[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati":3,"chapter-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-321":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1410682,1864,"Chapter 321: Face Slapping","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-321",321,"\u003Cp>Chapter 321 – Face Slapping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front doors flung open like a tax audit with a grudge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click. Click. Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red heels. Sharpened nails. Hair pinned to high-fashion hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiera Ninevyn had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air pressure dropped. The scent of cherry wood, frostbitten orchids, and barely-contained wrath preceded her like a margin call in silk. Her tailored coat flared behind her like a cape, stormcloud-gray and cut to slice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips? Blood-red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expression? Murder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha barely turned in time to see the hand coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slap echoed like a stock crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira didn’t even flinch. She just went, \"Oof,\" and reached for a dumpling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux, meanwhile, swirled his wine and smiled with the satisfaction of a man watching market karma hit a fraud influencer’s crypto portfolio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—he didn’t like drama. Not usually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a correction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiera didn’t yell. She didn’t throw her purse. She didn’t hiss like a woman scorned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just stood there, tall and lethal, eyes locked on Aelitha’s fake-shocked face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You hijacked my phone,\" Fiera said, voice low, lethal, and composed. \"Used my name. My authority. To sneak into his party.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha staggered back, clutching her cheek like a mispriced designer bag. \"I—I just wanted to see him! You’ve been flaunting your connections—how am I supposed to compete?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compete?\" Fiera laughed coldly. \"You think this is a game? That you can just show up here, hijack my reputation, and pitch yourself like some bargain-bin dress rack?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I—\" Aelitha’s eyes shimmered, perfectly glistened like she practiced. \"I didn’t mean harm. I just... I wanted to meet Lux. I admire him. Everyone does. He’s incredible. Brilliant. Kind. And you—you hoard him like a brand deal. It’s not fair!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Kind?’ It almost made him laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just watched. Calm. Detached. The eye of the storm, sipping infernal wine while the female sector of his emotional portfolio self-regulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava leaned into Mira. \"Should we intervene?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira popped a shrimp in her mouth. \"Nah. Let the market correct itself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elyndra, tense beside her, whispered, \"Should we at least stop the slap-fest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira tilted her head. \"Only if it affects inflation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiera took a slow, perfectly balanced breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not a victim, Aelitha. You’re a thief. You tried to steal my time, my name, and my access—then pretended like you’re some wide-eyed innocent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t try to steal anything!\" Aelitha wailed, and yes, there were tears now. Big, performative, press-conference tears. \"I just wanted a chance. Just one chance. Is that so wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to Lux.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lux... please.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lux?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He met her gaze. Smiled gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re asking the wrong person,\" he said, voice warm, polite, lethal. \"I don’t handle emotional reimbursements.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked. \"W-What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured to Fiera. \"That would be the shareholder you need to file a complaint with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira choked back a laugh behind her wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira didn’t bother. She snorted, full volume. \"I like this man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lux,\" Aelitha tried again, stepping forward. \"Please. I didn’t mean harm. I didn’t even know she’d be upset. I thought you’d appreciate the gesture. I—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You impersonated authority,\" Lux said gently. \"And tried to manipulate a situation for personal gain. That’s not a gesture. That’s hostile acquisition. Very... unethical.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha faltered. \"But I love you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thicker than velvet. Sharper than Sira’s heels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux tilted his head. \"You love me,\" he repeated. Not a question. A ledger item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\" she whispered. \"I love you. I have. I just didn’t have a chance to say it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why use deception instead of honesty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. \"I—I didn’t think I’d get past your guards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux nodded, almost impressed. \"And you were right. Because normally, liars don’t get invites.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Lyra, who had silently reappeared like a bankruptcy clause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Escort Miss Aelitha to the west atrium,\" he said calmly. \"Make sure she’s comfortable until Fiera decides how she wants to press charges.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha froze. \"Wait. Charges? No, no, Lux—you can’t be serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not,\" he replied. \"She is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiera’s smile returned, diamond-hard and polished. \"Don’t worry. I’m just going to sue for brand defamation. Maybe fraud. Oh, and harassment of a contracted public figure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha turned pale. \"You wouldn’t...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m a Ninevyn,\" Fiera said sweetly. \"I invented PR war crimes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But he likes me!\" Aelitha screeched, pointing at Lux like he was a coupon she was owed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira hummed. \"Does he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira raised her glass. \"Prove it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi, who’d been sipping tea in elegant silence, finally spoke. \"If Lux liked you, he’d have let you stay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elyndra quietly slid her plate away. \"I... think I’m going to go powder my nose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux sighed. \"You don’t need to leave, Ely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ely smiled weakly and nodded, clearly unsure what the hell she’d walked into tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha tried again. \"I’m sorry. I’ll leave. Just please—don’t ruin me. I didn’t think it’d go this far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux smiled faintly. \"That’s the problem with people like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think the world owes you exposure. You treat people like platforms. Like numbers. Like clout tokens waiting to be spent. But me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward. Calm. Elegant. Dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not an opportunity. I’m the goddamn market. And you just tried to trade insider.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha backed up into Lyra, who politely but firmly placed a hand on her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go, Miss,\" Lyra said, tone pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aelitha was too stunned to argue. Tears still in her eyes. Mouth open like someone unplugged her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was led away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiera exhaled. Relaxed. Then turned to Lux.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You okay?\" she asked, voice lower now. \"I came as fast as I could.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux offered his hand. She took it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks for the... hostile takeover,\" he murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You deserved better,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He squeezed her fingers once. \"I already have better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them, the girls had gone back to nibbling food like nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira, deadpanned. \"Ten outta ten drama. Good arc. Weak ending.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira grinned. \"I wanted a hair-pulling scene.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi added, \"You’ll scare off every guest at this rate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux chuckled. \"Let’s hope so. I’d hate to think this party is scalable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1018,"2026-06-05T23:57:11.778Z",1,"novelbin.me","d14c9eacd7f1cce13df8140f26b7dbc3869a852dcf116c03a33f0e41bd43bb7c","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-322","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-320",878,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-cover.jpg"]