In the dimly lit hotel room, Maeve Riley started to come around. As her eyes adjusted, she saw a man in his fifties with a greasy stomach reaching towards her thigh while holding a phone, seemingly recording her.

"Hey there, sweetheart, awake?"

"Who are you?" Maeve fought back the nausea and growled.

The old man smirked as if he were charming. "Who I am doesn't matter. You just need to know your dad owes me a bunch of money. You make me happy tonight, and his debt disappears."

Maeve let out a cold laugh and quickly kicked him off her, sending him sprawling on the floor.

"You want a favor? Go ask my dad!"

These loan sharks were relentless. Maeve had been ambushed on her way to work after leaving class.

The man gasped from the impact, blood trickling from his nose. Hastily, he wiped his face and reached for a spray can, filling the room with mist. "Ungrateful brat! You'll be begging me to help you when this stuff kicks in!"

"Let me guess, old man. Judging by your sleazy look, this is some kind of aphrodisiac?" Maeve scoffed, taking a deep breath. "Cheap stuff. You really cut corners on a night out."

He hadn't anticipated her defiance. "Doesn't matter. You'll be begging me soon enough!"

"Ugly and delusional. What a combo," Maeve said dryly, pulling out a small pillbox from her pocket. She twisted it to the blue section, popping a pill into her mouth. "Thanks for volunteering as my test subject. Enjoy your gift."

With a flick of her wrist, she dusted his face with powder.

"What did you just throw at me?!"

Maeve was already heading for the door. "Something that'll drive you crazy if you don't find a woman in thirty minutes. Otherwise, you'll go mad. Bye!"

Feeling the effect on his body, the man lunged at her, but it was too late.

With a slam, Maeve locked him in the bedroom. As he pounded on the door in fury, she dusted her hands and turned to leave, only to be stopped by a sharp slap across her cheek.

The blow made her head spin, and Maeve took a moment to gather herself.

She tasted blood on her lip and looked up to see four well-trained bodyguards standing in the suite's living room. Leading them was her college nemesis—Aliza George.

Aliza flexed her hand, a smirk on her vibrant face. Maeve had caught the eye of Khai Howell, whom Aliza desired, and she was set on ruining her rival.

"Maeve Riley, you're a real piece of work! Throw yourself at any wealthy guy. Even this Wylder Lewis. Isn't one enough?"

Maeve shot Aliza a sardonic smile. "Had a chance to test him out yourself?"

"You!" Aliza raised her hand, her anger flaring, aiming to strike Maeve again. But before she could, Maeve retaliated with a loud slap of her own.

"How dare you hit me!"

"Oops, must have slipped..." Maeve said, casually stretching her arm.

Aliza fumed, ready to retort when, in a flash—

Maeve gathered all her strength for a slap that sent Aliza reeling onto the floor.

After elegantly stretching, Maeve retrieved a wet wipe from her bag, cleaning her hand before tossing it at Aliza.

"That's how you hit back, understand?"

"Maeve Riley!"

"Relax. Even a dog knows when to heel."

Aliza's eyes were furious, her lips twisted in anger. She looked ready to explode.

She barked orders at the four men in the room.

"What are you waiting for? Do something!"

"Yes, ma'am!" The men, stunned by Maeve's fierceness, snapped into action. Two helped Aliza up while the others opened the balcony door, dragging in a man in only his underwear.

Seeing him, Maeve's heart sank further.

"Maeve, help me, Maeve!" Her father, bleeding and pitiful, begged at her feet, pinned down, with a knife-wielding thug hovering menacingly.

"Three seconds to put on this outfit and please Wylder Lewis. I'll spare your dad. Otherwise, he loses a finger every minute."

A revealing black lace dress was tossed at Maeve's face.

She unfolded it deliberately. "Fine, I'll wear it."

Aliza hadn't expected Maeve to agree so quickly. Her father brightened. "Maeve, you're such a good daughter. I promise—"

Mid-sentence, Maeve cut him off coldly. "But hurry up. Don't just cut his fingers—finish him off!"

Her father was stunned into silence.

Aliza, too, was caught off guard. She had wanted to humiliate Maeve out of jealousy over Khai Howell but hadn't expected Maeve to be so spiteful that she'd wish her own father dead.

