The atmosphere inside the VIP Room 'Moonlight' on the top floor of The Luna Restaurant was perfectly luxurious and serene. The soft light from the crystal chandelier sparkled against the genuine silver tableware. Classic jazz music played softly in the background, creating a relaxed and private ambiance.
Waiters in pristine white tuxedos seamlessly served Michelin-star courses with silent professionalism, ranging from premium caviar on crisp crackers to the main course: A5 Wagyu steak adorned with pure, edible gold leaf that glistened invitingly. The mont the service was complete, they bowed and retreated from the room quickly, leaving the space to return to its private world once more.
"Please, try this steak, Clara. The chef said this cut was just auctioned and flown in directly from abroad this morning."
Ryan spoke with a gentle smile. He acted as the perfect gentleman, recomnding dishes, pouring wine, and taking care of Clara in every detail. However, the young man's eyes barely left the woman's face for even a second. Those eyes stared at her as if fearing the goddess before him would dissolve into thin air if he blinked.
As for Clara, she dined with flawless elegance. The blend of her gentle housewife persona and the poise of a stunning model made every movent, every smile she sent back, appear natural and filled with an irresistible charm which only made Ryan sink deeper into the abyss of infatuation.
After the al had proceeded for a while, and the red wine in the glasses began to lower, Ryan, wanting his idol to know his true self better, started a conversation with a voice full of enthusiasm.
"Actually... in the past, I didn't have the chance to sit in places like this or eat als costing tens of thousands of dollars," Ryan said while swirling the wine glass in his hand gently. His eyes softened as he recalled the past. "My family consists only of
and my mom. We lived in 'Colossus City'. We were just a middle-class family, leaning towards struggling, actually. Mom had to work hard to send
to school, while I had to save every way I could..."
He paused for a mont before a wide smile appeared on his face. The young man's eyes shone brightly.
"But three months ago... everything changed overnight when I 'Awakened'."
Clara put down her fork, pretending to listen intently out of manners, while Ryan began to recount his story with unconcealed pride.
"When I went to register at the Awakened Association, they practically went crazy. The test results indicated that I have the 'Potential to beco a full-fledged S-Rank' in the future... After that day, my status was elevated imdiately. The Association gave us a massive grant, bought a luxury mansion for
and my mom, handled my education, and sent top-tier instructors to teach
power control one-on-one."
Ryan puffed out his chest slightly. His deanor was like a young boy showing off a new toy to his crush. "Now... I can solo clear B-Rank dungeons comfortably. Just from the inco of clearing gates each month, I make around 'One Million Dollars' a month without having to rely on anyone."
"Wow! That's amazing~" Hearing the numbers and the young man's power, Clara complinted him with a sweet voice, sending a teasing smile. "I can't believe a cute boy and fan of mine would beco such a great S-Rank Awakened in the future... I can only hope that when that ti cos, you won't forget , okay? Hehe~"
The complint was like oil poured onto a fire of delight. Ryan blushed, accepting the praise proudly and laughing heartily.
"There is no way I'd forget! You are the most important person to !" Ryan hurriedly confird firmly. "Actually, I was quite famous in Colossus City, but I only moved to live in 'Titan City' a week ago. So, not many people here know
yet... except for high-level influential people, like the owner of this restaurant. Once he knew I was visiting, he imdiately offered this best VIP room to ."
"Then why did you move to Titan City? Since you were rising and well-supported in Colossus City," she asked with natural curiosity.
That question froze Ryan's movents. The young man looked deep into Clara's eyes. His cheeks turned a rosy shade before he answered with a voice that was firm yet laced with a deep desire... so deep it was almost chilling.
"Because of you..."
"Huh?" Clara paused.
"Once I knew you were in this city, I imdiately requested a transfer so I could live in the sa city as you..." Ryan confessed his inner feelings. His eyes widened slightly, reflecting only Clara. "So I could have the chance to et my goddess in the flesh like this... It really makes
so happy, Clara!"
