The entire plaza had gone quiet again, and the massive glass domes above seemed to reflect the growing tension down below. Avery was standing just a little bit apart from the rest of the group. She wasn't exactly hiding, but she looked distant, like her mind was miles away from the fight happening in front of her.Chloe noticed it immediately. She let out a nasty smirk and nudged Edward with her elbow. “Well, look at that,” she called out mockingly, her voice echoing off the marble. “Standing in the corner now, Avery? What’s the matter?”Avery didn’t even look up. Chloe folded her arms, feeling bold. “What’s wrong? Are you finally ashamed because that Bugatti isn't actually yours?”Avery stayed silent, her head lowered as she stared at the ground. She was clearly struggling with everything she had just learned about Robert. But Anna wasn't about to let Chloe have the last word. She stepped forward, looking completely bored.“Oh, please,” Anna said casually. Chloe spun around, her eyes

The lobby of the Bullion Empire had gone dead silent. It was the kind of quiet that makes your ears ring. Andrew Schmidt and Barry Sanders— the kind of men whose names alone can cause stock markets to crash or skyrocket— were still bowing deeply before Robert.Everyone in the watching held their breath and their jaws were wide open in shock.The small army of supporters the Emmetts had brought with them stood there like statues. You could see the smug looks on their faces just disappearing, replaced by a confused, wide eyed stare.“Why are they bowing?” someone whispered in the back. “This has to be some kind of huge mistake...” another voice added, sounding shaky.Morris Emmett’s jaw went tight, his veins became visible on his head. His fingers curled into his palms so hard his hand started twitching. In his mind, he was screaming that this was impossible. This kid was a nobody. An outcast. How could he have these titans at his feet?Robert’s voice finally cut through the heavy air.

The entire lobby of the Bullion Empire seemed to shrink until there was nothing left but Anna. Every single eye in the room was pinned on her. Every breath was held. Even the air felt thick.Morris stood there like a statue made of ice. Jane’s hand was trembling as her fingers dug into the leather of her expensive handbag, and Edward’s jaw was clamped so tight it looked like his teeth might crack. Chloe looked like she was about to hit the floor in a dead faint. To them, this wasn't just a bad day— it was an impossibility. It was a glitch in the universe.Anna stood perfectly calm beneath the weight of their stares. She didn't look like the shy girl from school anymore. She looked like she had finally stepped into the light. And then, she did something that made them shiver.She smiled.It wasn't a nervous smile, and it wasn't a shaky one either. It was a beautiful, confident beam— the look of someone who had known this exact moment was coming since the day she was born.“Yes,” Anna

Edward’s chest was heaving up and down with pure, unfiltered rage as he pointed a shaking finger directly at Robert’s face. The silence of the lobby made his voice sound even louder, echoing off the high marble walls like a roar.“You did this!” he screamed, his eyes bloodshot. “You’ve been plotting this from the very beginning, haven't you? You’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to stab us all in the back!”Robert didn’t move. He didn't blink. He didn't even change the way he was breathing. He just stood there, watching Edward spiral out of control.Edward took a step closer, the spit flying from his mouth as his anger boiled over. “You came into our family with absolutely nothing! You were just a bastard with no name, no background, and no protection. We tolerated you! We were the ones who let you stay under our roof when nobody else wanted you!”Jane, still on her knees, started nodding her head furiously. “Yes! That’s right! We were the ones who fed you! We allowed you to exis

“No. No, I don’t believe it! I don't see anything!” Edward said, pointing a trembling finger at Robert’s chest. “You are not the Graham heir. You can’t be!”The words were sharp and full of a desperate, terrifying panic. “You are a nobody, Robert! You came from a gutter somewhere with nothing but a wild imagination. You’re just playing a stupid act!” He spun around to look at Anna, his eyes bulging.“And I don’t know why you’re playing along with this pathetic nonsense, Anna! Tell them the truth!”Before Anna could even open her mouth to defend her brother, Andrew Schmidt moved. He moved fast. The sound of his expensive, polished shoes echoed against the marble like a drumbeat as he closed the distance between himself and Edward in a heartbeat.“What did you just say?” Andrew’s voice wasn't diplomatic anymore. It wasn't the voice of a businessman. It was cold, sharp, and incredibly dangerous.Barry Sanders stepped up right beside him, his expression was dead serious. “Who do you think