Cleopatra stepped into Le Château Lumière, one of the most exclusive French restaurants in the city. The air was rich with the aroma of expensive wine and decadent cuisine, but she couldn't care less about the luxury surrounding her. She just wanted to get this meeting over with.

Georgina really knew how to piss her off.


She made her way to the reserved VIP table, the setup designed with soft candlelight flickering romantically—as if this was some kind of lovers' dinner.

Cleopatra scoffed internally.

What the hell is my aunt thinking this time?


Crossing her arms on the table, she waited, though deep down, she already had a suspicion about who would show up. Georgina wouldn't set her up with just anyone.

Five minutes passed.


Then, the sound of approaching footsteps.

Cleopatra looked up—

And her expression immediately hardened.

Standing before her was Noah Walter.

Her ex.

The man who once shattered her heart.

Cleopatra clicked her tongue in annoyance, leaning back in her chair, her gaze cold with disdain.

'So this is what my aunt had in mind? You, of all people, as my future husband?"

Noah smirked, settling into the seat across from her with effortless confidence—as if their painful breakup had never happened.

'I just want to make things right, Cleo. I still love you."

Cleopatra arched a sharp brow, her eyes flashing with amusement and skepticism.

'And you think I'm dumb enough to believe that?"

Noah chuckled lightly, as if he had expected that reaction. But behind his smile, there was something else—something deeper. His eyes weren't just playing games.

'I want to fix everything. Give me a second chance."

Cleopatra's smirk widened, her voice laced with cold fury.

'Or… are you just another pawn in my aunt's plan to get my father's inheritance?"

Noah hesitated for a brief moment, his expression shifting slightly.

Cleopatra knew Noah better than anyone.

She could tell when he was lying.

'Tell me the truth, Noah. Is this Georgina's doing?"

Noah exhaled deeply but kept his composure.

'I won't lie to you, Cleo."

He leaned in slightly, locking eyes with her.

'Yes, Georgina arranged this. But I'm not here for your inheritance."

Cleopatra let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh.

'Oh, of course you're not. Because you already have more than enough."

Noah's gaze darkened slightly, but his smirk only widened.

'I have everything, Cleo. A bigger company, assets all over Europe, a business that keeps expanding."

He picked up the glass of wine the waiter had just poured for him, swirling it slowly in his hand before speaking again.

'But the one thing I could never replace… was you."

Cleopatra inhaled deeply, pushing down the emotions creeping up inside her.

Once upon a time, Noah had meant everything to her.

And now, here he was, whispering the same sweet words.

But Cleopatra wasn't the same woman she used to be.

'Thanks for admitting that, Noah. But it's not enough."

Noah frowned slightly.

'Cleo, just listen to me—"

She lifted a hand, stopping him.

'I've already chosen someone."

Noah's expression stiffened, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

'Who?"

Cleopatra smiled—small but filled with certainty.

'Louis."

Noah was silent for a moment before he let out a quiet laugh—a laugh that sounded more like mockery.

'You're joking."

Cleopatra lifted her chin proudly.

'I don't joke about things like this."

Noah leaned back in his chair, his expression calculating.

'Louis Toreto? That ordinary guy?"

Cleopatra clenched her jaw, hating the condescending tone in his voice.

'He's not ordinary. And he's better than anyone who's ever been in my life."

Noah's smirk didn't fade, but there was something dangerous hidden behind it.

'You sure about that, Cleo?" His voice was smooth, but the edge in his words was impossible to miss. 'Because I guarantee… sooner or later, you'll come back to me."

Cleopatra met his gaze, unwavering.

But deep down, something about Noah's confidence felt… off.

Was it just arrogance? Or—

Did he know something she didn't?

Or… does he actually have a plan to take me back?

Noah stayed silent for a few seconds after hearing Louis' name come out of Cleopatra's mouth. He hadn't expected her to reject him so firmly. But, as always, he knew how to keep his emotions in check.

With a casual movement, he took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the taste as if this conversation didn't faze him at all.

'I don't care about your inheritance, Cleo."

