At that mont Liam stumbled backward, like gravity had suddenly doubled just for him. His legs felt like wet paper. The chair behind him scraped loudly as he reached for it to steady himself, but even that didn’t stop the tremor that shook through his arms.
He was silent—too silent for soone who ca here with his chest puffed up, ready to prove a point.
He couldn’t all that pride, all that planning, now scattered like ashes in the wind. He couldn’t even gather his thoughts, not when everything around him was crumbling faster than he could grasp.
He had prepared for a confrontation—A few exchanged words, a clash of egos, maybe even humiliating Raymond in front of Valentina. That was the plan. That was his victory to claim.
But here he was. Defeated without a single swing.
Then Adrian turned slowly toward him. The room followed. That gaze—calm, controlled, but cutting straight to the bone—landed on Liam like a hamr. He didn’t yell. He didn’t raise his voice. He simply looked at him with cold clarity and said,
"It’s a sha."
Adrian’s voice cut through the silence like a judge delivering a sentence.
"For a family that owes everything—everything—to GSK," he said slowly, stepping closer to Liam, "you sure have grown a dangerous amount of pride."
His tone wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. Each word was calm, but so heavy it felt like bricks landing in the middle of Liam’s chest.
"Your investnts... your growth... the very foundation of your family’s success is tied directly to GSK. And yet you walked in here today and had the audacity to disrespect and damage one of our establishnts?"
Upon hearing what Adrian was saying Liam’s heart was racing. His legs... they betrayed him. He didn’t even realize he was shaking until his knees buckled slightly, and he had to grip the edge of the table to stop himself from collapsing. He wanted to say sothing—anything. "I’m sor—" the words barely ford, his voice nothing more than a whisper swallowed by the weight in the room.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
He was supposed to make Raymond look like a mistake. Valentina was supposed to realize she chose wrong. But instead, it was him—standing exposed, humiliated, and small, right in front of the woman he once thought he owned.
Then Adrian stared at him coldly.
"Who gave you the right?" he asked, not as a question—but as a blow. "Who told you that your na, or your past status, gave you the license to trample on others? On us?"
Liam couldn’t lift his eyes. He didn’t dare.
Then ca the pause. That breath of silence that gave everyone ti to assu the worst—until Adrian added, his voice dropping just a bit, "But I’m not going to terminate your family’s investnt."
Imdiately Liam’s head snapped up.
Adrian continued, "Not because of you. Never because of you. But because of your father—who has been loyal to GSK for years. His na still holds so weight among the mbers, and they have decided not to Punish him because of your mistake."
Liam exhaled shakily, but Adrian wasn’t done.
"That rcy," he said, "has nothing to do with you. And you’d be wise to rember that."
However before Liam could process everything fully, his legs gave in completely. He dropped to his knees, both hands clasped together like a desperate child.
"Thank you, sir... Thank you so much... Thank you, Mr. Adrian... You don’t know what you just did for ..."
His voice trembled as fast as his thoughts raced.
If Mr. Adrian had gone through with it, if GSK had cancelled everything, his father would have been the one to bury him alive—figuratively or not. The weight of what almost happened settled on his shoulders. His father didn’t tolerate mistakes, and this one... this wasn’t a mistake. It was disaster. One that would’ve ended everything.
And Mr. Adrian just saved his future Saved his life.
"I swear I didn’t an to offend you, or disrespect—"
Adrian’s voice cut in sharply. "That’s enough."
Liam’s words stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened as the chill in Adrian’s tone slid right into his bones.
That brief flicker of relief? Gone. Just like that.
Adrian took one step closer, his gaze colder than before.
"The new contract that was being prepared for your family—has been cancelled. Effective imdiately."
Imdiately Liam’s face twisted—shock, confusion, disbelief. "W-What...?"
Adrian continued, "And Your family has been placed on a one-year probation. GSK will not be doing business with your group during this period. Whether that changes will depend on a thorough review—and only if the board or the owner of GSK himself finds it worthwhile."
At that mont Liam’s heart stopped.
Adrian tilted his head slightly. "This is your punishnt. A ssage has already been sent to your father. He’ll be inford... shortly."
