Inside a luxury sedan, Mike's eyes were bloodshot.
He didn't dare follow too closely—doing so would make him easy to notice. Instead, he kept his distance while a private investigator tailed them at close range, feeding him updates in real time.
Even so, from time to time, he could still see Jason and Megan together.
Megan leaned against Jason like a little bird seeking shelter, her gestures gentle and attentive. She spoke softly to him, laughed easily, and naturally provided emotional comfort—something that came from familiarity and trust.
It stabbed straight into Mike's heart.
Jealousy twisted inside him.
He had never even gotten the chance to be with Megan like that.
He was unwilling to accept it.
Unconvinced.
Yes, he had heard that Jason was incredibly rich—but Mike wasn't poor either.
And more importantly, Jason was clearly a womanizer with multiple girlfriends, while he himself had devoted everything to just one woman.
Why should I lose to someone like that?
Just then, the private investigator sent an update.
"Jason and Megan arrived at Westfield Valley Fair Mall.They stayed in an Elie Saab boutique for nearly an hour.Jason customized a gown for Megan—estimated value: six million dollars."
Mike's pupils shrank violently.
His fingers trembled, and his phone nearly slipped from his hand.
Elie Saab?A six-million-dollar dress?
He knew the brand well.
Elie Saab gowns were ethereal, dreamlike—pieces that dominated red carpets and eclipsed even Chanel when it came to visual impact. They were haute couture reserved for top-tier celebrities.
Mike didn't care much about fashion.
But he knew women.
And he knew how irresistible an Elie Saab gown was.
A woman wearing one didn't just look beautiful—she looked unreal, like she had stepped out of a fairy tale.
And the price alone was terrifying.
Six million dollars for a single dress.
Just yesterday, he had boldly told Lily that he could spend ten million to create romance for Megan every single day. Even without specifying a time limit, he had imagined it taking at least a year to spend that much.
That already spoke volumes about his financial strength.
But now?
Jason had casually taken Megan shopping—and spent six million on a dress without hesitation.
An invisible pressure crashed down on Mike's chest.
His breathing grew unsteady.
Jason has multiple girlfriends, he thought grimly.How can he afford to spend like this?If he treats every woman this way, even a fortune should run dry eventually… right?
His face darkened.
But he still refused to give up.
He followed the private investigator to the next address.
Not long after arriving, another update came through.
"Jason and Megan arrived at a restricted auto exhibition.It seems connected to the upcoming largest auto show on the West Coast.Due to Jason's status, the organizers allowed him early access."
Another message followed immediately.
"Jason looked around briefly… then purchased a vehicle.Koenigsegg ONE:1."
Mike's mind exploded.
His pupils contracted sharply.
"That's impossible," he typed back furiously."The Koenigsegg ONE:1 is limited to six units worldwide.It's worth over a hundred million dollars.It can't just appear at a show, let alone be bought on the spot."
Compared to the ONE:1, Jason's previous Lamborghini Revuelto or Bugatti Chiron were in an entirely different league.
If supercars had tiers, those were merely elite.
The Koenigsegg ONE:1 was myth-level.
1,341 horsepower.1,341 kilograms.
A perfect one-to-one power-to-weight ratio.
That was why it was called ONE:1.
With its extreme aerodynamics and twin-turbo V8, its top speed exceeded 450 km/h, and its cornering forces rivaled a roller coaster.
A street-legal race car.
No wonder Mike instinctively rejected the idea.
A car worth over a hundred million dollars was absurd even among the wealthy. And with only six units ever made, money alone wasn't enough.
Yet the reply came quickly.
"I don't know the full details," the investigator replied."But someone gave Jason face and was willing to part with it.He paid without hesitation."
"They just left—in the Koenigsegg ONE:1.Megan is in the passenger seat."
Mike's fingers shook again.
His chest felt tight.
He knew exactly how lethal that passenger seat was.
