1.Night of Humiliation

The night was like molten obsidian, outlining the stark, cold silhouette of the Sterling family estate. On the lawn, the automated sprinkler system hissed rhythmically, like cold serpents coiling around this silent cage.

Inside the dining room, a six-figure rosewood table sat beneath a crystal chandelier that cast a brilliant but warmthless light. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted rack of lamb, mingling with expensive perfume and an even more expensive silence.

This was Jack Miller and Katherine Sterling's first wedding anniversary.

However, there were no candles on the table, no flowers, only a silent tribunal.

"Jack, did you use a bit too much rosemary on this lamb? It's overpowering the natural flavor of the meat." Katherine's mother, Susan Sterling, poked at the food on her plate with a silver fork, her brow furrowed as if she were examining a failed business proposal, not a dish. Her voice was not loud, but it was like a precise scalpel, dissecting what little warmth remained at the table.

Jack kept his head down, answering meekly, "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll be more careful next time." He was dressed in a set of house clothes that were washed so often they were starting to fade, sitting bolt upright with his hands on his knees, like a schoolboy awaiting a reprimand. He had spent the entire afternoon preparing this dinner; the mixed scent of lemon and garlic still lingered on his fingertips.

"There's always a next time," Susan said, setting down her cutlery. She picked up her wine glass, the Bordeaux within as still as her flawlessly composed socialite's expression. "With Katherine's company in its current state, can't you, as her husband, help at all?Even if it's just carrying the briefcase for the operations of her opponents, it would count as a contribution to this family."

The knuckles of Jack’s hands, resting on his knees, turned white from the force of his grip. He could feel Katherine's gaze from across the table, like a sharp snowflake landing on him, melting instantly, leaving behind only a trace of icy dampness.

Katherine Sterling, his wife, the CEO of Sterling Industries, a woman as beautiful as an ice sculpture. At this moment, she was wearing a sharply tailored white suit, her long hair tied back, revealing a graceful, swan-like neck and a firm jawline. She wasn't looking at her mother, nor at Jack, but staring at the barely touched lamb on her plate, her voice devoid of emotion. "Mom, the company's affairs have nothing to do with him."

Those words, "nothing to do with him," were more hurtful than any scolding. They were like an invisible wall, completely shutting Jack out from the core of this family.

He was the Sterling family's live-in son-in-law, a useless freeloader in everyone's eyes. A year ago, the old patriarch of the Sterling family, for reasons unknown, had personally arranged this marriage, wedding Katherine to this man whose only redeeming quality was his decent looks, and whose resume was a complete blank. For a year, Jack had handled all the chores, been utterly obedient, as meek as a declawed housecat.

"How can it have nothing to do with him?" Katherine's uncle, David Sterling, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair, slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin, a calculating glint in his eyes behind his glasses. "Mr. Preston Vance's acquisition proposal is both a crisis and an opportunity for our Sterling family. I've heard that Mr. Vance is still single and has always admired you, Katherine. Sometimes, business alliances can be... solidified through more traditional means."

His words were like a slimy, venomous snake, causing Katherine's face to instantly darken. "Uncle, watch your words."

Just then, the estate's doorbell rang.

The butler hurried over and whispered something in Susan's ear. Susan's face immediately bloomed with a delighted smile as she stood up and walked towards the door herself. "Oh, my goodness, please show our distinguished guest in!"

The dining room door opened, and a man in a high-end custom suit walked in. He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes, and wore the signature smile of a Wall Street elite—a mixture of arrogance and charm. He was the Preston Vance David had spoken of, the founder of Vance Capital, a rising predator of capital on Wall Street.

"Good evening, Mrs. Sterling, Mr. Sterling." Vance's voice was magnetic. He ignored Jack, who was sitting in the corner, and walked straight to Katherine, bending down to place a light kiss on her hand. "And my dear Katherine. I hope I'm not interrupting your family dinner."

"Of course not, Mr. Vance. It's an honor for our whole family to have you!" Susan was as enthusiastic as if she were greeting a savior.

Katherine calmly withdrew her hand, saying coolly, "Mr. Vance, this is my personal time. If you wish to discuss business, please make an appointment with my assistant tomorrow."

"Oh, no, no," Vance said, wagging a finger with a smile. He took a file from his assistant and placed it elegantly on the table, sliding it in front of Katherine. "I'm here for a private matter. This is my final acquisition offer. I'll need your answer by ten a.m. tomorrow. Otherwise, you know, the market will make its own choice."

