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Michael leaned back, crossing one leg over the other and pouring himself a drink. “Lorenzo,” he said calmly, “I just saw Krystal out there in the club.”

Lorenzo’s head snapped toward him. “You want me to knock you out?”

Michael raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “I’m serious. Your ex-wife just walked in and took a table. I saw her with my own eyes.”

“She’s not my ex-wife!” Lorenzo growled. “We haven’t finalized the divorce yet.”

Michael just grunted and took another sip of his drink. “Sure.”

Lorenzo leaned back, grabbing another glass of whiskey. He downed it in one shot, exhaling slowly as the burn hit his throat. His posture tried to play it cool, but everything about him screamed tension.

“What’s she even doing here?” he muttered, trying to sound indifferent. “Maybe she’s just checking the place out… I haven’t seen her in a while. Where exactly did you see her?”

Michael bit back a smirk. He could see the fire under Lorenzo’s calm. “Come on, man. I’ll show you. She’s just across the main room. You’ll see I’m not lying.”

Lorenzo dropped his glass and followed. They moved through the corridor from the private lounge toward the open casino floor.

Across the room, Krystal was seated at a corner table, clinking glasses with Damion. She leaned in closer to him, her voice low.

“I don’t want people at the hospital to know I’m Astra,” she said quietly. “So when I come to help with patients or check in on things… can I just say I’m there to meet you?”

Damion frowned. “That kind of move eliminates your ability to do things publicly. The patients won’t know that they were diagnosed or treated by you so how’d you get the credit for it. It might not be a good idea.”

“I don’t care about credit,” she said, setting her glass down and pressing her hands together, pleading. Her tone softened into a girlish whine. “Please, just do me this one favor. It’s not a big deal, right?”

From a short distance away, Lorenzo had spotted her. He had just stepped out with Michael, close enough to hear her soft voice begging another man for a favor. His gaze narrowed when he noticed the two good-looking men sitting on either side of her.

“She’s really acting like I’m dead to her,” Lorenzo muttered under his breath, his eyes locked on Krystal. He huffed in disbelief. “Flirting with other men, asking them for favors, dressed like that? Going to clubs with random guys and drinking with them? Is this who she’s become?”

“Relax,” Michael muttered, giving his shoulder a quick pat. “Maybe it’s not what it looks like. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

But Lorenzo was already past reason. His breathing turned rough as he watched her laugh at something Damion said and pat his arm lightly.

He exploded. “She barely signed the damn divorce papers a few days ago, and she’s already flirting with some random guy?!”

He stormed forward without thinking, his anger erupting with every step. But Michael caught his arm and pulled him back.

“Lorenzo, stop. Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk here—but someone’s gotta say it. Stop getting pissed off every time shedoes something you don’t like. You already signed the divorce agreement. She's not yours anymore. She’s now your ex-wife!”

Lorenzo’s eyes flared with rage as he yanked his arm free and grabbed Michael by the collar, getting right in his face.

“Are you trying to get buried alive tonight?” he snarled.

Just then, Larry showed up, eyeing the two men. “Whose ex-wife are we fighting over?”

Michael yanked himself free and shot him a glare before turning and walking back to the private lounge.

Larry looked between the two of them in confusion, then turned to Lorenzo, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

“Come on. It’s a casino. Why are you both so tense tonight?”

Lorenzo didn’t move at first. His eyes stayed on Krystal, his body still burning with fury. But Larry tugged him along, pulling him away. Even as they walked back, Lorenzo kept glancing over his shoulder at her, jaw tight, hands balled into fists.

Back in the lounge, Michael was already drinking when Lorenzo and Larry joined him. They sat down, each of them picking up a glass.

After a few minutes, Lorenzo turned to Larry. “Did you manage to get the footage from two years ago yet?”

Larry shook his head. “Still working on it. It’s been tough, but I asked my friend Dante to help. He’s got better resources. We should get it soon.”