I Let Her Go, Now She's Unattainable

Elliana stood her ground. With a quick twist of her wrist, she broke free from Dominic's hold without any effort.

Dominic, completely thrown off balance, stumbled into Renee. The box slipped from Renee's grasp, hitting the floor with a sharp crack, and the jade hairpin snapped clean in two.

Tears sprang to Renee's eyes as she desperately reached for the shattered pieces.

"Look at what you've done! Dominic and I spent so much time choosing that gift. Are you satisfied now, Elliana?" Her voice rang out in a wail. She hurt her finger on purpose, then pressed herself dramatically against Dominic's chest, feigning heartbreak.

Fury drained all the color from Dominic's face.

He wrapped his arms around Renee, whispering soothing words while shooting Elliana a look full of venom.

Elliana appeared unfazed. She knelt, picked up half the broken hairpin, and switched on the flashlight.

A vivid, unnatural purple glow lit up under the beam—a telltale sign of fluorescent dye, proof that the jade was fake.

"It's a fake!"

"Rocco would never use imitation jade for his work!"

"This proves the Stanley Group tried to pass off a fake as a gift!"

As the crowd whispered and cast accusatory glances, Dominic's and Renee's faces grew darker by the second.

Elliana took in the chaos with a quiet sense of triumph.

Right then, Trevor made his way onto the stage, his presence commanding attention.

He raised his voice for all to hear. "By presenting a counterfeit, the Stanley Group has insulted both Sanctorum and Caduceus. Effective immediately, the Stanley Group is blacklisted. They will never receive our services."

Dominic stood frozen in disbelief.

He shoved past Renee, desperate to defend himself.

"Mr. Saunders, we meant no disrespect! The Stanley Group was genuinely seeking treatment. We had no idea the hairpin wasn't authentic! How can you treat this as a deliberate insult? If Caduceus is willing to help my mother, we will pay double the usual fee!"

Trevor's gaze was cold as he regarded Dominic.

"Do you honestly believe Sanctorum cares about your money?"

Dominic faltered, words failing him. Humiliation washed over him as the weight of Trevor's dismissal sank in.

The whispers and sideways glances from everyone around made Dominic's embarrassment even sharper.

How had it all gone so wrong?

Renee had sworn she could win Caduceus's favor, but now they were not just rejected—they were blacklisted for good.

His eyes flashed with anger as he turned on Renee.

"Tell me the truth. Where did you really get that hairpin?"

Renee had no way to answer, not when she had skimmed a hefty sum off the top for herself.

Her big scheme to show off had completely blown up in her face.

Consumed by frustration, she lashed out at Elliana, hand raised for a slap. "You ruin everything, you miserable bitch!"

Elliana only gave her a mocking smile.

Was this the best Renee could do—throw a tantrum when the game was lost?

Did Renee really think she would just stand there and take it?

Someone needed to teach Renee a lesson.

Elliana sidestepped the blow with ease, ready to counter, when a new presence slipped smoothly between them.

A refined musk, clean and cool like a breath of winter, drifted on the air.

"Did the Stanley family forget their manners?" A man's voice rang out, deep and commanding, every word laced with effortless authority.

Elliana stilled. That voice was oddly familiar, stirring an old, half-buried memory.

She lifted her gaze, startled.

Soft light crowned the man's profile, throwing his sharp, rugged features into relief—a face both handsome and magnetic.

"You..."

Renee tried to let out another insult, but Dominic cut her off, his arm steadying her as he blurted out, wide-eyed with recognition, "Uncle Greyson?"

A flash of annoyance crossed Greyson Spencer's face at the address.

Dominic, oblivious, beamed and guided a still-reeling Renee toward him.

"Uncle Greyson, I never thought I'd see you at the banquet! You have to help us—my mother's health is failing. As family, you're the only one who can get Caduceus to see her!"

A ripple of surprise swept through the crowd.

"Greyson Spencer is here? I didn't realize he was related to Dominic."

"No one in Ipester can match the Spencer family for power and money. If Greyson steps in, who could possibly refuse him?"