"The above slide shows our preliminary concept for your company's development over the next three years…"

I fumbled through my explanation of the draft proposal. I couldn't remember much of the data, so I was forced to improvise on the spot.

The audience's laughter grew louder. Dennis couldn't help but roll his eyes.

My cheeks burned, and my palms were slick with sweat.

As I steeled myself to deliver the final summary, a voice suddenly cut me off.

"My apologies, Mr. Newman, and to all of you here," Dwayne said, a calm, confident smile on his face. Without me noticing, he had already picked up another microphone.

The audience immediately fell silent, every eye turning toward him.

"Since Evelyn just returned to the country, she isn't familiar with our business operations yet. On top of that, she's not feeling well today. That's why her performance is below par."

With just a few words, he had shifted the blame onto my so-called "sickness". I was stunned at how easily he had washed his hands of any responsibility.

"To avoid wasting everyone's valuable time, my personal assistant, Ms. Katherine Cadwell, will now present a more polished proposal our team has prepared."

Since when had Katherine turned into his personal assistant?

I froze, my mind going completely blank.

Dressed in a sleek business suit and high heels, Katherine gracefully walked onto the stage.

Her makeup was impeccable, and her hair was pinned back in a perfect updo. Her entire being exuded the confidence of a corporate elite.

Her polished appearance stood in sharp contrast to my disheveled state.

She stole a glance at me. Though her gaze seemed apologetic, a trace of smugness shone through.

Without hesitation, she deftly inserted a USB drive into the backup laptop. "Ms. Brown, thank you for your effort. I'll take it from here."

Her gentle, polite voice sent a chill down my spine.

Almost immediately, the projector displayed a PowerPoint that was impeccably designed. Aside from its elegant formatting and thorough data, it featured the very idea I had conceived.

It was the key concept I had painstakingly refined through countless sleepless nights—the finishing touch I believed to be wholly original.

But to my frustration, every bit of my hard work was now showcased in Katherine's slides, presented as though it were her own stroke of genius.

"This core concept is the result of seven consecutive nights of brainstorming with Mr. Woodruff and our team," she explained passionately, as though she had truly put in all that effort.

The clients who had ridiculed me just moments earlier were now stunned and impressed.

"This proposal is remarkable!"

"Mr. Woodruff's team is incredibly professional!"

"With talent like this, Brown Group's future looks limitless!"

Like an idiot, I stood helplessly on the sidelines. I had unwittingly been reduced to the most pitiful backdrop in the room.

Unable to hold back any longer, I lunged forward like a madwoman. "You thief! That was my idea! How dare you steal my proposal?"

I wanted to grab the microphone and expose Katherine's lies in front of everyone. But before I could take another step, a strong hand clamped down on my shoulder.

It was Dwayne.

His striking features twisted in disdain. "Evelyn, you'd better get your shit together," he whispered in my ear.

In front of all the clients, he effortlessly pulled me away from the stage.

Under his firm grip, I struggled to stay on my feet.

"What's the matter with the heiress of the Brown family?"

"She really can't handle losing, can she?"

"It's a relief that Mr. Woodruff is around. Otherwise, things could have gotten completely out of hand."

Whispers rippled through the audience as they observed the unfolding scene.

"Stay here and calm down. Don't go out there and embarrass me again."

With a blank expression, Dwayne shoved me into the storage room backstage. Moments later, the lock turned outside, its sharp click cutting me off from the rest of the world.

On the other side of the door, Katherine was met with the crowd's approving applause.

At the same time, Dennis announced that Katherine and Dwayne's team would be given priority for the contract.

Inside, I felt utterly isolated, consumed by darkness and silence.

In that instant, it felt as if both my career and my love life had been doomed to oblivion.

I slumped against the cold door, letting myself slide to the floor. My body shook uncontrollably, each breath a sharp stab of pain.

In the pitch-black storage room, the air was nearly suffocating.

The sting of betrayal and failure wrapped around me like an invisible net, sending shivers through my entire body.

After what felt like an eternity, the lock turned again.

A harsh, blinding light poured in. Katherine strode forward, her smile one of pure triumph.

She had changed into a more luxurious suit—one of the limited-edition pieces from my own closet.

A document rested in her grip. It was the letter of intent I had been desperate to receive.

"Look at this, Ms. Brown! It's obvious Mr. Newman really likes my proposal," Katherine announced, her voice thick with pride.

She crouched down, waving the document right in front of my eyes.

"Also, Dwayne asked me to pass this message along. Starting tomorrow, I'm taking over as Project Director at Brown Group."

I stared at her, disbelief written all over my face. I had been fighting for that position ever since I had returned to the country.

"Dwayne has long believed you're not good enough for him. Were you aware of that? Aside from your family background, he considers you worthless. Unlike you, I'm quick-witted and perceptive. It's only natural that I should stand by his side.

"You're like a porcelain doll—beautiful on the outside, but empty on the inside."

Each of Katherine's words felt like a poisoned blade, driving itself mercilessly into the most tender part of my heart.

