Chapter 4

Just as I finished eating, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

I answered, and a haughty female voice came through.

"Is this Skylar Adams? I’m Brittany Hayes."

Brittany Hayes? I thought for a moment. Amber’s rich, spoiled friend.

"What do you want?"

"Skylar, you really outdid yourself, daring to offend Mr. Thorne. Now the Adams family is ruined. Are you happy?" Brittany Hayes’s tone was dripping with schadenfreude.

I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on her. Just as I was about to hang up, she spoke again.

"However, I’m in a good mood today, so I can show you a way out."

"What way out?"

"Tonight at eight, Regal Club, Mr. Albright’s party. Mr. Albright loves your type – innocent with a hint of wildness. If you please him well, he’ll give you twenty billion, not just one."

The Regal Club was a notorious den of indulgence in the city. And Mr. Albright, I’d heard whispers about him. A fifty-something, sleazy old man known for his scandalous escapades.

Amber and Brittany Hayes were trying to throw me into a living hell.

"What’s wrong? Scared to come?" Brittany Hayes taunted. "If you still want to survive in this city, you’d better show up. Otherwise, face the consequences."

With that, she hung up.

I looked at my phone, my eyes turning cold.

Did they really think I was still the old Skylar, easily manipulated?

I originally didn’t want to bother with these clowns, but their repeated provocations made me wonder if they thought I was made of mud.

Eight PM, Regal Club.

I changed into a little black dress, put on exquisite makeup, and arrived promptly.

Just outside the private room, I heard Brittany Hayes’s voice.

"Don’t worry, Mr. Albright, that little bitch will definitely come. She’s desperate now; what else can she do but cling to a big shot like you?"

A vulgar male voice chuckled. "Good, good, Brittany, you’re so smart. You’ll be well rewarded when this is done."

"Thank you in advance, Mr. Albright."

I pushed open the door and walked in.

The room was smoky and chaotic. Besides Brittany Hayes and the corpulent Mr. Albright, there were a few other scantily clad men and women.

Amber was there too, and she froze when she saw me.

"Oh, she actually came?" Brittany Hayes said mockingly. "Come on, quickly, come toast Mr. Albright."

Mr. Albright’s lecherous eyes raked over me, making my skin crawl.

"Nice, nice, even prettier than in the photos." He rubbed his hands together, his smile obscene.

I didn’t move, just stared at them coldly.

"Skylar, what are you waiting for? Come on over!" Amber urged, clearly worried I’d ruin her plans.

I picked up a glass of red wine from the table and slowly walked toward Mr. Albright.

He thought I was going to toast him and chuckled, raising his own glass.

Just as he was about to clink glasses with me, I flicked my wrist, and the entire glass of red wine splashed across his greasy face.

"Agh!" Mr. Albright cried out.

The entire room fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at me, wide-eyed.

Brittany Hayes reacted first, screaming, "Skylar! You’re crazy!"

Amber’s face paled with fright. "You… what are you doing!"

Mr. Albright wiped the wine from his face, trembling with rage.

"You dirty bitch! You dared to throw wine on me! Grab her! I’m going to make you regret this tonight!"

Several men immediately lunged at me.

But I was ready. Grabbing an empty wine bottle from the table, I smashed it against the edge with a sickening CRACK!

The bottle shattered, and I gripped the remaining half, its sharp, jagged end pointed at the man in front.

"Who dares come closer?" I spat, my voice cold.

The men were stunned by my ferocity and hesitated to advance.

Mr. Albright yelled furiously, "Useless! You’re all useless! Go get her! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

Just then, the private room door was kicked open from the outside.

"I’d like to see who dares touch her," an icy voice cut through the room.

My gaze snapped to the sound, and I froze. Damian Thorne? What was he doing here?

He was still in his specialized wheelchair, followed by an expressionless Liam Stone and several black-suited bodyguards.

His appearance instantly dropped the room’s pressure to zero.

Mr. Albright saw Damian Thorne, and the anger on his face instantly transformed into a fawning smile.

"Mr… Mr. Thorne? What brings you here?"

He stammered, frantically wiping the wine from his face.