THE UNSEEN HEIR

Last Partner Company.

The security guards hesitated, their boots shifting uncomfortably on the polished floor. Word had spread like wildfire among the staff about the outer gate guard who had just been brutally fired and humiliated by Director Victoria for failing to recognize a high-tier silver invitation.

None of them wanted to make the same career-ending mistake.

Seeing their reluctance, Chloe hissed in frustration, stepping forward to scold the guards. "What are you idiots waiting for?! Look who is standing right here—this is Manager Harold, a senior director of operations!" She dragged Harold forward by his sleeve to give the guards a direct look at his high-level executive badge.

Realizing they had a senior manager backing the order, the guards reluctantly tightened their circle, surrounding Lorenzo.

Roxana’s breath hitched, her fingers digging into the fabric of Lorenzo’s sleeve. Yet, Lorenzo didn't even stand up. He swirled his glass, completely unbothered, before raising his eyes to lock onto Harold with a piercing, chilling gaze.

"What exactly is your position here?" Lorenzo questioned, his voice terrifyingly calm. "How can a mere employee arbitrarily expel guests who possess authorized invitations? Tell me, Harold—do you genuinely think Vanguard Apex belongs to you?"

Harold let out a harsh, arrogant bark of laughter, his face flushing red with anger. "A mere employee? Listen to me carefully, you insolent brat. I am a long-time executive of Vanguard Apex, and I happen to personally own 0.1% of the company's internal shares. That makes me a minor shareholder of this entire corporate entity. Getting rid of an insignificant, penniless stray cat like you is as easy as crushing a common ant under my shoe!"

Turning back to the guards, Harold roared, "I gave you an order! Throw them out now!"

Before the guards could take a single step forward, a sharp noise cut through the ballroom's sound system.

The female host on stage stepped back up to the microphone, her professional smile completely gone, replaced by a pale, panicked expression.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," the host loudly announced, her voice echoing over the tense crowd. "I have just received an emergency directive from the executive office. It appears the master partner list had a technical error. The final partner company is officially corrected to Vance Technological Enterprises!"

The massive digital screen behind her flickered, instantly deleting the Hawthorne Conglomerate logo and replacing it with a display of Roxana Vance's company name.

Roxana gasped, her eyes widening in pure shock.

A wave of joy washed over her face as she looked from the screen back to Lorenzo.

Tears of relief spilled down her cheeks as she tightly grabbed his hand, sharing her overwhelming happiness. "Lorenzo! It's us...it's actually us!"

Chloe stared at the screen, her phone slipping from her fingers as she completely lost her mind. "No! No, how is that possible?! This is a lie! They just announced that the Hawthorne Conglomerate was the partner, and now it's suddenly changed to her?! This has to be a mistake!"

She whipped around, grabbing Harold by his lapels, her face contorting into an ugly mask of fury. "Harold! Didn't you say you had inside information from the executive suite?! How come the partner suddenly changed to a bankrupt company?!"

Harold was completely bewildered, his jaw slack as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

He had clearly seen, right there on the desk in President Iris’s private office, an undisclosed master document stating that the Hawthorne Conglomerate had the highest priority rating for the third slot.

How could it suddenly change in the span of three minutes? Harold was absolutely certain the partner list shouldn't have changed without a board vote.

"It's a scam!" Chloe suddenly shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at the stage, her voice cracking with desperation.

She turned to the surrounding guests, loudly accusing the host. "The host took money from Lorenzo! He bribed her to announce a fake list to humiliate me!"

Justin, realizing his entire fake billionaire reputation would shatter if Chloe failed, jumped into the accusation with a sneer. "She's right! There is no way the Lancaster Empire would partner with a failing company like Vance Tech. The host is corrupt!"

On stage, the host was on the verge of tears, her hands shaking as she clutched the microphone, trying to defend her professional integrity. "I... I am only reading the direct data sent from the Chairman’s personal office! I did not take any bribes!"

But Chloe and Harold completely ignored her pleas, continuing to throw vile accusations into the crowd to save their own pride.

Chloe turned back to the security detail, her face red as she stomped her heel. "Guards, what are you waiting for?! Expel Lorenzo and Roxana immediately! They have not only forged elite invitations to trespass, but they have actively bribed Vanguard staff to falsely manipulate the partner list in public!"

Chloe turned to Harold, her voice a demanding screech. "Manager Harold, as a shareholder, I demand you permanently blacklist Vance Tech right now and ensure Vanguard Apex never cooperates with them again for the rest of human history!"

"We didn't bribe anyone!" Roxana stood up, her voice ringing out with clear, defensive dignity as she tried to protect her company's hard work. "Our proposal was legally submitted, and our technology speaks for itself!"

"Shut up, you criminal!" Chloe continued to accuse, her eyes wild as she ordered the guards to act. "Grab her! Throw her into the street!"

The security guards, heavily pressured by a furious senior manager and a shrieking heiress, finally hardened their stances. They raised their batons, closing the distance, preparing to physically lay hands on Roxana and drag her out.

"Stop right there."

A powerful, icy voice cut through the entire VIP lounge from the main corridor.

The crowd of onlookers immediately parted like the Red Sea as President Iris—the supreme CEO of Vanguard Apex and the public face of the Lancaster Empire—strode into the lounge.

Dressed in an immaculate, sharp white tailored suit, her hair pulled back into a flawless bun, she radiated an aura of terrifying dominance that instantly crushed the room's chaotic noise.

Harold’s eyes widened, his hands instantly dropping to his sides as he bowed frantically. "President Iris! Thank goodness you’re here! We have a severe security breach—"

Iris completely walked past Harold as if he were invisible, her sharp gaze sweeping over the cowering security guards before fixing directly onto Chloe’s manic face.

"There is no technical error, and there is no bribery," Iris stated loudly, her voice clear enough to vibrate through the marble columns of the hall.

"Vance Technological Enterprises is indeed the final, undisputed partner company of Vanguard Apex. The decision came directly from the ultimate authority of the Lancaster Empire."