Crossroads

As night fell...

In Havencrests famed Ninth Alley, the country's busiest and most vibrant commercial and entertainment district sprawled. The landmark 36-story "Flaming" tower illuminated the area with its neon lights, exuding opulence and grandeur.

The ground floor housed the reception and registration hall, centered around a Venus statue fountain. Walking on the red carpet, one could see a lineup of 30 glamorous ladies, sweetly greeting guests with a 90-degree bow, radiating elegance.

Upstairs, an open-plan banquet hall dazzled the eye. At its center lay a 1000- square-foot triangular bath, its waters infused with a special solution that emitted a faint blue mist and a subtle fragrance of spirits. In the mist, the silhouettes with voluptuous figures and smooth, long legs danced...

Adjacent to the bath on the east side, a row of private booths provided a quieter retreat.

Bartenders in elegant attire skillfully served drinks to guests beneath the swirling, multicolored lights. In this expansive space enveloped in a haze of mist, the ambiance was tinged with indulgence, occasionally punctuated by the laughter and flirtation of patrons.

Yet, the atmosphere at one booth seemed distinctly out of place. Vincent appeared visibly agitated, waving dismissively at a few cronies.

"Get lost all of your I'm not in the mood today. Just get the hell away from me!"

Vincent, usually cheerful and sociable, was approached by a friend with a smile. Vincent, I haven't seen much of you this month. Where have you been making your fortune? Any big projects in the works! Don't forget about us.

"Forget it What projects? Just get lost, all of you!" Vincent erupted in frustration, his dark expression reflecting genuine annoyance. Observing his mood, the other wealthy young men exchanged glances and ultimately shrugged, wisely deciding to leave.

Vincent was typically easygoing with many friends, but it had been a while since he frequented entertainment venues. Hoping for a night of revelry, he hadn't anticipated such a volatile atmosphere.

No one dared approach Vincent now, and finally, the atmosphere quieted down. With a brooding expression, Vincent muttered. "Damn, this is Irritating!" He grabbed a glass of whiskey from the table and downed it straight in one shot without even adding ice.Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

His frustration wasn't directed at his friends, but rather...

His mood was complex. "How could this happen?" he muttered to himself, his ha hands unconsciously tugging at his short hair.

He remembered a month ago when Stephanie had called him, and he had lashed out at her.

At the time, he had been at a private hospital in Serenburg with George and the others. Dominick had been in a coma after surgery, and the doctors kept sending critical condition notices. When Vincent saw Stephanie's phone number on the screen, he exploded in anger without letting her speak, hurling insults at her. "How dare you still look for Dominick now? You're a jinx, Stephanie! All you do is bring trouble to him!" Vincent's expression was complicated, tinged with guilt. At that moment, he didn't know the extent of what was happening on Stephanie's end. Waving for the bartender to bring another glass of whiskey, Vincent drank it down in frustration. "How could the twins be Conc...

"Stephanie, you're always running around recklessly like a mad person. How many danger and stirring things up. On a stormy day, you should have stayed put at Wellington Villa, What's the point of running around? And now look, any times have we told you to behave yourself? You love courting trouble has found you... Vincent ranted angrily, but more than anger, his face betrayed deep disappointment.

Despite his curses, he was still deeply concerned about her.

"And now, Dominick has turned out like this."

Leaning against the table as he propped his chin on his hand, Vincent looked dejected. His right handa m played with his phone, hesitating about whether to call Stephanie. He had scolded her too harshly last time, so perhaps he should apologize.

"Miss, are you here alone? From his left came a flirtatious voice. "Who are you looking for? I'm a VIP here. How about I keep you company?" Three

men surrounded and harassed a woman, a common sight at Flaming Bar where everyone was a playboy, or four

But when Vincent glanced over curiously, he suddenly leaped up from his booth, rushing over urgently.

Striding forward, he angrily warned, "Are you asking for trouble? You better not touch her!"