I was three years into a counter-espionage mission in Monaco, working for Cyrus Blackwood, the director of "Aegis," when an urgent summons from my mother called me home for an engagement party she’d arranged.

She had clearly leveraged our family's resources to secure a powerful business alliance through my marriage.

Everyone envied me. After all, my fiancé was the CEO of the Trevor Group, Patrick Trevor.

His family background, social status, and business acumen made him the most formidable tycoon of his generation.

When Cyrus heard the news, he had a custom "Eagle Wing" brooch crafted and sent to the clubhouse for the engagement ceremony.

"Thank you for your three years of service to 'Aegis.' I wish you a lifetime of happiness."

That was his farewell.

But when I arrived at the Trevor Group's top-floor private clubhouse, I found Patrick's executive assistant, Sloane Peterson, wearing that very brooch.

My voice was sharp. "That brooch represents the highest honor at 'Aegis.' Give it back."

But Sloane just smirked, casually polishing the "Eagle Wing" pinned to her chest with no intention of removing it.

"Yours?" she scoffed. "This is my brooch. Patrick himself told me to attend the engagement party in your place."

"You're a nobody from a middle-class family. Your presence at an event of this caliber would be an embarrassment to the Trevor Group."

With a scoff, I tore the brooch from Sloane's chest.

Ignoring her shrieks, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Patrick over an encrypted line.

"You'd better give me a reasonable explanation right now. Or I won't hesitate to strip you of your CEO title."

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1

"An explanation? What explanation do I owe you?"

Patrick Trevor's cold reply over the encrypted line ignited a white-hot fury within me.

"Patrick, this engagement is crucial for the business alliance. You're sending an assistant in my place? Aren't you worried..."

Patrick cut me off with a contemptuous sneer. "The business world cares because I am the CEO of the Trevor Group. What does that have to do with a social climber like you? Don't flatter yourself."

Before I could respond, he abruptly ended the communication and blocked my number.

Seeing my stunned silence, a triumphant smirk spread across Sloane Peterson's face. She stepped forward and shoved me hard. "Get out of my way," she sneered. "Don't make me late."

She reached for the brooch in my hand, trying to snatch it away.

I sidestepped her lunge. "This brooch is mine. You're not getting it. Back off before I throw you out of here myself."

She covered her mouth and feigned a laugh. "Did I hear you right? You're going to throw me out?"

She curled her lip in disdain. "This is the Trevor Group. Patrick's territory. This was his decision. You should be grateful I haven't had you thrown out for your insolence."

Sloane lifted her chin haughtily. "Now, give me the brooch!"

When I didn't move, she shrieked. "What? The engagement party hasn't even happened, and you're already fantasizing about being the lady of the house?"

"Let me spell it out for you. If I don't walk into that party, you'll never set foot in this clubhouse again. So if you don't hand over that brooch right now, I'll make sure this party never starts."

Her words were laced with threats, but I just gave a cold laugh.

It took exceptional skill and dedication to become Cyrus Blackwood's top agent. My entire career—protecting elite global clients and the integrity of Aegis itself—was built on absolute secrecy.

For years, even without revealing my true identity, every CEO I worked with treated me with the utmost respect. And now, a mere assistant dared to threaten me?

My gaze drifted over Sloane, a cold smile touching my lips. "You're just an assistant. Who gave you the right to speak to me like that?"

Before Sloane could respond, a group of Trevor Group executives strode in, laughing amongst themselves. They bypassed me completely, flocking to Sloane's side. Seeing the brooch in my hand, they gasped dramatically.

"How dare you take Sloane's brooch! If she's too upset to attend the engagement party, you'll be banned from the Trevor Group for life!"

Sloane pointed at the brooch triumphantly. "Did you hear that? Hurry up and give it to me!"

"Someone with your background should feel lucky to marry into the Trevor family. As long as you don't make a scene, we'll find some cushy, do-nothing job for you in the company. Just stop wanting things that aren't yours."

I glanced at the brooch, my expression impassive. "If you want to be the lady of the house, be my guest. But this brooch is mine. You're not having it."