"Maeve, please, I'm sorry. I'll never gamble again. Just do this one thing for Wylder Lewis, please." Her father pleaded from the floor.

"I beg of you, have you ever done anything besides drink, gamble, and ruin us? You even stole my money to cover your debts. You've wasted 48 years. It's time to dig your own grave!"

Every interaction with her father churned Maeve's stomach. He was less a man and more a parasite dragging their family into chaos, her mother driven to despair by his actions.

She despised him more than anyone.

Yet, like a toxic vine, he continued to poison her life.

"Quiet down, I didn't bring you here to perform a show!" Aliza George snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Bring the little rascal over here!"

The bathroom door swung open, and a three-year-old with tape over his mouth was dragged in front of Maeve Riley.

"Eli!" Maeve exclaimed.

Eli waved his small arms like an irritated cub, squirming with frustration.

"Let him go immediately!" Maeve demanded.

Aliza had found Maeve's weak spot and laughed gleefully. "So this brat is your Achilles' heel. Tell me, do you want to entertain Mr. Wylder Lewis with this little one watching, or...?"

Before she could finish, Eli managed to rub the tape off his mouth and shouted indignantly, "Maeve, I really need to use the restroom, can we hurry this up?!"

Aliza was momentarily caught off guard, and Eli's sudden movement made her stumble back in surprise.

"Maeve Riley, have you lost your mind?!"

"Always talking doom and gloom, are you hungry? Want to join my little Eli for a meal in the restroom?"

Was she suggesting eating something unpleasant?

Aliza opened her mouth to shout some insults, but before she could, Maeve stuffed a mouthful of powder into her mouth. "What did you just give me?"

"Sleeping powder," Maeve replied.

Aliza didn't even have time to process it before she collapsed onto the floor.

Maeve quickly scattered a handful of the powder around the room, and within seconds, everyone else had fainted.

Maeve walked over to Eli, slipping a dissolvable antidote into his mouth. He quickly dashed off to the bathroom.

With him out of the way, Maeve put a pill into her father's mouth, urging him to escape before Aliza woke up and used him against her again.

The three of them quickly made their escape. But before they could part ways, Maeve's phone buzzed with a campus headline.

It was a live stream link.

The catchy title read, "Beloved University Beauty Pays Off Father's Debt.avi."

Maeve clicked it tentatively, and an unsightly scene from the hotel suite they had just left filled the screen. Surprisingly, lying there wasn't her—it was Aliza!

Holy crap, did that guy locked in the bedroom burst open the door and drag out an unconscious Aliza for his own twisted purposes?

Shocked, Maeve also felt a twinge of fear. If she hadn't brought her "supplies," she would have been the one humiliated on live stream.

While Aliza was getting her comeuppance, Maeve's anxiety only grew. Knowing Aliza, she'd stop at nothing to seek revenge.

Maeve didn't fear for herself, but Eli was still so young. Just three years old, he could barely manage on his own. If Aliza caught him again, the consequences would be disastrous.

This couldn't continue; they had to leave!

"Eli, pack up. We're leaving the city tonight."

"What? But that's so sudden! I haven't even watched my superhero episode tonight!" Eli pouted.

Maeve sighed deeply, trying to remain calm. "Eli, do you believe in miracles?"

Eli nodded.

"Then listen up. Keep dilly-dallying, and you'll find yourself grounded."

Eli was speechless, rolling his eyes.

They took a cab to the train station, and just as they were about to part ways, Maeve's father cornered them. "Daughter, I'm broke and haven't had dinner. But that's okay, I'll protect you this time. Let's all go to London together, alright?"

Maeve was not thrilled to play the fool, but her father, in his gaudy attire, was as clingy as ever, refusing to let go.

Exasperated, she handed him all the cash she had. "That's it. Now scram! Best find a remote place where no one can find you. This is the last bit of money you'll get from me; next time, it'll be for your funeral."

Her father nodded eagerly, clutching the money and scampering off.

Maeve and Eli proceeded to the ticket gate, where Maeve swiped her ID. But when the gate didn't open and the attendant eyed her suspiciously, reaching for the radio, Maeve felt a chill run through her.

