breathing slow—controlled rage pulsing beneath the surface.
Then Maria blinked at her daughter like she had just slapped her across the face.
"What did you just say, Chloe?" she asked, her voice sharper than usual. "How can you talk about Liam like that? Does he look like soone who can’t silence a room?"
However Chloe didn’t answer. Her gaze was heavy, distant, as if she wasn’t even here.
Imdiately Maria shook her head.
"You’re letting that girl get into your head. Since when did we start comparing ourselves to soone like Valentina?"
Liam finally stepped forward. "No, no—let her talk," he said coldly, staring at Chloe. "It seems whatever Valentina did to her yesterday was serious. Now I’m really curious."
He crouched slightly, lowering his tone.
"What did she do to you, Chloe? What happened there that has you trembling like this?"
At that mont Chloe’s lips parted slightly, then closed. She tried to breathe, but the air felt thick in her chest.
She finally whispered, "Valentina actually spent what I could not even fathom."
Her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor as if reliving the mont all over again. "The clothes... the normal ones Valentina bought... just those alone cost millions," she said quietly. "And she didn’t just buy one or two. She bought five."
Hearing what Chloe just said Liam scoffed almost imdiately, tilting his head with a bitter smirk. "Five dresses costing millions? Is that all?" he said, his tone rising with disbelief. "That’s not sothing worth trembling over. I could buy that without blinking. That’s not even scratching the surface of what I can do."
Imdiately Maria folded her arms, nodding as she eyed Chloe with disappointnt. "That’s true, Chloe. Since when did we start acting like people doing what we can also do is a big deal? You really let this girl get to you?"
Chloe slowly raised her eyes, her face serious. Her voice dropped even lower.
"Do you two still rember that diamond gown?" she asked, pausing for their attention.
"That dress they said only three were made in the whole world?"
At that mont Maria’s eyes narrowed, and Liam’s breath caught slightly.
Imdiately Maria nodded.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, we rembered."
Liam blinked, confused. "Wait... what does that dress have to do with anything?" he asked, waving his hand dismissively like Chloe had just gone off-topic.
Chloe didn’t blink. Her voice dropped. "Valentina bought it."
There was silence. A long one.
Maria leaned forward, furrowing her brows. "What do you an she bought it?"
Chloe nodded slowly. "The last one. The legendary diamond dress. It belongs to her now."
Liam’s lips parted, but no sound ca out. He looked at Chloe like she’d just said the sun was purple. "That’s... that’s not possible," he said finally. "You’re joking."
Imdiately Maria gave a dry laugh and waved her hand. "Chloe, are you hearing yourself? That gown? The one they said only the wives of billionaires wore? You must be playing with us."
"I’m not playing with anyone," Chloe said, her tone steady, eyes heavy with truth. "Whether you believe or not doesn’t matter. I know what I saw. And everything I saw there... it was breathtaking."
Again Chloe’s voice was low but steady, her eyes locked ahead like she was still replaying everything in her mind.
"The manager..." she said. "He didn’t just serve her. He was bowing to her. Like she was royalty. He even gave her a special card—one they said no one else has. A card that gives her access to their board. Not just to buy... but to advise. Valentina can now sit in their etings and tell them how to grow their business."
Maria raised her brows, stunned. "You an, she’s above VIP now?"
Chloe nodded. "Way above."
Liam didn’t speak. He stood still, his face unreadable. But deep inside, his mind was spinning fast. How? How did she get that far?
He gave a stiff, dry chuckle—more from disbelief than amusent. "What on earth has Valentina gotten herself into?" he muttered. "And who is truly that Raymond bastard? Who is truly Raymond?"
Everything was not making sense to him anymore. He was there when they picked him. He didn’t look extraordinary, he looked like shit,
Liam’s eyes darkened as he stared at the ground, his jaw tightening. He looked worthless... useless, he thought. That was why he’d pushed for him to be picked back then. He didn’t want Valentina ending up with soone who’d actually shine.
Now, the sa man—Raymond—was the one standing tall, while they were all left scrambling, confused, and shaken. How did everything flip so fast? How did Valentina, after all the plans they made, still end up almost getting the best—if not the best from what Chloe just said.
