THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.

At that moment they both laughed briefly, the mood light, respectful, and satisfying a successful meeting sealed in trust and mutual understanding.

Feeling accomplished, they began walking side by side out of the VIP room, the soft hum of the restaurant's atmosphere returning around them.

But the moment they stepped into the main hall, Cora's steps slowed.

Her eyes, bright and warm just a moment ago, turned cold, deadly cold. Her expression tightened, her face hardening in an instant.

Her gaze was fixed forward, sharp and unwavering, as she spotted the one person she didn't want to see right now.

Walking closer toward them, with his eyes locked directly on her, was Samuel.

And what made Cora's blood simmer even more in that moment wasn't just Samuel's sudden appearance, it was the crowd that trailed behind him like bees to honey.

There were at least a dozen people following Samuel, holding up their phones, calling his name, some of them laughing excitedly as they tried to get closer. He was clearly entertaining them too, stopping every few steps to flash that calm, practiced smile of his, signing autographs on random napkins and even pausing for quick photos.

It wasn't the attention itself that annoyed Cora, Samuel had always been popular, and she was used to seeing people flock around people like that. But tonight, in this exact place, at this exact moment, it felt different. It felt deliberate.

Her jaw tightened as the thought crossed her mind: Was Samuel following her? Was someone spying on her and reporting back to him?

The coincidences had been piling up recently. Two times in a row now, Samuel had appeared at places he shouldn't even have known about. It was starting to feel less like fate and more like calculated timing, and Cora hated it.

Still, she forced herself to remain composed. She drew a deep, steady breath and softened her expression, pretending as though nothing unusual was happening. To react now, in front of Robert, would only give Samuel the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten under her skin.

So, she stayed still, her face calm but her heart pounding quietly beneath the surface.

Samuel, meanwhile, finally finished with the last autograph, flashing one last smile to the lingering fans before waving them off. Then, with his usual calm stride, he began walking directly toward them toward Cora.

At that moment, Samuel closed the final distance between them, his shoes clicking softly against the polished floor of the restaurant. The buzz of voices behind him from the fans he had left behind still lingered faintly, but here, in front of Cora and Robert, the air felt heavier, almost charged.

He stopped just a few steps away, his eyes sweeping over Cora briefly calm, unreadable, before landing on Robert. His tone was steady, though his words carried a quiet tension.

"Well," Samuel said with a faint, measured smile, "I wasn't expecting to see you here, Cora. What a coincidence... again."

The silence between them lasted only a second, but it felt heavier than it should. Cora opened her mouth slightly, ready to respond, but before she could utter a word, Robert spoke up with eager excitement, stepping forward with a bright smile.

"It is a coincidence," Robert said quickly, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Samuel, right? I have to say, I'm a huge fan of yours."

Hearing Robert words Samuel's brows shifted slightly, not expecting the sudden praise, but Robert continued before he could react.

"I've watched so many of your movies," Robert added warmly. "Whenever I get a bit of free time, I find myself going back to them. You've got this... this presence on screen, I've always respected that."

Then Robert chuckled lightly, glancing at Cora for a moment, then back at Samuel.

"To be honest, meeting you here is surreal. You're one of the people who inspired me to think bigger about my own goals. It's a real honor."

For a brief moment, Samuel didn't respond. He stood still, shoulders squared, face relaxed but his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Internally, however, his blood simmered.

So this is the man, he thought. The one beside her tonight. The one she met here.

The thought twisted something inside him, but outwardly he gave nothing away. No frown, no hint of irritation. He simply turned to Robert, his face calm, almost polite.

Samuel let out a low chuckle, his smile warm and composed on the surface, though his eyes sharp and calculating, didn't miss a single detail about Robert. He inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the compliment with a gracious tone that carried just the right amount of humility.

"Well," Samuel said smoothly, "it's an honor to hear that from you. Truly. Knowing that someone like you not only watches my movies but also draws inspiration from them... that means a lot. It's not every day someone of your standing invests time into what I do. For that, I'm really grateful."

His words were polished, disarming even, the kind that could win over a room in an instant. To anyone watching, Samuel looked calm, approachable, even flattered.

Robert chuckled lightly in response, waving a dismissive hand as if to brush off the praise.

"Oh, come on," he said jokingly. "It's not a big deal. You know what you're doing. You've mastered the way to win people's hearts, that's what makes you so great on screen."

There was admiration in Robert's tone, but also a touch of friendly honesty.

"You've been a huge inspiration to me, Samuel. That's why I'm such a big fan."

Again Samuel nodded slowly, letting out another soft laugh, this one lighter the kind that didn't reveal how quickly his mind was working beneath the surface. Outwardly, he seemed relaxed, even charmed by Robert's words. But inside, Samuel's thoughts were anything but passive.

So this is him, Samuel thought again, his smile never wavering. The man standing beside her now. He's confident, respectable... even likable. But he's also competition. Tough competition.

At that moment Samuel's gaze flicked briefly toward Cora, then back to Robert, all while maintaining that same calm demeanor.

'When it comes to money, definitely he can rival me. But influence? Maneuvering hearts and minds? Shifting blame when I need to? That's my battlefield and I've never lost there.'