Chapter 157: Max, the successor of the Bellini Empire.

Max noticed Luke talking to Mathias.

"Dad," he called as he approached him.

Both men turned and saw Max and Mila walking toward them.

Max leaned closer to his father and lowered his voice. "Mila isn’t feeling well. I’m taking her home. We came to say goodbye first."

Concern flickered across Luke’s face as he looked at Mila. "What happened to her?"

"Pregnancy exhaustion," Max replied. "She just needs some rest."

"What is it, young man?" Mathias asked curiously. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine," Luke answered before Max could speak. "He simply came to remind me of something."

"And what would that be?" Mathias asked, growing more intrigued.

"A big announcement."

Max and Mila exchanged puzzled glances.

Luke then turned toward Max. "I was planning to announce it tonight. Now seems like the perfect time."

Max immediately grabbed his father’s arm and whispered urgently, "But we want to leave."

Luke shot him a cold glare. "This party is for you, idiot," he hissed under his breath. "And you think you can leave early? Not happening."

Max’s jaw dropped. "But—"

"Don’t embarrass me," Luke warned sharply. "Go wait. I’ll be there shortly."

Max’s expression darkened instantly. Without another word, he turned away and pulled Mila along with him.

"What happened?" Mila asked in confusion.

But Max didn’t answer. His strides remained quick and tense.

Mila almost had to run to keep up with him. His tight grip made her wrist ache. "Max, stop... You are hurting me."

Those words reached Dominic’s ears.

Standing nearby and watching them carefully, rage nearly exploded inside him. He had thought Max was taking proper care of Mila. But now it seemed even Max was causing her pain.

Dominic almost stepped forward, but someone suddenly intercepted him. It was Luke’s assistant.

"Roman, come with me." The man pulled him aside hurriedly.

Dominic frowned. "What is it?"

"We have updates," the assistant whispered. "We should finish the job while Mathias is distracted here."

Dominic didn’t want to leave yet. But he had promised Luke he would help destroy Mathias. Right now, the mission had to come first. Later, he would return for Mila and take her away.

"Max," Mila snapped more loudly this time. "Are you even listening to me?"

Only then did Max realize how tightly he was holding her. He stopped immediately and loosened his grip, guilt flashing across his face.

"I’m sorry," he said quickly. "Did I hurt you? I... lost my temper because Dad refused to listen."

Mila frowned slightly. She had already sensed something was bothering him deeply.

"What did he say?" she asked softly.

"He said we can’t leave yet. That we have to stay for the announcement."

Mila sighed quietly. She already understood the kind of man Luke was.

Once he made up his mind, no one could change it.

"Alright. Calm down," she said gently.

"But you are not feeling well."

"I’m okay," Mila replied. "I can manage."

Max nodded reluctantly. "If you say so. But if you feel worse, tell me immediately. I’ll take you out of here this time, with or without his permission."

Before Mila could respond, Luke’s booming voice echoed across the hall.

"Everyone, please. Let’s welcome my son and his wife once again. Max, Mila... come here."

Max and Mila exchanged another confused look before walking toward him.

All eyes turned toward the couple.

Mathias quietly observed everything from the side while sipping his drink slowly.

Luke glanced proudly at Max before facing the guests. "I have an important announcement to make."

The moment those words reached Mila’s ears, her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress. She thought he was about to announce her pregnancy publicly.

"I’m very happy that my son has gotten married," Luke declared with a broad smile. "And his wife is expecting a child."

Excited murmurs instantly spread through the hall.

The three women who had seen Mila in the restroom earlier began whispering among themselves.

"She mentioned morning sickness earlier," one woman recalled.

"Yes, I remember," another agreed. "She looked very pale."

The whispers continued.

The guests looked delighted and surprised. Several of them immediately congratulated Luke.

"Congratulations, Luke. You are finally going to become a grandfather," someone said cheerfully.

Others quickly followed with their blessings and excitement.

Matteo and Felix stood in silence, fury burning inside them.

But Celeste merely smiled slyly, convinced the child would not survive for long. She could already imagine the devastation on Luke’s face when everything fell apart.

