Elena arrived home after midnight.
She didn't turn on the lights—she let the darkness welcome her, as if it understood how deeply she needed an embrace that wouldn't ask, wouldn't blame.
She placed her bag on the table, took off her coat mechanically, then sat on the couch, staring into nothingness.
She was exhausted, but insomnia clung to her like a loyal shadow.
She unlocked her phone and checked her email...
Dozens of messages from employees, a schedule full of meetings, an update report on the Lunex District project, and one unexpected message…
From Liam.
"Tomorrow at 9 a.m., I'll be in your office.
I want answers—not just about the project, but about your strange behavior at dinner.
You know this agreement is not a game."
Elena smirked coldly and whispered to herself,
"As if you care about anything but the project."
She deleted the message without reading it again.
The next morning, Elena arrived at her company before anyone else.
She wore a sharp black suit, her eyes as piercing as blades. Her elegance and presence turned heads as she passed.
She met with her assistant, Caroline, and requested an updated report on everything related to the project, along with a copy of the legal terms of the partnership contract.
Caroline asked hesitantly,
"Are... there going to be changes?"
Elena looked at her steadily and replied coolly,
"There are things that need to be set right."
Then she added in a brisk tone,
"By the way, when is David coming back?"
Caroline answered,
"Today, ma'am."
Meanwhile, at Liam's house—in his bedroom, to be exact—he was getting ready to meet Elena for the project.
He adjusted his dark suit, fastened his luxury Rolex watch, and sprayed his favorite cologne.
Maria adjusted his tie with a light touch and said playfully,
"Looking dashing as always, darling."
Then she added with a sly tone,
"Remember, set your boundaries. Don't let Elena dodge or flip the table like she always does."
Liam replied calmly,
"I'm not looking for war, Maria. I want results."
Maria watched him finish getting ready and said thoughtfully,
"You're grooming yourself a little too well…"
Liam smiled as he leaned in to kiss her and said,
"Are we jealous?"
Maria laughed and answered confidently,
"Jealous? Of Elena? I've been your woman for ten years—long before she ever showed up."
She pulled him in and kissed him passionately.
He kissed her back, and it was clear how deeply he adored her—how he saw Elena as nothing more than a thorn in his side.
But eventually, he broke the kiss and cupped her face gently in his hands.
"My sweet, stunning wife… there's no need for jealousy. Elena is nothing.
You're the only one in my heart. Got it?"
Maria replied with a pouty grin,
"Got it."
He kissed her on the forehead and headed to his luxury sports car, driving off toward Elena's company.
Liam entered Elena's building with steady, confident steps.
A man who knew his influence well, and exactly where to place his feet.
Employees eyed him with a mix of curiosity and apprehension—he didn't visit often, and when he did… it was never just a casual drop-in.
He knocked once, but didn't wait for permission.
He opened the door smoothly and walked in as if he owned the place.
Elena was seated behind her grand desk, flipping through some files, a half-full coffee cup beside her.
She looked up at him without standing, and without a smile.
"You're late by a few minutes. I expected better punctuality," she said icily.
He closed the door behind him and walked slowly forward, placing the file he carried on her desk.
"And I didn't expect you to delete my message without even replying."
She raised an eyebrow gracefully and motioned to the chair across from her.
"Sit if you're here for work. But if you came to lecture me... the door's right behind you—use it the same way you came in."
He sat, but his gaze never left her.
"Elena, what happened at dinner last night was unacceptable. You were rude, deliberate, and—"
She interrupted him, her voice calm, yet sharp.
"Are you speaking as my project partner... or the man I was forced to marry?"
He paused for a moment, then said tensely,
"I'm speaking as someone who built this project with you over the years—and I don't want it to collapse over personal feelings."
Elena smiled—not with sarcasm, but with something colder... deeper.
"Personal feelings? Are we talking about our paper marriage? Or your second wife Maria?
Or is it about how you only acknowledge me as a partner when you need me—and forget I exist once that need is met?"
He hesitated for a moment but quickly composed himself.
"Let's not mix things up. We're partners in Lunex District, and any cracks in our dynamic will threaten—"
Elena stood, her eyes meeting his with no trace of softness.
"Don't threaten me, Liam. This project exists because I backed it, funded it, and ran every detail—even while you were off on your honeymoon with Maria."
He went silent as she moved to the large window behind her desk, staring out at the city with unyielding eyes.
"What happened at dinner was the result of buildup. You didn't see it, simply because you weren't looking."
After a pause, he asked,
"So what now? Are you pulling out?"
She turned toward him and said in a quiet, deadly tone,
"No, I'm not pulling out. I'm restructuring everything.
The partnership contracts will be revised. My authority over the project will be legally solidified, because I'm done being a mere façade."
She handed him a legal file.
"Sign... or walk away."
He opened it and scanned the documents. His face remained unreadable, but his grip on the folder tightened.
"You've changed, Elena."
He said it in a low voice—not an accusation, but almost an admission.
Elena smiled as she placed the folder in front of him.
"No. I just stopped being patient."