Hartford Group Headquarters - 3:47 PMMarcus Steel's BMW pulled into the Hartford Group parking garage, the engine's purr echoing off concrete walls. He'd just left Titan Group after declaring war on Golden Eagle Group, and now he was returning to face the vipers' nest that was Quinn's own family.As he walked toward the main entrance, two familiar figures blocked his path.Zachary Hartford stood there in an expensive three-piece suit, his aged face twisted into a satisfied smirk. Beside him sat Oliver Hartford in a wheelchair, his face still bruised and swollen from Marcus's beating days earlier, both legs in casts, but his eyes burning with vindictive glee."Well, well, well," Oliver sneered, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction. "If it isn't the great Marcus Steel. The nobody who married a Sacred Saintess and thought he could play with the big boys."Marcus stopped, regarding them with the same calm indifference he'd give to insects crawling on the sidewalk. "Oliver. Zach

Hartford Group Boardroom - 4:15 PMThe boardroom was packed beyond capacity. Twenty-three people crowded around the massive conference table, with more standing against the walls—every Hartford family shareholder, every board member who smelled blood in the water, every vulture eager to watch the Sacred Saintess fall.At the head of the table, Zachary Hartford sat in the chairman's seat like an enthroned king, his aged face radiating vindictive satisfaction. Oliver's wheelchair was positioned to his right, both legs in casts but his expression twisted with malicious glee.Tessa Hartford stood near the window, her sharp features animated with spite as she addressed the assembled crowd. "Today, we finally put an end to this farce! Quinn Hartford and her worthless husband have brought nothing but disaster to this company. It's time they learned their place—on the street where they belong!"Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room."The Sacred Saintess," Wesley Hartford sneered from

Quinn Hartford sat in the chairman's seat, her hands folded on the polished conference table, her expression a mask of cold indifference.But Marcus, standing beside her with one hand resting lightly on her shoulder, could feel the tremors of anxiety running through her Sacred Saintess aura—golden energy flickering nervously like candle flames in a storm.The entire Hartford family watched with predatory anticipation. Twenty-three pairs of eyes fixed on Quinn, waiting for her to crack, waiting for the announcement that would destroy her.Marcus pulled out the chair beside Quinn's and sat down, utterly relaxed, his dragon aura wrapping invisibly around her divine energy in layers of protective power."How dare you!" Zachary Hartford's voice cracked from his humiliating position on the tiny red plastic stool in the corner. His knees were nearly up to his chest, his expensive suit bunched awkwardly, but his eyes burned with vindictive fury. "You're not even a board member! You have no ri