hapter 179


    "I''m not going to be polite about it," Alban said.


    Dominic chuckled and gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder before turning to head out.


    There were two doors in that private room. The person Dominic had asked Alban to find was waiting behind the other one.


    Alban hadn''t asked why. He only knew it had something to do with the Sowle family.


    Dominic stepped inside.


    Sitting there was a middle-aged woman with silver hair and a gaunt, hollowed- out face. When she saw Dominic, her eyes stayed nk for a long time, like she couldn''t quite ce reality.


    Finally, she muttered, seeming to no one in particr, "My son was just as handsome as you."


    Dominic gave her a gentle, polite smile. "Thank you. That''s very kind of you."


    Out on the terrace, Vespera was slumped over the table, half-supporting her head as she listened to her "legend" being retold for the tenth time.


    The gossip was dramatic, graphic, and disturbingly detailed.


    The recurring theme? That she had exceptional skills.


    The wildest im? That she had mastered a long-lost, ancient seduction technique used to enchant men beyond reason.


    At first, Yasmine had tried to console her. But the longer it went on, the more it sounded like she wanted to head down and listen herself.


    "Vera, are you seriously hiding something from me? No keeping the good stuff to yourself, okay?" Yasmine leaned in, her head resting on Vespera''s shoulder. Her voice was syrupy and sultry, as if she''d just downed a ss of whiskey.


    Vespera said nothing. She downed the rest of her drink in one go.


    Then she st walked down to the floor above and approached the gossiping group with a dead-serious expression.


    She raised her hand with the bnce bead bracelet on it and began making vague gestures like she was doing some kind of spiritual calction.


    The group froze, clearly ufortable, exchanging nces.


    "What the hell is she doing?" they wondered.


    When she finished, Vespera let out a long, heavy gh. "Within the week... all of you will suffer misfortune. Blood will be spilled."


    And with that, she turned and walked off.


    The group sat frozen in ce, eyes wide, jaws ck-until their expressions slowly morphed into sheer panic.


    Yasmine was nearly doubled over withughter by the time she caught up with Vespera. "Vera, you''re insane! You''re even making up things now, huh?"


    Vespera''s face remained solemn. "Who said I was making it up?"


    Yasmine blinked, halfway believing her. "Wait... Seriously?"


    Vespera shrugged. "Nahi. Totally fake."


    "You little brat!" Yasmine gave her a yful shove.


    Jokes aside, Vespera was genuinely frustrated. There was nothing she could do in this kind of setting. She couldn''t exactly throw down at a business g.


    She was here with Dominic as his date, no less. And if she got into a public hair- pulling brawl over rumors


    it wouldn''t be a great look.


    She nced around the room and noticed that Alban hade out, but Dominic was nowhere to be seen. He was probably off meeting the real person he''de here for.


    She wondered who that mysterious VIP was.


    "Yaz, do


    do you know who Mr. rke invited tonight that was so important?"


    "Wasn''t it your Dominic?"


    Vespera rolled her eyes. She didn''t even bother correcting her anymore. "Besides him?"


    "Nope. If Mr. rke considers someone important enough to personally invite, it''s only your


    "Alright, I get it."


    "Ooh, look at you, getting all shy."


    What did she mean by shy? It was more like low-key panicking.


    s guest u


    Vespera sighed. Even Yasmine didn''t know who the which only confirmed that the person Dominic came to see was someone seriously important. Someone who couldn''t be seen publicly.


    But then... What kind of person is so powerful that even Dominic can''t meet them directly and has to go through Alban?


    There wasn''t much reason to stick around the g anymore. Dominie clearly wouldn''t be out. any time soon, so Vespera turned to Yasmine. "Wanna go to a different floor and get


    something to eat?"


    Yasmine could tell she''d had enough of the weird energy there and didn''t hesitate. After all, Dominic had entrusted her with keeping his “princess” safe tonight.


    They headed to a restaurant on the fifth floor and ordered a few random dishes. Vespera checked her phone. There was still no reply from Reba.


    She called instead. A few ringster, Reba picked up, her voice low and buzzing with


    excitement.


    "Hey, Vera, good news! I found the evidence we need to nail that bitch Tina. This time, I don''t care who tries to save her, she''s done for! Can''t talk. I''m turning my phone off. I''ll fill you inter!"


    She hung up before Vespera could say a word.


    Vespera sat there, phone still in hand, frozen for a couple of seconds. Suddenly, Luke''s threat from earlier exploded in her mind like a grenade,


    She quickly hit redial.


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