THE UNSEEN HEIR

How Dare You Touch My Woman?

Before Chloe turned to walk away, she stepped closer to Lorenzo. The heavy, overwhelming scent of her designer perfume filled his senses as she leaned in, her lips almost brushing his ear.

"Look, Lorenzo," she whispered, her voice a low, sultry purr meant for his ears alone. "If you really don't want to let go, I'm not entirely heartless. I could still let you be my lover on the side. I’ve always really liked your physique, and honestly, you have a gorgeous face. But I'm the Hawthorne heiress now. To consolidate my power and secure my future, I have to choose a marriage partner who actually brings real assets to the table. You understand, right?"

Lorenzo felt a wave of profound disgust wash over him. He looked at the woman he had cherished for five years and realized she was utterly hollow.

Without a word, he looked down at the massive bouquet of red roses Justin had given her, which he happened to be holding after the confrontation.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the expensive flowers into a nearby trash can.

Then, he reached down to his left hand and violently pulled off the simple silver band on his finger—the matching couple ring they had painstakingly designed and made together at a local workshop. He hurled it straight at Chloe’s chest. It struck her collarbone with a sharp clink before bouncing into the dirt.

"The Hawthorne family is truly unfortunate to have someone like you," Lorenzo said, his voice ringing out with fury. "The family's reputation will be completely ruined by you. Remember this, Chloe, and remember it well: it’s not you breaking up with me. It’s me dumping you. Now get lost."

Chloe staggered back a half-step, her face flushing red with humiliation as several onlookers gasped. She stomped her designer heel right next to the discarded silver ring. "Don't you ever say you're my ex-boyfriend in the future! It would be too embarrassing to admit to my social circle."

With a dramatic toss of her hair, she linked her arm tightly through Justin’s. They walked away arrogantly, their heads held high as the crowd parted for them.

Watching her departing figure, Lorenzo slowly raised his left hand. He rubbed a heavy, intricately carved emerald ring resting on his finger. The cool stone grounded him, dragging his mind back to a memory from five years ago.

Back then, his family’s loyal butler, Thomas, had taken him to a private, heavily guarded room to meet the aging patriarch and head of the Hawthorne family. The old man had knelt before Lorenzo, bowing his head in absolute reverence.

“Young Master Lancaster,” the old man had said, his voice trembling as he looked at the green stone. “This emerald ring is the ultimate token of your family's authority over ours. The Hawthorne family exists entirely to serve your lineage. Whomever you choose to favor with this token will instantly become the undisputed heir of the Hawthorne family.”

Standing in the courtyard, Lorenzo let out a cold, dark laugh.

What on earth made Chloe think she had become the heiress through her own "hard work and effort"?

It was his silent choice, his hidden influence behind the scenes, that had decided her entire destiny. She had mistaken his shadow for her own wings.

An hour later, Lorenzo sat in the leather armchair of his private study back at his estate. Thomas stood before him, pouring a cup of black coffee.

"Young Master," Thomas murmured respectfully. "President Iris has invited you to attend tomorrow's Vanguard Apex banquet. Shall I officially decline on your behalf to protect your low profile?"

Lorenzo shook his head, his eyes hardening. The world only saw a fraction of his reach. In this city alone, Lorenzo owned six massive conglomerates.

Vanguard Apex held the highest market value, but the remaining five were equally high-output corporations dominating the city's economy.

Combined with his hundreds of billions in overseas assets, he wielded absolute economic dominion.

The projected bidding for the Lancaster empire's projects this year alone reached 20 billion dollars, and every elite family was desperate to grab a piece of the pie.

"Change of plans," Lorenzo said, taking a sip of the coffee. "Inform President Iris that I will attend the event in person tomorrow. Furthermore, cancel all corporate cooperation with Chloe’s company immediately, and remove her name from the guest list."

"Understood, sir."

"And Thomas, I need you to investigate two people immediately," Lorenzo commanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous undertone. "First, verify Roxana Vance. I need absolute confirmation on whether she was the true little girl who saved my life ten years ago. Second, find out exactly who Justin Howard is, and who gave him the audacity to impersonate me."

