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

At that moment, Robert turned fully toward Cora, his expression bright and animated as he tried to bring her into the excitement. The enthusiasm in his voice was clear, and even Samuel, standing nearby, could sense that Robert genuinely thought this was a brilliant idea.

"What do you think, Cora?" Robert asked, gesturing slightly toward Samuel as if to frame the picture in the air. "Don't you agree this would be a great moment to capture? A picture of the three of us, it would be iconic. Years from now, people would look back at it and say, 'This was the beginning of something big.' A true blockbuster shot."

There was sincerity in Robert's tone, but also a kind of innocent excitement, like he honestly didn't see any reason to refuse. To him, the picture wasn't just about fame or status, it was about sealing this unusual but remarkable meeting in memory.

Cora, however, didn't share the same enthusiasm. She smiled faintly, her calm composure never breaking, and her eyes softened as she looked from Robert to Samuel. For a brief moment, silence settled between them, the air heavy with expectation.

"Well," Cora finally said, her voice gentle but firm, "it's a good idea, Robert. I won't deny that. But I'm not in the mood to take any pictures today."

Her tone was polite, measured not dismissive, but final.

"I've never been much of a picture-taking person," she continued, the faintest chuckle escaping her lips as if to soften the weight of her refusal. "I don't really like it, and honestly… this situation doesn't call for a picture. It's not that kind of moment."

She paused, glancing briefly toward Samuel, then back to Robert, her calm smile still lingering.

"Maybe next time," she added softly. "Next time, we can take a picture together."

At that moment, Samuel felt the heat rise in his chest the second Cora's words settled in the air. Her calm refusal echoed in his ears like a quiet rejection, and his jaw tightened almost involuntarily. The muscle in his cheek flexed hard, a physical sign of the irritation boiling just beneath his composed exterior.

Inside, his thoughts turned sharp. Robert.

It was all Robert's fault. Samuel replayed the moment in his head: the suggestion had been simple him and Cora, a single picture. A subtle gesture to claim a presence beside her. But Robert, in his endless eagerness, had jumped in, twisting the entire thing into something else. Now, instead of an intimate moment, it had become a crowd's spectacle, something easy for Cora to brush aside.

If he had kept quiet, she wouldn't have said no, Samuel seethed inwardly. 'I would have cornered her with the people watching. She wouldn't have been able to refuse in front of them. But Robert ruined it.'

Still, Samuel wasn't the kind of man to retreat. A refusal wasn't the end it was simply another challenge to maneuver around. He could feel the weight of the eyes around them; curious glances from nearby diners and lingering fans who still hadn't left after his arrival. The murmurs, the subtle hum of whispers, all created the exact pressure he needed.

So he adjusted, then samuel unclenched his jaw, forced his lips into a light smile, and stepped closer, just enough to close the gap without making it obvious. His tone softened, warm but persuasive, laced with that quiet charm he was known for.

"It's not a big deal, Cora," Samuel said smoothly, meeting her eyes. "Really just one picture. Think about it: the three of us, right here, together. It's not every day something like this happens."

His voice carried easily, loud enough for those lingering nearby to hear, deliberately inviting their silent curiosity to add to the pressure. He gestured lightly between himself, Robert, and her.

"A picture like this?" he added, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's worth taking."

At that moment, Robert jumped in eagerly, almost too quickly, backing Samuel up without hesitation. He turned toward Cora with a grin that was meant to be reassuring but ended up sounding almost like pressure in disguise.

"Yes, Samuel's right," Robert said, nodding enthusiastically. "Why are you being shy about this, Cora? It's just a picture nothing more. Are we strangers to you or something?"

He gestured toward Samuel and then to himself. "Look, Samuel is your employee, sure, but he's also one of the most respected names out there right now. People love him. And me? I'm your business partner. We're going to do amazing things together. This picture isn't just random it's a moment worth keeping."

Samuel didn't miss the chance to reinforce Robert's words. He stepped in smoothly, his tone calm but carrying that same subtle weight of insistence.

"Exactly," Samuel said, nodding as his eyes stayed locked on Cora. "It's just one picture. Nothing bad about it at all. Just us. Together. That's all."

The two men stood there, united in their insistence, their voices blending in a way that left little room for escape.

Around them, more murmurs began to rise from the nearby tables and fans who hadn't left yet. A few people turned their heads, curious about what was happening. Whispers started, followed by the unmistakable sight of a few phones being subtly raised, cameras already recording.

Then came the pointing fingers.

Some spectators started gesturing toward Cora. A few exchanged hushed comments, their faces lit up with curiosity and excitement. Others, not even knowing the full context, already began forming their own assumptions about Cora.

Cora felt the shift immediately the weight of eyes on her, the quiet hum of judgment starting to form. She could already imagine how this would look if someone posted it online: Cora refusing to take a picture with Samuel, headlines spinning the story into something it wasn't. In seconds, she'd be painted as arrogant, the boss who looked down on her star, the woman raising her shoulders as if she were above them.

And Samuel's fans? She didn't even need to think twice. She knew how fiercely loyal they were. One wrong move and they would tear her apart on every platform imaginable.