?Chapter 1250:


    Just as he angled his body to step into the aisle, a firm hand shot out from the side, gripping his arm before he could take another step.


    Ss stiffened in surprise. Again? His thoughts spun wildly. Who could it be this time? Someone else looking to provoke him?


    “Excuse me.”


    The voice cut through the low hum of conversation—cool,manding, and leaving little room for dismissal.


    Ss turned, his expression stiffening the moment his eyes fell on the man before him. A middle-aged figure stood there in a perfectly tailored dark suit, his presence alone exuding an air of quiet dominance that Ss knew all too well.


    It was Hurst Cooper—the formidable head of Cooper Vineyard, a titan in Wront’s business world and a powerful investor in Wront Media. His name carried weight in every circle, and he was already deeply entrenched among the glittering elite of the film industry.


    Ss’s lips tugged into a strained smile as he stepped aside. “Oh… it’s you, Mr. Cooper.” His tone carried the awkward respect of someone keenly aware of his position.


    Hurst acknowledged him with nothing more than a slight nod and moved past him, taking the empty seat directly behind Maia.


    “Good evening, Miss Watson.”


    His voice was rich, steady, and refined, shaped by years ofmanding boardrooms. His gaze swept calmly over the space around her, sharp yet polished, as if quietly appraising thepany she kept. To Maia’s right sat Chris, her bodyguard—unremarkable to most, yet constantly at her side. On her left, Pattie from MCN chatted casually with Rnd, awyer from Zenith Legal.


    Hurst had arrived justte enough to miss the coveted seat beside Maia. His eyes lingered on Chris a moment longer than necessary, and though he voiced no objection, the faint crease in his brow betrayed his thoughts.


    Sensing his gaze, Maia turned to meet his eyes. The rigidposure in his expression softened, curiosity flickering beneath the surface.


    “Good evening, Mr. Cooper,” she replied with a serene smile. Her tone was calm and gracious before she added lightly, “You look dashing tonight. And thank you again for your help earlier.”


    gα?ησν????s??оm, where stories thrive


    Her words were brief, perfectly measured.


    A camera shed nearby, the sharp sound cutting through the momentary silence.


    Within moments, a new headline surfaced online:


    Live now! Maia Watson publiclypliments Cooper Vineyard owner Hurst Cooper on his dashing appearance.


    Thements began to pour in like a rising tide:


    “What the hell? Is Maia the star tonight?”


    “First the award-winning actor, now Mr. Cooper? Everyone seems to orbit around her.”


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