C9 9

As Nightingale’s entourage swept away, the lobby erupted into a frenzy of whispers. Everyone was dying to know the identity of the man who commanded such respect—a man so striking and noble that even Nightingale, the "Queen of the Underworld," acted as his guide.

Justin stood frozen, his brow furrowed as he watched the man’s retreating back.

Xavier Grayson. In the business world of River City, that name was a trigger for pure terror. He was known as a ruthless predator—cold-blooded, efficient, and famous for showing zero mercy to his own kin, let alone outsiders. Justin’s older brother had once crossed paths with Xavier and had been stripped of a major deal within forty-eight hours.

Chloe Bishop, unaware of Justin’s inner turmoil, grabbed his sleeve and moved quickly to follow them.

As they hurried through the lobby, several socialites recognized them.

"Talk about a lucky day," one whispered loudly. "First, I see the city's most handsome bachelor, Liam Martin, then Nightingale, and now our fallen 'IT Girl' Chloe Bishop and the playboy Justin..."

Liam? Is he here too?

At the mention of Liam’s name, Justin instinctively glanced at Chloe. Her face remained a mask of marble—chilly, exquisite, and perfectly composed.

However, her white-knuckled grip on her purse betrayed her. To Chloe, the name "Liam" used to be a melody that made her smile; now, it was a shard of glass scraping against her heart. It was the last thing she wanted to hear.

The massive elevator, built to hold twenty people, was nearly full. Chloe and Justin squeezed in behind the last bodyguard just as the doors began to hiss shut.

Every eye in the car swiveled toward them.

Nightingale looked surprised. In this city, very few people had the guts to force their way into an elevator occupied by her and a dozen armed guards.

Chloe wasn't about to let this chance slip away. She edged closer to Nightingale, but a bodyguard immediately stepped into her path, his hand hovering near his jacket in a silent, deadly warning.

As the city’s top socialite, Chloe had navigated high-stakes rooms her whole life. she didn't flinch. She offered a small, polite smile and looked past the guard's shoulder at Nightingale. "Miss Nightingale, do you remember me?"

On Xavier’s shoulder, the "little puppy"—who had been looking bored and grumpy—suddenly perked up. Hearing Chloe’s voice, he straightened his tiny back and turned his head, his eyes sparkling as they locked onto her.

Xavier felt the shift in his son and frowned, a dark line appearing between his brows.

Nightingale studied Chloe for a few seconds before nodding slowly. Her tone was lukewarm. "Miss Bishop. I assume you’re here for Quinn?"

She knows? Chloe felt a jolt of surprise.

Nightingale gave a lazy, feline smile. "I’ve heard what’s happening with the Bishops. But let me save you some time—Quinn can’t help you with this."

Chloe’s heart plummeted. "Why not?"

Nightingale seemed to be in a decent mood, so she threw her a bone. "Arthur Bishop came to see Quinn three days ago. A deal was struck. Quinn won't interfere in your family business."

The words were like a physical blow. Arthur had moved faster than she thought. He had already neutralized her biggest potential ally.

Chloe’s face turned deathly pale. If Quinn was off the table, she was cornered. She either had to go to the police—risking baby Lily’s life—or let Arthur dismantle her father’s legacy piece by piece. She couldn't gamble with her sister's life while her father lay in a coma. The police were a non-starter.

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Nightingale took one last look at Chloe. "Miss Bishop, once Quinn makes a decision, he never changes his mind. He won't even see you. You’re better off looking for help elsewhere."

Chloe’s mind raced. She caught a subtle nuance in Nightingale’s voice. "Miss Nightingale, please—point me in the right direction. I’ll make it worth your while."

Nightingale’s eyes flickered toward Xavier’s handsome, impassive face. She let out a sultry laugh. "I'm sorry. I'm powerless when it comes to your family drama."

With that, she stepped out to lead the way for Xavier and his son. The group disappeared into the plush hallway. Chloe tried to follow, but two guards blocked her path. "Stay back, Miss Bishop."

Chloe stood rooted to the spot. As the little boy was carried away, he tugged at Xavier’s collar, his small face filled with a silent, desperate plea.

Xavier looked down at his son, his expression cold and unyielding. He ignored the boy’s request and kept walking. The little guy, seeing Chloe fading into the distance, gripped Xavier’s shirt and glared at his father with a look of "miniature" fury, looking like he was about to have a total meltdown.

Soon, the Graysons and Nightingale vanished into a private VIP suite.

Justin stepped to Chloe’s side, his heart aching for her. "Let’s go, Chloe. We’ll find another way."

Chloe waited a beat, her eyes fixed on the door. "No. Nightingale wanted to help me. She just couldn't say it in front of the guards."

Before she rejected me, she looked at that man. Chloe looked at Justin. "The boy’s father... do you know him?"

Justin hesitated. He knew exactly who Xavier Grayson was. But Xavier was a shark—lethal, unpredictable, and dangerous. He didn't want Chloe anywhere near a man like that. He shook his head. "No. Never seen him."

Chloe sighed, disappointed. She knew about 80% of the elite in River City by face. If Justin didn't know him either, the man wasn't local.

Just as they were about to turn back, the VIP suite door opened.

Nightingale stepped out, her provocative silhouette framed by the doorway. She caught Chloe’s eye and crooked a finger.

"Justin, there's still a chance."

A small smile finally broke through Chloe’s pale exhaustion. Her clear eyes shimmered with a sudden, radiant light, making her look breathtakingly beautiful. Justin felt his breath hitch.

Chloe didn't care about decorum anymore; she jogged toward Nightingale. "Miss Nightingale?"

Nightingale’s red lips curved into a smirk. "You’re in luck. Someone has invited you inside. But remember—do exactly as I say. Watch for my signals."

The VIP suite was massive—a blend of modern luxury and classic elegance. Every piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a museum.

At the center was a large circular dining table. Only two men and a child sat there: Quinn and Xavier. They sat opposite each other, two titans of power. If it weren't for the suffocating tension in the room, it would have been a stunning sight.

Justin tried to follow her in, but the guards barred the way. Chloe gave him a reassuring look before the heavy doors clicked shut, sealing her inside.

Nightingale walked to Quinn’s side, then cut her eyes toward Chloe, gesturing for her to stand behind Xavier. Chloe didn't hesitate; she walked over and stood by the man’s shoulder.

The "little puppy" sitting next to Xavier went stiff. He wanted to turn around and look at her but seemed afraid to. He kept stealing glances at Chloe out of the corner of his eye, his affection for her written all over his face.

Quinn gave Chloe a brief, dismissive glance before refocusing on Xavier. He raised a glass of heavy white liquor—baijiu—and offered a thin smile. "I'll start with a toast. Drink as you please."

He downed the strong alcohol in one go.

Nightingale looked at Chloe, then leaned down to refill Quinn’s glass. It was a signal. She wanted Chloe to play the part of the "hostess" for the other side—to be Xavier's "shield" for the drinks.

Chloe looked at the shot glass of high-proof liquor next to Xavier’s hand. Her stomach tightened; she was a wine girl, and she almost never touched the hard stuff.

But this was for Lily. This was for her father.

She pushed down her hesitation and reached for the glass.

At the exact same time, Xavier reached for it too.

Chloe was a fraction of a second faster. Xavier’s large, warm hand landed squarely on top of her soft, slender fingers, pinning her hand against the glass.

Chloe’s hand was delicate, but the contrast against his rugged, powerful palm made it look even more fragile. For a moment, neither of them moved.