She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 884

In the end, he still had no idea what Dominic's grand plan entailed.

This was his family's empire, yet he was completely locked out of the loop.

He thought back to the countless nights they had spent throwing back drinks at The Velvet Orchid, sharing everything without a second thought. Now, it felt like Dominic was building walls, hiding his true intentions behind a fake smile.

Gavin lowered his gaze, rubbing his jaw as a grim realization set in. "Maybe it's time I actually started giving a damn about my own company."

Over at the Royce Group.

Melanie and Preston had already finalized their plans for a reconnaissance mission to The Rosa Archipelago. The island chain wasn't massive; if they hit the ground running, there was a high probability they could track down Shawn Sterling.

Even if he slipped through their fingers, they were bound to uncover a trail.

But then reality hit.

Nathaniel Royce grounded Melanie, shackling her to a crucial new project. Simultaneously, Preston had an unavoidable Global Wellness Investment Summit that required the physical presence of the Stellaris PharmaTech CEO.

With no other option, they had to divide and conquer. The covert operation to the islands was shelved.

Tonight, a high-profile banquet was taking place, packed with the city's political and corporate elite.

Nathaniel had practically ordered Melanie to dress to kill.

Usually, she preferred to keep her banquet attire professional and understated. She had zero interest in stealing the spotlight or dealing with the inevitable, sleazy networking attempts from powerful men.

Especially since Preston wouldn't be there to run interference.

She knew exactly how demanding his dual life was. Playing her private assistant while running Stellaris in the shadows was a brutal balancing act, and it took a toll on him.

Melanie had always prided herself on her independence, never feeling overly reliant on Preston.

Yet, knowing she had to face this shark tank without him left a hollow, gnawing emptiness in her chest.

Everett Kingsley was also noticeably absent tonight. He had politely declined Nathaniel's invitation, essentially calling in sick.

Lately, Melanie had noticed Everett acting strange—distracted, jumpy, like his mind was a million miles away. But she hadn't pressed the issue. Knowing Everett, he wouldn't spill his secrets even if she interrogated him.

Adhering to Nathaniel's strict dress code, Melanie sifted through her closet and pulled out The Crimson Silk Slit Gown, a breathtaking, vibrant masterpiece.

"This should do the trick," she muttered, assessing her reflection in the full-length mirror.

She traced her collarbone. The gown perfectly accentuated her shoulders and neckline, but it left her chest looking starkly bare. Instantly, an image of a very specific piece of jewelry flashed in her mind.

While Melanie headed to the banquet alone, Everett Kingsley was currently wandering outside the Eclipse Noir Club.

A police cruiser sat parked out front, its lights slicing through the dark street.

Daphne Morrell nearly stopped breathing when she saw Everett. She stood frozen, her eyes wide, staring blankly at him until an officer had to repeat his question three times to snap her out of it.

Half an hour ago, a brawl had broken out inside the club.

Fights were par for the course in the nightlife industry, so it wasn't a catastrophic crisis. Daphne, a seasoned owner, handled it like a pro. She called the cops and let them handle the cleanup.

What she hadn't expected was for Everett to walk through her doors.