"It is possible, Edward! I made that possible!" Chris snapped, voice ringing with authority.
Edward, trembling and broken, crawled to his feet. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he begged, "Please, Chris! Just give us one more chance. I'll compensate you for everything—everything you lost today!"
Chris didn't reply immediately. Instead, he lowered himself, placing his foot squarely on Edward's trembling fingers.
"Ahhhhh! It hurts!" Edward cried out in agony.
Chris pressed down harder, grinding his heel in. "I might consider forgiving you... if you lick my shoes. They seem a bit dusty."
"I'll do that! Right away!" Edward stammered, desperation fueling his shame.
He dropped lower, stuck out his tongue, and began licking the surface of Chris's shoes. By the time he was done, the leather sparkled—polished to perfection.
"Here you go, My Lord!" Edward said breathlessly. "I've done as you asked. Please... can we now taste your mercy?"
His father, Mr. Jones, fell to his knees beside him, his voice cracking. "Please, Chris. You know we're family. Your father was my cousin. Think of our bloodline—show us mercy!"
But the words only made Chris's expression darken with rage. He reached out, grabbed Mr. Jones by the collar, and roared, "Shut up, you ungrateful traitor! You and your family deserve to rot in hell after everything you did to my father!"
His breathing grew heavy as memories flooded in—painful memories.
"You didn't just throw me out when he died," Chris growled. "You manipulated the judge, extended my sentence. I was meant to serve three years—but because of you, I served five! You added two more years just for your spoiled son! And you think I'd forget that?"
Mr. Jones opened his mouth, but no words came. Chris's fury was too overwhelming.
"I didn't want to..." Mr. Jones finally choked out. "Edward... Edward forced me to do those things. It was all his idea, My Lord!"
Chris turned sharply to Edward and landed another stinging slap across his face.
"If that's the case," he said icily, "then he deserves punishment. Am I right?"
Mr. Jones hesitated, then nodded frantically. "Yes! He led me astray. He should suffer for that."
Chris leaned back, grabbed a chair, and crossed his legs. He sipped from his wine and said, "Then punish him—however you see fit."
Without wasting a second, Mr. Jones stood and slapped Edward hard across the cheek. Again. And again.
As the hits echoed, Alice stood to the side, her mind spinning. She grabbed her mother's arm and whispered urgently, "We have to leave, Mom—now. Chris is allied with Miss Poison, and Edward is finished. I still have a company to manage... and I refuse to go down with these fools."
Katherine nodded, and the two women slipped quietly out of the banquet hall.
Chris, watching their departure with an amused smirk, said nothing. Let them go for now, he thought. Their time will come.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jones continued slapping Edward, who eventually couldn't take it anymore. Gritting his teeth, he pushed his father back toward a nearby chair.
But just as Mr. Jones was about to fall into the seat, Chris flicked his fingers.
The chair slid backward—as if pulled by an invisible force.
Mr. Jones slammed to the ground, his head hitting the floor with a sickening crack.
Blood began to pool beneath him.
"He's dead," Miss Poison confirmed coldly.
"No... NO!" Edward wailed, rushing to his father's lifeless body. "This can't be happening! Please, no...!"
But before he could grieve, a commanding voice rang out from behind.
"Edward Jones, you are under arrest for the murder of your father. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law."
Edward turned, stunned, to see the police approaching—handcuffs ready.
He spun toward Chris, pointing a trembling finger. "You did this! You wanted my father dead! You told him to hit me so he'd fall!"
Chris stared him down, cool and unshaken. "I won't be paying for anything, Edward. You, on the other hand—you'll pay dearly."
He stood tall, voice echoing across the hall.
"You sent me to prison once. Now it's your turn. But there's a big difference between us..."
Chris's tone dropped, razor-sharp.
"I served five years. You will serve a life sentence. You'll rot in a cell for the rest of your days."
He leaned in, smirking.
"And when you get there, tell them—Chris Loner brought you down."
Chris turned and began to walk away.
"You won't get away with this!" Edward shouted after him. "You'll face the wrath of the Jones! I'm not the only one left. Benjamin Burton will come for you. Mark my words!"
Chris paused, then looked over his shoulder.
"Benjamin?" he said with a dry laugh. "If he's foolish enough to seek revenge, I'll crush him too. Officers, take him away."
Edward was dragged off, still screaming threats as Miss Poison and the Dragon agents followed Chris outside.
As the chaos of the banquet faded behind him, Chris watched the police vehicle carry Edward off.
He turned to Miss Poison. "Keep my identity a secret. No one must know... until I say so."
"Yes, sir," she replied with a nod.
Chris slid into his luxurious black car—worth $10.6 billion—and leaned back.
The driver was just about to pull away when a soft voice called out.
"Please, ma'am! I've been wanting to meet you for a very long time!"
Miss Poison turned to see a young woman approaching—slender, poised, and beautiful.
"Our company would love to collaborate with the Dragon Group. Please... it would mean so much to us."
"We don't have time for this," Miss Poison replied flatly. "Go to the recruiting department—they might consider you."
But Chris leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he got a clearer view of the woman's face.
Ava...
His breath caught in his throat. He remembered her—his childhood best friend. The one who once tried to take the fall for him. The only person who truly cared.
"I'll sign the papers," Chris said suddenly.
Miss Poison raised an eyebrow but accepted the documents from Ava and passed them to Chris.
Without hesitation, he scribbled his signature and handed them back.
Just as Miss Poison was about to collect the signed papers, Ava looked toward the car again.
Her eyes widened.
"Hold on!" she said, stepping closer.