The George family wielded enormous power. After the humiliation, Aliza would have pulled every string to trap her, making escape seem impossible.

Maeve scanned the bustling train station. She had to find an exit quickly to get Eli out safely.

Suddenly, Eli gasped, "Wow, that guy is as handsome as me!"

Maeve wanted to scold him for being superficial. "Being handsome isn't everything. You can't live on good looks alone."

But her words caught in her throat. Following Eli's gaze, she saw the large LED screens broadcasting the same news.

On the screens was a tall, striking man, escorted off an extravagant private jet like royalty.

Dressed in a tailored suit, with a dark tie fluttering in the breeze, his finely chiseled face and sharp eyes seemed to hold the wisdom of the universe. As he spoke, he exuded an aura of icy elegance and majesty.

Cameras flashed as they captured his immaculate presence.

In his presence, the entire station paused, drawn to the screen with admiration.

Particularly the women, who were openly swooning.

—Khai Howell, CEO of SinTech Group.

That prestigious title divided the world into distinct lines. He was destined for greatness, while everyone else was mere spectators.

Behind Maeve, she heard a shout. "There they are! After them!"

Seeing the approaching group, Maeve could no longer admire Khai Howell. Grabbing Eli's hand, they sprinted away.

"I can't go on, Maeve. I'm going to drop!" Eli panted.

Maeve's legs were like jelly, but she pushed on. "If we stop, Aliza will catch us. She'll skin us alive!"

"But... if we keep running, aren't they bound to catch us eventually? These capitalists have all the means in the world. Unless we can escape the planet, we're doomed."

Maeve tasted blood in her throat. They'd run almost a mile, with their pursuers doggedly behind. There had to be another way.

Wiping sweat from her brow, she tried to catch her breath.

She stood in the heart of the bustling city, cars whizzing by. The giant LED screens on the skyscrapers still broadcasted the grand return of Europe's wealthiest man.

She thought hard. While Aliza's family was powerful, in this city—and perhaps even in the whole country—the Howell family reigned supreme.

If Eli could be placed under Khai's protection, Aliza wouldn't dare touch him.

But Maeve had no connections to Khai. How could she persuade him to protect Eli?

Then, a daring idea struck her.

If it succeeded, Eli would live a charmed life. But if it failed, they'd both be done for.

After a moment's hesitation, she pointed to Khai's captivating face on the screen.

"Eli, do you want to be the richest kid in the city?"

"Huh?"

"See that man? Khai Howell, the richest in Europe. From tomorrow, he's your dad."

"What? Maeve, are you out of your mind?! My dad is Kashton Howell, who just took off in his tacky outfit. How can I suddenly have Khai Howell as a dad?!"

Maeve confidently gripped Eli's hand. "Imagination is key to living! Now come on, let's turn our fate around tonight!"

That evening, Maeve Riley checked into a charming bed-and-breakfast that didn't require ID, and spent two intensive hours hacking into Amazon's firewall. She quickly memorized the emergency exit routes for the building and took note of a janitor's contact info.

The following day, Maeve skillfully "borrowed" the janitor's uniform and elevator card, then wheeled a cart up to the penultimate floor. It was perfect timing, as the company's internal shareholder meeting was in full swing.

This was the pivotal moment.

Maeve pulled out her little one, Eli, from under the cart, took a deep breath, and kicked open the elegant wooden doors of the conference hall with a loud "bang." All eyes turned to her in unison.

There, in the most prestigious seat, Khai Howell sat exuding an aura of unapproachable elegance. His deep-set eyes were sharp and probing, his distinctive nose seemingly crafted by a divine artist. His lips formed a cold line, exuding authority that demanded submission, even without words.

When his detached gaze met hers, Maeve snapped back to reality. Her eyes, slightly tilted beneath her sunglasses, glimmered provocatively. Under the scrutiny of those countless eyes, she strode forward, firmly setting little Eli in front of Khai on the conference table, pointing at him, and shouting without a moment's hesitation.

"You jerk! Four years ago, you left me with a child and vanished. If it weren't for the news, I'd have never known the shameless man who used me for a night was you!"