Everyone inside the restaurant was frozen in a mix of confusion and disbelief. No one spoke. No one even blinked. It was as if ti itself had paused, leaving only the weight of humiliation to hang thick in the air.
Edward, Liam, Darren, even the once-proud Avery, who had been carried out monts ago—they all wore the sa blank, broken expressions. The laughter, the taunts, the air of superiority they brought with them... all gone. Crushed beneath the reality of what just happened.
As for the military guy, oddly enough, no one said a word to him. Not Adrian. Not the manager. Not even the n with briefcases. It was as if his presence didn’t carry enough weight to be acknowledged at all.
anwhile, Mr. Adrian walked back toward Valentina and Raymond, his expression returning to its composed, respectful calm. He bowed gently to Valentina and nodded at Raymond.
"It was an honor," he said. "We’ll be in touch."
Then without another word, he turned and left, his entourage silently falling in behind him.
Raymond adjusted his sleeve casually and reached for Valentina’s hand. Sha, still stunned, quietly followed them out.
The sunlight outside was warm, contrasting the storm of emotions left behind. As the three of them stepped into the fresh air, Sha suddenly stopped and turned to face Raymond.
"Mr.Raymond... Thank you again. Really," she said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion. "I’ll never forget this. What you did today... what both of you did... I’ll never forget it."
Imdiately Valentina gave her a soft smile. Raymond didn’t say much, just nodded.
"Oh!" Sha quickly added, her face lighting up with excitent. "I’m hosting my company’s kick-off party in a few days. I know you don’t like big things, but I’d love for you both to co. It would an a lot."
However Raymond was about to decline—he already knew Valentina wasn’t a fan of parties—but before he could open his mouth, Valentina spoke.
"We’ll co," she said warmly. "We wouldn’t miss it."
Raymond tilted his head slightly, his brows rising for just a second. That response from Valentina—it caught him off guard. She never liked parties. Not even the quiet corporate dinners that bore her na. In their past life, she had always declined them, always found an excuse to stay ho. She had proven it more than once. That part of her had never changed... or so he thought.
But here she was, smiling, accepting an invitation so easily.
It was strange, but Still, Raymond didn’t question her. Not aloud. He had made a vow to himself the mont he got her back: to never lose her again. To protect her. To watch over her every step. This ti, he was going to make sure no threat got too close—whether it wore a smile or carried a dagger behind its back.
And in this life, everything seed familiar, yet laced with new shadows. People he had dealt with before—Liam, Avery—he knew their gas, and he knew how to crush them. But Sha? She was different. She hadn’t existed in their last life. She was a new piece on the board, and Raymond had no idea whose side she was on.
Her stepmother. Her half-sister. Her father... all of them had played their roles in tearing Valentina down before. Liam too. Raymond had buried every single one of them for it, in her past life.
But Sha? He hadn’t even t her before.
Still smiling faintly, Raymond turned to her. "We’ll co," he said, his voice calm and pleasant. "And we’ll cheer you on."
But deep down, behind those steady eyes, his thoughts were cold and calculating.
He would watch, he would listen.
And if need be, he would strike.
Upon hearing what Raymond Sha’s eyes sparkled with excitent when she heard them agree. "Really?" she bead. "You two will co?"
Valentina nodded with a soft smile, and that was all Sha needed. She stepped forward, holding out her phone. "Then let’s exchange numbers! Just in case I need to send you the invite personally."
Valentina didn’t hesitate. They exchanged contacts quickly, and Sha thanked them once again—twice, even—before she waved goodbye and walked off, still glowing with joy.
As soon as she disappeared into the distance, Raymond opened the car door for Valentina like he always did, and once she slid inside, he joined her, starting the engine. The air in the car felt calm, but sothing lingered underneath it—sothing quiet.
Valentina sat still, hands resting lightly on her lap. She wasn’t saying anything, but her gaze was locked onto him. She was clearly thinking.
Raymond glanced sideways with the corner of his eye, a knowing smirk creeping onto his lips. He didn’t even turn his head as he spoke.
"I know you want to say sothing," he said, his voice low and steady.
"What is it?"
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