A Koenigsegg ONE:1 didn't need flirting.
Park it anywhere upscale, and women would approach on their own.
Mike's family assets totaled around two to three hundred million dollars. Compared to ordinary people, he was already a tycoon.
But cars worth tens of millions were still out of reach.
Cars worth hundreds of millions?
Unthinkable.
That single vehicle represented a social stratum he couldn't even step into.
The gap was no longer about money.
It was about class.
Mike grew more anxious than ever.
Not long after, another update arrived.
"Jason and Megan arrived at Starline Luxury Cruises—driving the Koenigsegg ONE:1."
Mike stared at the message.
For the first time—
He began to understand that this wasn't a competition of effort, devotion, or romance.
It was a competition he had never been qualified to enter.
When Mike saw the latest update, his expression changed yet again.
This time, he no longer dared to compare himself to a six-million-dollar Elie Saab gown, nor to a Koenigsegg ONE:1 worth over a hundred million.
Those were already far beyond him.
But he still believed he had one last advantage left.
Romance.
Taking Megan on a round-the-world voyage aboard the Blue Sea Pearl—organized through Starline Luxury Cruises—was the grand romantic plan he had prepared long ago.
He knew Megan well.
She loved exclusivity.She loved top-tier environments.She loved massive cruise ships and traveling the world.
The Blue Sea Pearl fulfilled all of that at once.
A luxury super cruise ship, a global route, and VIP tickets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars—it was the ultimate confession of devotion.
But now…
Jason had taken Megan straight to Starline Luxury Cruises.
Was he planning to snatch even this away?
If even this was taken from him, what would he have left?
Mike panicked, like an ant trapped on a scorching pan.
He immediately pulled out his phone and searched for tickets.
To his slight relief, the system showed that all VIP tickets for the Blue Sea Pearl were sold out for the foreseeable future. He had already secured his own booking in advance.
Jason shouldn't be able to beat him to it.
Still…
Jason's wealth was terrifying.
What if he used connections?What if he went through private channels?
The thought made Mike restless.
At the same time, Jason had already entered the VIP reception room of Starline Luxury Cruises – West Coast Operations.
The general manager, Natasha, clearly had a rough idea of Jason's background.
Even if she hadn't, the mere sight of a Koenigsegg ONE:1 parked outside was enough to warrant the highest level of courtesy.
Natasha smiled politely, her tone respectful.
"Mr. Carter, what kind of services are you interested in? We offer private yachts, superyachts, and global cruise routes. Although Blue Sea Pearl tickets are currently sold out, we may be able to arrange two VIP seats for you."
Without even asking—
Mike's most precious trump card was casually placed on the table.
Jason shook his head.
"I heard your company just took delivery of a Leona Super Yacht. Brand new."
The Leona Super Yacht.
Seventy-two meters long.
Gold-toned luxury interiors.
Private dining halls, lounges, swimming pool, gym, private cinema—fully equipped.
Floating on the sea, it was less a yacht and more a moving palace.
Stepping inside felt like entering a castle.
Natasha nodded with a smile.
"That's correct. You have a discerning eye. Unfortunately, the yacht has just been delivered and still needs final inspections before operation. You can make a reservation, and we'll rent it to you as soon as it's ready."
Jason shook his head again.
"I'm not here to rent."
He paused briefly.
"Are you interested in selling it?"
The smile on Natasha's face froze.
A superyacht like this was rarely purchased by individuals.
Its price exceeded seven hundred million dollars.
Routine maintenance alone was astronomical.
Cruise companies owned such assets because they operated them daily for profit.
For a private individual, buying one wasn't just expensive—it was wildly impractical.
Only the absolute top tier of the ultra-rich could even consider it.
Megan, sitting beside Jason, widened her eyes slightly.
She had already been dazzled by the six-million-dollar gown and the Koenigsegg ONE:1.
But compared to those, a superyacht worth over seven hundred million was on a completely different level.