Clara was stunned for a second. This confession, which seed too 'Obsessive', secretly sent a shiver down her spine. However, as an adult much older than him, she quickly adjusted her thoughts, viewing it as just 'Puppy Love' of a teenager who recently acquired money and power.
"Oh my... you're such a sweet talker. You're making
shy now," Clara smiled and laughed to gloss it over, trying to maintain distance smoothly.
However... while Clara was looking at the world optimistically, the man standing with hands clasped behind his back, blending into the shadows behind her, didn't think so. He was processing every word and expression of Ryan in detail.
Owen narrowed his eyes slightly. His golden pupils behind the sunglasses shone with contemplation. Analyzing the reaction and emotional waves, he realized imdiately that Ryan had no intention to threaten or use power to pressure Clara.
This kid was just speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart... but it was a truth based on the mindset of the "Awakened."
Ryan was the clearest example of a 'product' spoiled by the Awakened Association system. Being elevated from an ordinary poor boy to a 'God' with overflowing wealth and power in just 3 months had severely distorted his logic.
Success achieved so easily made this young man delusional, thinking that the 'Money and Power' he possessed could conjure anything he desired... including possessing the 'Woman' he liked, as if she were rely a beautiful prize waiting for the winner to grab.
…
After Ryan had unleashed his feelings and finished telling the story of his sweet success, the atmosphere at the table seed to relax slightly (at least from the boy's perspective).
Ryan leaned forward, clasping his hands on the marble table with an attitude of full attention. His blue eyes, reflecting the sparkling lights, stared at Clara's face with infatuation.
"I've been talking about myself for so long..." Ryan said softly. "I want to hear your story too, Clara... What was your life like before stepping onto the shining path of OnlyStar? What has my goddess been through?"
Clara paused, holding her knife for a mont. She gave a thin, tactical smile. The brain of a forty-sothing woman who had seen more of the world processed rapidly. She knew VIP fans often craved an emotional 'Story'. So, she decided to tell only 'Half the Truth' to maintain distance and her image.
"My life before... wasn't anything flashy, Ryan," Clara placed her knife and fork down on the porcelain plate before picking up her wine glass to swirl gently. "I was just an ordinary woman who liked peace. I used to work in a flower shop, living simply day by day amidst the scent of roses and lilies..."
Her eyes dimd slightly, gazing out the giant glass window as if sinking into a sad past.
"But then... clouds of misfortune drifted into my life. An unexpected event occurred, forcing
to bear a massive debt without warning..." Clara's voice feigned a slight tremor. "At that ti, my whole world seed to collapse. I was desperate, with no other choice left... so I decided to step into the OnlyStar industry to earn money to pay off that debt."
Of course, Clara intentionally "Omitted" and concealed the most important truth. She didn't ntion 'Damian's' na or her marital status at all. Because the golden rule of this industry was: Never let fans know you have a husband. Singleness and an image that fans could possess (in their imagination) were the gold mine. If anyone knew she was married, her popularity and massive inco would plumt imdiately.
However... Ryan's reaction wasn't like a typical fan who just listened and offered sympathy.
Instead of offering polite comfort, the young man beca shockingly 'Invested' in her story. His once bright blue eyes turned red, clear tears welling up. In his head, he was imagining things far and wide... An image of a pure goddess forced by a cruel world to be tainted and suffer just for scraps of money!
BANG!!
The sound of a palm slamming onto the table violently caused the Michelin plates and crystal glasses to vibrate with a loud clink!
Ryan sprang up to his full height, his chair scraping against the carpet. The boy's eyes, which had looked at Clara with admiration, were now filled with determination and resolve to the extre, like a White Knight ready to draw his sword and slay a dragon to save the princess.
"I can't stand it!!" Ryan blurted out, his voice trembling but fierce. "I don't want to see you suffer like this anymore! What this world did to you is unfair!"
Clara widened her eyes, stunned for a mont by his sudden mood swing.