Cleopatra frowned, her gaze turning sharp with skepticism.

Noah's voice dropped slightly, softer but piercing.

'I want you back. And besides, our businesses could be even stronger if we got married."

Cleopatra smirked, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.

'So this is just about a business merger?"

She tapped her fingers lightly on the table, eyes glinting with amusement.

'And here I thought you actually wanted to marry for love."

Noah chuckled under his breath, then leaned in slightly, ignoring the invisible boundary Cleopatra had set between them.

'I love you, Cleopatra."

His voice was low—almost a whisper—but filled with conviction.

'I'm not going to let another man have you."

Cleopatra let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh.

A few guests nearby turned their heads, drawn to the tension crackling at their table.

She wiped the corner of her eye as if she had just heard the funniest joke of the year.

'That's what I've always hated about you, Noah."

She leaned in slightly, her expression dark with restrained anger.

'You always act like you're above me. Like I'm some woman you can control."

Noah didn't even flinch. He simply looked at her with that same infuriatingly calm, arrogant gaze.

'I know you, Cleo. I know how you think."

He shrugged lazily, leaning back into his chair with ease.

'And I know that sooner or later… you'll come back to me."

Cleopatra scoffed.

'I've already chosen someone else."

Noah's eyes narrowed, his smirk faltering just a little.

'Louis Toreto?"

Cleopatra lifted her chin, unwavering.

'Yes. And I'm not changing my mind."

Noah let out a small laugh—but this time, it was laced with something cold.

He crossed his arms, looking at her as if she were a child who didn't know any better.

'Are you really sure about him, Cleo?"

Cleopatra didn't blink.

'I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

Noah tapped his fingers on the table, as if deep in thought.

'I wonder how long that certainty will last."

Cleopatra clicked her tongue in irritation.

'Can't handle rejection, huh?"

Noah smiled again, but his gaze remained dangerously sharp.

'I just know that one day, you'll realize I'm the only real choice for you."

A strange discomfort crept up Cleopatra's spine. There was something about the way he said it—something unsettling.

Was this just arrogance…

Or was this a warning?

She straightened her posture, forcing herself to remain cold and composed.

'You're wrong. I've chosen Louis, and I will never go back to you."

Noah held her gaze for a long moment—then smirked, slow and knowing.

'Just wait, Cleo."

He downed the rest of his wine and stood up casually, as if he had all the time in the world.

'I guarantee… you'll come back to me."

Cleopatra watched him walk away, a deep unease settling in her chest.

Was Noah just overconfident?

Or did he actually have a plan to separate her from Louis?

________________________________________

Noah leaned back in his chair, arms crossed in an easy, self-assured posture, but his eyes gleamed with something darker—something dangerous.

Cleopatra could feel the shift in his presence.

He wasn't just confident.

He was a man who always got what he wanted—by any means necessary.

'I'm not giving up, Cleo."

His voice was calm, but thick with quiet menace.

'I'll make you realize that I'm the only man meant for you."

Cleopatra's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing. His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to show weakness.

'You can try, Noah."

Her voice was cold and unwavering, her gaze unyielding.

'But I'm not the woman you used to control."

Noah chuckled softly—but there was nothing warm about it. He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the glass table, as if he were already plotting his next move.

'We'll see about that."

Cleopatra didn't blink, studying Noah's expression, but all she saw was unshakable confidence—and something darker lurking beneath it.

'I can make you come back to me… whether it's the easy way or my way."

A chill ran down Cleopatra's spine.

She knew Noah well enough to understand that this wasn't just empty arrogance.

Tilting her head slightly, she forced herself to stay composed.

'You sound like a man who doesn't know how to take rejection, Noah."

Noah merely shrugged, his eyes locked onto hers.

'I just know what I want. And I won't let another man take it from me."

Cleopatra tapped her fingers lightly against her wine glass, keeping her expression neutral, even as an uneasy feeling crept through her body.

'Another man?"

She smirked, but her eyes were sharp.

'You mean Louis?"

