The banquet hall buzzed with elegant conversation and clinking champagne glasses.
Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over tables draped in silk, while waiters glided between guests like well-trained ballet dancers.
Elena's father, Robert, led their family in quietly.
"Keep your voices low," he whispered. "Don't draw any unnecessary attention."
But within seconds, a sharp voice cut through the air like a whip crack.
"Well, well! Look what the cat dragged in!"
Elena's uncle, Richard Howard, strutted over with his daughter Sarah, both wearing smug expressions that could curdle milk.
"Richard," Patricia forced a smile. "How lovely to see you."
"Is it, though?" Sarah snickered. "I'm surprised you had the nerve to show your faces here after Elena's little embezzlement scandal."
"That's not what happened—" Elena began, but Richard cut her off with a dismissive wave.
"Oh please, spare us the sob story, niece. You stole company funds to pay for that street mongrel's mommy's medical bills. What kind of pathetic lapdog betrays her own family for a trash bag?"
"She’s been brainwashed by her crafty husband," Sarah added with a cruel laugh. "What a stupid woman!!"
"Where is your precious husband anyway?" Richard looked around mockingly. "Too embarrassed to bring him? Smart choice—nobody wants to see a rabid stray at a civilized gathering."
Elena's cheeks burned, but she remained silent.
"Since you've contributed absolutely nothing to this family except shame, you can't sit with the actual guests. The workers' table is over there."Richard pointed toward a corner table near the kitHoward. "More appropriate for your... status."
Patricia's face went pale. "Richard, surely you don't mean—"
"I mean exactly what I said," Richard's voice turned cold. "Sit with the help, where you belong."
This is humiliating.
Robert clenched his teeth, but he had no choice. They needed to stay in the family's good graces.
Just as they began their walk of shame toward the corner table, a commanding voice rang out.
"What's all this commotion?"
Everyone turned. Elena's grandmother, Margaret Howard, approached with her regal bearing intact despite her seventy-plus years. Her steel-gray hair was perfectly coiffed, and her emerald dress sparkled with authority.
"Mother!" Patricia's voice cracked with desperation and hope.
"Mother," Richard bowed slightly, suddenly nervous. "I was just... seating everyone appropriately."
Margaret's sharp eyes surveyed the scene. "And you thought my granddaughter and her family belonged with the staff?"
"Well, given their recent... difficulties..."
"Nonsense," Margaret declared, her voice cutting through Richard's stammering. "Elena, dear, come sit at the main table. We need to have a proper family discussion."
This was unexpected, suspicious
Elena frowned. Grandmother never defended them.
Patricia practically bounced with excitement. "Oh, thank you, Mother! “
She turned to Elena, whispered with satisfaction. “This must be all thanks to Vincent's influence!"
As if summoned by his name, Vincent appeared at Elena's side, flashing his most charming smile.
"Mrs. Howard," he bowed elegantly. "You look radiant tonight. Thank you for allowing me to join this wonderful celebration."
Margaret's face lit up. "Vincent! My dear boy, the pleasure is all ours. Richard, apologize to my guests immediately."
Richard's jaw dropped. "But Mother—"
"NOW."
Richard mumbled an apology like a scolded child, while Sarah looked like she'd swallowed a particularly bitter lemon.
As they settled at the main table, Margaret beamed at Vincent. "I must say, Vincent, your ability to secure the entire third floor for tonight's celebration is truly impressive. Even families twice our size have never managed such a feat!"
Vincent waved modestly. "It's nothing, really. When Elena's happiness is at stake, I'd move mountains."
"Such devotion!" Margaret clasped her hands together. "And I hear you're willing to invest in our family business? One hundred million, was it?"
"A small matter," Vincent nodded. "I actually discussed this with Elena before the banquet, though she seemed... hesitant."
Margaret's expression shifted, her eyes turning to Elena with growing coldness. "Hesitant? About what, exactly?"
Elena’s face turned pale. "Grandmother, it's... complicated."
"Uncomplicate it," Margaret's voice turned sharp as a blade.
Elena glanced around the table, seeing all eyes on her. She couldn't say this in front of everyone.
"Vincent didn't just want to discuss business," she said quietly. "He wanted... other things."
"Other things?" Margaret raised an eyebrow.
"He wanted to sleep with me," Elena blurted out, her face burning red.
The table fell silent.
Margaret stared at Elena for a long moment, then burst into incredulous laughter.
"And you refused? Do you realize what a blessing this is?"
Elena's mouth fell open. "Grandmother?"
"Vincent is offering you his affection AND helping our family! Most women would kill for such an opportunity!"
"But I'm married!" Elena protested.
"To a worthless street rat!" Margaret snapped. "Vincent is a real man—successful, powerful, generous!"
Sarah nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! You're being selfish and holier-than-thou, cousin. Put the family first for once!"
"It's disgusting how she puts her own prudish morals above everyone else's welfare," Richard added mockingly.
Elena looked around the table in horror. "Are you all insane? You want me to cheat on my husband?"
Margaret's eyes turned ice-cold. "If you don't agree to Vincent's proposal, you'll repay every cent you embezzled—today. All of it. Or I'll have you arrested for theft."
Elena felt the blood drain from her face.
That money was actually a dividend the company had long owed her, but her grandmother kept delaying the payment under various excuses.
When Karvel’s mother fell critically ill and urgently needed funds, Elena had no choice but to temporarily use that money.