Chloe sat quietly, her face pale. The weight of yesterday still rested heavily on her. She glanced at Liam, then sighed.
"Liam," she said quietly, "don’t go."
Imdiately he looked up at her, frowning.
"I’m serious," she continued. "Don’t go to that get-together. If you go, you’ll be walking into sothing you’re not ready for. What I saw yesterday... it wasn’t just wealth. It was power."
Liam didn’t respond, but his silence spoke loudly.
"And whatever it is you’re planning," Chloe added, her voice lower, more serious now, "I know you. I know you’re already thinking of a way to take him down. But listen to ..."
She paused and looked him directly in the eye.
"You can never defeat Raymond. You can never. we should just forget about it."
At that mont Liam’s lips curled into a tight frown. "So that’s it? You’re letting fear control you?" His voice was low but sharp. "Whatever you saw yesterday, I don’t care. I’ve already told Ivory I’ll be there. I’m not backing out because of so show Valentina pulled."
Hearing Liam word’s Chloe didn’t argue. She simply shook her head and turned her face away from him. "Then go," she muttered. "But I’m not coming."
That was all Liam needed to hear. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Good, he thought. That was exactly what he wanted. He never planned on dragging her along. Not after the way she returned yesterday—shaken, defeated. Her presence would only make things worse.
Without wasting anymore ti he got up, straightening his collar. Let her stay behind and sulk, he thought. Let her fear Valentina. he’s not like her.
As he stepped out, a quiet confidence walked with him. Sure, they might have spent big yesterday, but Liam had done the math.
"Even the richest families know when to slow down," he muttered under his breath. "And no matter who he is, no man spends endlessly. There’s always a limit... and that bastard Raymond must be near his."
Of course he was going to slow down. Nobody keeps spending like that without hitting a wall.
Liam slid into his car, shut the door with a firm thud, and pulled out of the compound without another word. His thoughts were quiet but focused—Let them show off all they want. Today, I show them who really stands on top.
The black sedan eased onto the smooth road, heading straight to the exclusive avenue where the get-together was taking place. It didn’t take long. The venue stood elegant and quiet, with reserved signs posted around its manicured lot.
Inside, the gathering had already begun. Soft music played, glasses clinked faintly, and laughter floated across the polished air of the room. Everyone was seated, exchanging quiet chatter and waiting for the final guests.
Then the door opened, imdiately heads turned. Liam walked in confidently, not too fast, not too slow. His eyes scanned the room as if he owned it.
Avery spotted him imdiately. She smiled. "Liam," she called out, her voice light. "You ca right on ti. Just three of us left to arrive."
Beside her, Emilia turned. One of their long-ti inner circle, polished and poised like always, she gave Liam a once-over before raising an eyebrow. "Wait, where’s Chloe?"
Liam didn’t flinch. He kept his tone calm. "She’s not coming. She got tied up with sothing urgent."
Avery let out a quiet breath and shook her head slowly, almost like she was pitying Chloe. "What a sha," she muttered, lifting her glass slightly but not drinking from it.
"She’s going to miss this spectacle. And trust , I’ll give her every juicy detail later."
Liam leaned back, curious. "Spectacle?"
Imdiately Avery leaned in, her voice dipped with amusent.
"You didn’t hear? There’s soone special coming today. A man from one of the top-tier families in this city. Military background. Old money. Very close circle of us, he left school when you ca."
Avery nodded. "And a huge admirer of Valentina. Not just in a flirty way either—he respects her a lot. Always talks about her strength and elegance."
Liam’s brow creased. "Wait... is he coming here for her?"
Avery smirked. "Relax. He’s dating a celebrity. He’s not looking to steal anyone. He’s probably just here to make an impression. To remind everyone of who holds weight in this city."
Liam didn’t say anything. But inside, his confidence started to flicker. A man like that—powerful, respected, connected—was not the kind of person he wanted on the opposing side.
Avery crossed her legs and tapped the table gently. "He’ll steal the show from everyone. Just watch. And the funny part is... Valentina might not even blink."
Right then, the soft click of polished shoes echoed through the entrance of the avenue.
Imdiately the room grew still.
All heads turned slowly, eyes locking onto the tall figure stepping in.
And just like that, they saw her, it was Sha.
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