"Please... Be my girlfriend, Clara!" Ryan reached across the table to grab her hand, his eyes pleading and desperate. "If you agree to be my girlfriend... I will sign a check to clear those damn debts for you right now! I have money, I have power. I will protect you and take care of you like my queen for the rest of your life!"
Clara felt like she couldn't breathe. She didn't think the boy in front of her would be this reckless and charge in straight on. Amidst the awkwardness building up rapidly, she tried to force a smile and find words of rejection that would preserve his feelings the most to avoid losing a key custor.
"Uh... well... Calm down first, Ryan," Clara tried to pull her hand back gently. "I appreciate it, but I can't accept your goodwill. I... I have certain reasons that..."
But before Clara could find an excuse to explain, the innocent smile on Ryan's face slowly faded away.
The young man shook his head lightly, then interrupted with a voice that was clearly colder and chilling... It was the voice of a person with power who thought they held the superior cards.
"You don't have to worry about 'That Man'."
Thud...
That sentence made Clara's heart drop to her ankles. The smile on her face froze as if cursed.
"I told you... I'm not so low-tier fan who knows nothing about you," Ryan continued. His eyes narrowed, staring deep into her panicking eyes. "I know... that you are married."
Shock surged through Clara's body. Her beautiful face paled until it was almost bloodless. Her hands resting on her lap turned ice cold.
'He... How does he know!?' Fear began to form in her mind. Did this kid use the Awakened Association's connections or hire a detective to investigate her? If this leaks to the public, it's not just her OnlyStar channel that will be ruined, but her peaceful family life with Damian will be destroyed too!
Owen, standing with his hands behind his back, turned his gaze sharp imdiately. Every muscle prepared for the worst-case scenario.
However, what ca out of the delusional knight's mouth in the next second was a fuse ignition far more violent than the revealed secret.
"A man who lets his own wife bear a massive debt, lets a wonderful woman like you do things like this to pay off his debt..." Ryan began to spew insults openly. His handso face twisted with disgust. "Scum like that... doesn't even deserve to be called a 'Husband'! He's just 'Trash' holding you back from a better life!"
The veins on Clara's temples throbbed.
"Divorce him, Clara," Ryan issued an ultimatum. His eyes shifted into a terrifying look hidden beneath his obsession. "Co with . I'm better than him in every way, both money and power... And if that man is foolish enough to hold onto you..."
The atmosphere around Ryan rippled slightly. His S-Rank aura leaked out, responding to his smoldering temper.
"...I will 'Handle' him for you!"
The threat uttered nonchalantly from the mouth of an eighteen-year-old boy plunged the entire room into a chilling silence.
At first, Clara felt afraid that her secret was revealed, afraid he would expose it to other followers... But when Ryan started cursing Damian, trampling on the dignity of the husband she had loved and bonded with for ten years, and even calling him 'Trash' with a full mouth...
Those fears vanished completely... incinerated to ash by the fire of "Absolute Rage."
Even though she had a new lover, a man she loved even more than Damian, Damian was still her 'Family'. He was the kindest and most loyal man in her life. No one had the right to insult her husband (in na) like this! Especially this upstart kid who was drunk on his own power!
Clara's once pale face now turned deep crimson with fury. Veins bulged on the back of her hands.
SLAM!!
She grabbed the crystal wine glass and slamd it onto the table so hard that the bright red wine splashed onto the pure white tablecloth like blood splatter. The sweet smile and the warmth of a kind housewife disappeared from her face completely.
Clara slowly stood up. Her body trembled with emotion that surged past its limit. Her beautiful eyes, once gentle, were now hard and blazing like a lioness ready to rip out the throat of anyone who dared touch her family.
She stared at the face of the delusional knight with the coldest gaze a woman could muster. Her thin lips moved, preparing to retort against the arrogance and ignorance of the boy in front of her, to make him realize he shouldn't badmouth soone's family!
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