Celine withdrew her gaze, shaking her head slightly. "Hailey, I'm fine," she said. Without another word, she pulled out her phone and called the Alvarez Residence.

Mary's cheerful voice answered almost immediately. "Celine, you finally called! I've missed you so much!"

Celine's eyes lingered on the faint outline of a luxury car disappearing in the distance. "Grandma, I don't have any classes tonight. I can come to the Alvarez Residence for dinner."

"That's wonderful! Adam will be home tonight, too. I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay."

After ending the call, Celine turned to Hailey. "I need to go to the Alvarez Residence."

Hailey nodded. "Alright, go keep Mrs. Alvarez company for dinner."

But Celine's expression remained calm as she added, "No, I'm going to find out who Nikki's sugar daddy really is."

Hailey froze.

The Rolls-Royce glided smoothly down the road. Leo drove, while Nikki reclined in the back, her gaze fixed on the man beside her.

Adam was impeccably dressed in a custom-tailored black suit. A neatly folded pocket square peeked from his jacket; the residual authority of a high-stakes meeting seemed to cling to him. The glow of neon lights filtered through the tinted windows, casting soft reflections on his sharp features, making him appear as distant and unattainable as he had the first time Nikki saw him.

He held a document, flipping through it with focused intensity, ignoring her.

Nikki's gaze softened, her eyes filled with admiration and longing. "Mr. Alvarez, I fell off the wire rig today, but I wasn't hurt. You didn't have to—"

He didn't let her finish. His handsome eyelids drooped dismissively. "Did Celine go to the hospital to see you?" His tone was indifferent, almost cold.

Nikki froze, caught off guard.

Adam closed the file precisely. His deep, cold eyes finally met hers. "Don't say anything reckless in front of Celine. Do you understand me?"

He looked down at her, his gaze a clear warning. She had thought he'd come to see her out of concern after her fall. But in two sentences, he'd made it clear that everything revolved around Celine. He'd even warned her not to say anything inappropriate in front of his wife.

The meaning hit her like a slap. He didn't want Celine to find out he'd slept with her.

Humiliation washed over her, and her misplaced affection burned. Nikki clenched her fists. How could she not resent Celine? They both came from nothing. Yet, while Nikki had always been cautious, Celine was calm, confident, and sharp—everything Nikki wasn't. Most importantly, Celine had married Adam and become Mrs. Alvarez. Why her and not Nikki?

Nikki had been watching Adam, observing him closely. That night, when Leo had looked for someone "clean," she saw her chance. But Celine had beaten her to it, claiming that night with Adam as her own. It should have been her.

She envied Celine. And she hated her even more. Adam's cold, dismissive tone only deepened that hatred. But Nikki dared not show it. Swallowing her pride, she nodded. "I understand, Mr. Alvarez."

A cheerful ringtone broke the silence. A call came from the Alvarez Residence.

Adam answered; Mary's joyful voice rang out. "Adam, hurry home for dinner. Celine's here."

His sharp features shifted almost imperceptibly. "I'm heading back now."

Ending the call, Adam glanced at Leo. "Pull over."