Lorenzo stood up, the emerald ring catching the light. "Finally, notify the head of the Hawthorne family that the verbal engagement is officially canceled. Revoke every single privilege, funding stream, and status marker granted to Chloe. I want her stripped of everything by tonight."

"I shall handle it immediately," Thomas bowed.

To Lorenzo's surprise, Thomas returned to the study in less than two minutes, holding a tablet. "Young Master, the files on Roxana Vance are already verified. She was indeed the child registered at the park’s medical tent on the day of your accident. She is your true lifesaver. However...my sources indicate she is currently in severe danger."

Lorenzo’s blood ran cold. "Where is she?"

"Her residence is a small villa on the outskirts, sir. Her household is currently forcing a marriage alliance."

"Get the car," Lorenzo ordered.

Ten minutes later, Lorenzo’s black sedan pulled up outside the faded Vance family villa. His personal assistant jumped out and knocked heavily on the iron gates, calling out loudly, "Roxana Vance! Roxana, open the door!"

The heavy silence of the estate was suffocating. After a long wait, an elderly woman finally came to the door slowly, looking thoroughly displeased as she glared through the gates.

"What's all this shouting about?" the woman barked, wiping her hands on an apron. "Is our young lady's name something you commoners can just yell out? Let me tell you, our young lady is marrying Lord Barry Sterling today! From this moment on, her status will rise significantly. She won't be someone just any stray cat or dog can call out to anymore. Clear off!"

Barry Sterling.

Lorenzo’s heart stopped. The name sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through his veins. Barry Sterling was a notorious, grotesque billionaire whose horrific exploits flooded the entertainment news headlines on a monthly basis.

He was a wealthy, sadistic playboy. Rumor had it he had already married six wives—and not a single one of them had managed to live longer than three days after the wedding night.

And Roxana had been sent to his slaughterhouse.

"In the car. Now!" Lorenzo roared, sprinting back to the sedan. "Head to the Sterling estate! Break every traffic law in the city!"

Inside the grand hall of the sprawling, gothic Sterling mansion, the atmosphere was deathly still.

Roxana lay weakly on the cold marble floor, her vision blurring into spinning colors. Her stepmother had given her a glass of water an hour ago, and within minutes, her limbs had turned to water. She had been drugged, sold off like cattle to pay for her family's debts.

"Look at you...so pure, so innocent," a raspy, sickening voice chuckled above her.

Barry Sterling stood over her, his eyes wild with a repulsive, manic hunger. He rubbed his sweaty hands together, a grotesque grin distorting his face as he lunged downward, pinning her weak frame to the floor. With a brutal yank, he tore at the fabric of her collar, exposing her collarbone.

"No...please..." Roxana whispered, her voice barely a gasp as tears leaked from her eyes. She tried to raise her arms to fight back, but she had no strength.

The vast hall was empty. All the servants had long since disappeared into the wings of the estate. They knew Barry’s horrific habits, and no one dared to disturb him at a time like this.

"Shut up!" Barry snarled, bringing his heavy hand down in a brutal slap across her face. The force of the blow cracked against her jaw, sending a fresh wave of dizziness through her brain. "Be quiet or I’ll kill you today, you little bitch! No one is coming for you!"

Roxana’s consciousness began to rapidly fade, her eyelids growing impossibly heavy as Barry’s hands wrapped around her shoulders, beginning to do exactly as he pleased. She closed her eyes, praying for death to take her quickly.

BANG!

The massive, reinforced double doors of the grand hall suddenly shattered inward, splintering into pieces as they violently hit the walls. The sound echoed through the mansion like a bomb going off.

Barry froze, his head snapping toward the entrance in absolute shock and fury.

Through the dust and debris, a tall, imposing figure strode into the hall, surrounded by an aura of suffocating, murderous rage. Lorenzo’s eyes were pitch black, fixed entirely on the man pinning the girl who had saved his life.

"Let her go!" Lorenzo’s voice vibrated through the room, cold enough to freeze the blood in Barry’s veins.

He stepped forward, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Who gave you the audacity to touch my woman?"