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

For a moment, no one spoke. Even Lisa, who stood quietly by the door, widened her eyes in disbelief at Oliver's words this wasn't the Oliver she knew. She knew he wasn't asking out of weakness, Oliver Zakaria never begged for favors. He was a man who left no loose ends, who preferred to pay debts in full so no one could ever claim leverage over him. It was the way of the Little Demon: ruthless, precise, and always two steps ahead.

But Lisa's uncle… he wasn't prepared for this, his eyes widened as if Oliver's question had physically struck him. His hands shot up in protest, shaking his head so fast it almost looked frantic.

"No—no, no, no!" he stammered, his voice cracking with urgency. "That is not it! You misunderstand me!"

He stepped closer to the table, pushing the envelope toward Oliver with both hands now, his face pale but determined. "This… this is for free. Completely free. There is no price, no cost." His voice steadied as he continued, though his body still trembled under the weight of the moment. "This is not a transaction, Sir. This is a gift. A sign of respect. A gesture… toward you."

His tone dropped into reverence as he uttered the next words. "An act of respect toward the heir of the Zakaria family."

At that moment, hearing Lisa's uncle's words, Oliver didn't even flinch. His expression remained calm, almost cold, yet the weight of what had just been said lingered in the air like a heavy storm about to break. Slowly, he let out a breath and said, in a low but firm voice, "Since this is how you want to show your respect, then there's no problem. I will accept the gesture."

Immediately Lisa's uncle nodded quickly, relief flooding his features. The respect he wanted to extend wasn't just a courtesy; it was survival. In the underground world, dealing with Oliver, the one known as the Little Demon was like handling a blade sharpened on both edges. One wrong move, one word out of place, and it would cut deep, and know he needs to be on his good books.

Without wasting any more time, Lisa's uncle immediately opened the thick folder containing the share transfer document. His hands trembled slightly, the faint sound of the paper rustling against itself filling the silent room.

With hands still shaking, Lisa's uncle pulled a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. He hesitated for a heartbeat, then extended it toward Oliver with both hands, as though offering a sacred item to a ruler. Oliver's gaze locked onto him, unblinking, and after a tense moment, Oliver reached out and took the pen.

The sound of scratching ink echoed faintly. Oliver signed his name in a single, fluid motion, When he was done, he closed the pen, set it gently on the table, and slid the paper toward Lisa's uncle.

At that moment, Lisa's uncle turned sharply, his expression darkening as his deadly gaze fixed on the trembling man seated in the corner. The man had been shaking since the moment he was brought in, beads of sweat rolling down his temple.

However he was untied now.

Immediately he flinched when Lisa's uncle barked at him, voice sharp and unyielding.

"What are you still doing?" Lisa's uncle snapped, pointing at the document now waiting for his signature. "Get up and sign it. Now."

The man jolted upright so fast his chair screeched across the floor. He stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his own feet as he approached the table. His fingers trembled so badly that he struggled to hold the pen, barely able to steady his hand as he scrawled his name across the page. His mind raced with panic, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

Deep down, he was crying. Crying because he knew exactly what this meant for him. That share he had recklessly used as collateral in his gambling habit, it was gone now. He didn't have the money to repay what he owed, not even close. There was no way to reclaim it, no miracle that could save him.

And worse, he knew what was coming. The original owner of that share… he would come for him, he always did. People like that didn't just let debts.

The man's thoughts spiraled as he finished the signature. The moment the pen left the paper, his decision was already made: he wouldn't wait around for the storm to hit him. The instant he walked out of this room, he would vanish. He would leave the city, leave the country, disappear before the wrath of the true owner descended upon him.

Because if he stayed, he knew he was a dead man walking.

After the document was finally signed and every legal formality was processed, Oliver felt a silent weight lift from his shoulders because of Cora, his mind sharpening on what this meant, why didn't Cora inform him about it, twenty percent. That single slice of shares would go a long way in securing Cora's position, shielding her from the chaos James was trying to orchestrate behind the scenes. It wasn't victory yet, but it was leverage, and leverage was everything in the war she was quietly fighting.

Lisa trailed beside him as they exited the dim, concrete-walled room that felt more like an interrogation chamber than a meeting place. The fluorescent light above buzzed faintly, flickering as they walked down the narrow corridor toward the parking lot. Oliver's steps were steady but purposeful, his mind already calculating the next move. With this new share secured, his next goal was clear: make sure Cora was untouchable.

The crisp air outside greeted them the moment they stepped through the heavy metal door. The lot was nearly empty, save for Oliver's car parked. The echo of their footsteps against the asphalt was the only sound between them for a moment until Lisa, visibly restless, finally broke the silence.

Her voice was hesitant, as though she wasn't sure how he would react. "Oliver… I don't know if you've heard about this yet," she began carefully, her eyes shifting toward him, "but it seems Cora… has landed herself in a scandal. A love scandal… with an actor."