I followed Stella's gaze and saw her direct superior, the company's vice president, Lucas Moore. He was standing there, face pale, eyes wide with shock.

"Mr. Moore, you have to help me!" Stella stumbled toward him, clinging to him like a last lifeline. Lucas instinctively tried to step back, but she grabbed his arm tightly.

"Mr. Moore, this was all your idea! You told me to get rid of Charles, this useless man, and take money from him. You promised…" she said.

"Enough! Stella, have you lost your mind? You mismanaged your own private life, slandered your ex-boyfriend, and now you're trying to drag me into this?" Lucas yanked his arm free, panic flashing across his face before he forced a harsh tone.

He turned to Owen and me, forcing a smile. "Mr. York, Mr. Reid, this is purely a personal issue with Stella. It has nothing to do with our company."

No one in the room was fooled. Seeing this, everyone understood immediately.

"So, it was a setup between the two of them! How cruel," someone in the crowd said.

"And that Mr. Moore isn't innocent either. He probably wanted Stella all along and told her to do this," another added.

The whispers started again, but this time all the blame was squarely on Stella and Lucas. Watching them flounder, I felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Mr. Reid, please continue," I said calmly.

"Of course, Mr. York," he replied, nodding before turning his attention back to Stella. "Ms. Smith, what we just calculated was only the direct financial losses you owe Mr. York. Now, we'll move on to compensation for emotional distress and reputational damage."

Owen's voice was steady, devoid of emotion, yet Stella and Lucas both shivered. "You publicly defamed my client's character. According to the law, you and your accomplice are jointly liable for emotional and reputational damages, totaling…"

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, then said slowly, "Two million dollars."

"Two million dollars! This is robbery! He's just a poor kid. How could his reputation be worth two million dollars?" Stella screamed, as if she'd heard something impossible.

"Yeah, a regular employee who's only worked a year can't claim that. Mr. Reid, this is extortion!" Lucas added, trying to keep his composure.

"Is it?" Owen smiled faintly, knowingly.

At that moment, the banquet hall doors swung open again. This time, an elderly man with white hair but a commanding presence walked in.

Lucas's eyes went wide, and his lips trembled. "Chairman… You… What are you doing here?"

Most of the guests were confused, but every businessperson present, including Stella's parents, froze instantly.

The man was none other than Benjamin York, founder of Shine Corporation and one of the city's most powerful businessmen. Lucas's company was just one of the countless subsidiaries under Shine Corporation, barely worth noticing.

Benjamin ignored the crouching Lucas entirely and strode straight through the crowd toward me. Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, he patted my shoulder with genuine concern. "My dear son, you've been wronged."