Charles hadn’t expected Bella to launch such a bold accusation in front of all these people.Moments earlier, the opulent ballroom had been alive with murmured praises for Sophia—her grace, her elegance, her success.Now it pulsed with scandal and suspicion.Sophia’s expression darkening. “How dare you do this, Miss Kane? You invited me here as your guest, and now you’re publicly accusing me of theft? If you really have evidence, show it. Otherwise, you owe me an apology.”Bella’s lips curved into a contemptuous grin.“For your information, I never invited you. You barged in like the desperate parasite you are. And evidence? Oh, sweetheart, I’ve got more than enough to bury you,” she purred, nodding toward the bodyguards.“All they have to do is look inside that tacky little purse you’re flaunting. Or would you prefer to drop the charade and confess right here, right now?”“After all, you had countless chances to sneak my bracelet back—ten million dollars’ worth, mind you—but here we

Bella arched her perfectly manicured eyebrow and, with slow deliberation, lifted her stiletto-clad foot.She wiped the streak of blood from its heel against Sophia’s mouth.Then she spat, full of contempt, right onto the woman’s fainted body.“Get her out of my sight,” Bella snapped, coolly flicking her gaze at the two bodyguards.“She’s not fit to breathe the same air as the rest of us. Make sure you two enjoy it.”Without hesitation, the guards each grabbed one of Sophia’s arms and began dragging her across the polished marble floor.Her battered, lifeless body smeared a faint streak of blood in its wake.A small knot of onlookers gathered—some wrinkling their noses, others letting out cruel, amused chuckles.“That’s what you get for trying to swipe something from Jericho Kane’s family,” one of them sneered.A middle-aged man, wine glass in hand, watched Sophia with open scorn.“If she was that desperate for money,” he drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips, “I would’ve written her a

Alex leaned back in his chair, casually stretching his arms as though bored by the whole ordeal.“Next,” he drawled, voice flat. He shot a cold glance across the room.“You, brown hair in the black suit. Get over here.”The man in the black suit stepped forward, trembling so hard it looked like his legs might give out.He risked a quick, apologetic glance at Bella.“I’m... I’m sorry,” he muttered. Then, in a jittery burst of courage or desperation, he raised his arm and slapped her.The crack of flesh echoed in the silence.Bella flinched, blood trickling at the corner of her mouth.Alex gave a dismissive yawn.“Move it along, people. Don’t make me do it for you.” He cocked his pistol and spun the barrel for emphasis.“From here on out, if anyone’s slow to follow orders—” he tilted his head to the side, eyes flashing menace.“—I won’t waste my time with warnings. I’ll just shoot.”A hush fell over the crowd.One by one, people inched forward, some grimacing with regret, others almost

“Um.” Everyone froze, eyes wide, as they watched Barbie fall to the ground, blood spilling across the floor.If they hadn't seen it themselves, they wouldn't have believed it.A legendary warrior—undefeated in the arena—now dead by a single bullet.Jaws dropped. No one could’ve seen this coming.They thought Barbie’s arrival would settle things. Instead, everything flipped upside down.“You!” Henry barked. “Don’t you have any honor? How could you use a gun in a fight?”“Good question,” Alex nodded, cool and sharp.“Why would anyone try to fight someone with a gun using their bare hands? Is she stupid? Most people run from a gun, not charge at it—unless she really thought she could win.”“She can’t!” Henry screamed.“She rushed me. I figured she could take it. So, I shot!” Alex snapped back.“Alright, Barbie, I’m sorry,” he added, his voice flat.“You bastard! What’s the use of your sorry? She’s dead now!” Henry shouted.Alex’s answer was another shot—this time grazing Henry’s thigh.H

They exchanged wary glances, each person unsure how to react.Minutes before Alex arrived, Jack had yelled loudly enough for half the hospital to hear him:“I don’t care if it was demons or damn gods who hurt Sophia—I’ll kill them all. I’ll burn the whole world down if I have to!”The others chimed in, bravado swelling like a rising tide. “Damn straight! I’ll give up my life if that’s what it takes.”But the moment they learned Jericho Kane’s daughter was behind the attack, every ounce of their fury vanished like smoke in the wind.Gods and demons? Sure, they were easy to hate—unseen, distant, nothing more than ideas.But Jericho Kane was flesh and blood, a man who could wipe out families on a whim.Suddenly, no one even dared to whisper a word of protest.Florence and the others grew restless, every one of them understand: messing with the Kane family was suicide.Even if they were spit on, kicked around like stray dogs, they had no power to fight back.“You won’t have to worry,” Ale