THWACK!THWACK!"Hngh..."A muffled groan escaped Iris' lips as the heavy kicks landed squarely on her back. The impact forced her body to tremble violently.Even so, she refused to let go. Her arms tightened around Helena as she curled herself over her mother like a human shield, taking every blow herself."Mom..." She shut her eyes tightly. No matter what, she would never let them hurt her mother again.Victor's expression darkened. Seeing Iris shielding Helena so desperately, he was forced to stop. But the fury in his heart only burned even hotter. His face twisted with hatred."Drag her away!" His furious roar echoed through the living room."Yes, sir!"Several bodyguards immediately rushed forward. One grabbed Iris' shoulders. Another pried at her arms. A third seized her waist."No!" She cried desperately. "Let me go!"She clung to Helena with every ounce of strength she had left. "I won't let go! I won't!"Unfortunately, she was only one woman. Against several trained bodyguard

"You—!" Iris gritted her teeth. Her fingers tightened around the agreements until the papers became wrinkled.She hesitated. Not because she wanted to sign... But because she knew these people too well.Even if she surrendered everything... Would they really keep their promise?No.People as shameless as Julian and the Blackwell family would only become greedier. Who knew what other schemes they still had waiting for her?Julian's patience finally ran out. His expression gradually darkened. Without another word, he casually flicked a finger. "Hit her.""Yes, Young Master."SMACK!The bodyguard stepped forward and slapped Jasmine across the face with tremendous force."Ah!" She cried out miserably. Her head snapped violently to one side. Blood immediately trickled from the corner of her mouth. Even her nose began bleeding."Aunt!" Iris instinctively struggled forward.But before she could take more than one step, the surrounding bodyguards immediately restrained her once again.She cou

Challenging someone like the Legendary Warlord was no different from smashing an egg against a rock. There could only be one outcome. Complete destruction.Even so, Iris remained unwilling to surrender. Her fingers tightened around the two agreements in her hands, but she couldn't bring herself to sign either of them."Are you still refusing to give up?" Julian finally snarled impatiently. His eyes darkened with fury as he stared at her stubborn expression. "Or do you still believe Veyron will come here and save you?"Iris remained silent. But sometimes, silence was an answer in itself.Seeing the faint trace of hope still lingering in her eyes, Julian felt as though something had stabbed directly into his heart.Even now... Even after everything he had shown her... She was still waiting for that bastard!"You're too naive!" His fists clenched tightly by his sides. His voice rose with fury. "You really think he'll come here and save you? Tsk!"He stepped forward.THUD!His expression

Julian felt increasingly unnerved by Veyron's attitude. From the moment the man stepped into the villa, he hadn't shown even the slightest hint of fear.Instead, he stood there calmly, as though everything happening around him was nothing more than a mildly entertaining show. That indifference only infuriated Julian further."Very well." He snorted coldly. "Then you'll see for yourself whether I have what it takes."He gestured toward Director Collins, who stood proudly beside him. "Veyron, do you know who this man is?"Veyron's gaze shifted lazily toward Collins. He looked at him briefly. Then, as though completely unimpressed, he shifted his gaze away. Julian naturally mistook his silence for ignorance. "He is Director Collins, the head of Highmont's Quality and Standards Bureau!" His voice carried undisguised arrogance. "With just one word from me, he can investigate Raven & Radiance and shut down your precious wife's company!"The Blackwells immediately looked toward Veyron. They

Veyron calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out the business card Charles Mercer had given him earlier that day. His gaze swept across the number printed on it. He entered it into his phone and pressed the call button.However, just as his finger pressed the call button, a burst of mocking laughter erupted throughout the living room."Hahaha!" Catherine covered her mouth dramatically. "Don't tell me you're actually calling someone for help?"She looked Veyron up and down with undisguised contempt and disdain. "And who could that possibly be?" Victor immediately joined in. "Exactly! Who could a wretched lowlife like you possibly know?"Grandfather Blackwell shook his head slowly, chuckling as though he had just witnessed something incredibly amusing. "You really don't know when to give up."Even Julian's lips curled into a mocking sneer. But Veyron ignored them completely. The phone continued ringing.Once. Twice. Three times. But there was no answer. Veyron glanced at the screen