Mara stepped back, her eyes wide with bewilderment. She could not understand how Lana and Cade were standing inside the exclusive banquet hall. She had just watched the security guards kick them out.Lana strutted forward, her glittering gown catching the crystal chandelier light. She looked at Mara like a hawk looking at an injured mouse."Surprised to see me?" Lana taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "Did you really think a lowly director like Paige could keep me out? We entered with the personal help of Manager Kirk. He is a senior executive at Mercer Group. His authority is infinitely higher than whoever is helping you."Lana crossed her arms, a triumphant smirk on her face. "Manager Kirk already gave us the inside scoop. The massive ten-million-dollar contract tonight will definitely be mine."In reality, Manager Kirk was nothing more than a mid-level pencil pusher. He had secretly peeked at a confidential document on Director Paige's desk earlier that day. He had seen the na

The entire banquet hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Hundreds of the wealthiest, most powerful people in the city stared at the woman in the tailored white executive suit.Paige stood tall, her presence radiating absolute, terrifying authority. She was the public-facing head of Mercer Group. Every single massive financial decision, every billion-dollar acquisition, and every single contract in the company required her personal signature.When Manager Kirk saw her face, all the blood instantly drained from his body. His knees began to shake uncontrollably.Kirk was just a mid-level manager who owned a fraction of a percent of shares. Compared to Paige, he was nothing more than an ant. He had absolutely no idea she was going to attend the banquet tonight. She rarely appeared at these public events."P-President Paige," Kirk stuttered, his voice cracking. He immediately lowered his head, not daring to look her in the eye. "I... I didn't know you would be here."Paige ignored h

Mara trembled violently, but she forced herself to speak. "Leave me alone! I never agreed to marry you!""You didn't have to agree," Vaughn sneered, stepping closer. "Your stepmother and your own father agreed for you. They eagerly took a ten-million-dollar contract from my company in exchange for your body. You belong to me!"Hearing this, Lana burst into cruel laughter from the sidelines."You are so lucky, Mara!" Lana mocked loudly, absolutely thrilled to see her sister suffer. "Vaughn Croft's family is quite wealthy! That is much better than trying to run a business on your own! Just go with him and be a good little pet!"Vaughn stopped. He slowly turned his head toward the sound of Lana's voice.His eyes darkened with absolute, murderous hatred. He remembered the excruciating pain of his bones snapping. Although his underground family was slightly inferior in wealth to the Hayes Family, he was his father's only son. His hands had been completely crippled. He was permanently disab