The private room inside the underground club pulsed with life.
Low crimson lights washed over velvet couches arranged in a semicircle, casting shadows that moved with every flicker of neon from the dance floor outside. Music thumped through the walls — heavy bass vibrating faintly beneath polished marble flooring.
Crystal bottles of expensive liquor crowded the glass table. Whiskey, champagne, and cognac reflected fractured light as ice clinked inside half-empty glasses.
Smoke curled lazily through the air.
Several girls danced near the center pole, laughter mixing with the music as sequined dresses shimmered under rotating lights.
One leaned against a boy's shoulder pouring him a drink, another sat across someone's lap feeding grapes while phones flashed occasionally for pictures.
In the corner booth, Jake slammed himself down onto the sofa.
"So what did he say?" one of the boys asked, leaning forward as Jake grabbed a whiskey bottle.
"That bastard is not coming. Looking down on me does he know who I am? How dare he!" Jake yelled, downing the drink in one go.
The glass hit the table loudly.
"So what are we going to do now? We already told our investors it is ready," the guy asked again.
Before he finished—
Jake hurled the whiskey cup straight at him.
Glass shattered against the wall beside the boy's head.
"What did I pay you for? Go fix it!" Jake roared.
Music continued outside, uncaring. A dancer laughed somewhere behind them while another boy quietly shifted away from Jake's growing temper.
The atmosphere inside the room tightened.
No one spoke again.
Back at the Hospital
The Rolls-Royce stopped close to where Milo's red sports car was parked .
Milo stepped out first, irritation still written across his face, while Ria followed calmly beside him. Nurses passing the entrance instinctively slowed, glancing toward them before quickly continuing their duties.
They entered the elevator.
"You put him in a VIP floor and he still sued you?" Ria asked.
Milo rolled his eyes.
"No. Before I could, he already had booked a spot there."
The elevator doors slid open.
They walked down the quiet corridor where soft lighting replaced hospital harshness.
Doctors moved past with files, distant monitor beeps echoing faintly behind closed doors.
Inside the room, the boy lay against the hospital bed, his left arm carefully bandaged.
Ria's eyes brightened slightly.
If Matthew carried an addictive charm that make one wants to win at the same time pray to be with him and Milo possessed that dangerous demonic beauty, this boy looked entirely different — refined, calm, almost untouchable .
Like a noble prince stepped out of a painting.
"What do you want?" the boy asked.
"What is with that attitude? You got me arrested and yet still acting high and mighty," Milo said, folding his arms.
"Because you deserved it. You think with money you could do whatever you like," the boy replied calmly.
Ria stepped forward.
"Let us not make this messy. We will compensate you. My brother would pay your hospital bills and fund you till your recovery and also pay for any compensation you want."
The boy glanced at her briefly.
"Do I look like I need help?"
Milo scoffed.
"Right. You want to sue me and make sure I learn. Wow, so great. See you in court then. At the end of the day I'm still going to end up paying — just with extra stress."
He grabbed Ria's wrist lightly and dragged her out before the conversation stretched further.
Inside the elevator—
"Why is he acting like a prude?" Ria muttered.
"I don't know. Probably wants me punished so I learn money doesn't solve problems. Maximum I'll do is community service," Milo said lazily.
The elevator descended toward the parking level.
Soon they separated.
Ria's car disappeared into traffic while Milo drove toward home.
Later — A Small Restaurant
Ria's Rolls-Royce slowed before a modest, clean restaurant tucked between older storefronts.
It wasn't luxurious.
But warm yellow lights glowed through wide glass windows, and the scent of grilled food drifted into the evening air.
Pedestrians slowed.
Conversations paused.
Every gaze turned toward the white luxury car.
The driver opened the door.
Ria stepped out.
Porcelain-pale skin caught the streetlight softly, flawless and delicate. Her naturally red heart-shaped lips held a faint gloss, and dimples appeared subtly when she tilted her head.
Her warm brown eyes — large, glassy, deceptively innocent — reflected the surrounding lights, framed by long lashes that softened every expression she made.
Her black hair cascaded smoothly to her waist, styled half-up with a neat ribbon while the rest flowed in gentle waves behind her.
She wore a soft powder-blue knit cardigan fitted elegantly to her figure, pearl-like buttons lining the front.
The V-shaped neckline revealed her slender collarbone and a delicate silver necklace resting against her skin.
A matching high-waisted pleated mini skirt swayed lightly with each step.
Blue ribbon-strap heels wrapped gracefully around her ankles, tied into neat bows.
In her hand rested a structured pale-blue mini handbag, gold hardware catching the light whenever she moved.
The quiet restaurant fell momentarily silent as she entered.
Behind the counter—
Her brown doe eyes met mattew black almond eyes.
Matthew stood there in a waiter's uniform.