And Jason wanted to buy it.
Not rent it.
Her eyes filled with admiration, almost worship.
Natasha sighed softly.
"I've long heard of your reputation, Mr. Carter. Seeing you today, it truly lives up to the name. However, this yacht was commissioned after a long wait. Our intention was to expand our luxury cruise business, not resell it."
Jason smiled calmly.
"When you placed the order, you didn't anticipate the current economic downturn, did you?"
"The global travel industry isn't doing as well as expected. High-end yachts like this aren't easy to rent out consistently anymore."
"In that case—why not sell?"
Natasha shook her head with a faint smile.
"Even among the wealthy, there are still plenty of people with money."
Jason raised his hand.
Five fingers.
"I'll add a premium of fifty million. Think about it."
Natasha's eyebrow twitched violently.
He was talking about fifty million as if it were fifty thousand.
Jason had wanted a superyacht for a long time—but he wanted a new one.
Custom-ordering one would take too long.
When he learned Starline had just received a brand-new superyacht with a design he liked, he decided to act.
Natasha cleared her throat.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Carter. This decision is beyond my authority. I'll contact the owner."
Jason nodded.
"Go ahead. Tell them I'm sincere."
Less than five minutes later, Natasha returned.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. We still don't plan to sell. We waited a long time for this yacht and hope it will bring significant profits. However…"
She hesitated.
"If you're willing to add another fifty million, perhaps we could reconsider."
Even for Jason, that was excessive.
Paying an extra fifty million purely as a markup was unreasonable.
Jason thought for a moment, then turned slightly.
"Olivia."
Without avoiding anyone, he spoke directly.
"Evaluate the market value of Starline Luxury Cruises."
Olivia froze.
Even though she was accustomed to Jason's scale of wealth, those words still stunned her.
"Mr. Carter… Starline owns multiple private yachts, two superyachts, and most importantly, the Blue Sea Pearl super cruise ship. The company's total valuation is around eight billion."
Jason nodded calmly.
"Assess it properly. See how much it would take to acquire."
Olivia was silent for two full seconds before responding.
She suddenly realized—
Jason wasn't unaware of the value.
He simply didn't care.
As she sent the request to the asset appraisal firm, even they were momentarily confused.
Natasha and Megan stood frozen, scalp tingling.
They had just heard—
Failing to buy a yacht worth seven hundred million, he decided to acquire the entire company instead.
Jason didn't waste time.
He contacted the owner of Starline Luxury Cruises directly and began sincere acquisition talks.
The Leona Super Yacht had just been delivered and held strong potential.
Starline didn't want to sell the yacht.
But the owner was very willing to discuss selling the entire company.
The global travel industry had been sluggish for the past two years.
Starline's profits were declining, with losses looming.
The Blue Sea Pearl had once been worth six or seven billion—but ships depreciate over time.
From the owner's perspective, the company had peaked.
Now was the perfect exit.
After negotiations, the price settled at 8.2 billion.
Jason didn't bargain further.
He agreed on the spot.
Natasha was completely stunned.
Megan stared at Jason, eyes glistening.
Her heart trembled.
Megan: Favorability +2
The negotiations were confidential.
But the contract signing was grand.
Outside Starline Luxury Cruises, Mike sensed something was wrong the moment he arrived.
The atmosphere inside felt tense.
But he didn't care.
Seeing the private investigator approach, he asked eagerly:
"They haven't left yet, right? Did Jason buy tickets for the Blue Sea Pearl?"
This was his last hope.
The investigator looked at him, unsure how to speak.
After two seconds of silence, he said quietly:
"Jason didn't buy tickets."
Mike exhaled in relief—
Until the investigator continued.
"He bought the Blue Sea Pearl, the Leona Super Yacht, several smaller yachts…"
"And the entire Starline Luxury Cruises."
Mike's eyes went wide.
With a dull bang—
His mind went completely blank.
He was terrified.
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