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."