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

At that moment, Oliver shook his head slowly, scoffing under his breath. He stood up from the edge of the desk and began pacing again, his hands in his pockets, his mind spinning with thoughts.

"No," he muttered to himself, his voice low but certain. "There's no way."

He paused by the window, staring outside, the city lights flickering in the distance.

He knew Cora. He knew her too well. If something like this was truly hanging over her head, if she was aware of this danger, there was no way she'd stay quiet about it — not to him.

"Cora would've told me," Oliver said to himself. "She would've called... she would've said something."

It was just not possible. She wasn't the type to keep such a heavy burden to herself, especially when she knew he was always willing to help, no matter the cost, with that thought, Oliver sighed, the weight of his own suspicion slowly lifting from his shoulders. He could feel it deep down, Cora wasn't aware of this yet.

And that was the crack he needed, a chance to fix things before they spiraled out of her control. A chance to protect her, even if she never knew what he did behind the scenes.

"She doesn't know yet," Oliver whispered to himself again. "She can't."

He took a deep breath, his expression growing more determined by the second.

"I'll use this opportunity," he muttered. "I'll fix this... I'll help her overcome all of this."

**

At that moment, Cora stepped gracefully into the restaurant that had been booked for her meeting with Robert. The air was rich with the scent of freshly prepared meals, soft classical music playing gently in the background, giving the place an air of quiet sophistication.

She had come early, much earlier than the scheduled time but she didn't mind.

She wanted to make a good impression. After all, Robert had already impressed her with his calm, calculated presence the first time they met. She needed to match that energy, to show that she was just as serious, just as intentional as him.

Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor as a waiter guided her to the private section reserved for them. The table was set neatly, the lighting just dim enough to feel intimate but professional.

She took her seat, adjusting her posture, her eyes occasionally scanning the restaurant entrance. She wasn't in the mood to distract herself with her phone or idle conversation, she simply sat, composed and patient, waiting for Robert to arrive.

*

Meanwhile, across the city, in a tall, shadowy room lit by the faint glow of evening, Samuel sat behind his desk. His expression was unreadable, his mind still working through the pieces he'd been assembling since he last saw Cora.

Then suddenly, his phone vibrated on the desk, buzzing twice before lighting up with a familiar number.

The moment Samuel saw the caller ID, his eyes narrowed. It was his spy.

He didn't hesitate to pick up. The fact that his informant was calling him now could only mean one thing something was wrong, or Perhaps there was new information waiting for him.

At that moment Samuel leaned back in his chair, his cold eyes staring at the ceiling as he brought the phone closer to his ear. His voice was low, but there was a mocking tone beneath it.

"Let me guess," Samuel sneered. "You have news for me. And let me take another guess, it's that same bastard, that same fool who showed up this morning."

Then he chuckled darkly, his grip tightening on the armrest of his chair.

"Is he making another move on Cora?" Samuel spat. "Tell me immediately so I can come and destroy him myself."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the spy cleared his throat and replied carefully.

"No, sir... that's not what's going on."

Samuel's brows twitched, but he said nothing, his teeth slowly grinding together.

"I actually got new information," the spy continued. "Cora just left her house not long ago."

That alone made Samuel sit forward in his chair, his brows pulled tightly together.

"And she's heading to a restaurant," the man added. "It looks like she's going there to meet someone. I'm not sure who yet, but it seems important."

Hearing that, Samuel's expression twisted with anger. His jaw clenched so tightly that a vein pushed out on his temple. His breathing grew heavier, the sharp hiss of air escaping his nose with each exhale.

His fist slammed hard on the desk, the sound echoing through the space, he couldn't contain his anger anymore.

Samuel's jaw tightened, his teeth gritting together as he held the phone firmly to his ear. His patience was wearing thin, and his voice sliced through the line, heavy with frustration.

"I hope you have the name of the restaurant with you," Samuel growled, his tone sharp enough to cut. "Because I don't want to even hear that you don't. Don't waste my time."

On the other end of the call, the spy immediately straightened his voice, sensing the weight of Samuel's irritation.

"Yes, sir. I have it," the spy replied quickly. "In fact, I've already sent it to you. Just check your messages. The details are all there."

Samuel didn't even bother replying. He simply yanked the phone from his ear and ended the call with a sharp tap of his thumb. His brows were tightly furrowed as he navigated to his messages, his finger moving fast across the screen.

And there it was, the name of the restaurant. Bold and clear.

The moment his eyes landed on it, Samuel's face darkened. His nostrils flared as he stared at the name, his mind racing with possibilities, each one more irritating than the last. He didn't even need to ask who Cora was meeting he already knew his spy wouldn't have that answer, not yet.

But Samuel didn't care. He didn't want to hear speculations. He wanted to see it for himself.

Without wasting a second more, he shoved his phone into his pocket and stormed out of his study, his steps loud and fast against the floor. His body was tense, every movement fueled by the boiling anger in his chest.

He walked straight into his bedroom, pulling the wardrobe open with a swift, impatient tug.

He wasn't going to sit here and wait for updates. He wasn't going to keep imagining who Cora was with.

He was going to that restaurant himself, and he was going to see everything with his own eyes.

After some moments, as Samuel stood in front of his mirror adjusting the final piece of his outfit a sharp, dark blazer that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly something tugged at the back of his mind. He stilled for a second, his hands resting at his sides, his gaze fixed on his reflection.

Immediately he narrowed his eyes, a slow grin creeping onto his face.

"I'm forgetting something..." he muttered to himself.

Then it hit him his spy.

Of course, he couldn't afford to show up there alone, relying only on his eyes and instincts. He needed evidence, something tangible. If tonight played out the way he expected, he would need that perfect picture, a single frame that could change the game in his favor.

Without wasting a second, Samuel reached for his phone, swiping quickly to his contact list, and tapped on the spy's number. The phone barely rang before the call was picked up.

"Sir," the spy answered briskly.

"Listen carefully," Samuel said, his voice cold and direct. "I want to see you at that restaurant Immediately. I'm heading there now, but I need you there too. And make sure your camera is set, batteries full, lens cleaned, everything."

He paused for a beat, his grin widening.

"Because I have a strong feeling... tonight, I'm going to get that perfect picture with Cora. And once I have that, then I'll finally be able to do what I've been waiting for."

"Yes, sir," the spy responded confidently. "No problem. I'll be there immediately."

"Good," Samuel snapped, then ended the call without another word.

His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he grabbed his car keys from the dresser. Without wasting any more time, he stormed out of his bedroom, his steps heavy with purpose. A few moments later, his car engine roared to life, and he sped off into the night, the city lights reflecting against his windshield like stars he was ready to pluck down one by one.

**

Inside the VIP room of an elegant restaurant, Cora sat composed, her posture poised, yet her eyes occasionally flicked toward the door. She had come early, determined to make a good impression she didn't want to look careless, especially not with someone like Robert.

Then, at that moment, the door to the VIP room opened quietly.

Robert walked in, his presence composed and dignified, dressed in a well-tailored suit that carried the air of subtle power.

The instant Cora saw him, she stood up.