My words sent Sloane into a rage. The executives around her squared up to me, clearly ready to get physical.

Their aggressive postures were laughable. What they thought were intimidating moves were nothing but amateur posturing to me.

I used the room to my advantage, effortlessly evading their clumsy attempts to corner me. In the chaos, Sloane lunged at me.

The next second, the door was thrown open violently. An authoritative voice cut through the chaos.

"All of you, stop!"

At his command, several bodyguards in suits flooded the room. The man standing behind them adjusted his expensive, custom-made suit and spoke in a deep, stern voice.

"What is all this? Sloane, as my assistant, this chaos reflects on me. I don't want to see it again."

I watched the man approach, forcing a cool, polite smile. "Patrick Trevor. Hello."

I had to admit, he was the very picture of what most women fantasized about: handsome, well-built, and radiating a commanding presence that filled any room he entered.

Meeting Patrick's scrutinizing gaze, I began, "I'm Ingrid Davenport, and I'm your..."

Before I could finish, Patrick looked me up and down with contempt. He raised a hand, signaling a bodyguard. "I don't waste my breath on nobodies."

The next moment, the towering bodyguards blocked my view.

I was stunned. When had I become a nobody? I was Patrick's intended fiancée, the woman who was supposed to become his wife.

Rage burned in my chest, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. "Patrick, the entire business world is watching our engagement party. I am your fiancée. How could I possibly be a nobody?"

A mocking expression twisted Patrick's handsome face. "So, you do know this party has everyone's attention. A social climber who thinks her pretty face is a ticket to the top? You must have been planning this for a long time."

He looked me up and down with disgust. "But let me tell you, you are not worthy of being my wife. If it weren't for the resources your family provided, what makes you think you'd even be standing here? Stop making a fool of yourself."

His eyes were filled with endless disdain. "It's a shame your family is so insignificant. The resources they offered are barely worth mentioning."

The look of disgust in his eyes deepened. "And since we're on the subject, let me make things clear. Even if you become my wife, you will have no right to interfere in the Group's affairs."

"You need to remember your place and what you traded to get here. If you displease me, I can have you blacklisted in an instant."

His words were a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. "If you're so unwilling, Patrick, then let's call off the engagement."

I thought Patrick would agree. To my surprise, he let out a cold laugh.

"What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve? Since you had the guts to come to the Trevor Group, you should be prepared for the ridicule. This isn't a place you can just come and go as you please."

I took a step forward, meeting his gaze with an icy stare. "I'm sorry, but this is precisely a place I can come and go as I please. The Trevor Group means nothing to me."

As soon as I spoke, murmurs erupted from the executives around us. They glared at me, looking as if they were about to throw me out at any moment.

"Don't try to hide how out of your depth you are with that tough act," Patrick said with a mocking smile. "Still making such grand claims with that cheap dress on your back?"

I paused. After years of covert work, keeping a low profile had become second nature. I never imagined it would be mistaken for weakness.

Looking at Patrick, I felt a laugh bubbling up. The Trevor Group was merely a large, moderately successful corporation. Its core technology was nothing special; most of its breakthroughs came from collaborations with top consulting firms.

And the firm the Trevor Group collaborated with most frequently was none other than "Aegis," led by Cyrus.

Patrick requested ace agents from Cyrus for support at least ten times a year. But he would never know that the mysterious ace, codenamed 'Aquila,' who always stood by Cyrus's side, was me.

I let out a cold laugh. I couldn't wait to see the look on Patrick's face when he realized what he'd just thrown away. These fawning executives would lose their minds.

I gave him a cool nod. "Since I am so unworthy of you, Patrick Trevor, let's call off the engagement. After all, a man of your... noble stature... deserves better."

I let the last two words hang in the air, dripping with sarcasm.

A flicker of disbelief crossed Patrick's eyes. He clearly couldn't believe that someone he saw as a nobody would give up an opportunity others only dreamed of. "That's the best decision you could make. I hope you're serious."

I nodded. "Since the engagement is off, you'll be returning all the resources my family invested. After all, our deal is void."