To make it convincing, Maeve's face brimmed with righteous anger, as if she wanted nothing more than to flay the man before her alive.

But Khai's demeanor turned several degrees colder, his sharp eyes narrowing. His voice, icy and subdued, almost stilled her. "If you're going to lie, make it good. Do you really think I'd be interested in you?!"

His disdain was all too evident.

Maeve remained unfazed. The more he looked down on her, the more determined she felt to teach this arrogant man a lesson.

Maeve sneered, "Ah, the typical playboy move. Sleep with someone and deny it afterward?"

Khai's lips formed a chilling smirk as he retorted, articulating each word with precision, "I've never been with a woman!"

She shot back instantly, "Who are you kidding? Are you saying that at your age, you've never been with a woman? Or is it that you only sleep with men?"

A long silence stretched between them.

Feeling slightly guilty for her bold lie, Maeve decided to play her trump card. "Fine, consider it my bad luck. I don't need you to take responsibility, but you have to care for your son. If you mistreat him, I'll use the DNA test as evidence to sue you for assault!"

Khai's eyes, dark as ink, locked onto Eli's small face. The little guy grinned up at him and sweetly chimed, "Daddy."

Khai felt a throbbing at his temples.

He gritted his teeth, ordering, "Escort these two con artists to the police, and—" Before he could finish saying "the law," a sharp slap echoed across his face.

The "smack" reverberated loudly, causing everyone to break into a cold sweat, fearing they had front-row seats to Khai Howell's career-ending scandal.

Maeve, bold and defiant, delivered her final words, "Khai Howell, the heavens see all your actions. If you can't even acknowledge your own flesh and blood, prepare for your damnation!"

The chaos erupted so quickly that the situation descended into pandemonium. Even the security guards couldn't determine her identity.

Truth be told, the child did bear a striking resemblance to Mr. Howell, especially those eyes—weren't they like mirrors reflecting an uncanny likeness?

After spinning the biggest lie of her life, Maeve walked out of the conference hall without a backward glance. Khai stood tall, his piercing eyes now stormy with fury.

Enraged more than ever, his fingers drummed hard on the table, knuckles white and veins prominent.

"Mr. Howell," the company vice president hesitated to speak.

But Khai's glare stopped him cold.

"Meeting's over. Everyone, out of my sight!"

The company executives rushed to leave, expressions of fear etched on their faces, practically stampeding towards the exits.

In about 30 seconds, the conference hall was empty except for Khai's special assistant, Felipe Lewis, and the little boy who seemed eager to cause more chaos but restrained himself.

"Mr. Howell, are you okay?" Felipe, having witnessed the audacious slap Maeve delivered, was beside himself. "The medical team is on their way, and if you feel any discomfort, I have..." Tranquilizers.

His gaze fell on the innocent-looking boy, and Felipe quickly shut up. This was Mr. Howell's secret; it mustn't be overheard.

Otherwise, at best, it could cause market turmoil; at worst, Amazon could be handed over on a silver platter.

Khai's analytical gaze returned to Eli's face. Now calmer, he realized the boy did bear some resemblance to him.

Was it merely a trick of the mind?

"Have him tested. I want to know within 24 hours if he's really my son!"

"Yes." Felipe carefully escorted the little boy out, handing him to his assistant before closing the conference room door and coming back to Khai's side.

"Mr. Howell, it's been five minutes since she touched you, yet your body shows no signs of change..."

At that moment, Khai stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his reflection a tall frame with intense, fierce eyes.

For now, they remained dark.

No redness, no physical change.

Felipe wondered aloud, "How did she manage it? Could it be that you're now immune to women, or perhaps cured?"

Rather than answering directly, Khai posed another question, "Did you catch that damned woman?"

"When she slapped you and left, I immediately ordered the lobby exits sealed, but she still slipped away. I'm sorry, Mr. Howell. It was my fault."

"Never mind, let her savor her victory for now. Once I confirm the child isn't mine, I'll make her wish she had never been born."

"But... what if the child turns out to be yours..." Felipe ventured carefully.

Khai's eyes narrowed dangerously. Thinking of the boy placed before him, he did faintly resemble his younger self. Still...