Scott glanced at the woman. She was with the Ravenwood family.Briton also turned to her, but his glare was full of rage.“This gentleman is innocent, Mr. Briton. Quint started this mess. He demanded the woman with this gentleman sleep with him. That alone is outrageous. No wonder this gentleman got angry,” the blonde woman said.Scott narrowed his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his face. He hadn’t expected anyone in the room to defend him and Luisa.Bang!Suddenly, Briton fired a shot into the air. The blonde woman flinched.“Stay out of my business, you little brat! If you stand up for the scum who cut off Quint’s hand, I’ll have my guards deal with you too!” Briton threatened.Francesca Ravenwood, the blonde woman, froze and took a step back. Was this really what Briton Winterbourne was like when enraged—ignoring anyone who dared speak and ready to crush anyone standing in his way? John Ravenwood, her father, rushed forward with a panicked expression. Standing beside Francesca,
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. “
Scott turned to her and said, "If the CEO of Dominion Group says so, then he must be here with us." Luisa covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes widening. "I... I’m embarrassed, Scott. That means he saw how people ridiculed and insulted me earlier," she said. Scott gave her a soft smile, his gaze warm and reassuring. "Don’t worry about that," he said. "Whatever those fools said about you, it doesn’t lessen your value in the eyes of the new chairman of Dominion Group. Trust me, okay?" Luisa nodded, still feeling unsure but choosing to believe Scott. After all, everything he had said so far had been spot on, including the prediction that Winterbourne Group would lose the bid for Dominion Group’s prestigious project. With Scott by her side, standing up for her like this, Luisa found herself feeling safe. While Luisa was calming down, Briton was growing increasingly anxious. After hearing Steve confirm that the new chairman of Dominion Group was indeed in the room, his eyes
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
Instantly, Francesca screamed in excitement, jumping up and down. She hugged John beside her, and the Ravenwood representatives were moved by their victory.Applause filled the room as representatives from other families offered their congratulations, though not all did so sincerely. Some, like the Beaumont and Vanderhelm families, shot hateful glances, unwilling to accept that Dominion Group’s tender had been won by the Ravenwoods.“Would the representatives of the Ravenwood family please come forward to accept our project tender symbolically?” Luisa said.Francesca took a deep breath, exhaling through her mouth as she tried to calm her overwhelming excitement. Moments later, she walked up to the podium, accompanied by resounding applause. A wide smile lit up her face. She could hardly wait to collaborate with Dominion Group’s top executives.On the podium, with a beaming face, Francesca expressed her gratitude for Ravenwood Group being chosen as the winning bidder for the Dominion G
“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
Daniel explained to his mother, Linda, about Luisa, who was now, surprisingly, a project director at Dominion Group.He also shared Jacob's suspicion that Luisa might have a special relationship with Dominion Group’s new chairman.Daniel presented everything calmly and clearly, hoping his mother would understand.[So, the daughter you sold off to a brothel a few months ago is now working at Dominion Group in a strategic position, and she’s got a special relationship with the chairman?]“That’s right, Mom. And I’m convinced that if we can make this happen, the financial benefits to Grandier Corp. won’t just be in the billions but in the hundreds of trillions. I think we need to make it happen, Mom.”A brief silence followed. Daniel glanced at Jacob, who looked at him with a serious expression.[Okay. Then make it happen. The impact on our family business would be tremendous if we could establish a continuous partnership with Dominion Group. I’ll even increase the profit-sharing percent
“What did you just say?!” Scott snapped, his voice rising sharply.“Didn’t hear me? Fine, I’ll say it again,” the man replied coolly as he climbed the stairs. “The woman with you—I know exactly who she is. The Grandier family sold her off to a brothel. A whore like her has no place in a five-star restaurant like this!”Scott’s face reddened as he clenched his fists, ready to charge, but Luisa suddenly grabbed his hand tightly. Scott turned and saw tears welling up in her eyes.“Don’t, Scott,” Luisa whispered, a tear slipping from her left eye.“But Luisa, he’s insulting you,” Scott protested.Luisa squeezed his hand harder and shook her head, tears now streaming from both eyes.Scott took a deep breath, his chest tightening as he watched Luisa hold back her pain.“Why are you still standing there? Get lost! I’m disgusted just looking at a whore like you. You should throw yourself in a gutter. At least the stench of the brothel clinging to you might get masked by the sewer!” the man sne