Chapter 1526 Relentless as a Dog with a Bone
"Marriage?" Selena's voice caught in her throat. "You're getting married?"
She stood frozen for a moment before her tone shifted to urgent concern. "You and Philip have barely known each other—are you serious about this? Does Mr. Harper even approve?"
She'd met Shelley's father once, and his words had been crystal clear: marriage required equal social standing, or the couple would face nothing but hardship. That's why Shelley had kept her relationship with Philip hidden from the Harper family.
"Selena, I've got to run—something's come up. I'll call you later, okay? Bye!" Shelley's voice was breezy, completely at odds with someone who supposedly had urgent business to attend to.
The line went dead, and Shelley tilted her head back, watching the sunset paint the sky in brilliant oranges and purples.
That evening, Silver Bay City was hosting one of its familiar charity galas—the kind where the guest list read like a who's who of the city's elite. S.M Corporation had received an invitation, as expected.
With Selena absent, Ann would once again serve as the company's representative. She studied her reflection in the mirror, noting how pale she looked despite the makeup artist's efforts, and asked for an extra layer of blush to bring some life back to her cheeks.
Standing outside the venue, clutching her evening bag, Ann hesitated before entering. The last several galas had been a nightmare—Emily seemed to appear at every single one, and ever since discovering Ann's history with Paul, she'd been relentless as a rabid dog with a bone.
But Ann's hands were tied. Emily was Adams family royalty, Paul's own sister, and untouchable. Ann's only shield was S.M Corporation itself, and she couldn't afford to let the company suffer because of her personal battles.
Taking a steadying breath, she steeled herself and walked through the entrance.
These monthly galas served a clear purpose: networking, deal-making, and relationship-building that companies like S.M Corporation desperately needed. As the company's profile had grown, so had the number of investors eager to shake Ann's hand and discuss potential partnerships.
She was making polite conversation with several recent collaborators when she spotted Emily across the room. The younger woman wore a triumphant smirk, surrounded by her usual entourage—the same faces that appeared whenever Emily was planning something vindictive.
Ann recognized the setup immediately. Emily stood with her chin raised like a spoiled princess, one manicured finger pointing toward the restrooms with unmistakable intent.
As S.M Corporation's public face, Ann couldn't afford a scene in front of potential investors. Emily understood this dynamic perfectly, which is why their confrontations always happened away from prying eyes—specifically, in the ladies' room.
The unspoken rules were clear: if Ann didn't comply, Emily would march over and cause a spectacle in front of the company's investors, creating an even more damaging situation. Ann's sense of responsibility to S.M Corporation, to Selena's trust in her, left her no choice but to surrender to Emily's games.
She walked toward the restrooms, each step feeling heavier than the last.
Once inside, Emily and her friends followed with practiced efficiency. They swept through the space, checking each stall to ensure complete privacy before Emily's palm cracked across Ann's cheek.
"You disgusting slut," Emily hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "At least you know your place. But let me be crystal clear—if you ever breathe a word of this to my brother, I'll destroy you. S.M Corporation will be finished in this city."
The slap left Ann's cheek burning, her head snapping to one side before rough hands grabbed her hair and forced her to face Emily's twisted expression. The younger woman's face was a mask of pure malice—tormenting Ann had become her favorite sport, especially knowing this "worthless woman" had dared to share Paul's bed.
Blood trickled from the corner of Ann's mouth as she met Emily's gaze with hollow indifference.
The other women joined in, cupping handfuls of water from the sinks and hurling them at Ann's head. Her evening gown was instantly soaked, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to her skin, and she caught the distinct smell of soap mixed with something far less pleasant.
Ann endured it all in silence until Emily's stiletto heel connected brutally with her leg, sending her crashing to the tile floor.
The group erupted in cruel laughter. "This bitch got exactly what she deserved!"
"Emily, look at that expression—she actually looks defiant."
"Of course she does. Paul treats her like she's special, and we all know how rare that is. Paul's never been gentle with any woman before."
Paul's aversion to women was common knowledge in their social circle, which made the speaker's jealous tone even sharper. She looked ready to deliver a few more slaps herself—after all, why should this nobody succeed where so many others had failed?
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