Krystal paused for a second before bursting into laughter. “Ray, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. We all know you’re an orphan. Where did this sister come from?”

Dale said with a smile, “I think you finally lost the plot. The Markham Group’s funding comes from Greene Apex, the city’s biggest financial player. Do you honestly think that by changing your last name, you can associate yourself with the family?”

It was true that I was an orphan, but two years into my relationship with Krystal, my biological sister, Lynne Greene, tracked me down. She told me that I had been abandoned at an orphanage, a casualty of an intense power struggle within the family.

Our parents’ dying wish was for her to find me. Given the dangers lurking in every corner of the elite world, I had no intention of inheriting the family business. By going back to the family, I would likely become Lynne’s vulnerability. In the end, I chose to take the family name without going public about who I really was.

As a way of looking out for me, Lynne secretly supported Krystal’s business, allocating her the best resources and funding.

How else could Krystal build a multi-billion-dollar empire all on her own in mere years?

Propping myself from the ground, I looked everybody in the eye and uttered, “You’ll soon find out whether I’ve gone nuts.

“Krystal, when the truth’s out, I sure hope you’ll still yourself their mother.”

I walked away, covered in humiliation.

Not a single person in the room was getting away. I would see to it, for sure.

Dale raised his voice, “Stop him! Don’t let him leave!”

Someone came in my way with an outstretched arm.

Dale whispered to Krystal, “Krystal, Ray is privy to the business’ confidential information. It’s too much of a risk to the group to let him go. We should probably…”

Krystal nodded in agreement. “Good thinking.”

At Dale’s command, I was brought before Krystal. Several individuals then reached to pull my shirt off.

As my eyes widened, I put up a fight and uttered, “What are you doing?”

Letting out a sinister smile, Dale approached me and said, “I’m getting your nudes. If you ever speak about the children, those images would be released across the internet.”

“No!”

Despite my violent struggle to keep my clothes on, I was defenseless against the group.

Cornered and desperate, I sank my teeth into Dale’s arm. Try as he may, he couldn’t get me off him.

In the end, a bottle of wine was smashed on my head. My mind blanked out, and I slumped to the ground, drained of strength.

Dale, mounting on me, smacked me in the face left and right in a fit of rage.

“How dare you bite me! I’ll show you!”

After slapping me repeatedly, he roughly tore at my clothes.

Chatter erupted all around.

“Where has he been hiding that body? Look at his massive package.”

“I can see why Ms. Markham kept him around even though he’s shooting blanks. He must be pretty good in the bedroom.”

One individual thought it was appropriate to pose a question to Krystal. “Since you’re done with him, we’d love to have a turn with him. It beats paying an escort.”

Krystal sneered, “I’ve had him for seven years. He’s all show and no substance. If you don’t mind, take him.”

With Krystal giving the green light, dozens of hands felt around my body.

Humiliation and despair overwhelmed me.

Then came Lynne’s angry voice from the doorway. “Get your hands off him!”