Preston Montgomery leaned down over the mahogany conference table, his shadow falling across Dame Beatrice like a predatory bird. A cruel, calculating glint danced in his eyes as he offered a smile that didn't reach his face."I truly believe Serena Montgomery is the most suitable candidate for this negotiation, Grandmother," Preston said, his voice dripping with feigned sincerity. "She has that... delicate touch. Perhaps the new President of Zenith Media is tired of aggressive corporate types. A woman's perspective might be exactly what the Montgomery family needs to break the ice."Dame Beatrice doted on Preston; his word was practically law in her eyes. She leaned back in her high-backed chair, her sharp gaze shifting toward Serena. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, the matriarch gave a slow, imperious nod."Serena," the old woman said, her voice thin but absolute. "Since Preston has such confidence in you, you will represent the Family Office a

The golden chandeliers of the grand ballroom at the Harbor Grand vibrated with the hum of high-society chatter, but the air around the Montgomery party was sharp enough to draw blood. Daphne Davenport, the Davenport Heiress, stood with an icy, statuesque poise that commanded the attention of every power broker in the room. In Manhattan, a Davenport didn't just walk into a room; they occupied it by right of ancient capital and generational influence.Vanessa Sterling watched the scene unfold with a rising sense of panic. She was acutely aware of the social hierarchy at play. To Dame Beatrice, the Davenport Heiress was a living deity—a gateway to the kind of elite jewelry trade that could propel the Montgomery Clan from the "strivers" list to the "titans" list. If Liam Livingston so much as breathed incorrectly in her presence, the fallout would bury Serena Montgomery's hard-won reputation under a mountain of scandal.Liam, however, was currently the eye of the storm.

"It's no trouble at all, Grandmother. For the sake of the Montgomery name, I'd endure any amount of hardship! I'm a team player," Preston Montgomery said, puffing out his chest with a nauseating display of false humility. He leaned in closer to Dame Beatrice, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial but loud hum. "By the way, I heard through the grapevine that Zenith Media just signed a sensational new talent named Sophie Summers. I'd like to take the initiative tomorrow and negotiate the exclusive PR and image-packaging contract for her on behalf of the family. What do you think?"In Preston's mind, the heavy lifting was over. Now that Serena Montgomery had somehow cleared the path and established a baseline partnership with the Industry Titan, the follow-up contracts would be low-hanging fruit. He viewed this as his golden opportunity to reclaim the spotlight. If he could secure the Sophie Summers deal, he knew Grandmother would conveniently forget Serena's involvement and cred

The term "Young Master" hit the grand ballroom like a physical concussion.The Montgomery Clan, who had spent the last two years treating Liam Livingston like a stray dog, found themselves in a state of absolute psychological collapse. The air in the room seemed to vanish. Even the most cynical of the relatives stood with their mouths agape, their minds racing to reconcile the image of the "useless" man on the Rusted Moped with the reverent, almost fearful expression on the face of Ulysses Yates.Gunnar, the hotel manager who had been Ulysses' right hand for a decade, felt his knees turn to jelly. He had seen the Proprietor deal with governors, cartel bosses, and multi-billionaires with the cold detachment of a stone statue. To see him lose his composure, to see him look as if he were on the verge of tears, was a sight that defied all logic."Young Master?" Liam echoed, his voice low and carrying a warning edge. He felt the weight of a hundred gazes burning into him.<

Liam Livingston watched the internal struggle play out across Chloe Chase's face. She looked like a cornered animal, caught between the crushing weight of her own vanity and the terrifying reality of her husband's impending unemployment. Around them, the elite clientele of the Lumina Corp headquarters slowed their pace, their eyes flickering with the cold curiosity of those who enjoy watching a social execution.Chloe's face turned a shade of bruised plum. She looked at the floor, then at the polished toes of Liam's shoes, and finally, she forced the words out through a throat that seemed constricted by invisible wire."Daddy..." she whispered, the word sounding like a lead weight hitting the marble floor. "Please, Daddy... I'm begging you. Don't let my husband lose his job. We... we can't afford to lose this."Liam Livingston let the silence hang for a long, agonizing moment. He felt no pity, only the cold satisfaction of a debt finally collected. He had spent years