Noah gave a small smile, but there was something dangerous lurking behind it.

'I don't see Louis as a threat."

He took a sip of his wine, completely unfazed, as if the conversation was nothing more than casual small talk.

'But I also know… a man like him won't last long in our world, Cleo."

Cleopatra's brows furrowed, a bad feeling settling in her chest.

'Our world?"

Noah placed his glass down, then smirked.

'You know exactly what I mean."

Cleopatra's glare sharpened.

'Don't you dare touch Louis, Noah."

Her voice was firm—a clear warning.

She wasn't going to let anyone harm the man who had become a part of her life.

Noah chuckled under his breath, but his eyes were calculating.

'I don't have to touch him. I just have to wait… until you realize he's not the man for you."

Cleopatra clenched her jaw, pushing down the anger rising inside her.

'I've already made my choice."

Noah held her gaze for a few seconds, then shook his head slowly, as if he was disappointed.

'What a shame, Cleo. You chose a man who can't compete with me in any way."

Cleopatra let out a quiet, sarcastic laugh.

'There's one thing that separates Louis from you, Noah."

Noah raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

Cleopatra leaned forward slightly, her voice low but razor-sharp.

'He never treated me like something to be owned."

Noah's jaw tightened, but his expression remained composed.

'We'll see about that, Cleo."

He stood from his chair smoothly, adjusting his suit, then looked at her one last time.

'I guarantee… you'll come back to me."

Cleopatra didn't respond, but the uneasy feeling inside her only grew stronger.

As Noah walked out of the restaurant, Cleopatra let out a slow breath—yet her chest still felt heavy with something more than just anger.

Was Noah just arrogant?

Or… was he really planning to destroy her relationship with Louis?

________________________________________

Meanwhile…

Louis sat at his desk, staring at his laptop screen—not really reading anything.

The dim office lighting made the room feel even quieter, but his mind was louder than ever.

He had received Cleopatra's message earlier.

"I have a meeting tonight. Don't wait up for me."

It was a simple message. Too simple.

But for some reason, it didn't sit right with him.

Why do I feel like this isn't just a business meeting?

The unease refused to go away. He tried to ignore it, but the more he thought about it, the stronger his instincts screamed that something wasn't right.

As he was still drowning in his thoughts, footsteps echoed from outside.

'Bro, you good?"

Louis looked up to see Peter Moon standing in the doorway, a cup of coffee in his hand.

Cleopatra's secretary watched Louis closely, noting how distracted he looked, before casually stepping inside.

'You look like someone who just lost half his soul."

Louis let out a long sigh, leaning back in his chair.

'I don't know, Peter. I have a bad feeling about Cleopatra's meeting tonight."

Peter raised an eyebrow, setting the coffee down on Louis' desk before pulling up a chair across from him.

'What meeting?"

Louis ran a hand down his face, trying to gather his thoughts.

'I don't know for sure. She just said she had something to take care of and would be home late."

Peter frowned.

'And you think… something's off?"

Louis gave a slow nod, the concern in his eyes unmistakable.

'I don't know, Peter. Maybe I'm overthinking it. But… something tells me this isn't just a regular dinner."

Peter took a sip of his coffee, his expression thoughtful.

'So… why don't you just go after her?"

Louis hesitated, staring at Peter, who looked completely relaxed—but his words carried weight.

'What do you mean?"

Peter shrugged, setting his coffee cup down.

'If you're that worried, why not just go find her and make sure she's okay?"

Louis furrowed his brows, but then—his expression shifted.

Peter was right.

If he truly cared, why was he just sitting here, letting his anxiety eat him alive?

Louis took a deep breath before pushing himself up from his chair.

His eyes now held a new determination.

'You're right."

He grabbed his jacket and strode out the door without hesitation.

Peter smirked slightly, shaking his head as he picked up his coffee again.

'Man's completely in love…"

Meanwhile, as Louis hurried toward his car, his mind was filled with one thing—Cleopatra.

And whatever was happening tonight…

He wasn't going to let her face it alone.