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

At that moment, upon hearing what Robert had just said, Cora froze for a second.

She didn't say a word. Her eyes blinked slowly, but she quickly adjusted her expression like nothing had happened.

Then a soft smile returned to her face, but it wasn't real it was forced, practiced, polite. Deep inside her chest, her heart had skipped.

Because right now… everything that Malisa had told her was starting to echo loudly in her head.

"That guy likes you," Malisa had warned casually.

"He might not say it straight, but the signs are there. The way he looks at you, the way he wants to be around you… girl, open your eyes."

However Cora had brushed it off that day. She told Malisa she was overthinking things. She even laughed about it.

But now, standing here with Robert staring at her, waiting for a response, everything was beginning to make terrifying sense. She didn't want to admit it, but the puzzle pieces were clicking together fast. His behavior lately. and offered to help her with every little task none of it felt random anymore. And now, with what he just said?

She was starting to suspect it hard, the thought made her deeply uncomfortable.

Cora wasn't someone who liked messy emotional attachments, especially not when the lines between business and personal started to blur. She hated it. She hated the awkwardness, the misread intentions, the strange tension that suddenly made simple conversations feel loaded with meaning. It wasn't fair. It wasn't how things were supposed to go between them.

She thought their relationship was clear-cut: just business, with a hint of professional friendship. She thought she had kept her boundaries obvious. But maybe… just maybe… Robert had seen things differently from the beginning.

That alone made her retreat into her shell.

Her smile widened a bit more, this time to hide the frustration rising in her chest. She took a slow breath, like she was gathering something from deep inside.

Then, softly but firmly, she spoke. "Well… I don't have anything to say," she said, her voice calm and even. "There's nothing troubling me. But thanks for caring."

At that moment, hearing what Cora just said, Robert felt like the wind had been knocked out of him not because her words were loud or harsh, but because they were so clear, so definite. The rejection was quiet, polite even, but it hit him in a place he hadn't prepared to guard.

He stood there, staring at her for a second, trying to process it. The disappointment didn't come all at once it crept in slowly, starting from the pit of his stomach, rising into his chest like a slow burn. He couldn't believe it.

Now, she had drawn a line in the sand and stood firmly behind it.

However Robert didn't like how she did it. Not because she was rude no, Cora was too composed for that. But because it felt like she had been waiting for the right moment to cut things off, like she had made up her mind long before he even opened his mouth. That thought alone bothered him more than anything else.

But what was he going to do? Force her? Beg her? That wasn't who he was. If there was anything Robert believed in, it was choice. And if Cora had made hers, he had no right to push further. No matter how much it stung.

He gave her a small nod, masking the tightness in his chest. "No problem," he said, trying to keep his voice light. "I hope… maybe some other time, we'll get to have dinner together."

Cora nodded. It was quick, without hesitation. She didn't look angry, but there was no warmth in her eyes either. Just courtesy. That kind of hurt more than anger ever could.

Then, without another word, she turned and left. Just like that. No second glance. No lingering look.

However Robert stood there for a beat longer, then slowly walked toward his car. The quiet inside the vehicle was deafening. As soon as he sat down and shut the door, he let out a frustrated breath and leaned back, closing his eyes for a second. His stomach growled, but not just from hunger. It was something else a gnawing discomfort that kept tugging at his mind.

He was starving, yes, but not just for food. He was starving for answers. For clarity.

And in his gut, he knew exactly where the problem started.

Victoria, Everything about this situation screamed manipulation. Cora's sudden distance, the cold but careful way she spoke, the way she avoided emotional contact it was too calculated. It wasn't Cora. It was someone else's influence, and he had a strong feeling Victoria was behind it.

His jaw tightened. His eyes slowly opened, sharp and focused.

This wasn't just about Cora turning him down. This was something deeper. Someone had gotten to her planted seeds of doubt, twisted the narrative. And he knew who to start with.

But Victoria wasn't his immediate concern. If he wanted the full story, he needed to talk to Abigail. She was the one who would get closer to Cora than anyone lately. She would know what happened, or at least give him a piece of the puzzle.

He started the car, his mind racing faster than the engine.

Robert wasn't just going to let this slide.

He was very, very hungry because he knew that it was Victoria that is the cause of this and definitely he wants to see Abigail because he wants to know what is actually going on. Why would they approach Cora in this manner?

Without wasting any more time, Robert's hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as he sped through the streets, heading toward the one place he was certain Abigail would be. There was no hesitation in his movements, no second-guessing. He knew her well enough to know she always spent her afternoons at her flagship restaurant, the crown jewel of her empire.

It wasn't just any restaurant. It was a high-class establishment nestled in one of the most prestigious parts of the city. With its sleek, modern design and award-winning menu, the place screamed luxury and exclusivity. But beyond the glamour, what made it even more special was its origin. This restaurant was Abigail's first baby the first enterprise she had built from scratch with nothing but her ambition, grit, and ideas. Every detail inside reflected her taste and personality. From the art on the walls to the crystal lights above the tables, it was a reflection of her rise and success. And unlike many others in her circle, Abigail had earned her place in the business world without shortcuts.