جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 8

In my twenty-six years of life, no one had ever dared to talk to me like that. "Say that again. What exactly do you want me to scream?" I asked coldly."Are you deaf? I said: 'I'm a broke beggar and I was wrong.' Got it now?" Mia snapped.A smirk crept onto my lips. "Loud and clear. Since you just called yourself a broke beggar, get out. Don't embarrass the Astor family."Mia's face flushed beet red. She finally realized what I did. "You! You dare twist my words? You're mocking me?!" She completely lost it. She lunged at me, screaming. Her hand raised high, aiming a fierce slap right at my face.I really didn't want to make a scene. But she crossed the line. I grew up training in self-defense with my dad's elite security team. I wasn't going to be scared of some woman throwing a punch like she was in a school play.Before she even touched me, I dodged, then used her momentum to trip her. Mia hit the floor hard. She curled up on the carpet, groaning in pain.The whole room gasped.

The second I saw him, tears spilled out. No warning. All the grievance, the pain, the humiliation. It all flooded out at once."Dad—" I choked out. I broke free from the guards' grip and stumbled into his arms.The scent of his tailored cashmere coat wrapped around me. Mixed with that cedarwood smell he always carried from his business trips. In that moment, I finally let myself break down.The air in the hall turned to ice. Those billionaires who were just watching the show? Now their faces were pale as paper.They recognized the fleet of bulletproof Maybachs outside. And they definitely recognized the silent, chilling row of men in black. Elite private military contractors. The world's absolute top-tier private force. You couldn't even hire them unless your wealth rivaled a small country."Oh my god... is that..." "Shh! Shut up!" The whispers died instantly.And Mia? She had zero survival instincts. She strutted right up to my dad in her stilettos."You're her dad?" She crossed

"Dad, don't get mad over garbage. It's not worth it." I leaned against him, my voice a little hoarse. Dad looked down at the bloody scrape on my hand from her heel. His eyes grew colder by the second. "Not worth it?" He scoffed. "She touched one finger of my daughter. That's the biggest sin she could ever commit."He didn't say another word. Just carried me to the car. The convoy sped into the heart of Manhattan. Parked in front of a plain white building. The VIP Pavilion at NewYork-Presbyterian. The most exclusive private wing in the country. And our family owned 100% of its shares."The best doctors, the best team. I want zero scars on her." Dad ordered the hospital director. His tone left no room for debate. The director bowed, nodding furiously. Sweat beading on his forehead.I lay on the hospital bed, watching a nurse carefully treat my hand. Dad sat beside me, holding my other hand. Guilt written all over his face. "This is Dad's fault," he muttered. "I always made you keep

Mia's forehead was bleeding. Dark red blood trickled down her brow, mixing with the rain. She looked like a complete beggar. Liam had no fight left in him either. He just kept bowing on the floor, mumbling the same pathetic apologies on loop.I put down my coffee cup. The clink against the table echoed sharply. "Stop groveling. You're bleeding on my rug," I said. All three of them shot their heads up. A glimmer of hope in their eyes."I've always been a merciful person." I stood up, looking down at them. "Not only will I forgive you, but I'm going to make your 'beautiful, touching' love story come true."Mia froze. Looking completely lost but relieved.I signaled my butler. He handed over a document and slapped it onto the coffee table. "Three conditions." I tapped the paper with my finger. "One, you two go to City Hall and get married. Immediately. Two, the wedding will be broadcast nationwide. I want everyone to see it. Three, after you're married, you are not allowed to leave th