"Let’s just forget him," Sophia said, her mood already souring.She realized she'd never understand that jerk. "The banquet is about to start. Let’s find our seats."The banquet was set with round tables, each seating about six guests.The closer the table to the front, the more important the guests were.To Sophia and Lyra's shock, when they checked their invitation cards, they were assigned to the very front—the VIP table."Chris, your father really pulled some strings to get us the best invitations, didn’t he?" Sophia commented.Chris wore a proud expression. "Of course, my father is very important to the Kingstons. That’s why I told you not to worry about the partnership—you’ll have it."As they moved toward the front, they were stunned to find Jasmine and Alex already seated at their table, laughing and talking closely."Alex," Chris approached, irritation clear in his voice. "Do you know this table is reserved for special invitations only? How dare you sit here? And how did you
"Alex," Jasmine nudged him urgently."Quick, how do I respond? This is the first time in my life someone has called me poor."Alex glanced at her. Jasmine Kingston—the wealthiest heiress in Vancouver—had probably never heard that word directed at her."Just smile and say 'thank you,'" Alex suggested calmly."Really?" she asked, eyes wide with feigned innocence."Absolutely. When they go low, we go high."Jasmine turned back to Chris with a graceful smile."Thank you for calling me poor. This is a new experience for me."Chris's face flushed crimson.He slammed his fist on the table. "Are you dense? When someone calls you poor, you're supposed to feel insulted, ashamed!""Why should I feel that way?" Jasmine replied, tilting her head slightly."I'm not poor."Chris, barely containing his frustration, threw his hands up. “You really have no brain, do you?"Jasmine turned to Alex, her gaze curious. "Alex, do you think I have no brain?""Not at all. In fact, I think you're much sharper th
Chris's hands trembled as he stared at Jasmine. If he'd known who she truly was, he would never have dared to insult her—not even with a gun to his head.His mother and grandfather would kill him for destroying their generational wealth.Jasmine Kingston's voice remained steady as she continued, "And for the business partner in our new medical line, we've carefully chosen the Emerson Group as the best fit for us. Please welcome Lily Emerson as our new partner..."The hall erupted in applause.From one table came happiness and uncontained joy, while at the other, murmurs of disappointment filled the air.There were winners and losers, with every family vying for the same prize.Especially Sophia. Her face turned ashen, as if all the blood had drained away.She had paid a hefty $100 million to secure the partnership, and now she had nothing to show for it.The Lancasters wouldn't survive after she had drained all their cash and savings.Even the Biohealth deal she'd secured was headed f
Alex stared at Lyra, choosing not to respond."Fine," Lyra snapped."My father took his shot by siding with the old regime, and my mother backed him all the way. They messed up big time! But I haven't even had my chance yet, and this family mess has ruined it."She leaned in, her eyes pleading. "Don't you think I deserve an opportunity without being tied to my parents' mistakes?"Alex sighed, his reluctance evident. "Fair enough.""Listen, Alex," she pressed."I know Jasmine Kingston is on your side now. Maybe you've charmed her, extracted all the secrets you wanted. But how long can that last? Love is fickle—it changes as quickly as the tides."She watched him intently, searching for a flicker of doubt."You've got wealth now, I can see that. But what happens when love fades? Jasmine might grow bored and cast you aside without warning. You can't put your faith in something as unstable as love.""The money could vanish in an instant, and you'll be right back where you began—back on th
After the kidnapping incident, Jasmine had prepared with enough bodyguards.They stood protectively around her, Alex, Lyra, and the other guests, guiding them to evacuate.As the security team moved to follow their orders, Alex turned sharply to Lyra."Where is Sophia?""She's outside with Chris. He... he hit her."Alex’s jaw clenched, and he halted."You two go first, don’t wait for me."He rushed back to the hall.Jasmine and Lyra continued to evacuate with the others through the back door.Outside, forty men from the Walker family were just getting out of their cars.Chris stepped forward, offering a greeting. "Jerry Roland, my father, asked me to help you."Calvin Walker’s voice was icy. "Where’s Jasmine Kingston?""She’s inside with all the other rich kids," Chris replied, shrugging.Suddenly, the front door slammed shut, and the alarm echoed through Heaven Hall, signaling an evacuation.Calvin’s eyes narrowed."Did you warn them we were coming?" he snapped at Chris."No, I’ve be
In the center of the grand hall, fifteen terrified guests huddled together—the ones who hadn't managed to escape when chaos erupted.Nearby, five of Kingston's bodyguards lay wounded, their groans of pain underscoring the tense silence.On the Walkers' side, only thirty men remained of the original forty; the rest had fallen during the fierce firefight with Kingston’s guards.“I suggest none of you make any sudden moves,” Calvin warned.“No one has to get hurt. We don’t want to damage our merchandise. Each of you is priceless.”He initiated a video call, turning the camera to focus on Jasmine Kingston among the hostages.“Father, we've secured Jasmine Kingston,” Calvin reported.“Excellent,” Lucas Walker replied.“The police are en route to your location, blocking all roads out. It’s safer to stay put. Use the hostages as leverage.”“Yes, Father.”“We'll use Jasmine to force Alfred Kingston to surrender his position in Vancouver,” Lucas continued.“We're negotiating with him now. Just
“Leader, the police are here,” one of the Walkers informed Calvin urgently.Calvin could already hear the wail of sirens and the amplified voices echoing outside.“Attention inside! Surrender immediately, or we will use force!” the police commanded through their megaphones.He turned to two of his men and pointed at Sophia and Chris.“Take these two to join the other guests,” he ordered.“Have all of them text their parents—each demanding ten million dollars within the next thirty minutes, or we start shooting them.”The guards seized Sophia and Chris, dragging them away as Calvin strode toward the front of the hall.Grabbing the microphone connected to Heaven Hall's sound system, he addressed the authorities outside.“I demand the immediate release of my brother, Ethan the Giant, from prison,” Calvin announced.“Bring him here, or we will execute one hostage every hour.”The officers exchanged grim looks.Ethan the Giant was a notorious criminal, a dangerous individual responsible fo
Most of the hostages were young, affluent men and women attending Jasmine's debut.Under the stern gaze of the Walkers, they frantically called their families, voices shaking as they explained the dire situation.Calvin Walker demanded ten million dollars from each family in exchange for their safety.Sophia, too frightened to contact her grandfather, decided to call her grandmother instead."Sophia, I've been waiting for your call," Grandma Lancaster answered, her voice bright with joy and anticipation.“I assume we've secured the partnership with the Kingston family, right? Do you want a grand wedding with Chris tomorrow?”Sophia's heart sank, a lump forming in her throat.She took a deep breath. “Grandma, the Emerson family got the partnership. We lost it.”“What do you mean, we lost it?” Lady Lancaster's voice sharpened with disbelief.“We didn't secure the deal with Kingston,” Sophia repeated softly.“But we paid a hundred million! How could we not get it? Did the Emersons offer