Edgar cooed at her, his voice dripping with tenderness. "Whoever makes my Lydia unhappy deserves to be punished."

"Go on, sweetheart. Tell me how you'd like me to punish her."

The crowd milling through the gallery buzzed with whispers.

"She's done for. Nobody crosses that tyrant Edgar Fox and walks away unscathed. That Miss Sullivan is in for a world of hurt."

Even the gallery manager furrowed his brow and nudged me with his elbow.

"Look, just stop being stubborn. Take the money and go."

"Dragging this out isn't going to end well for you."

I folded my arms and let out a cold laugh. "I'd love to see how Edgar plans to treat me over this woman... his own fiancée."

"Fiancée?"

Someone nearby stared at me in disbelief. "She's lost it. The poor woman's been scared out of her mind."

Six months ago, the Sullivan family had decided to reshape its position as the unchallenged power in Seaview City. The best way to cultivate a loyal business partner was through a strategic marriage alliance.

The eligible heirs of every prominent family had lined up before me in their finest suits, ready for my selection.

Whoever I chose would become the Sullivan family's son-in-law.

And that meant gaining access to every resource the Sullivans had to offer.

So naturally, every last one of them was falling over himself to impress me, all flattery and fawning smiles.

Every one except Edgar Fox, who stood there with a look of open defiance. "If my family hadn't forced me to come, I wouldn't be caught dead standing here."

"Sullivan, if you're going to pick someone, hurry it up. I've got financial reports waiting for me back at the office."

And just like that, amid a lineup of handsome, polished men, Edgar stood out.

My interest was piqued. I pointed at him, almost on a whim.

Edgar Fox. Chosen.

Three days later, he was named the heir to Fox Group.

Word was he thought his ancestors had blessed him from beyond the grave. He'd apparently rushed off to church, dropped to his knees, and thanked God profusely, convinced his prayers had finally been answered.

What a fool.

He had no idea that the only reason he'd become heir to Fox Group was because I had picked him.

Just then, Lydia's eyes darted around, and a coy little laugh escaped her lips.

"What kind of garbage art is this?"

"Painted at this level, and you actually have the nerve to display it in a gallery? You're embarrassing yourself."

I watched her reach for the paintings on my table, about to sweep them to the floor.

My expression changed instantly. "Don't touch those!"

But it was already too late.

The paintings tumbled to the ground, smeared with dust and ink.

My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached. Those paintings represented six months of my life.

I had booked this exhibition half a year in advance for one reason alone: to fulfill my late mentor's dying wish and share these works with the world.

And now Lydia had destroyed them.

My eyes burned crimson. Before I even realized what I was doing, a sharp crack rang through the gallery as my palm connected with Lydia's face.

The force of the slap snapped her head to the side. She clutched her cheek and gaped at me, stunned.

"You hit me?!"

"So what if I did?"

I lifted my chin, my voice ice-cold. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to touch other people's things without permission?"

Edgar's face twisted. He lunged in front of Lydia, his tone venomous.

"Have you lost your mind, Katherine?!"

"I'm standing right here, and you dare lay a hand on Lydia?"

In that single moment, every shred of regard I'd ever had for Edgar Fox turned to ash.

I narrowed my eyes, and a deep, bitter disappointment settled over my gaze.

"Edgar, when I chose you to be the Sullivan family's son-in-law, it was because I saw a glimmer of business sense in you. Not so you could stand here and make my life miserable."

The Fox family heir.

It was time to pick a replacement.

Perhaps it was the look in my eyes that startled him. Edgar's grip tightened around my wrist, and for a long moment, he just stood there frozen, unable to react.

I wrenched my hand free.

"Edgar, I hope you won't regret what you've done today."

I turned and walked away, wanting nothing more than to get as far from this disgusting pair as possible.

But they had no intention of letting me go that easily.

A squad of bodyguards in black suits rushed forward, blocking my path with hostile expressions.

Edgar's mocking voice rang out behind me.

"Tsk, tsk. It's been half an hour already, Katherine. You slapped Lydia, you wasted our time. Did you really think you could just walk away like nothing happened?"

I turned back, my gaze ice-cold.

"Then what do you want?"

Edgar's eyes swept over the wreckage scattered across the floor, dripping with contempt.

