anessa back in w

d through her body, and h

gainst her chest that b

ide her purse did her emotions slowly steady. That small pie

that night, Vanessa had returned to the club and s

fixed a flawless smile on her face a

topped at once, leaving beh

m turned toward the ent

ack gown. Her hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, a

to her, she still carried a reserved e

e very woman they had been whi

the Owen family was at its height, she had skipped every class reun

ven more was the way

ness settled

heir graduation party had nev

as unfolding now felt u

once been the most admired among them, and with a wine glass in hand and a practiced s

oom strained to ca

calmly, "It has been a long time since I saw everyone, so

iet. "You did not come just to greet people

ned toward the speaker. The one w

day of university, and even after she rejected him, he co

resentment, and he started spreading indecent rumors about her. After Shaw

y's downfall, did he dar

the room into an unc

hings over. "Let us not make this awkward. We are all old friends here. Besides, Va

seek investment," Vaness

ce swept thro

e group, and soon, everyone chose

recognized Vanessa's talent in design, they also understood tha

eone to admire from afar or feel intimidated by. Instead, she h

ly worth pleasing had not yet ar

s family status had never measured up to hers, and she had barely spared hi

igh above everyone else, yet here you are, crawling a

her hand curled into a fist so tightly that

ing Victrix from the ground up. The company had been modest in

and canceled contracts one after another. Even steep breach

outside her office. Now, she struggle

smile as she replied, "Actually, Mr. R

otbellied middle-aged man beside her. "My husband bought the building next door just last week. And I heard you are already t

of shame washe

n her chest, leaving her f

t have even bothered to r

the point of being nothing more

n his glass, he said, "That little company of yours is bound to collapse sooner or lat

ght. Just look at Shawn. He is the real success sto

howered Shawn with praise while t

look crossed Elora's face as

er, and a tray soon arrived holding ten neatl

es." She motioned toward the glasses and continued, "If you manage to drink every one of these,

to drag Vanessa's business ba

stood that the offer wa

s every person in the private room w

iquor, Vanessa felt naus

en she opened them, her emotions

once valued her pride deeply but had surr

, Vanessa seemed to steel

sp the first chilled glass when a thunderous crash echoed through the room. The priv

ned white, and the veins on his hands stood out sharply. Behind his glasses, fury and

de had reached him whi

wn strode into the room, his presence pr