Chapter 192

"Do you even know how much we charge for a single dish here?" The supervisor sneered, stepping closer. "One meal could run you over a hundred grand. You think this is some food court for peasants? People like you don't belong here."

Selena's face stiffened. She looked down for a second, lips pressed tight. Her entire savings account barely scraped past a hundred thousand. One meal here could wipe her out—and they hadn't even sat down yet.

She tugged at Jaden's sleeve. "Forget it. Let's just go somewhere else. There's no point forcing it."

But Jaden didn't budge.

"No," he said, voice steady. "Not walking away from this. It's the first time I'm taking all of you out. We're not settling for less."

The others exchanged looks. Even Vane, who'd been anxious from the moment they stepped out of the car, stayed quiet. Jaden's tone wasn't up for debate.

Then Jaden stepped forward and looked the supervisor dead in the eye.

"Get your boss. I want to speak to whoever's in charge."

The men in suits snorted, then broke into open laughter.

The supervisor wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. "You want to see our boss? We've got more than a dozen. Be a little more specific, hero."

"The one who has the final say," Jaden replied flatly. "Not some manager on a power trip. The real one."

The air changed. The smirks wavered for a half-second, but the supervisor quickly covered it with another scoff.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that." He leaned forward, voice dripping mockery. "But you're clearly not right in the head."

Then he raised his voice for the

others to hear. "Let's make this

idiot's day. You've got ten minutes tight? You said you'd shut the restaurant down if our boss doesn't show?"

Jaden didn't even blink. "That's right."

"You hear that?" the supervisor laughed, turning to his men. "He says he's going to shut down the restaurant if the boss doesn't show. You know who runs this place?” He stepped in close, right in Jaden's face.

"Morix Sable. Ever heard that name, tough guy?"

The others behind him straightened up at the name.

"Yeah, that Morix. Ex-chief of the Eastern District armed forces. You think you can bark orders at a man like that?” The supervisor pointed at. the door. "Get the hell out of here before he throws you out himself."

What none of them knew-what not even Selena or the others beside Jaden knew —was that Morix Sable had already stepped down from his position... at Jaden's instruction.

He wasn't the chief anymore.

Now, he was the owner of Miracle Avenue. This restaurant. This building. This entire block.

He'd traded his uniform for tailored suits, but his grip on the Eastern If

District hadn't loosene

his influence had grown sharper, cleaner, and far more dangerous.

Morix wasn't just a former big shot. He was still the undisputed king of this side of town.