"Did your father fail to discipline you, or did you simply grow up believing you could touch or run your mouth on whoever you pleased?" The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the executive office before anyone could fully process what had just happened.Jenny’s head snapped to the side, her cheek reddening instantly as silence fell over the entire room.Scarlett’s hand lowered slowly, her expression completely unchanged, as if what she had just done required no explanation.Jenny stood frozen for a brief second, her eyes widened with disbelief as she looked back at Scarlett, the shock far louder than the pain."You...." she started, her voice trembling slightly, but Scarlett did not allow her to continue."You will watch your actions and your words while you stand in my company, when you stand in my company, you abide by my rules.” Scarlett said coldly. "This is not your house, and he is not someone you get to lay your hands on."The room remained silent, not a single person move

"Ms. Scarlett, I’ve heard a lot about you," Charlie said as he stepped forward with a polite smile, his tone was carefully measured, as if he weighed every word before speaking. "I’ve always admired the way you handle your company. You could say… I’m a huge fan of you and your working style. In many ways, you’re a role model to me." Scarlett didn’t even try to hide her reaction.A faint scoff escaped her as she looked at him, her expression calm but laced with unmistakable disdain."I thought Jenny would be your role model," she replied coolly. "Considering how you’re practically glued to her all the time." The words landed lightly, but they cut deeper than imagined.Charlie’s smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before he recovered."It’s not like that," he said, as if he was in a rush to clarify, "Jenny and I are just close. She’s my best friend. Ethan is the one who always cared about her, but… he was never really there when she needed him. I only stepped in to help my brot

"Why do I always run into old men at strange moments like this?"Ethan’s voice was low, almost thoughtful, as he looked carefully at the man collapsed in his arms, his expression calm even as his instincts quietly sharpened.He did not hesitate, he never did when it comes to helping even a stranger.Gently Ethan reached for the old man's wrist, his fingers pressing lightly against the pulse point as his gaze focused, not hurried, not uncertain, but steady in a way that felt almost unnatural.The pulse was weak, irregular, and then the Dragon Ring grew warm.Not abruptly, or violently, but steadily, like something awakening in response to the situation.Ethan’s fingers paused for the briefest moment, then something changed, and all of a sudden, his awareness got sharpened.Details that should have required time to analyze unfolded instantly in his mind, patterns forming with a clarity that did not belong to ordinary experience.Breathing rhythm, muscle tension, and subtle imbalance ben

"Do you really think attending this party is a good idea?" Scarlett asked, her gaze shifting briefly toward Ethan as the soft glow of the chandeliers reflected in her eyes.Ethan gave a small nod, his expression calm as ever, as if the tension surrounding the place had nothing to do with him."Sometimes it’s good to keep an eye on people who are always keeping an eye on what you want," he replied. "We’re not here without an invitation, are we?"Scarlett lifted the invitation in her hands, Ethan let out a soft hum. "See? We have it, so we belong here." "Do whatever you want."Ethan raised an eyebrow with a curious look on his face, "Tell me one thing… don’t you want to know how the Carvendish family secured the investment?”Scarlett crossed her arms slowly, studying him for a moment longer than necessary as she said, "You surprise me more than you should."Ethan glanced at her, a faint hint of curiosity appearing in his eyes. "Like how?" "Like you acting as if you’ve completely cut t

"I apologize," Ethan said quietly, his voice steady despite the tension thick in the air, as he turned his gaze toward the old man, his expression calm yet sincere.Not out of obligation, but out of a sense of respect that stood in stark contrast to everything that had just unfolded around them.He did not bow his head in submission, nor did he lower himself in front of anyone, yet there was something in the way he spoke that carried a quiet weight, something that made his words feel genuine rather than forced."I’m not responsible for what they said," he continued in a composed tone, "but you had to hear all of it because of me, and for that, I apologize."The hall fell into a brief, and uncertain silence, the kind that did not come from peace, but from confusion, as if the direction of the situation had shifted without warning, leaving everyone unsure of what would happen next.The old man looked at Ethan, his eyes lingering on him with a faint softness, as if he was about to respon