?Chapter 628:


    He had long since hardened to such demeaning moments. But today was different—Dani was here. A new wave of humiliation hit Alexander, despite Dani’s silence. His cheeks slowly turned red with shame.


    “He can still blush? I thought all his pride had been wiped out.”


    “Right? Did you hear? Just yesterday in a bar, Joyce made Alexander kneel and lick spilled beer off the table.”


    The room buzzed with shock, everyone leaning in, eager for more.


    “And then? What happened?”


    The speaker dragged out the words with a mocking tone.


    “Then Joyce tossed him a million, and he just took it. So, you see—men shouldn’t get too cocky. Watch out, or you might end up like Alexander, with your dignity crushed underfoot.”


    The room erupted inughter as the words sank in.


    Alexander’s hands shook ever so slightly as he held the shrimp. Joyce saw Dani and sneered, keeping her eyes on her face. Dani had always been the one people noticed, and that was still true.


    Most of the men in the room were watching her.


    Dani ate calmly while Cedric whispered something to her. She nodded, and he smiled gently, his eyes filled with affection. Only Joyce could see it, but Cedric gently squeezed Dani’s fingers in a gesture full of tenderness.


    Cedric was a powerful figure in the business world, yet before Dani, he always lowered his guard, offering her nothing but affection.


    Joyce’s hands balled into fists, her eyes zing with fury.


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    “Alexander! You fool! You can’t even peel a shrimp properly. What use are you?”


    And with that, a sharp p rang through the room.


    The lively atmosphere, filled withughter and toasts, suddenly stilled into an ufortable silence.


    At a nearby table, Richard could feel a heavy unease settle over him. The sound of the p made him stand up in stunned disbelief. He understood how hard it must have been for Alexander to submit to Joyce like this.


    He had heard the whispers and clenched his teeth, hoping that once Bet Group’s situation improved, Alexander would finally escape Joyce’s grasp. He never imagined Joyce would stoop so low. She actually humiliated Alexander in front of everyone like that.


    Just as Richard was about to step in, Joyce’s icy voice cut through the tension.


    “Peel this te of shrimp for me!”


    Alexander’s fingers quivered as he sat still, lost in the heavy silence of the moment. He could feel the scornful gazes of the others boring into him, yet he remained unmoved. He didn’t care anymore.


    The only thought that mattered to him now was Dani. What would she think of him now? Would she see him the way everyone else did, like he was just embarrassing himself? Would she regret pushing him away, leaving him in this mess?


    Alexander bit his lip, his eyes wavering as he slowly looked up. One quick nce, and his heart nearly broke.


    Dani wasn’t even looking his way. Cedric showed up with a small te of roasted ribs and set it in front of her, smiling. She looked up in surprise as Cedric held out a piece of rib to her lips, his smile soft and inviting.


    From where Alexander sat, he could see Dani’s lips part to take the piece of meat, with Cedric’s fingers brushing her lips in the briefest touch.


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