“I’ll call him myself.

“However, Edwin, how about we make a bet?”

Edwin narrowed his eyes. “What gives you the right to negotiate terms with me?”

“We’ll bet on whether Juvelia’s ‘forced kiss’ and ‘licking’ are true.”

My gaze was sharp like a knife. I met Juvelia’s panicked eyes.

“If my brother truly did it, not only will he be at your mercy, but I, Peri Sanders, will also leave with nothing and die immediately.

“However, if I can prove that Juvelia lied...”

I paused, and my voice was as cold as ice.

“I want every share of Gough Corporation under your name, Edwin Gough. And you will kneel before my brother and apologize to him!”

The room erupted in shock.

Everyone stared at me as if I were insane.

“Has this woman lost her mind? Betting Gough Corporation shares?

“Her penniless brother’s attempted attack is a done deal. How could Ms. Shaw risk her reputation like this?”

“Exactly! Ms. Shaw is Mr. Gough’s first love. She’s cultured and refined, nothing like this shrew!”

Juvelia’s eyes flashed at my wager.

She clutched Edwin’s lapel. Her voice was trembling. “Edwin, don’t take up her bet.

“She’s trying to swindle you of your shares... She wants to destroy the Gough family...

“I can endure some hardship, truly. Just don’t let her swindle you...”

She was feigning retreat to advance. She truly was a skillful strategist.

Edwin’s heart ached for her even more. The rage in his eyes felt like it was going to burn me.

“Peri, you greedy woman. You disgust me. Fine! I’ll take your bet!

“I’ll make you lose so thoroughly you’ll have no choice but to admit defeat. Watch me cripple your useless brother until he becomes a lame dog!”

He summoned his lawyer, who drafted the agreement on the spot.

It was clear in black and white, and the document was sealed with a crimson fingerprint.

As I stared at that contract, the last shred of affection in my heart shattered completely with that vivid red seal.

“Call him!” Edwin roared.

I dialed the number I knew by heart.

The phone rang once before being picked up.

No sound came from the other end, only soft breathing.

I switched to a speakerphone. My voice was mostly steady, but it trembled slightly.

“Efim, come to Royale Hotel.

“Someone says you attacked her. They want to rip out your tongue.”

Silence hung heavy for two seconds.

Then, there was a faint tap.

Our secret signal.

One tap meant “Got it.”

After hanging up, the lobby fell deathly silent before erupting in raucous laughter.

“He can’t even speak? Maybe he’s scared out of his wits?

“He must be some creep with a horrid voice and an ugly face.

“Just wait! Mr. Gough’s going to see that blood is spilled tonight.

Seeing this, Juvelia seemed to gain confidence.

She released Edwin, clutching her collar as her sobs grew more pitiful.

“Edwin... just now... that beast pinned me down on the lounge couch...

“He stuck out his tongue. He was licking my neck... licking my ears...

“He said that this was the only way he could disgust you, and the only way he could exact revenge on the Gough family...”

As Edwin listened to those details, the veins in his forehead bulged, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

He kicked over the champagne tower beside him.

With a crash, shards of glass flew everywhere.

“Peri! This is what your dear brother did!

“Lick? He dares lick?!

“I’ll have his tongue sliced inch by inch, chopped to bits, and fed to the dogs!”

As I watched Juvelia’s tearful performance, I could not help but find it amusing.

I thought, ‘Juvelia, you should never have gone to such lengths to make up a lie that defied basic physiology just to make your story more vivid.

‘What part of my brother could have possibly licked you?

‘The severed stump of his tongue?’

I remained still as I quietly observed the farce.

“Juvelia, are you sure it was him who licked you?” I asked again for confirmation.

Juvelia shot me a venomous glare before nodding pitifully.

“Yes... that wet, sticky sensation... I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life...”

“Good.” I nodded with an icy expression. “Hopefully, you’ll still remember that feeling later.”

Ten minutes later, the banquet hall doors swung open.

A man clad in a black hoodie, a baseball cap, and a black mask stepped inside.

His frame was lean yet held rigidly straight, like an unbreakable pole.

Though his attire was plain, slightly worn even, his cool, aloof demeanor clashed starkly with the opulent surroundings.

It was my brother, Efim Sanders.

“It’s him!” Juvelia shrieked. She shrank behind Edwin, trembling. “Edwin! It’s that outfit! It’s those eyes! I’d recognize him even if he were ashes!”

Edwin patted Juvelia’s hand and strode purposefully toward my brother.

Bodyguards instantly surrounded him. Their stun batons crackled.

“Efim, is it?”

Edwin stood before my brother, looking down on him.

“You’ve got some nerve, going after my woman. Since you’re here, you won’t be leaving standing.”

My brother remained silent.

He merely raised his head. Only his eyes were visible above the mask—still as dead water.

He showed no fear and no panic. In fact, there was even... a hint of pity.

That look made Edwin completely infuriated.

“What’s that look for? Are you looking down on me? You’re a jerk who attacks women. You belong in the lowest rung of society, yet you dare look at me like that? Get on your knees!”

Edwin tried to aim a kick at my brother’s knees.

My brother sidestepped the blow with astonishing agility.

