John Knight secretly smiled to himself.
He was curious—would Emily Park prefer a wealthy young stud or a wealthy old man? He imagined her crawling back to him, tearfully begging for forgiveness, pleading for a chance to start again.
If that happened, John might actually reconsider their relationship.
However, his fleeting joy evaporated as he saw clearly into Emily's mind. She wasn't fantasizing about returning to him; she was solely focused on discovering where his sudden wealth came from.
So money's all you ever cared about, John thought bitterly.
"Emily," he spoke gently, forcing calmness into his voice, "for old times' sake, answer me honestly. Did you ever love me?"
"I did," Emily replied flatly. "But that was a long time ago."
Yet her thoughts were far crueler:
Love you? Who would love a penniless loser like you? For all I know, you robbed a bank or something. If I wasn't worried about you causing trouble here, I wouldn't even have bothered to see you. Still…how did he get rich?
A deep wave of disappointment washed over John. So she'd never truly cared for him after all—and he'd almost killed himself over her.
"I see. Guess I'm really pathetic." He feigned heartbreak and drained his wineglass, adding mockingly, "Anyway, I sincerely wish you two lovebirds all the best."
He turned toward the pretty bartender who'd served him earlier. "Miss, check, please."
"John, no need," Emily interrupted quickly. "Tonight's on me."
Hmph, trying to figure out how I got my money? Fat chance, John sneered inwardly.
"No, thanks. I can afford it. Clearly, you're busy, so I'll stop bothering you. Goodbye."
Seeing him about to leave without revealing how he'd become wealthy, Emily hesitated. She considered asking him to stay but feared his money truly might have questionable origins. She hesitantly asked, "Will you come again?"
"Maybe," he shrugged casually. "Depends on my mood."
With that, John produced another thick stack of cash, tossing it carelessly toward the bartender. "Keep the change—take your colleagues out for drinks. We were colleagues once, after all. We're only human, right?"
Emily's face flushed with anger. She knew exactly what John meant: he was indirectly accusing her of being heartless.
Outside the Victory Grand Hotel, John suddenly felt lighter. Finally, he clearly understood what kind of woman Emily Park really was. Breaking up with her wasn't something he should regret; in fact, it was something worth celebrating. It was just a shame he'd wasted five precious years and his first love on someone like her.
Yet, without loss, how could anyone truly appreciate the joy of gain? Perhaps the old man upstairs was fairer than he'd thought.
After this brief moment of reflection, John felt the urge to start something new.
After all, he'd promised Hades he'd be his agent on Earth. If he didn't start seducing beautiful women soon, he might anger Hades—and angering him was no laughing matter.
Since that was the case, his next girlfriend absolutely had to be stunningly beautiful. Not just gorgeous on the outside but elegant, sophisticated, and proudly unattainable. Conquering a woman like that would be a true achievement.
Were there women like that in Coastal City? Of course there were!
In Coastal City, there were three women that every man dreamed of:
Sophia Turner, the elegant and glamorous daughter of Heavenly Enterprises CEO Charles Turner.
Lily Stone, the city's most famous pop superstar, adored by millions.
And Isabelle Lawson, the dangerously alluring daughter of Victor Lawson, the city's most notorious mob boss.
These three were known as Coastal City's Three Beauties, especially Lily Stone, whose perfect blend of beauty, intelligence, and charm made her every man's fantasy.
Since he was now Hades' representative on Earth, John naturally felt obligated to pursue only the highest quality women available.
But who should he start with?
After careful consideration, John decided Sophia Turner was the best target to begin with.
After all, pursuing a superstar singer or a mobster's daughter might be too dangerous—even with his new powers, he wasn't invincible.
But Heavenly Enterprises was different. It was a legitimate company, a rising powerhouse in Coastal City's business landscape. With assets worth billions, it operated across industries including real estate, steel, automobiles, commerce, and logistics.
Pursuing Sophia Turner would be relatively low-profile, unlikely to attract attention—or knives. As for the other two beauties, he'd take things one step at a time.
The first step to winning her heart was getting close to her. The real question was: how?
Since being enhanced by Hades, John's mind had become incredibly sharp. A strategy quickly formed in his thoughts.
The next morning, John went to a high-end boutique and spent more than twenty thousand dollars, transforming himself head-to-toe. Confident and stylish, he headed straight for Heavenly Enterprises.
It really was true: clothes made the man. When John Knight strode confidently into Heavenly Enterprises dressed in his expensive new attire, the security guards at the door didn't just let him pass—they greeted him with respectful, even admiring glances. Comparing this to how he'd been treated at Victory Grand Hotel, John couldn't help but smile wryly.
"With clothes like these, even a pig could probably waltz in," he mused, then chuckled to himself—realizing he'd just inadvertently compared himself to a pig.
Shaking off his moment of self-mockery, John headed straight to the company's Human Resources Department.
The HR manager, Diana Moore, was a sharp-faced woman in her thirties, with high cheekbones, thin lips, and a stern expression that instantly branded her as shrewd and somewhat harsh.
Predictably, the moment John stepped through the door, Diana gave him a cold reception without even looking up. "Don't you know you're supposed to knock before entering?"
"I did knock," John replied evenly, unfazed. "Maybe you didn't hear."
At his casual defense, Diana's temper instantly flared. She'd been the HR manager for a long time, accustomed to wielding absolute power over ordinary employees—even if executive appointments were beyond her reach. Immediately, she decided that no matter what position this arrogant young man was applying for, she'd never let him through.
But that thought vanished the instant she looked up and laid eyes on John Knight. A different idea flashed vividly through her mind: There's something special about this young man.
She couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was—perhaps the confident gleam in his eyes or the subtle allure radiating from him—but it was enough for her irritation to vanish entirely. Suddenly, she no longer cared that he'd entered without permission.
Of course, Diana had no idea that since Hades had enhanced John's abilities, it wasn't just his strength but also his aura that had subtly transformed. Having finally overcome the emotional scars left by his ex-girlfriend, John had regained his confidence and appeared naturally charismatic, magnetic even.
Diana softened her tone, leaning slightly forward with newfound interest. "I'm Diana Moore, manager of Human Resources. May I ask…which position are you applying for?"
Noting Diana's sudden change in attitude after just a glance, John knew immediately that his plan was already paying off.
"Manager Moore, it's a pleasure," John replied smoothly, his voice warm and inviting. "I'm John Knight, and I'm here to apply for a security position."
Diana blinked, visibly startled. "Security? You're applying for a security job?"
She let her gaze travel slowly down his figure, lingering appreciatively over his expensive suit and impeccably polished shoes. Dressed like this, she wondered privately, he could easily pass for a department head—or even higher. But security? What an odd choice. He probably spent more on that suit alone than a guard makes in six months.
Naturally, John could read her thoughts perfectly, and he felt a sense of satisfaction. This was exactly the reaction he'd been aiming for.
With a confident smile, John continued, "Yes, security. But not just any security position. I've heard some inside information that the senior management at Heavenly Enterprises is looking to hire high-level security personnel—bodyguards, specifically. I'm here to apply as one of those specialized bodyguards."