Chapter 50: Heart Sick and Seething Rage

As Jordan, Victoria, and Ashley arrived at Room 307, they were met by a middle-aged man approaching with a broad grin.

“Hey, Miss Clarke! What a coincidence!”

Victoria looked up, momentarily surprised. “Mr. Crews? You usually dine at Sunny Restaurant. What brings you here?”

Mr. Crews chuckled. “My son insisted. He’s obsessed with Trey Scott or whatever his name is, so I had no choice but to come along.”

Victoria smirked knowingly. Looks like Zack’s loyal customers have been dragged here by their kids.

She wasn’t wrong. Most of the restaurant’s patrons tonight were parents forced into this dinner by their teenagers, desperate to see Travis Scott perform.

It was exactly why Jordan had chosen to invite the rapper—to capture a younger audience that Zack’s outdated restaurant had no appeal for.

Mr. Crews’ gaze shifted to Jordan. “And this is…?”

Victoria hesitated. Jordan’s true identity as Ace Corporation’s president was a secret to the public. Only a few top executives knew.

Sensing the awkward pause, Jordan casually slung his arm around Ashley’s shoulders.

“I’m Ashley’s boyfriend.”

Ashley’s heart nearly exploded.

‘Oh my god… is this real?!’

She nearly melted into his arms right then and there.

Mr. Crews laughed. “Well, Miss Rose, you and your boyfriend look great together. Young love is truly wonderful!”

Jordan simply smiled, while Ashley beamed, savoring every second of the unexpected public display of affection.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three entered Room 307 and shut the door.

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Jordan’s Plan Unfolds

Ashley, still giddy from earlier, immediately poured water for Jordan and Victoria.

Victoria leaned against the table, a knowing smile on her lips.

“Cloud Cafeteria is packed. Reservations are already full for the week. Meanwhile, Sunny Restaurant barely has twenty customers… and I’m sure half of them are Zack’s personal friends.”

Ashley fist-pumped. “Mr. Steele, you’re amazing! You completely crushed Zack Smith!”

Jordan took a sip of water, his expression unreadable.

“Sunny Restaurant is Zack’s strongest business. Once I take it down, the rest will crumble.”

He swirled his glass, his mind flashing back to Zack’s arrogant mockery at Diana Camden’s birthday banquet.

He downed his drink in one gulp.

“Let’s see who’s left standing in the end.”

---

Showtime

At 8:00 PM, the lights dimmed.

The audience buzzed with anticipation.

Customers from the second to fifth floors emerged from their private rooms, eager to witness the night’s main event.

Inside Room 307, Victoria turned to Jordan.

“Do you want to watch the performance?”

She was concerned—Tyler and Hailey were on the second floor. Jordan might not want to see them together.

Jordan exhaled sharply. “Of course. I own this place. Even if I don’t like the song, I need to see how the audience reacts.”

With that, the three stepped out to the third-floor balcony, overlooking the crowd.

A wave of deafening cheers erupted as Travis Scott took the stage.

The rapper greeted his fans briefly before jumping straight into the night’s highly anticipated song.

As soon as the intro beat dropped, the restaurant exploded in excitement.

“Sun is down, freezin’ cold…”

The audience roared, singing along.

On the second floor, Tyler and Hailey chorused the lyrics enthusiastically.

Tyler, grinning smugly, leaned toward Hailey.

“Doesn’t it feel amazing to be this close to a celebrity?”

Hailey nodded eagerly. “Yes! Money is amazing! Hahaha!”

Tyler laughed louder. “That’s right! Being rich is awesome! I’m the perfect husband, hahahahah!”

As he laughed, Tyler wrapped his arm around Hailey’s shoulders.

She didn’t resist.

From the third floor, Jordan watched it all.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the railing tightly.

Victoria, standing beside him, noticed immediately.

Following his gaze, she saw Tyler touching Hailey.

She sighed silently.

Even if he denies it, Jordan still hasn’t gotten over her.

Without hesitation, she placed her hand over his, gently rubbing his tense fingers.

“If you don’t want to see them,” she said softly, “you can tell them to leave.”

Jordan had every right—he was the owner of the restaurant.

But he shook his head.

“Even if I kicked them out, they’d just do it elsewhere.”

His voice was heavy.

“I still… haven’t fully moved on.”

Victoria understood.

She had been in love before. Letting go wasn’t easy.

She knew Jordan would need time—maybe even a year or more—to heal.

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Unexpected Silence

Suddenly—the music stopped.

The restaurant fell into eerie silence.

The background track played faintly, but the rapper’s mic had gone dead.

Travis Scott frowned, tapping his microphone.

The audience stirred in confusion.

Up on the third floor, Jordan’s eyes sharpened.

“Something’s wrong.”