Edwin missed. He stumbled backward and nearly fell.

This time, Edwin completely lost his mind.

“So... you think you’re pretty good, huh?

“Beat him! Break his legs! Let’s see how he’ll dodge then!”

A dozen bodyguards swarmed forward.

My heart clenched violently, and I was about to rush forward.

However, instead of retreating, my brother moved forward.

Like a bolt of lightning, he darted through the crowd.

A grapple, a shoulder throw, a side kick—each move was crisp and decisive. He did not show the slightest hesitation.

In less than a minute, a dozen bodyguards lay sprawled on the ground, moaning in agony.

The entire venue fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned.

No one had imagined that this “penniless, pathetic brother” they had publicly vilified was secretly a martial arts master.

Edwin’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth.

“So, he’s trained in martial arts. No wonder he’s so cocky.

“But among the city’s elites, brute strength means nothing!”

He drew his gun. Its black muzzle was aimed squarely at my brother’s forehead.

“One more move, and I’ll blow your brains out!”

My brother froze.

He stared silently at Edwin with a complex look in his eyes.

This was the man he had once risked his life to carry out of a burning inferno.

That same man was holding a gun to his head.

“Edwin! Stop wasting your breath with him!”

Seeing this, Juvelia urgently stirred the pot.

“He forced me with this very level of violence just now!

“Make them strip him naked and cut out his tongue!

“He must pay the price!”

Edwin took a deep breath. His finger tightened on the trigger.

“Efim, take off your mask.

“Let me see what this attacker’s face looks like.”

My brother did not move.

“Take it off!” Edwin roared, jabbing the muzzle forward.

My brother slowly raised his hand. His slender fingers hooked the strap by his ear.

I closed my eyes. My heart ached.

That was the scar he was most reluctant to show anyone.

That was the souvenir he received for saving that ingrate.

It had become a symbol of his humiliation.

“Take it off! What are you dawdling for?!” Juvelia shrieked from the side. Her eyes brimmed with vengeful glee.

“Too ugly to show your face? Or are you afraid someone will recognize you as a wanted criminal?”

My brother’s fingers trembled slightly.

Then, he ripped off the mask.

“Whoa—”

The entire crowd gasped.

The prepared taunts and insults instantly got stuck in their throats.

The face beneath was actually sharply defined. He was exceptionally handsome.

However, from the left corner of his mouth to his ear, a hideous burn scar ran like a dark red centipede, coiled across his pallid skin.

It was a horrifying sight to behold.

Edwin froze.

Why did that scar look so familiar?

He quickly suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and sneered coldly.

“You really do look like a monster. No wonder you’re a psychopath who tried to attack Juvelia. Since you won’t speak, I’ll open your mouth for you.”

Edwin signaled to the bodyguards beside him.

Two uninjured bodyguards rushed forward, one on each side, and pinned my brother’s shoulders down.

Edwin stepped forward and drew a sharp dagger from his coat.

“Juvelia said you licked her with your tongue. Then, this tongue must be removed. Open your mouth!”

Edwin pinched my brother’s jaw, forcing his mouth open.

My brother offered no resistance.

He obediently parted his lips.

Edwin raised the dagger. Just as he was about to strike…

Suddenly, his movements froze.

His entire body stiffened as if struck by lightning. He was rooted to the spot.

The dagger clattered to the floor.

Edwin’s eyes widened. His face turned ashen.

He stared in disbelief at the depths of my brother’s mouth. His body began to shake uncontrollably.

“H-how is this possible...”

Bewildered, Juvelia leaned in urgently.

“Edwin, what’s wrong? Do it! Cut off his tongue for me!”

“Shut up!”

Edwin suddenly erupted in a roar, making Juvelia flinch.

He whipped his head around, fixing Juvelia with a deathly stare. His eyes were bloodshot.

“You said earlier... that he claimed to be Peri’s brother?

“You said... he stuck out his tongue and licked your neck and ear?!”

Terrified by Edwin’s ferocious expression, Juvelia stammered in response.

“Y-y-yes... What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?”

Edwin let out a shrill, wretched laugh. He pointed at my brother with a trembling finger.

“Tell me, how could a man without a tongue force a kiss on you?!”

The entire room fell deathly silent.

Everyone stared in horror at my brother’s open mouth.

Deep within his oral cavity, it was empty and hollow.

Only a stub of ugly, long-healed flesh remained.

The fire had burned it away, leaving only the necrotic tissue behind.

The crowd erupted.

“Goodness! He really doesn’t have a tongue?!

“Then, that means everything Juvelia just said... She made it all up?!

“Licking her ears? Licking her neck? Is this a freaking paranormal event?!

“Juvelia was lying! This is blatant slander!”

All color drained from Juvelia’s face, leaving her deathly pale.

Her eyes widened as she stared fixedly at my brother’s mouth. She was shaking.

“How could he not have a tongue... How could...”

I stepped out of the crowd, picked up the dagger from the floor, and walked slowly toward Juvelia.

“Juvelia, do you see things clearly now?

“This is the man you claimed wanted to lick you clean.

“Now, it’s time for you to honor your bet.”