The Divorce Banquet
Rain slid slowly across the towering glass windows of Arden Grand Hall.
Inside, the atmosphere was warm, luxurious, and filled with the sound of expensive laughter.
Politicians.
Executives.
Celebrities.
The most influential figures in Eryndor City had gathered beneath crystal chandeliers glowing gold against the marble floor.
At the center of the hall stood Selene Arden.
Elegant black dress.
Diamond earrings.
Perfect posture.
The pride of the Arden family.
And beside her—
stood Kairo Vale.
Plain suit.
Quiet expression.
Almost invisible.
“Selene truly deserves better.”
The whisper came from a nearby table, followed by soft laughter.
Kairo heard it.
He heard all of them.
“The Arden family carried that man for years.”
“I still don’t understand why Chairman Arden allowed the marriage.”
“He looks like a chauffeur.”
Another burst of laughter spread through the hall.
Kairo remained silent.
Across the room, Selene lifted a champagne glass gently, commanding everyone’s attention instantly.
The room quieted.
Her beautiful eyes shifted toward Kairo.
Cold.
Distant.
“As many of you know,” she began calmly, “today marks an important turning point for both myself and the Arden family.”
A massive screen behind her lit up with the Arden Group logo.
“This year alone, Arden Group secured partnerships across three countries. Our company has reached heights once thought impossible.”
Applause filled the hall.
Selene smiled politely.
“But success demands sacrifice.”
Something in the room shifted.
Even the music seemed quieter.
Then she looked directly at Kairo.
“For three years, I tried to honor a marriage built on obligation rather than love.”
Murmurs spread instantly.
Kairo said nothing.
Selene continued.
“But I can no longer continue pretending.”
An assistant approached slowly, carrying a thin black folder.
Divorce papers.
The hall erupted into whispers.
Some shocked.
Most entertained.
Selene’s voice remained composed.
“Kairo… you are not a bad person.”
The words felt colder than hatred.
“But our worlds are no longer the same.”
Silence.
Hundreds of eyes fixed themselves onto him.
Waiting.
Expecting humiliation.
Begging for drama.
One of the executives smirked openly.
“Take the deal quietly,” he muttered loud enough for nearby tables to hear. “It’s the luckiest thing that ever happened to you.”
Laughter followed immediately.
Still—
Kairo remained calm.
His gaze lowered toward the divorce papers resting before him.
Three years.
Three years protecting the Arden family from enemies they never even knew existed.
Three years keeping his promise.
Three years pretending to be ordinary.
And this…
was how it ended.
Selene finally spoke again.
“I already transferred compensation to your account. A house as well.”
The statement sounded less like kindness—
and more like pity.
Kairo slowly picked up the pen.
Several guests leaned forward excitedly.
One signature.
That was all it took to erase three years.
The pen touched paper.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Done.
Selene’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
Perhaps she expected resistance.
Questions.
Begging.
Instead, Kairo simply closed the folder.
Then stood.
No anger.
No sadness.
No desperation.
Only silence.
For the first time that night, uncertainty flickered through Selene’s eyes.
“Kairo…”
He finally looked at her.
His expression unreadable.
“You were right about one thing,” he said quietly.
The room fell silent instantly.
“Our worlds were never the same.”
Then he turned—
and walked away.
No one stopped him.
Behind him, soft laughter slowly returned across the hall.
Pathetic.
Embarrassing.
Finished.
That was what they thought.
Outside, rain poured heavily across the empty streets.
Kairo stepped into the darkness alone.
Then—
his phone vibrated once.
A single message appeared on the screen.
> AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMED
> OBSIDIAN HEIR STATUS: ACTIVE
At that exact moment—
deep beneath the city—
hundreds of black screens suddenly illuminated inside hidden control rooms around the world.
Tokyo.
Moscow.
Dubai.
London.
New York.
Armed men froze.
Powerful women stared in disbelief.
Underground leaders stood from their seats instantly.
The same message appeared everywhere.
> THE HEIR HAS RETURNED
And for the first time in years—
the hidden world began to tremble.