She gracefully reached into her pocket and pulled out a card. It was my employee ID, bearing my photo and name.

My father, Eric Brown, had personally given it to me when I returned from abroad. It stood as a symbol of my position at Brown Group.

After tossing the card onto the floor, Katherine lifted her elegant red high heel. She aimed it at the chip and slammed it down without mercy. A sharp, brittle crack rang out.

"Ms. Brown, your time is up."

A trace of contempt colored her beautiful smile. In that moment, the final shred of my dignity was ground into dust.

The metallic taste of blood flooded my throat. I was completely enraged.

"Katherine!" Summoning every ounce of strength, I stormed out of the storage room.

"Dwayne! How could you betray me like this?" I roared, glaring at him from only a few feet away.

The smirk on Katherine's face only grew wider when she saw me in a frenzy.

But in an instant, her expression shifted, and a startled cry escaped her lips. Like a frightened fawn, she cowered behind Dwayne, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Ms. Brown, why are you reacting like this? I was only trying to make you feel better…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pointed to the shattered employee ID lying on the floor. "How could you stomp on it like that? I know you're upset, but…"

Dwayne's eyes shifted from my frenzied expression to Katherine's tear-streaked face.

Shielding Katherine behind him, he glared at me as if I were a deranged lunatic causing a scene. His gaze was filled with sheer disgust and impatience.

Dennis frowned and turned to Dwayne. "Mr. Woodruff, what's going on here?"

"Mr. Newman, my apologies for the disruption," Dwayne replied. "Evelyn is just overly jealous. She has some psychological issues."

In front of all the remaining clients, he delivered his final ultimatum.

"Evelyn, I'm giving you one last chance. Either you apologize to Katherine right now, or we'll call off our engagement."

As soon as his words landed, a stabbing pain gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Overwhelmed by shock and years of pent-up emotions, I felt my anxiety erupt uncontrollably.

Darkness swallowed my vision, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I hit the ground hard, my body convulsing uncontrollably. I tried to call for help, but my throat failed me, letting out only a dry, rasping sound.

Through my blurred vision, I saw Dwayne standing perfectly still. His striking features showed no trace of concern, only sheer contempt.

He probably thought this was just another one of my acts to gain sympathy.

Katherine let out a gasp and pretended to rush forward to help me. "Ms. Brown, are you okay?"

Before I could react, her foot shot forward, connecting squarely with my gut.

Pain surged through me, forcing me to curl into a ball. I couldn't even cry out for help.

"Oh dear! I'm terribly sorry! How clumsy of me!" Katherine yanked her foot back, her face suddenly brimming with concern. "Ms. Brown, did that hurt?"

Her performance was flawless. It almost seemed as though that kick had been nothing more than an accident.

Dennis frowned, clearly irritated by the incident. The remaining clients murmured among themselves, pointing their fingers at me.

Seeing me in pain, Dwayne showed not an ounce of pity. Instead, his anger only grew. "Evelyn, how long are you going to keep this up? Your behavior is absurd!"

He pulled Katherine aside, clearly worried I might ruin everything for them. In his eyes, I was nothing more than a lunatic.

"Don't worry about her. She can throw her little fit right here!"

"Mr. Woodruff, should we call an ambulance?" Katherine asked, her voice laced with just enough concern. Still, a flicker of smugness lingered in her eyes.

"It's fine. She's faking it anyway," Dwayne replied, waving his hand impatiently. "She'll be fine once no one's watching."

Meanwhile, I felt my consciousness slowly slipping away. Just when I thought I was about to die here in disgrace, the doors to the meeting room were suddenly flung open.

With a thunderous bang, a group of bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses stormed in. They moved swiftly, ushering all bystanders out of the room.

Moments later, a man in a sharp, tailored black trench coat burst in, his bodyguards forming a protective circle around him.

He stood against the light. With his tall, formidable frame, he exuded a commanding presence.

The man strode straight toward me. With one swift motion, he shoved Dwayne aside.

Dwayne instinctively stepped back. "And who exactly are you?"

Disregarding him altogether, the man came to a stop in front of me.

As Dwayne tried to resist, two bodyguards gripped him firmly by the shoulders.

The man crouched down, his slender fingers pressing against my philtrum and the space between my thumb and forefinger.

In that instant, a sharp, stinging pain shot through me. But miraculously, my tense nerves relaxed, and I could breathe more easily.

"Alert the legal team immediately." Without raising his head, the man calmly instructed his assistant behind him. His tone remained calm and composed. "Remember to file a lawsuit against those two for industrial espionage and intentional assault."

Dwayne was completely dumbfounded. His gaze darted from the unexpected intruder to the entourage surrounding him. Gradually, a look of panic crept over his face.

"Who the hell are you? Who gave you the right to cause chaos here?"

Ignoring Dwayne's protests, the man's assistant held a tablet out toward him.

As the screen lit up, Dad's stern, commanding face appeared. His icy voice echoed through the room, each word striking like a hammer.

"Dwayne, you're fired. Brown Group will launch an unrestricted and indefinite legal campaign against you and your father's company. Get ready to face bankruptcy."