LOGINCHAPTER 150Spencer’s POVA quiet laugh escaped me.It wasn't loud.If anything, it was almost amused.Florida looked up at me through tear-filled eyes, clutching Rose tighter against her chest."Don't."Her voice trembled."Don't laugh at me."I tilted my head."You want everyone to believe this is about love.""It is!"Her voice cracked as she stood, still holding Rose protectively."I love her!""No."My reply was calm enough to make the room fall silent again."You love control."Her face twisted."You don't know anything about us.""I know enough."I took another step forward."You want to cry about losing Rose?"My gaze settled on the frightened little girl clinging to her."Then let's tell everyone the whole story."Florida's breathing became uneven."Spencer...""I've seen the reports."She froze."The nanny statements."Another step."The therapist's notes."Another."The recordings."The blood drained from her face."No...""You don't get to stand here pretending to be a dev
CHAPTER 149Spencer’s POVThe silence inside the ballroom stretched so long it almost became unbearable.No one moved.No one dared to.Derrick still stood in the center of the stage, the color drained from his face as the reality of Anthony’s betrayal slowly settled over him.Florida looked even worse.Her eyes darted between Derrick, me, the lawyers, and the documents scattered across the stage as if she expected someone to laugh and admit this was all some elaborate joke.No one did.Camera flashes erupted again.Reporters whispered frantically into microphones.The story had already changed.This wasn’t Derrick’s gala anymore.It was mine.I slipped both hands into my pockets and looked at Derrick almost lazily.He stared back at me with naked disbelief.“…That’s impossible.”“I know,” I replied calmly. “You keep saying that.”His fists clenched.“You manipulated him.”“I persuaded him.”“You turned my father against me.”I almost smiled.“No.”I took another slow step toward him.
CHAPTER 148Derrick’s POVFor several long seconds…I couldn’t hear anything.The ballroom was packed with hundreds of people, cameras were still flashing, reporters were whispering into microphones, and an orchestra sat frozen at the edge of the dance floor.Yet all of it faded into silence.I simply stared at Spencer.He stood a few feet away with one hand tucked casually into his pocket, looking completely at ease, as though he hadn’t just ripped the foundation out from under my feet.No.This wasn’t right.This wasn’t possible.I looked down at the folder still clutched in my hand and flipped through the pages again.The contracts hadn’t changed.Neither had the signatures.Not the percentages.0.1%.One-tenth of one percent.One abandoned warehouse that had technically been registered under Spencer Global years ago—a property so insignificant I’d forgotten it even existed.“This…” My voice sounded hollow. “This is fake.”Spencer’s mouth curved into the smallest smile.“I was hopi
CHAPTER 147Spencer’s POVFor a moment, Derrick simply stared at me.The confidence that had filled him only seconds ago didn’t disappear—not yet. It merely faltered, replaced by confusion as my words settled over the silent ballroom.“…What?”A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.Not warm.Not amused.Patient.“You heard me.”His brows knitted together.“I own your company.”“No.” I tilted my head slightly. “You own zero-point-one percent of a warehouse.”Murmurs rippled through the ballroom.Derrick’s smile finally slipped.“What are you talking about?”I didn’t answer him.Instead, I looked toward the entrance.“Right on cue.”The ballroom doors burst open.“Derrick!”Everyone turned.His manager hurried inside, completely ignoring the hundreds of guests staring at him. His face had gone pale, his suit was disheveled, and sweat beaded along his forehead as he clutched a tablet tightly against his chest.“Derrick, we have a problem.”Derrick frowned.“What are you doing? Not now
CHAPTER 146Clara's POVThe ballroom fell into a silence so complete that even the clinking of champagne glasses seemed deafening.No one moved.No one spoke.Hundreds of guests simply stared between Derrick on the stage and Spencer standing beside me, trying to understand whether they had just witnessed the biggest corporate takeover of the decade.Then I looked at Derrick.He was smiling.Not politely.Not professionally.It was the smile of a man convinced he'd already won.Like he'd spent months waiting for this exact moment.Like he'd imagined Spencer's reaction a thousand times.Near the front of the ballroom, Florida wore the same expression.She practically glowed with satisfaction, her chin lifted proudly as whispers spread through the crowd. She looked around at the stunned faces, soaking in every second of the attention.This was what she'd wanted.For Clara to be forgotten.For Derrick to stand at the top.For everyone to see them as untouchable.The cameras flashed relen
CHAPTER 145Clara's POVThe applause echoed through the ballroom as Derrick adjusted the microphone, waiting patiently for the room to settle.He had always known how to command attention.Not by raising his voice.By making everyone else lower theirs.Within seconds, the conversations died away, the orchestra fell silent, and hundreds of eyes turned toward the stage.Derrick smiled the polished, effortless smile the media adored."Good evening, everyone."Another round of applause followed."I'd like to begin by thanking all of you for taking the time to join us tonight. Seeing so many friends, colleagues, and partners gathered under one roof is... humbling."His voice carried smoothly across the ballroom.If someone didn't know him, they'd probably think he was charming.Warm.Even genuine.I knew better."This evening isn't simply about celebration," Derrick continued. "It's about progress. About vision. About recognizing the people who continue to shape this city and the future o
CHAPTER 42Clara’s POVThe ride back to the penthouse felt strangely calm, too calm if you ask me.The nanny sat quietly beside the window, arms folded tightly around herself, as if she was trying to stay concealed. Spencer was on his phone most of the drive, already making arrangements, talking t
CHAPTER 41 Spencer's POV I stared at the message and scoffed. This was probably Florida's doing. “What a petty excuse for a threat,” I said, throwing the phone somewhere on the couch. I wasn't in the mood for her games. I wonder what she planned to get out of this. She was the biggest hurd
CHAPTER 40Clara's pov I couldn't help the smile that spread on my face. I actually had no hope that he'd give us anything, but he did.Spencer just stared at me like I had grown two heads, his eyebrow raised.“I can't believe you got him to tell us something and without.. violence.”I nodded. “Yo
CHAPTER 39Clara’s POVI watched in shock as the bodyguard’s arm tightened around the old man’s neck.This was too much.“Wait!”I rushed to Spencer’s side. “Let him go.”He looked down at me, irritation clear in his eyes. I was intimidated, but my gaze stayed firm.“And why would I do that?” he sa







