CHAPTER 2 — The Woman They Should Never Have Touched

The ballroom stood frozen.

No one dared move.

Outside, the sound of engines echoed across the estate.

Within seconds, dozens of black SUVs surrounded the mansion.

Men in tailored black suits stepped out in perfect formation.

Each wore a discreet earpiece.

Each moved with military precision.

The massive front doors opened.

An elderly man with silver hair entered first.

He walked slowly.

Confidently.

Every security officer lowered his head as he passed.

"Dad," I said softly.

He stopped beside me.

His eyes fell on the bruise beneath my eye.

The blood on my lip.

The torn sleeve of my gown.

For several long seconds...

He said nothing.

Then he looked at the young billionaire who had attacked me.

"Was it you?"

The man's confidence returned for a brief moment.

"I'm Daniel Ashford."

"My family owns half this city."

"I don't know who you think you are, old man, but—"

He never finished.

My father raised one hand.

A security officer immediately handed him a tablet.

The screen displayed every security camera inside the ballroom.

Every angle.

Every second.

The footage showed Daniel dragging me into the marble hallway.

It showed him throwing me against the wall.

It showed every punch.

Every insult.

Every witness who turned away.

My father slowly looked around the ballroom.

"So..."

"None of you stopped him."

No one answered.

The silence became unbearable.

Then my father gave another quiet order.

"Separate every witness."

"No one leaves until they have given a statement."

Panic spread faster than before.