"You've crossed the line, Scott! This barbaric behavior is unacceptable! Get on your knees and apologize to Lisa right now!" James demanded.Scott glared at him and said, "Or what? Didn’t you learn anything after I broke your fingers yesterday? Do I need to break the rest of them too?”James flinched, the memory of yesterday's humiliating incident flashing through his mind. His eyes reflexively darted to his bandaged left hand.How foolish he had been. If Scott had overpowered him so easily yesterday, there was no doubt he could do it again. There would be no chance of defeating Scott in a physical fight.But James wasn’t ready to give up. His mind raced, and an idea suddenly formed."If you don't kneel and apologize to Lisa, I'll talk to Quint Winterbourne and ask him to lend me his bodyguards. They’ll surely beat you to a pulp! I'll have them gang up on you until you're barely alive!" James threatened.“You’re finished, Scott. Quint’s bodyguards are notorious for their brutality. So

Everyone in the room, including Luisa, was stunned by what Scott had just done. How could he be this reckless? Didn’t he know by now that Quint was the son of the richest businessman in Mildenbrough? “Hey, you! Do you even realize what you’re doing? Drop that knife and let Quint go!” shouted the Beaumont family representative, his voice booming. “Are you insane? Let Quint go now or I’m calling the police!” the Vanderhelm family representative chimed in. Among all the top-tier families attending the auction, only the Ravenwood family’s representative didn’t pressure Scott to release Quint. In fact, a beautiful woman in their entourage seemed amused. Lisa, on the other hand, had been riding a wave of anxious thoughts since just a moment ago, when a gust of wind made her feel at ease for a brief second. Now, that unease was back, gnawing at her. What if Scott really did cut off Quint’s hand like he threatened? That would surely infuriate the Winterbourne family, right? And wouldn’

Seeing Steve enter the room with a furious expression, Briton wasn’t worried—in fact, he smiled. He assumed Steve was on his side. After all, Winterbourne Group had maintained a strong partnership with Dominion Group for years, and Briton was certain that relationship still held strong. “What’s going on here? How could an auction that’s supposed to be classy and elegant turn into such a mess? Why is there a table flipped over? And what was that sound I heard earlier? A gunshot?” Steve demanded as he walked toward the crowd. The guests quickly made way for Steve. Even though he wasn’t from one of the wealthiest families in Mildenbrough, his position as CEO of Dominion Group commanded respect and fear from everyone in the city. Even the most powerful families in Mildenbrough wouldn’t dare cross him. The only exception was Briton. As the richest man in Mildenbrough, Briton never saw himself as beneath Steve. The only person he considered his equal was Dominion Group’s Chairman. “

Lisa was one of the curious ones. Threatened by the possibility of losing out on projects from James, she began considering an alternative approach: getting close to this new project director. Maybe she could use her seductive body to sway him/her in her favor.At this point, Steve locked eyes with Luisa and gave a single nod, a clear signal for her to step up to the podium.Luisa was stunned. She never expected the CEO to give her such an honorable spotlight. Was this normal? And wasn’t she still in the dark about who had won the Dominion Group’s project tender?“Go on, step up,” Scott urged gently, giving her a light push on the back.With hesitant steps, Luisa moved forward, her head still lowered, unsure of what she was supposed to say.Nearly everyone in the room, including Lisa, stared at her in shock. Then, almost by instinct, Lisa cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted:"Hey, you slut! Know your place and get out of here! You belong in some filthy brothel, not here!"Li

“Let’s go, darling. We’re heading home,” Scott said, taking Luisa's hand and guiding her out, flashing a triumphant smile at Bobby and Jerry. Bobby and Jerry glared at Scott with hatred, their faces turning red. Scott ignored their reactions and continued guiding Luisa until they reached the elevator. They were alone now in the elevator that moved downward. Moments of silence passed before Luisa asked, "Scott, about what you said earlier... that I’m your wife..." "I just said that to make them stop badgering you. You don't like that?" Scott looked at Luisa carefully and asked. Luisa immediately turned her face away, shaking her head. Her cheeks were flushed. "No. It's not like that," she said. "It's just... a bit shocking for me. " Luisa explained. Scott smiled softly, gazing at Luisa gently, and said, "Then would you be my wife, Luisa?" Luisa choked, though she wasn’t drinking or eating anything. She turned to Scott, looking bewildered. "You’re asking me... to be your