Chapter 4

Brandon's eyes turned sinister.

He took a step forward and grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like my bones would shatter.

"Amelia, don't play dumb with me. I hated that attitude of yours back in college, and you still ended up being played by me for two years. Fine, if you don't want my help..."

I trembled with fury, yanking my hand free. "Let go!"

Chloe smugly wiggled her high-heeled foot. "I have an idea. You can start by licking my shoes clean. Maybe I'll be in a better mood and let you off."

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Brandon, in front of everyone, loudly declared:

"Don't be shy. Every time you groveled and begged people for money to support me, I'd record a video and send it to Chloe. It was hilarious."

I felt my whole body shake, my vision blurring.

All the humiliations, all the times I had to grovel over the past two years...

It was all just their personal entertainment!

Brandon grew more excited. "Oh, and especially when you knelt on the ground begging customers. We even posted the video in the alumni group. The title was 'Our former campus queen begging for ten bucks'."

SMACK!

I raised my hand and slapped Brandon across the face. "Stop talking!"

The loud slap cut him off.

Brandon's face was turned to the side, a bright red handprint instantly appearing on his cheek.

He stared at me in disbelief. "You fing dare to hit me?"

Before he could react, I turned and slapped Chloe, who was trying to grab me.

I declared loudly, "That's for both of you, you two disgusting people!"

Chloe's meticulously made-up face instantly swelled. Her perfectly sculpted nose, likely full of filler, was clearly crooked.

“Ouch! My nose!"

Brandon shielded Chloe and yelled, "Guards! Grab this crazy woman!"

Five or six cronies immediately rushed forward.

Overpowered by numbers, I was forced to the ground.

My cheek slammed hard against the marble floor, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth.

Chloe shrieked hysterically, "Hold her head down! Make her bow down!"

Rough hands grabbed my hair, slamming my head against the floor again and again.

Brandon sneered, pulling out his phone to record. "This time I'm posting it online. Let's see if you dare bully Chloe again."

Blood soon seeped from my forehead, as I lay prostrate on the marble floor.

Chloe's shrill voice dripped with pure venom.

"You were so high and mighty in college, weren't you? Now look at you, sprawled on the ground like a dog!"

An endless surge of humiliation and fury rushed through me.

I never wanted to use my power, but now that they were using theirs, I gathered all my strength, lifted my head, and shouted:

"I am Amelia Vance, the sole heiress of Evergreen Holdings! My grandfather is Arthur Vance!"

A brief silence fell over the lobby.

Then, even more frantic laughter erupted!

"She says she's Amelia Vance? Then I'm the crown prince of England!"

"Is she out of her mind? She's delusional."

Chloe laughed so hard she doubled over, tears streaming down her face.

"Amelia Vance? The heiress to Evergreen Holdings is the fiancée of the Magnus Group's heir! I don't expect you to call your grandpa, but if you're so powerful, why don't you call your fiancé to back you up?"

"That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Making up stories without even trying to sound convincing."

I couldn't help but feel ridiculous, my voice hoarse.

"Brandon, for the past two years, I was naive and foolish to believe your lies. But since you're so intent on pushing me, I won't let you off easy either."

Brandon stared at me for a long moment before a harsh laugh tore from his throat.

"Still acting? Let me tell you something. I've hated that superior attitude of yours since college, when you turned me down. If Chloe hadn't wanted to see you humbled, I wouldn't have wasted a second glance on you."

Chloe stepped forward, her heel hovering just above my fingers on the floor.

"Brandon's right. Trash like you exists for our amusement. I hear you play the piano. I wonder if you'll still be able to after this-"

Several hands grabbed my wrists, pinning my hands down. The cold tip of Chloe's heel pressed into my fingers. A searing pain shooting up my arm.

Just then, a voice cut through the noise, cold and low.

It wasn't loud, but it sliced through the chaos like a blade.

"Stop."