"So this was the big announcement?" one guest asked eagerly.

Luke chuckled. "No, no. The real announcement is still to come."

He motioned toward a man in a black suit.

The man approached respectfully and handed Luke a file before stepping back again.

Luke opened the file, satisfaction curling across his face. "I know all of you have been waiting eagerly, so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer."

He gestured toward Max.

"I hereby announce that my eldest son will become the successor of the Bellini empire."

Gasps erupted throughout the hall.

No one had expected such an announcement.

Matteo and Felix stared at their father in utter shock.

"This is insane," Felix muttered furiously. "How can he make that bastard the successor?"

"This is too much," Matteo growled. "I won’t accept this."

He stepped forward angrily, but someone grabbed his arm and yanked him back.

He turned sharply and saw Celeste glaring at him.

"Not now," she hissed. "Calm yourself."

"Mom?" Matteo frowned in disbelief. "Didn’t you hear what he just said? And you still want me to stay calm?"

"Don’t create a scene," Celeste snarled through clenched teeth. "You know your father. If you challenge him publicly, he’ll disown you without hesitation. We need to stay patient and plan carefully."

But Matteo was too enraged to listen.

"You know what? I can’t stay here after this."

He stormed out of the hall.

"I don’t want to stay either," Felix spat before leaving furiously as well.

"These idiots..." Celeste muttered bitterly under her breath.

Across the hall, Max stared blankly at the documents in his hands.

His father had truly made him the legal successor of the Bellini empire. Everything Luke owned would one day belong to him.

Max blinked in disbelief. "This is..." He slowly looked up at Luke. "I don’t want this. I’m a doctor. I know nothing about business."

"Max." Luke placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You are my eldest son. And among all my children, you are the most capable. No one deserves this more than you."

"I..."

"Don’t refuse." Luke’s voice softened slightly. "This is something I owe you and your mother. I know it can never erase the years you lost, the suffering you endured, or the life you were denied. But I want to secure your future. Accept it."

Max still struggled to process everything. The sudden decision left him deeply confused.

Mila gently held his arm. "Take it," she whispered. "This is his blessing."

Max looked at her before finally smiling faintly. His hesitation slowly faded.

"Okay," he said quietly. "I’ll accept it."

Luke grinned from ear to ear. "Good. Then sign the papers."

He handed Max a pen.

Max took it and signed the documents.

On the other side of the hall, Celeste clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Hatred and resentment radiated from her eyes.

’You think you can ignore me and my sons so easily?’ she thought venomously. ’You are wrong, Luke. Your precious son and grandson will die soon. And you... you’ll live long enough to mourn them.’

Suddenly, a man stumbled into the hall holding a knife.

"You monsters," he screamed hysterically. "I’ll kill every one of you."

The man wore an expensive black suit, but he looked utterly deranged. His hair was messy, his eyes bloodshot and wild. Veins bulged from his neck as he waved the knife frantically in the air.

He looked less like a businessman and more like a madman who had completely lost his sanity. Bloodthirst and hatred burned in his expression, as though he truly intended to slaughter everyone in front of him.

Panic exploded throughout the hall.

Guests screamed and scattered in every direction.

Mila was shoved harshly to the side. She nearly lost her footing but somehow managed to steady herself. Terrified and shocked, she searched the chaos around her.

She couldn’t find Max.

Luke was nowhere in sight either.

The screams of terrified guests almost deafened her.

"Max!" she called desperately.

But her voice was drowned beneath the chaos.

Suddenly, someone slammed into her from behind. Mila stumbled and crashed onto the floor. A sharp pain tore through her abdomen instantly.

"Uh..." she cried out, clutching her stomach tightly.

People rushed past her in panic, but no one stopped to help. No one noticed her pain.

Gritting her teeth, Mila tried to push herself up. But then she froze.

The crazed man was charging straight toward her.

"Ahh," she screamed in terror.

"You monster," he roared. "I’ll kill you."

He lunged at her, raising the knife high above his head.