She had planned to repay it as soon as she got through this difficult period—but she never expected her grandmother would use it as leverage to threaten her.
"Choose wisely, dear," Margaret sneered coldly. "Vincent's bed, or a prison cell. What's it going to be?"

Latest Chapter
Chapter 119
Patricia pulled the door open and saw her daughter standing outside. The evening sun had already started to fade, leaving a golden glow in the sky. Patricia’s focus was only on her daughter.Her face hardened the moment she saw her.“Why do you look so unkept?” Patricia asked, her tone sharp. Her eyes moved over Liza’s wrinkled dress, her scattered hair, and her pale face. She stepped aside, allowing her daughter to come in, but her voice followed like a whip. “Where are you coming from at this time of the day?”Liza walked past her quietly. Her steps were slow, and her shoulders looked tired, like she had been carrying the weight of the world. She dropped her handbag on the chair and turned, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.“Mother, please,” she said softly. “I need to rest.” She turned toward the hallway, eager to escape to her room.But Patricia would not let her leave so easily. She folded her arms and stood in the way.“What’s your problem? How can you be this useless?” Patricia
Chapter 118
Liza’s hands were shaking as she stood in the middle of the room. Her chest rose and fell, her breath sharp and uneven. She could feel her anger boiling, and it was too much to hold inside.“Do you think I will believe you,” she shouted, her voice breaking, “after you slept with my friends?”Her eyes burned with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm as she stepped closer to him.“Why did you do that?” she demanded, her words trembling. “Tell me, why, Israellight, why?” Her voice grew louder, almost a scream, raw with pain. She grabbed the collar of his shirt with both hands and shook him, as though shaking him would make him tell the truth.Israellight raised his hands, his face pale. His lips trembled as he tried to form words.“I swear,” he said quickly, “she only came here to see you… and then she left. That’s all. Nothing happened.”His voice was soft, shaky, filled with excuses. But Liza could hear the lie in it. She knew
Chapter 116
Karvel stood close to his grandfather, his eyes bright with excitement.“You don’t have to bother yourself, Grandfather. We can handle this. Look at me now—I’m fine. Nothing is wrong with me anymore,” he said quickly, trying to sound strong.Master folded his arms and gave Karvel a hard stare. His old eyes carried both love and strictness.“Do you know what, Karvel? You just relax and watch me do what I know best,” he said, his voice calm but firm.Karvel sighed and shook his head. “Grandfather, please… it’s just a minor issue. You don’t need to make it a big deal.”Master’s brows shot up, and he leaned forward, his voice sharper now.“Minor issue? Did you just call a kidnapping case a minor issue? Do you even understand what you are saying? Someone took you away, Karvel! Someone dared to lay hands on my grandson. You think that’s something small? No! The people who had the courage to kidnap you are still out there, watching, waiting, and planning. Don’t you understand? You are the on
Chapter 116
Karvel stood close to his grandfather, his eyes bright with excitement.“You don’t have to bother yourself, Grandfather. We can handle this. Look at me now—I’m fine. Nothing is wrong with me anymore,” he said quickly, trying to sound strong.Master folded his arms and gave Karvel a hard stare. His old eyes carried both love and strictness.“Do you know what, Karvel? You just relax and watch me do what I know best,” he said, his voice calm but firm.Karvel sighed and shook his head. “Grandfather, please… it’s just a minor issue. You don’t need to make it a big deal.”Master’s brows shot up, and he leaned forward, his voice sharper now.“Minor issue? Did you just call a kidnapping case a minor issue? Do you even understand what you are saying? Someone took you away, Karvel! Someone dared to lay hands on my grandson. You think that’s something small? No! The people who had the courage to kidnap you are still out there, watching, waiting, and planning. Don’t you understand? You are the on
Chapter 115
Master’s deep laugh echoed in the station. His voice carried a calm authority, the kind that made people stop and listen.“You know I don’t walk alone,” he said, raising his hand slightly. “Look around. There are guards everywhere.”The guards, who had been standing silently along the walls, shifted their weight. Their eyes scanned the room, sharp and watchful. Even without weapons in their hands, their presence alone was enough to remind anyone that Master was not a man to be approached carelessly.Morrison forced a smile. He had faced Master many times, but today felt different. There was something in Master’s tone, something colder, something heavier.“Master,” Morrison said, bowing his head slightly. “Tell me, what brings you here today?”Master’s gaze narrowed. “The thing you and Karvel refused to look into.” His voice dropped low, almost like a growl. “I have been working on it myself. I wanted to know who dared to kidnap my grandson—Karvel.”The words struck Morrison like a bla
Chapter 114
“Run after him! Get him!”The command echoed through the narrow street like thunder. Dozens of men sprang into action, chasing the figure darting ahead of them. Their heavy boots pounded against the ground, the sound mixing with sharp breaths and urgent shouts. The man they were chasing didn’t look back—he just ran, desperate, like an animal caught in a trap.He pushed through the crowd, bumping into people, knocking over baskets from market stalls. A woman screamed as her apples scattered across the road. The man didn’t stop. His shirt was torn, his face was sweaty, and fear burned in his eyes.“Don’t let him escape! get him” one of the policemen shouted. But the man was fast—too fast. He cut corners sharply, slipping into side paths, weaving around carts and children playing. The men chasing him kept shouting, but every turn he took bought him a few more steps of freedom.He reached a wider street, and his legs pumped harder. His chest rose and fell like a drum, his breaths sharp a
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