Everyone in the room turned to look as Lara walked forward. She looked powerful and important. Her eyes were angry as she stared at Mr. Lorenzo."Who do you think you are to try to hurt him?" she said angrily. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"Mr. Lorenzo's face turned pale as he recognized her. His hand stopped in mid-air, and the guards quickly stepped away from Ethan."Ms. Blackwell," he said nervously, no longer acting proud. "I thought you'd be arriving with Chairman Aurelius."People in the crowd started whispering to each other, looking confused. Lara Blackwell was the famous General Manager of Aurelius Conglomerate. Why was she protecting someone like Ethan?"Back off," Lara ordered the guards in a voice that no one would dare argue with. "Now!" "There's been a mistake," Mr. Lorenzo said, trying to save face.Damian and Vanessa looked at each other with worry. They weren't smiling anymore."A mistake?" Lara laughed in a cold way. "I think the only mistake is tha

Mr. Richard's words hung in the air like a threat. Everyone held their breath, waiting for what would happen next. Lara stood her ground, the handkerchief still pressed against her nose. The blood had stopped, but the sting remained—along with her anger. "Is that so, Mr. Richard?" she finally said, her voice steady despite the throbbing pain in her face. "You think I'm unqualified?" The room fell silent. He chuckled. "Seriously? You already know you are. So, why are you asking me?" She gave him a sly smile. "Mr. Richard, I think you're crossing a line here." "Crossing a line?" he repeated, glancing around the room. Several board members and executives nodded, showing they had his back.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ "This... spectacle... is exactly why some of us always question your position here." Her jaw tightened as she dabbed the last spot of blood from her nose with the handkerchief. "Are you quite finished?" she asked calmly. Her composure seemed to irritate him further. He

"Mr. Ethan," Mr. Chen said, extending a hand with a confident smile. Ethan’s sharp eyes met his, and he took the offered handshake, his grip firm. "I don't think you mentioned your name earlier," Ethan replied, smiling. Mr. Chen chuckled. "Chen... Chen Wei. A name you might start hearing more often. I believe we’ll be seeing each other very soon." Ethan studied him, noting the confidence in his tone. There was no arrogance, just certainty—like he already knew their paths were bound to cross. "Hmm. Why are you so certain we will?" Ethan kept his brows furrowed, feigning confusion. "Let's just say I recognize potential when I see it," Mr. Chen replied, taking a sip of his champagne. "Besides, I think you and I could have some mutually beneficial conversations about the future." Ethan chuckled, tilting his head with a smirk. “I think you’ve got me confused with someone else, or maybe you just have a really skewed view of who I am.” “Have you forgotten that I’m just a broke nobody

Damian’s rage-filled eyes locked onto Vanessa’s, suddenly attentive. "This might be a test by the chairman," she clarified with a smile. "Think about it—this humiliation, this public spectacle. It's exactly how the old guard weeds out the weak. They push to see who breaks and who pushes back harder." "And maybe..." She tilted her head. "He wants to see how you'll manage the situation before deciding whether to sign the deal or not. From what I heard, the chairman has unconventional ways of approaching things." She traced a finger down his tie. "And we both know you’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, have you?" Her words penetrated the fog of his anger, and a slow smirk crept onto his lips. "That’s the only explanation for this. Because why else would Mr. Chandler, the manager from earlier, and that lady humiliate us all because of Ethan?" She added. He scoffed coldly, disgust creeping into his expression. "Ethan being the reason I was humiliated? How pathet

As soon as Magnus stepped in with the guards, a heavy silence blanketed the room as conversations died mid-sentence. People instinctively lowered their gazes, as if the very air had grown too thick to breathe. Some clutched their hands together tightly, shoulders hunched, avoiding even a glimpse of his face—as if looking at him directly might bring punishment. He didn’t just enter the hall—he took control of it. The very air seemed to shift around him, expanding and contracting with his every step, as if the space itself recognized his presence. Damian and Vanessa exchanged smug glances as they watched Ethan and Lara bow to Magnus. Vanessa leaned toward Damian and whispered, "Let’s see how he handles this. Though, honestly, I hope he tears them apart." She smirked, casually flipping her hair over her shoulder before locking eyes with Ethan. "You’re done, loser," she thought, her smile widening as she held his gaze. As Magnus approached Ethan and Lara, Damian grinned in anticipa