indows of the Diamond Manor seemed to mirror the

faint, irresistible blush that she couldn't hide even if she tried. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind instinctively replayed the breathtaking moments from earlie

drop fifty billion dollars into my company, erase thirty-two trillion dollars' worth of

fleeting fantasy of him holding her tightly against his che

ZZ

one notification shattered her da

locked the screen, expecting another formal report from her General Manager or a corporate warning fro

you made it back

ips parted into a genuine, helpless smile a

y room, her thumb hovering over the screen. "He actual

ply right now? What should I say? Do I sound too eager? Or should I

ly, her knuckle accidentally knocking into the heavy ma

ediate attention. Stacy set her phone down a

olden seal of the Marc Dynasty radiated a silent, intimidating authority. Taking a dee

left her compl

, its fabric shimmering softly under the ambient light of her room. Beside it sat a pair of matching, high-end d

xclusive, heavy gold-embossed invitation card. Stacy

IALLY INVITES YOU TO TH

ECT DO

tonomous Military & Lo

arc Grand Exp

Tomorrow

ation was a small, hand-wri

. Hope to s

-

e sheer audacity and effortless charm of Daniel Marc made her head spin. But

he understood, and he was explicitly inviting her into his world. A small, breatht

moke-filled interior of an elite underground l

dress was wrinkled, her long hair slightly disheveled. Standing on the table before her we

dantes, Kayla and Mina, both heiress

tting down a heavy crystal glass fi

añejo tequila, ma'am," the bartend

burning liquor in one single, bitter gulp. She winced slightly as the a

hanged horrified,

. "You never take tequila! You literally refused a champagne toast at the gala

e pulled her silk headscarf further down over her brow,

muttered, her voic

n determination to get to the truth. "You don't sit in a dark corner pounding high-

lounge music felt distant as Ciara stared blankly at her empty glass. Finally, unable to contain

d out of the

d in unison, drawing quick, ann

, leaning across the table. "You're a Power

er's absolute desire for control has blinded him to the point where he doesn't care about bl

... my own brother... ordered me to pack my things and leave the

Is it really that serious?! He threw his own sist

the loud, aggressive ringing of Ciara'

n illuminating the dark booth. The caller

h caught in her throat as she stared at the scre

ed over, seeing the

. "Ciara, you have to answer! If you ign

ing over the glass screen. Shaking uncontrollably, she final

voice came thro

d 9mm pistol against her forehead. Instead, Ethan's tone was terrifyingly calm, smooth

see you completed your task faster than expected. Your clever maneuver just earned our family a

What?! What event?! I didn't do anything! I've been sitt

de contact with Thomas Marc or secured any invitations, but

. "We have to prepare our corporate delegation fo

IC

ne wen

received an executive invitation to the most guarded event in the nation, but one thing was abundantly clear: she had just been hande

er. "I get to go home..." she whispered, a hyst

ve, Ciara stood up abruptly, accidentally catching her silk hea

nked clean off her hea

he smiles vanishing fro

osed. The left side of her face was severely swollen, featuring two deep, dark purple contusio

er face, her eyes filled with profound embarrassment and shame. "I... I have to go!" she

st been sitting. Neither of them had dared to say a word about the bruises while Ciara w

te horror. "Did you see that...?" she whispered, her voi

's completely wicked and heartless. If he can do that to his own si

onger, the two heiresses quietly paid t

les of the lower families, absolute tranquility reigne

Palace, glowing holographic displays projected live global market indices,

f dark amber liquid. His gaze was fixed on a massive central display showing the guest list for the upcoming unveilin

b slid open with a soft hiss. Mrs. Faith st

e respectfully, stoppin

s drink, his voice quiet and even. "Mrs. Faith. Hav

niberg AI Launching Event have been delivered directly to the heads of the Power family, the Jone

n his lips. His dark eyes glittered with a dark, calculated

dominance to the world. The entire event was a masterfully crafted stage-a honey trap

echoing off the metallic walls of the command

owing holographic screens, his smile darke

e game