"You were standing here trying to sell these pathetic little paintings. They wouldn't have fetched much anyway. Worthless amateur garbage, if we're being honest. But tell you what, I'll give you a chance."

He let out a derisive laugh, every syllable soaked in condescension.

"You're going to stay right here and wait on my precious Lydia. Be her little servant. Whatever she tells you to do, you do it."

"If you serve her well enough, I might be generous and let the whole thing slide. The slap, the broken merchandise, all of it."

"But if you don't..."

His voice trailed off. The amusement drained from his eyes, replaced by something cold and vicious.

"Then you'd better be ready to face the consequences."

I turned slowly to face him, taking in that smug, self-satisfied expression, and felt the fury building from somewhere deep inside my chest.

In the six months since our engagement, how much had I given for the Fox family? Did he have absolutely no idea?

I'd leveraged every last connection and resource the Sullivan family had. I'd landed him deal after deal, paving his way forward at every turn.

I'd dragged the Fox family out of their dead-end plateau and forced open the doors to the real elite circles.

In just six months, I'd put them on the Forbes list.

Without me, Katherine Sullivan.

Edgar Fox would still be nothing more than a small-time heir scrambling in the B-list circles of Seaview City.

He wouldn't even have the standing to speak to me.

All of that, and he was either genuinely blind to what I was capable of, or he was simply an ungrateful snake who'd bitten the hand that fed him.

My eyes narrowed.

"Edgar, do you truly not know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are. You're just a spoiled princess the Sullivan family coddled too long. No real talent to speak of. Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Edgar waved his hand dismissively, and the bodyguards moved on cue.

Two of them seized my arms from either side. They ignored my struggling, wrenched my wrists behind my back, and pulled out a length of coarse rope to bind me.

They were actually going to hold me down and turn me into Lydia's personal slave.

The instant the rope bit into my skin, my rage boiled over into a cold, bitter laugh.

"Edgar, you must have a death wish."

He scoffed and reached out, giving my cheek a patronizing slap.

"Katherine. You knew I was going to become the heir to Fox Group. That's why you agreed to the engagement, isn't it?"

"Before, I had no real standing in the family. My brother overshadowed me at every turn."

"But things are different now. If I can't even protect the woman I love, what kind of heir would I be?"

Edgar delivered that speech like it was something to be proud of.

He had no idea how soon those words would blow up in his face.

The bodyguards were seconds away from tying me up completely.

I clenched my fists and spoke, my voice cutting through like a blade.

"Edgar, stop flattering yourself. Do you even know why you became the Fox family heir?"

"It's because you chose to get engaged to me."

"If it weren't for me, you'd be nothing."

"I suggest you untie me right now. Otherwise, things won't end well for you."

Edgar let out a cold laugh.

"Katherine, don't tell me you actually think you're some kind of princess? That you have that kind of power?"

There was nothing left to say to someone this stupid.

When I'd turned around a moment ago, I'd already sent the message.

By now, the Fox family and even the Sullivan family would know exactly what Edgar had done.

When he saw me fall silent, refusing to speak, Edgar suddenly shoved me hard. I stumbled and collapsed at Lydia's feet.

Lydia looked down at me with a triumphant smile. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper beside my ear.

"Katherine, so what if you're Edgar's fiancée? He doesn't love you."

"You can't even hold on to a man's love. So tell me, why would he ever protect you?"

"Edgar himself said you're supposed to be my little slave today."

"So why don't you start by being a good girl and..."

Lydia's gaze shifted, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she slowly lifted the sole of her stiletto.

"Licking the bottom of my shoe clean."

I raised my head and stared straight at her. "Are you sure about that?"

There wasn't a trace of fear in me. My eyes were perfectly calm as I turned to Edgar with a look of pure pity.

"I'd suggest you enjoy this little power trip while it lasts."

"Because it won't be long now."

"Before you lose everything. And after that, you won't be far from ruin."

That was what finally set Edgar off.

His eyes went bloodshot. He stormed forward and locked both hands around my throat, his knuckles white with the force of his grip. His voice came out savage and twisted.

"You're about to die and you're still running your mouth?"

"Katherine, is it really so hard to get on your knees and beg?"

His grip tightened. I could barely breathe.

Then, at that critical moment, a furious, aged voice thundered from beyond the crowd.

"Stop! You ungrateful wretch, are you trying to destroy Fox Group with your own hands?!"