Liam deepened the kiss, his hand sliding boldly down Vivian’s back to grab and squeeze her ass right in front of the watching crowd. Wolf whistles and cheers erupted around them, champagne glasses clinking in celebration of the spectacle. Rooted to the marble floor, Tony felt the divorce papers crumple inside his trembling fist. None of this felt real; it had to be some sick nightmare he would wake from at any second. Yet right before his eyes, the woman he had spent three years serving, enduring insults for, and loving unconditionally was being groped by another man—in their home, on their anniversary.When they finally broke apart, Liam grinned down at a breathless Vivian before turning to address the crowd with a theatrical flourish. "Well, I'd say that's what you call an upgrade, wouldn't you?" Waving a lazy hand in Tony's direction without bothering to look at him, he added, "Straight from the discount bin to the luxury collection."The room exploded with laughter, and several

"Doctor... who was it?" Tony pressed, his voice hoarse. "Who gave me the blood?"The senior doctor froze, his fingers tightening around the clipboard as though he had just been asked to speak a forbidden name. Glancing nervously toward the door, he swallowed hard and forced a shaky smile. "I... I am not in a position to mention that person's identity, Mr. Clark. However, you will see who it is very soon."Checking his wristwatch, the doctor suddenly lost all color in his face. "Good heavens, look at the time—I must go prepare for his arrival!" Hurrying toward the exit, he began muttering anxiously under his breath as if Tony were no longer in the room. "Everything has to be flawless... It was *his* car that accidentally hit the boy last night, and if anything goes wrong under my watch, my career is over..."The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Tony alone with a racing mind and the steady beep of the heart monitor. Hoping to distract himself, Tony reached for the bedside remote

"Holy shit, this is massive!!" The iron gates parted unveiling a private estate so vast that Tony couldn't see where the grounds ended. As the convoy of armored black SUVs moved up the sweeping cobblestone drive, he pressed his forehead against the tinted glass, his jaw slackening in pure awe. The Ragnar mansion wasn't merely a house; it was a palace carved from white marble and steel, rising five stories above acres of manicured gardens, tiered fountains, and tree-lined avenues. For three years, Tony had scrubbed the floors of the Clark estate thinking that was the pinnacle of wealth. Looking up at the Ragnar fortress, he realized the Clarks lived in a glorified shack by comparison. When the vehicles came to a halt beneath the grand portico, Daniel stepped out and guided Tony through the massive double doors into the main foyer. Inside, the ceiling soared three stories overhead, dominated by a cascading crystal chandelier that scattered warm light across the polished floors.

"Excuse me for a moment," Liam muttered stiffly to Tony and his father before seizing Vivian roughly by the wrist and dragging her away from the crowd. Pulling her into a secluded alcove behind a marble pillar, he glanced around nervously to make sure no one was within earshot."What the hell is wrong with you, Liam?!" Vivian hissed, yanking her arm free. "What are you doing yelling at me like that in front of everyone?""What am I doing?!" Liam whispered fiercely, his eyes wide with panic. "What the hell are you doing here, Vivian?! How did you even get past the gates?""I've been trying to call you all evening!" she shot back, frustrated and confused. "Why have you been avoiding my calls? And why didn't you send my family an invitation to this party?"Liam dragged a trembling hand down his face. "Because it isn't safe for you to be here tonight!"Vivian frowned, her anger giving way to bewilderment as she looked back toward the ballroom. "What is going on, Liam? Why is Tony dressed

Two Weeks Later...Tony’s eyes fluttered open slowly, the warm morning light of the private hospital suite filtering through the sheer curtains. Though a dull ache lingered beneath the fresh bandages across his chest and shoulder, his mind felt sharper than it ever had before. Turning his head against the pillows, he spotted Chris standing quietly beside his bed, bowing with deep respect."Welcome back, Young Master," the old butler murmured."Thank you, Chris," Tony replied, his voice calm and steady.Looking into the loyal butler's eyes, Tony’s mind drifted briefly back to the secret conversation they had shared right before the banquet went down.(Flashback)"You deserve to know the real truth about your mother, Young Master," Chris had confessed behind closed doors, his aged voice heavy with decades of sorrow. "After your birth, Elena was trapped in a deeply unhappy marriage. When she discovered the depths of Daniel’s greed, she threatened to divorce him and take back her family