Elise sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Across from her, her parents stood shoulder to shoulder like a united front.Elise’s mother was the first to speak, her tone sharp with disappointment.“We both saw it,” she said flatly. “With our own eyes.”Her father nodded, arms crossed. “There was hardly any attempt to hide it either.”Elise lifted her head slowly. “Saw what?”Her mother let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Don’t play dumb, Elise. Your so called Benjamin. He left together with that woman. Iris Reed.”The name landed heavily in the room.Elise’s fingers tightened unconsciously.Her father stepped forward a half step, voice stern. “She had the effrontery to step foot in my house and that Benjamin—both of them acting like a couple!”“That doesn’t mean anything,” Elise said quickly, though her voice lacked its earlier firmness.Her mother’s expression hardened. “Doesn’t mean anything? Elise, don’t insult our intelligence.”“He could have b

The atmosphere inside the fencing club had not settled in the slightest.If anything, it had grown heavier.The echo of clashing blades still seemed to linger in the air, mixing with disbelief, resentment, and poorly concealed hostility. The spectators who had arrived expecting a one-sided spectacle now stood caught between confusion and indignation, many of them unwilling to accept what they had just witnessed.Terence Lin however, broke the silence first.He slowly straightened his posture, adjusted his fencing jacket, and exhaled through his nose as if grounding himself. His earlier shock was gone now, replaced by a familiar cold composure. The kind that came from a lifetime of privilege and control.“I suppose,” Terence said calmly, his voice carrying across the venue, “there’s no need to dwell on the details anymore.”Several people leaned in, eager for his next words.Terence turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on Iris Reed. His eyes were sharp, evaluating, detached.“To

“If that’s your decision,” he said coolly, “then so be it.”His eyes returned to Iris, sharp and cutting.“You’ve made your choice. And that choice is your loss.”The words landed with a finality that left no room for response. Terence Lin did not wait to see if Iris would say anything back, nor did he spare Benjamin another glance. He turned on his heel, the polished soles of his shoes striking the floor with crisp, measured steps, and began to walk away from the center of the venue.For a brief moment, the fencing club hall was unnaturally quiet.Then the murmurs started.At first, they were low and cautious, as though people were unsure which side to take now that Terence Lin himself had withdrawn. But silence never lasted long in a crowd hungry for judgment. Whispers grew into comments, and comments quickly sharpened into open disdain.“Tch. What a disgrace.”“So that’s Iris Reed for you. Shameless.”“Dragging a nobody like Benjamin into this just to embarrass Terence Lin. Does sh

As the echoes of the earlier confrontation slowly faded, the fencing club began to empty. The once-packed venue, buzzing with heated whispers, gradually thinned as guests filtered out in small groups. Some left still arguing, others shaking their heads, and a few casting lingering glances back toward the piste where the outcome they had just witnessed continued to gnaw at their pride.Iris stood near the edge of the venue, shoulders finally relaxing for the first time that night.Only when she was certain Terence Lin and his entourage were gone did she let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. The tension that had wrapped itself around her chest like iron bands loosened, leaving behind a faint tremor that ran through her limbs.She reached for her phone with slightly unsteady fingers.Her father’s name sat at the top of her message list.Iris typed quickly, keeping her words brief but reassuring.I’m safe. Everything’s resolved for now. I’ll explain later.She h

Reed Peters took a step forward.Then another.And then, to Iris’s horror, he dropped to his knees.The sound of fabric brushing against stone echoed clearly in the quiet courtyard.Benjamin froze.So did Iris.“Dad!” Iris cried out, rushing forward. “What are you doing?! Get up!”Reed Peters did not move.Instead, he lowered his head deeply, his back straight despite his kneeling position, and spoke in a voice heavy with emotion.“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you… for saving my daughter.”For several heartbeats, the world seemed to stop.The night breeze stirred the leaves lining the estate walls, but Iris could hear nothing over the pounding of her heart. Her mind refused to accept the sight before her. This was her father. Reed Peters. The CEO of Trinity Corporation. A man whose name alone carried weight in boardrooms and government offices alike. A man who never bent his back to anyone.And now he was kneeling.To Benjamin.Iris stood rooted in place, her fingers trembling as she r