Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation-Chapter 411: Pride Tax

Chapter 411 – Pride Tax

Sira bared her teeth in a smile sharp enough to draw blood. "You know me."

The stylists—already nervous from Lux’s presence—looked between them like they were witnessing gods bickering.

Ariel dared a glance, still red-eyed, and immediately felt that shift again—the way Sira seemed to glow with danger, like Pride was painted into her very skin.

Lux hummed. "Please tell me you didn’t kill him." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Not yet," Sira said breezily. "But I may have... adjusted his wallet size. He was very proud of that credit card until it spontaneously dematerialized."

The corner of Lux’s mouth twitched. "You robbed him?"

"Robbing is such a harsh word." Sira’s eyes glittered. "Let’s call it... a Pride tax."

Ariel made a small sound, something between a gasp and a nervous laugh, then clamped her lips shut.

Sira’s head whipped toward her immediately, eyes narrowing like a cat spotting a mouse. "And why are you crying?"

Ariel froze. Her throat closed. She wanted to disappear into the silk she was wearing, sink through the marble floor.

But Lux answered for her, voice smooth and cool. "Because Mariell Delmar couldn’t keep her mouth shut."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Sira’s smirk faded into something colder, sharper. "That bitch is here?"

"Was," Lux said simply.

Sira laughed once, dark and dangerous. "Oh, I almost regret not seeing that. Did you—" She tilted her chin at him, eyes dancing with wicked hope. "Did you break her?"

Lux’s jaw flexed. His gaze lingered on Ariel, who still looked small, fragile, eyes glassy. "...No."

That answer made Sira blink. Then her lips curled again, a little disbelieving. "No? You? Mr. Ruthless CFO, the man who can cut a soul to ribbons with a smile, just let her walk?"

Ariel flinched, the words twisting in her gut.

Lux didn’t even glance at Sira. His eyes stayed locked on Ariel as he said softly, "It’s not my revenge to take."

Ariel’s heart squeezed so hard it hurt.

Sira snorted, shaking her head. "Ugh, you’re sentimental." Then her gaze sharpened, flicking to Ariel. "Well. That means you get the honor, fish-girl."

Ariel blinked. "M-me?"

Sira’s grin was merciless. "Of course. You’re the one she used to kick around, aren’t you? You’re the one she thought was weak. So you’re the one who gets to destroy her."

Ariel’s breath caught, her whole body stiff.

Sira leaned in with that wicked, amused gleam. "If Lux or I do it, it’ll be an anti-climax. Not entertaining. Too predictable. But you? The little pearl she thought was breakable? You tearing her down will be the sweetest show in town."

Ariel’s lips parted, no words coming out. She looked between Lux’s steady calm and Sira’s ruthless delight, her chest squeezing with a mix of fear and... something else.

Lux didn’t argue with Sira. He just looked at Ariel, eyes dark but gentle, grounding her where she stood. "She’s right," he murmured. "The story only ends properly if it’s in your hands."

Ariel shivered, caught between terror and the first dangerous flicker of possibility.

Ariel’s lips parted, her voice faint. "I... I can’t..."

"You can," Lux interrupted, voice steady, calm, but heavy enough to ground her. His hand brushed down her arm, slow and deliberate, like every inch was a promise. "You will. When the time is right."

Her chest ached. Tears threatened again, but she forced them down this time.

Sira smirked. "Well, at least this will be entertaining."

Lux finally let go of Ariel, stepping back slightly. He glanced at the mountain of bags and boxes stacked neatly by the counter. "Are we finished here?"

The lead stylist, still pale from the tension, nodded quickly. "Everything is prepared, sir. We’ll deliver the rest to your estate directly."

"Good." Lux’s tone left no room for argument.

Ariel stood awkwardly, clutching the hem of her dress, cheeks still hot. She didn’t know how to feel—relieved, ashamed, grateful, terrified. A mess of it all tangled in her chest.

Sira stretched like a cat, utterly at ease. "So what’s next? Are we parading her through more mortal temples of vanity, or are we finally eating? I’m starving."

Lux shot her a look. "You’re always starving."

"Pride burns calories," she said sweetly.

Ariel couldn’t help it—she laughed. Soft. Nervous. But real.

Both Lux and Sira glanced at her, and Ariel instantly turned red again, looking down.

Lux smiled faintly, though. "Better."

He offered her his hand.

For a moment, she hesitated. Her old instincts screamed ’don’t take it, don’t be seen, don’t give them more to mock.’ But then she remembered Mariell’s words. Remembered Lux’s. ’It’s not my revenge. It’s yours.’

Her fingers slid into his.

And even though she was still trembling, it felt like the first step toward something she hadn’t believed possible.

Sira watched, eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, well. Looks like the little pearl has teeth after all."

Ariel flushed deeper, but Lux just smirked. "Not yet," he said quietly, leading her toward the door. "But she will."

The glass doors slid open and the morning sun light spilled over them like a spotlight. The scent of perfume clung to Ariel’s skin, mixing with the cool air outside, and she tried not to drown in the chaos of her own thoughts. Her arms were full of shopping bags—well, technically the attendants had taken most of them—but the weight of what had happened inside pressed heavier than silk or shoes.

Lux’s phone chimed, the faint glow of the screen reflecting against his sharp cheekbones. He glanced at it, thumb swiping lazily. Then he hummed, slipping the device back into his pocket. "Oh right. I just got a message from Rava," he said, casual, like he was announcing a lunch reservation. "The Avariel will meet us past noon. So yeah—we’ll go to the meeting point after this."

Ariel stopped dead in her tracks. Her breath hitched, a rush of panic and hope colliding all at once. "The... Avariel?" Her voice cracked on the name, too soft, too desperate.

Lux glanced back at her, expression calm but his eyes sharp, watching every tremor of hers like it mattered. "Your family," he confirmed. "Or what’s left of them. Don’t panic."

Don’t panic? Her knees nearly gave out. For years, she’d believed she had none. And now... to see them? To face them? She couldn’t tell if it would heal her or shatter her completely.

Sira, of course, ruined the moment with a wicked grin as she slid her sunglasses down her nose. "Oh, this is going to be fun. I love family drama. Almost as tasty as revenge."

Her heart slammed against her ribs, but for once, she believed him. She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.