Chapter 4

Simone didn't struggle. "Think this through before you do anything. If something happens to me, the Grantham family won't have a single person left who can sign that agreement."

Nicole stared at her. At last, little by little, she loosened her grip.

The smile vanished completely from Simone's face, and her expression turned cold. "Miss Grantham, my patience has limits. You will sign this agreement tonight, whether you want to or not."

She placed a pen in front of Nicole. "As for him, I don't mind if you let me have my fun with him."

Nicole pulled me behind her. "Dream on."

Simone glanced at her watch. "Half an hour until midnight. If the agreement isn't signed by then, the remaining 4 billion in the Grantham Group's overseas accounts will be forcibly liquidated.

"Miss Grantham, take your time deciding."

Nicole did not look at her again. She turned to me and gripped my shoulders, lowering her voice. "Whatever happens next, don't be afraid. Felix Collins is waiting for you in the underground garage. The moment that door opens, you go with him. Immediately."

I looked at her. "Is the Grantham family out of money?"

Nicole paused. "Yes."

"But I want to keep spending yours."

The last trace of light in her eyes seemed to dim. She fell silent for a moment, then answered gently anyway, "All right. I'll find a way to earn more."

The VIP room's door suddenly burst open.

Connor stumbled inside, his hair disheveled, his face pale, and his breathing ragged. "Nicole, you can't sign it. The lawyer just sent word. The moment this agreement takes effect, every asset under our names will be seized."

He grabbed Nicole's hand. "Our sisters got word out too. They'd rather sit in prison than have you hand over the Grantham family."

Nicole said nothing.

Simone spoke coldly. "Mr. Grantham, have you still not figured out where things stand? You people are in no position to negotiate terms."

Connor turned and saw me. Fury exploded in his eyes.

He grabbed my wrist and shoved me toward the door. "Get out of here. Now. Take the money my sister gave you and get as far away as possible."

I did not move.

Connor clenched his jaw, his voice cracking with an urgency he could no longer hide. "Lionel, aren't you the one who's terrified of hardship? The Grantham family is finished. My sister can't protect you anymore.

"Simone doesn't actually want you. She wants to use you to humiliate my sister. Go now, while you still can."

Simone raised a hand. "Who said he could leave?"

Two bodyguards stepped forward and blocked the door.

Nicole pulled both Connor and me behind her. "I'll sign."

She picked up the pen from the table. "But you let them go first."

Simone smiled. "Too late for that. A moment ago, the Grantham Group was the price for letting him go. Now the Grantham Group belongs to me. Both of them stay."

Nicole's eyes turned cold in an instant.

The bodyguards behind Simone stepped forward in unison, the black muzzles of their guns hovering only inches away.

The representatives from all twelve funds watched with detached expressions, as though they had already divided the Grantham Group's assets among themselves.

A blonde woman among them looked me over. "Don't worry, Miss Grantham. Once the Grantham family goes under, we can take over the expense of keeping this little kept man for you. As for your brother, we'll make sure he eats and dresses well too."

A low ripple of laughter swept through the room.

Connor's entire body went rigid with fury, but he still stepped in front of me, shielding me from the leering looks directed my way. "None of you gets to humiliate a member of the Grantham family."

I watched his back, then looked at Nicole.

Simone tapped the table. "Ten minutes left."

Nicole pulled the cap from the pen.

Connor gripped her hand tightly and shook his head, his face ashen.

At that moment, a call from Leopold came through. Nicole put it on speaker.

A long silence followed on the other end before a single weary, aged sigh broke through. "Sign it. Keep them safe first."

Nicole closed her eyes. The pen descended toward the agreement.

"Wait," I said quietly.

Everyone turned toward me as I stepped out from behind Connor and walked straight to the head of the table.

Nicole frowned. "Lionel, don't do this."

I ignored her.

The logos of all twelve funds were laid out across the table. I looked over each one carefully, making sure I had not missed a single name. Then I pulled an old phone from my pocket, one that had been switched off for years, and dialed a number.

The line rang once before someone answered.

I looked down at the merger agreement in front of me and spoke calmly. "Suspend all trading in the Avelian markets."

Then I raised my eyes and swept my gaze across the twelve representatives. "Also, notify the heads of all twelve funds. They have half an hour to come here, get down on their knees, and explain themselves to me."