Fredrick took an entire day to muster the courage to tell his father about Gabriel's offer. When he finally did, his father's face turned crimson with rage. "You did what?" his father shouted, his hand trembling with the urge to strike Fredrick. "You told me you hadn't offended anyone important!""I didn't know, Dad," Fredrick stammered. "I had no idea Gabriel was such a big shot. I still can't believe it."His father stared at him in disbelief. "How could you be so blind? Gabriel, a big person? What nonsense is this?"Fredrick sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Actually he's the CEO of Baigh Group. Though maybe he was assigned to take over the company and now he's using that power to get back at me. But... I think he has even greater connections than we realize."His father's eyes blazed with fury. "And you just agreed to sell the company for 10 million? A company worth hundreds of millions?""I tried, Dad," Fredrick replied, his voice strained. "I really did. But Gabri

Enraged by Samantha's defiance, Mr. Drake tightened his grip on her jaw, his eyes blazing with anger. "You interfering fool! You had the audacity to spit on me? That's the last thing you'll ever do with that mouth," he snarled, before delivering a brutal punch to her face.Samantha reeled from the blow, but her spirit remained unbroken. "You think you can intimidate me? You won't do anything to me," she spat back, her voice steady despite the pain.Mr. Drake smirked, his expression a twisted mix of amusement and menace. "You could have saved yourself, lady. Instead, you chose to protect Camella. Such foolishness."Samantha's mind raced, but she had no regrets. "I'd do it again," she declared, her eyes flashing with determination.Mr. Drake's smirk faded into a snarl. He grabbed her hair roughly, yanking her head back. "You've got a rotten nose for poking into matters that don't concern you. Now, I'm going to smash that nose."Samantha panted, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she

As Gabriel stepped outside, the fresh air hit him, and he saw Camella and Samantha waiting by his car, their faces a mix of relief and worry."Let's go home," he said, his voice softening as he approached them.They got into the car, and Gabriel drove away from the hotel, the young night air cool and calming. Silence filled the car, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.After a few minutes, Samantha spoke up, her voice barely a whisper, "Can we stop by a pharmacy? I think I need some painkillers."Gabriel nodded and pulled into the nearest pharmacy. He went inside, quickly gathering painkillers, antiseptics, and bandages. When he returned, he handed the bag to Camella, who was sitting in the back seat with Samantha.As they continued their drive, Camella carefully tended to Samantha's wounds, cleaning and dressing them with gentle hands. She glanced at Gabriel in the rearview mirror, their eyes meeting briefly in silent understanding."Thank you, Samantha," Camella said

As Walter concluded his grandiose claims about the painting, Mr. Norberg and the other antique experts listened intently, their expressions impassive. All eyes in the room were now fixed on their group, awaiting Mr. Norberg's expert opinion.After a moment of contemplation, Mr. Norberg stepped forward, his demeanor composed yet authoritative. "Thank you, Walter, for your enthusiastic presentation," he began, his voice carrying across the room. "Now, let's see what the experts have to say."With practiced precision, Mr. Norberg and his team of antique experts began their assessment of the painting. They scrutinized every detail, examining the brocade and evaluating the artistic merit of the piece.After what seemed like an eternity of meticulous examination, Mr. Norberg finally spoke, his tone measured yet definitive. "While the brocade of the painting is undoubtedly exquisite," he announced, "the overall artistic level falls short of expectations. I would estimate its value to be aroun

Despite the growing animosity, Gabriel remained composed, determined to regain his footing. He took a deep breath and addressed the room with renewed confidence. "I understand your reservations," he began, his voice steady. "But my intention is not to challenge the expertise in this room. I would like to buy the painting, but first, I need to see it up close."A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Walter's eyes narrowed with skepticism, while Benson couldn't help but chuckle derisively. "You want to buy the painting? With what money, Gabriel?" Benson scoffed, his tone dripping with condescension. "Do you even know how much it costs?"Gabriel ignored the mockery, his gaze fixed on Mr. Norberg. "If you will allow me, I'd like to take a closer look," he said, his tone respectful yet firm.Walter, sensing an opportunity to humiliate Gabriel further, smirked. "Sure, let the man have a look," he said with exaggerated generosity. "Let's see if our resident art critic can find someth