The pendant around Tessa's neck—the Cursed-idol amulet—was no ordinary trinket. It was the supreme token, the symbol of the Supreme General himself, an item that no one else dared to carry. For her to be wearing it could mean only one thing: she was under the Supreme General’s protection.Wilfred’s face drained of all color. His confidence, his bravado—all of it melted away, leaving only raw, unfiltered terror. The Darkclaw clan, formidable as they were, held only a fraction of power compared to the full might of the Redblood organization. In that world, Wilfred’s position was insignificant, like a pawn easily discarded, and the Redblood organization was owned by one of the Supreme General's subordinates, and now he had committed a crime beyond redemption. To lay a hand on the Supreme General’s woman? It was an offense punishable by death.Tessa stared at him, caught off-guard by his sudden shift. She had prepared herself for the worst, bracing against the fear gnawing at her, only to

Brenda’s eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. “I’m not wrong. Even if Mr. Wilfred’s not angry anymore, you still caused us to lose that bid we almost secured with Darkclaw Corporation.”Tessa's jaw tightened, feeling a familiar weight settle in her chest.Brenda continued, “So not only did you fail to contribute to this family, but you actually harmed our interests. You need to find a way to fix this, Tessa.”Henry chimed in, eager to echo his mother. “Mom’s right. Darkclaw’s project is crucial to our company. You’re the one who messed it up, so you have to get it back.”Their parents, seated at the head of the table, nodded in agreement. Tessa’s heart sank, but she kept her voice steady. “I don’t have a plan.”Brenda scoffed, folding her arms. “Didn’t Mr. Wilfred seem fond of you? Sleep with him a few more times. Make him happy, and the project will be ours.”Tessa’s stomach churned as her uncle, David, leaned forward, nodding in approval. “She’s right. You’ve already cros

"Don't come any closer!" Tessa called out, placing herself firmly between Adam and the advancing bodyguards. She glanced back at him, worry etched across her face. "They’re all highly trained. Adam, you can’t take them on. Just go, I'll try to hold them off."Adam’s eyes softened, but before he could respond, Henry sneered. "He's not going anywhere. Move in, and if she tries to interfere, feel free to rough her up as well."The guards exchanged a look before moving forward, their reluctance gone. Tessa paled but held her ground, blocking their path.Adam felt a surge of determination as he watched her standing up for him. He leaned in and whispered, "Tessa, I’m not leaving you here with them. Trust me."One of the bodyguards sneered, reaching out to shove Tessa aside. "Step out of the way, lady—"Before he could finish, Adam’s hand shot out, grabbing the guard’s wrist in a vice grip. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he twisted the man's wrist until a sickening crack echoed t

"Grandpa, please don’t cut ties with me," Tessa pleaded, tears streaming down her face as she knelt on the floor. The sight of her, vulnerable and desperate, tugged at the corners of her grandfather's heart, but he remained resolute.Gerald’s expression hardened. "You made your choice, Tessa. You wanted to defy this family, and now you must face the consequences.""That’s right, Dad. Tessa just got a bit confused. She didn’t mean any of this," Eleanor interjected, her voice trembling with desperation as she stepped forward. "Give me some time to talk to her. I can help her see reason."Richard, who had been quietly observing, finally piped up, anxiety written all over his face. "Tessa, think about what you’re doing! You’re our only daughter! If you’re cut off from the family, you’ll lose everything. We can’t let that happen."Gerald shook his head, his voice cold and unwavering. "It’s useless for you to beg. She chose this path herself, so don’t blame me for it. If you don’t want her

The Armand residence was filled with laughter, but the source of the family’s joy was a bitter one. Tessa was gone. She had been officially expelled by Gerald, and now, David’s son, Henry, had assumed her role as CEO. David and his family looked triumphant, their eyes shining with satisfaction as they reveled in their victory.Richard and Eleanor, however, sat at the edge of the room, expressions clouded with worry and frustration. For them, this was no celebration. It felt like a final blow to the family they’d known, as Tessa, despite her mistakes, was still their only daughter.Adding to their joy, Wendy, David and Brenda's daughter, had just returned from studying abroad. She’d even brought back her boyfriend, Mark Woods, the heir to one of Storm City’s elite families.Though Mark had a bit of a notorious reputation, his standing as the sole heir of the Woods family made him a valuable connection. Gerald was elated.Richard and Eleanor, on the other hand, were completely ignored b