And despite the simplicity of the outfit…
he looked dangerously captivating.
The air between them stilled.
Back at the Hospital
The door closed softly after Milo and Ria left.
Silence returned to the VIP ward.
A moment later, the door opened again and a neatly dressed assistant stepped inside, tablet held tightly against his chest.
"Sir… are you sure about suing Milo Voss?" the assistant asked carefully.
The boy didn't look at him. His gaze remained fixed on the ceiling lights.
"Why? Is he above being sued?" he asked calmly.
The assistant hesitated.
"I mean… what will your parents think? You are engaged to Ria. You are suing your fiancée's brother."
That finally earned him a reaction.
The boy turned his head slightly, expression indifferent.
"Do you think they recognize me?" he asked.
"The contract was signed when we were children. I came to this city to break that engagement."
His lips curved faintly — not a smile.
"We should remain strangers. Just as we are."
His eyes darkened.
"One is a spoiled brat. Her brother is no different."
The assistant lowered his head.
The boy resting on the hospital bed…
was Ria's fiancé.
Or rather—
the fiancé of the real daughter.
His name was Kai.
Inside the Restaurant
Warm chatter filled the restaurant again when Ria walked in, heels tapping lightly against the floor.
Matthew stood behind the counter, already watching her approach.
Calm. Guarded.
"What do you want to order?" he asked.
Ria tilted her head slightly.
"A diet coke."
She leaned closer across the counter.
"And while you're at it… why don't you put yourself in the package? I can afford you."
She winked.
Matthew's expression didn't change.
"I told you not to come looking for me."
"And since when was your opinion important?" Ria replied lazily.
She reached forward, adjusting his collar as if it belonged to her.
"Be my sugar baby. You won't struggle a day in your life."
Nearby customers slowed their eating, openly watching now. The females co worker gathered together look at each other before one step out.
"Sorry, Matthew is taken."
A female coworker suddenly stepped forward, looping her arm through Matthew's.
She smiled sweetly at Ria.
"You think money lets you do whatever you like? Please. You're just another admirer. Go wait in line."
Matthew's brows tightened..
Without hesitation, he removed her hand from his arm.
He grabbed a tissue.
And wiped his wrist slowly.
The girl's smile froze.
Ria burst into laughter.
The sound rang clearly through the restaurant.
The girl's face flushed red.
Ria tilted her head.
"I thought I was the only one smelling something unpleasant sweetheart you are irrelevant here get lost ."
Then—
before anyone could react—
she grabbed Matthew's collar.
Pulled him down to her height.
And kissed him.
The restaurant fell completely silent.
Matthew's eyes widened in shock.
He tried to pull back, but her grip tightened. When he bit her lip in resistance, she only pressed closer, completely shameless and even bit him back as she force her tongue in his mouth.
Chairs scraped somewhere.
Someone dropped a fork.
Seconds stretched endlessly before—
Ria broke the kiss.
Matthew stared at her.
His eyes were red — anger burning beneath something darker he refused to name.
Ria smiled " now that is how to claim a man"
Then suddenly turned—
and ran.
Outside
Matthew pushed through the restaurant doors immediately after her.
"This is payback for leaving me stuck in that tree! Karma is a bitch, handsome!" Ria shouted while backing toward her car.
She winked.
The door shut.
The Rolls-Royce drove away smoothly.
Inside the moving car—
Ria covered her face and screamed silently into her palms.
Dumball appeared beside her, floating in tiny fairy form only she could see.
"So which part of the script required that, you pervert?" Dumball snapped.
Ria lowered her hands.
"You said I should increase his hate meter."
Her voice dropped so the driver wouldn't hear.
"What better way?"
"Oh shut up," Dumball yelled. "You could've done literally anything else!"
"Don't accuse me," Ria muttered. "I did it for the script. I'm supposed to be obsessed with him. My obsession disgusts him. Forcing closeness is part of the role."
She licked her lip absentmindedly, as if recalling the moment.
"I already bribed his public school principal. I'll get his transfer details soon then get him in my school and I can use this to bully him till he hate me ."
Her eyes sharpened.
"When news breaks that he's my maid's child… that's when the real script begins."
Back in the Restaurant
Matthew returned inside.
Every gaze followed him.
Whispers spread instantly.
He ignored all of them and walked straight into the restroom.
Cold water splashed against his face.
Droplets slid down the mirror.
His eyes lifted slowly—
landing on his reflection.
Then his lips.
The faint mark where she bit him.
His fingers touched it unconsciously.
Soft.
Warm.
Infuriating.
His expression darkened instantly.
"Ria…"
His voice turned cold enough to freeze the air..
"If I catch you next time…"
"I'll break your legs and feed you to animals."
Water continued dripping into the sink as his eyes hardened completely.