Onlookers whipped out their phones, snapping pictures as the hotel staff whispered among themselves.
“Damn, is someone important showing up today? That’s a ridiculous number of high-end cars.”
“It’s not just the cars, the people in them are some of the biggest names in New York.”
“A class reunion bringing in this kind of crowd? Insane.”
I ignored the chatter, while Declan stood beside me in silence, hands in his pockets, completely unbothered. He knew someone was in for a rough night.
One by one, prominent figures stepped out of their cars and made their way straight to the private booth.
Adeline, who had been so smug before, was now lingering near the back, nodding and bowing to everyone who passed like some desperate lackey. It was almost pathetic.
A middle-aged man, introduced earlier as Uncle Felix, shot me a sidelong glance, an eyebrow raised.
“So, you’re the one who pissed off Adeline? Thought you said connections in New York wouldn’t do you any good.”
His voice dripped with disdain, but beneath that, there was a hint of provocation, as if daring me to back down.
I met his gaze head-on. “Yeah. That’d be me.”
Uncle Felix clearly wasn’t expecting me to be so nonchalant. His expression darkened instantly.
“Well, well,” he sneered, crossing his arms. “You’ve got some nerve, kid.”
Then his eyes flicked to Declan, and suddenly, a smirk tugged at his lips.
“Oh, I get it now. Your confidence comes from him, doesn’t it?” He let out a dry chuckle. “You’re Declan Beckett, right? Son of Senior Advisor Beckett?”
That got my attention. He actually knew Declan’s identity. Interesting.
Not that it mattered.
“His background has nothing to do with me,” I said lazily. “And tonight’s little… situation? It’s got nothing to do with him either.”
That answer really ticked off the spoiled rich boys standing nearby.
I could see it in their faces, confusion, irritation, disbelief. They were probably wondering how some random guy like me could act more high and mighty than them.
It made me want to mess with them even more.
I smirked. “So… you’re all Adeline’s backup, huh?” My gaze flickered over their ridiculous designer outfits, the flashy earrings, the dyed hair. “Seriously? With that get-up, can you even call yourselves men?”
That did it.
The second the words left my mouth, the brats lost it.
They rushed at me, full of fury, clearly expecting an easy win.
Big mistake.
I didn’t even bother dodging, just flicked my wrist and delivered a few casual backhand slaps.
A beat of silence.
Then?
They stumbled back, clutching their faces, my handprints burning bright across their cheeks.
Not a single one of them had even gotten close enough to touch me.
Uncle Felix’s expression was downright murderous now. “Who the hell are you?”
I picked up a wet wipe, casually wiping my hands as I replied, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Right on cue, someone in the crowd gasped.
“Look!”
All eyes turned toward the street.
A fleet of red-plated trucks roared up to the hotel entrance, their presence so commanding that even the most arrogant elites in the room went dead silent.
Adeline spun around, her face going ghostly pale.
She turned back to me, barely able to form words. “You… you’re with the Cabinet?!”
I clicked my tongue and wagged a finger. “Half right. But not quite.”
Declan, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.
“Miss Fiona isn’t part of any organization,” he said smoothly. “She’s a personal guard to a Cabinet leader. Answerable to no one.”
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Then,
“Holy shit, Fiona had this kind of background? Why didn’t she ever say anything?”
“If I had that kind of status, I’d walk like I owned the whole damn country.”
“Oh crap… we just sided with Adeline…”
Even the people Adeline had brought as backup started shifting nervously, reaching for their phones to call for help.
Adeline?
She slumped to the floor, her lips trembling as she muttered to herself.
Uncle Felix, the only one still barely keeping it together, was sweating bullets. His voice wavered as he forced out a weak smile.
“Miss Fiona… this is all just a misunderstanding.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Oh? A misunderstanding, huh?”
He nodded so fast it was almost pathetic. “Yes! Absolutely! I, I don’t even know Adeline.”
Then, in a desperate attempt to distance himself, he stormed over to Adeline,
And slapped her.
Hard.
The sharp crack echoed in the dead-silent room.
Adeline’s head snapped to the side, a thin trickle of blood slipping from the corner of her mouth.
She stared up in disbelief. “Uncle Felix, what are you, ”
Another slap.
Then a kick.
“Don’t call me that! I don’t know you!”
The whole scene was almost too ridiculous to watch.
Right then, the armed police entered the room.
Every single person, except Declan and me, was drenched in sweat.
And then, just when I thought things couldn’t get more absurd,
Logan, my ex-husband, dropped to his knees in front of me.
Tears in his eyes. Voice shaking.
“Baby, I was wrong. Please… give me another chance. Let’s start over.”
I tilted my head, staring at him like he was an actual idiot.
“Don’t call me that,” I said, my tone calm, almost amused. “We’re already divorced.”
His face twisted in desperation. “But I, ”
I cut him off.
“Remember that phone call I made earlier?”
He blinked. “W-what?”
I smiled.
“The Senior Advisor approved my request.”
His entire body went rigid.
I took a step back and let the words sink in.
“From now on, Logan? We’re done.”
