For a heartbeat, he froze. Then a mocking smile tugged at his lips. In his mind, Tyler Ravenwood was nothing more than a stray dog raised by the VALERI CONGLOMERATE. It was only a matter of time before they threw him out.
"Mother, I will not divorce her. Even if we do, it is between me and Linda. I suggest you keep out of it." Kyle laughed lightly, the sound dripping with contempt, before riding off on his battered electric bike. Its groaning engine echoed down the street, as though mocking her too.
Rose trembled with rage, her teeth grinding together as his mocking laughter stung her ears. Fury threatened to burst from her chest, and for a fleeting second, she imagined slamming her car into him but the crowd gathering forced her to swallow her anger and drive off instead, her face twisted with shame.
*******
Later that evening, Linda walked into the lobby of her company after hours. She stopped short when she noticed three young women whispering and laughing while several employees stood watching.
"Did you hear? Miss Blackwell's husband bragged he'd buy her roses from Skycity. Skycity! As if."
"Ha! He showed up earlier on a broken electric scooter. His slippers were peeling apart. A man like that should be sweeping alleys, not married to Miss Blackwell."
"Yes, If it were me, I'd have thrown him out long ago. Imagine being tied to such trash."
"Other women's husbands are elites, heirs, protectors. And hers? A live-in son-in-law. A shame we all have to watch her carry."
Laughter bubbled cruelly in the air.
Linda's cheeks flushed hot, her lips trembling as if she had been struck across the face. Their words pierced her skin like knives. She had never felt humiliation so sharp.
The women stiffened when they finally noticed her standing there. Color drained from their faces.
"Miss Blackwell...we were only joking. Please don't be angry….."
"Shut up!" Linda's voice cracked as she shouted. Her body shook, her eyes burning red as though tears would spill at any moment.
Why?Why did fate bind her to such a man? Other women's husbands were elites in business, heirs of wealth, protectors who stood tall for their wives. Her husband was nothing but a disgrace that left her to bear the mockery of the world.
The ring of the phone shattered the suffocating silence. One of the terrified clerks snatched it up. "M-Miss Blackwell… security says a logistics company arrived with a delivery truck. Should we let them through?"
Linda frowned. "Delivery? For me? I didn't order anything." Still, she nodded.
Moments later, a well-dressed man in a sharp Hugo Boss tuxedo strode in with confident steps. His face carried the calm of a seasoned professional.
"Are you Miss Blackwell? I represent Silver Express. We have a delivery from Skycity for you. Please sign here."
"Skycity?" Linda's hand hesitated as she signed the slip. Before she could ask more, several porters appeared, carefully carrying a massive wooden chest into the lobby. The chest gleamed with crystals embedded in its lid, sparkling under the bright lights like frozen stars.
Gasps broke out among the employees, their eyes wide with awe.
"From Skycity?"
"Look at that chest! What could possibly be inside?"
"Miss Blackwell, can we see it? Please open it."
Linda's heart raced. Confusion mingled with curiosity as she gave a small nod. The man motioned to the porters, who gently pried open the lid.
Silence swallowed the room.
Inside lay thousands of fresh roses from Skycity, their petals glowing like drops of crimson fire.
"The roses… the real roses from Skycity?"
"But… didn't the news say production collapsed this year? Even popular billionaires couldn't buy them. How many are here?"
The suited man smiled faintly, his voice calm but carrying weight. "Miss Blackwell, allow me to explain. These roses are this year's finest, chosen from Skycity itself. But the true treasure lies not in the flowers, but here…"
He pointed to the very center of the sea of roses, where a single small bloom rested. At first glance, it seemed like another rose, but up close, its petals shimmered with diamonds and stones of every hue.
Linda's breath caught in her throat. "The Heart of Skycity…" Her voice was barely a whisper, her heart pounding violently.
The Heart of Skycity was carved each year by the most renowned jewelers of Skycity, unique and priceless. It was not for sale. It was a treasure the world whispered about but few had ever seen. And now it sat before her eyes.
"Who would send this to you?"
"Miss Blackwell, it must be a gift from an admirer."
"This is no ordinary gift. Could it be from Tyler Ravenwood?"
The whispers grew cruel. "But wait. Didn't her useless husband also boast that he would send her roses from Skycity? I cannot stop laughing. He could sell himself a thousand times and still never afford them!"
Laughter erupted. Linda's head spun. Her heart was torn between disbelief and confusion. She never once thought of Kyle. She knew better than anyone that he could not afford even a handful of ordinary roses. This was beyond his reach.
Her mind lingered on one name. Could it be Tyler? The thought unsettled her, stirring feelings she could not name—part shame, part hope, part fear.
******
Meanwhile, in Zinland, at the Five star hotel.
This hotel was the pride of the city, where the rich and powerful gathered. The forecourt gleamed with rows of luxury cars: Bentleys, Porsches, Maseratis, Maybachs, Lamborghinis and the likes.
Tonight, Kyle's college reunion was being held there.
He hummed softly as he pulled up on his battered electric bike. Money no longer held him hostage, yet he clung to this bike that had carried him through three years of hardship. It was more than steel. It was memory.
A sharp horn blared from behind, rattling the moment.
"Hey! Are you blind? You think this is a parking lot for delivery men? Get that wreck out of here before I have it scrapped!"
A sleek Lamborghini screeched to a halt behind him. Its window rolled down, and a familiar voice spat with contempt.
Kyle turned slowly.
For a moment, both of them froze.
"Class governor?" Kyle asked, surprise flickering in his eyes. The man was none other than his old college classmate, the one who had been their class governor for years.