The file lay there like an ultimatum, causing the air in the dining room to freeze instantly.

Vance's gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Jack as if he had discovered an amusing toy. He looked Jack up and down, taking in his cheap house clothes, a blatant sneer playing on his lips.

"This must be the legendary 'supportive husband' of the Sterling family, Mr. Miller?" He deliberately drew out his words.

Jack looked up, meeting his gaze calmly.

"I'm curious," Vance said, walking over to Jack and leaning down, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear. "How does it feel, cooking and cleaning for your wife every day? Very fulfilling, isn't it? Like... a dog kept by the Sterling family."

The veins on Jack's hands, resting on his knees, bulged one by one. He could smell Vance's cologne, an aggressive scent, the kind used to mark territory.

Vance seemed to enjoy Jack's silence. He straightened up, his voice suddenly loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. "Katherine, I admit, you're very capable. But a woman's energy is ultimately limited. You have to manage a company and... take care of a useless man."

He paused, spreading his arms, a triumphant smile on his face. "So, I'm offering you a better option. Accept my acquisition, and then, accept me. I will make you the queen of Wall Street. As for him..."

Vance's gaze, like a spotlight, hit Jack again, full of scrutiny and ridicule.

"...I'll give him a sum of money, enough for him to open a small restaurant and continue to put his culinary talents to use. That would be putting his skills to good use, wouldn't it?"

A wave of suppressed laughter rippled through the room. Uncle David and a few other relatives were looking at Jack as if he were a joke. Susan's face was filled with undisguised longing and approval.

Jack could feel the malice of the entire world rushing towards him like a tide, threatening to drown him. Something inside him, like a volcano sealed for a thousand years, was furiously accumulating energy deep within the earth's crust.

Katherine's face had turned to ice. She was about to speak, but Vance beat her to it, making a move that no one expected.

He reached out and lightly touched Katherine's shoulder, leaning in with an overtly possessive posture, whispering ambiguously in her ear, "Don't be so quick to refuse, my dear. Consider my proposal. The acquisition I'm talking about... isn't just for your company."

BOOM!

The moment Vance's fingers touched Katherine's shoulder, a long-sealed, ancient gate deep within Jack's mind was violently smashed open by an irresistible force!

A cold, violent will, filled with a primal predatory desire, suddenly awakened like a slumbering monarch!

【PING!】

A mechanical, emotionless voice exploded in the depths of his soul.

【Extreme provocation to host's dignity detected. Mate's safety under direct threat!】

【Alpha Predation System, officially activated!】

【Converting initial energy... The contempt, disdain, and humiliation of the outside world are your finest sustenance.】

【Humiliation value conversion complete! Rage value conversion complete! Initial Predation Points obtained: 100!】

Jack remained with his head down, motionless. But beneath his lowered eyelids, a beastly, crimson light, imperceptible to others, flashed like bloody lightning and was gone.

Vance was still savoring his conqueror's high, not even noticing that the air around this silent "loser" seemed to have subtly distorted due to some invisible aura.

【System Mission Issued!】

【Mission Name: Defend the Mate's Honor】

【Mission Type: Mandatory, Timed】

【Mission Description: For a true Alpha, his mate and territory are sacrosanct. Any challenger must repay his foolishness with blood and tears.】

【Mission Objective: Within three days (72 hours), make Preston Vance, at this very location, in front of all media, kneel and apologize for his words and actions tonight. Furthermore, cause the market value of his company, "Vance Capital," to shrink by at least 50%.】

【Mission Success Reward: 5,000 Predation Points, System Shop Unlocked, Preliminary Bloodline Awakening.】

【Mission Failure Penalty: Bloodline Withers, Soul Obliterated.】

The cold system prompts echoed in Jack's mind like the harshest of military orders.

He slowly lifted his head, looking at the smug Preston Vance, the depths of his eyes holding the endless cold of a thousand-year-old glacier.

Vance felt a little uneasy under his gaze and frowned. "What are you looking at? You piece of trash, was I wrong?"

Jack didn't speak.

He just, very, very slowly, curled his lips into a smile.

There was no anger in that smile, no resentment, only the kind of bone-chilling... pleasure a top predator feels when it has locked onto its prey.

The countdown to revenge had begun.