Chapter 4

The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor.

Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room.

Lucas Cross’s expression was nothing short of spectacular.

First, shock, then an uncontrollable terror, his face instantly paling.

He instinctively let go of Madison Reed, as if to stand up.

But his gaze caught Madison’s tear-streaked face, and he hesitated, a struggle in his eyes.

Finally, that fear was replaced by a ridiculous, blustering defiance.

He remained seated, just staring fixedly at me, as if that could mask his inner panic.

As for Madison, the moment she recognized me, her pupils constricted violently.

But she quickly regained her composure. This was Lucas’s territory, surrounded by all his friends.

Instead, she burrowed deeper into Lucas’s arms, crying even louder.

“Lucas, it’s her… she’s the one who bullied me…”

She cried, casting me a malevolent, triumphant look, as if to say, See? He still protects me.

I ignored her, my gaze fixed solely on my dear brother.

“Lucas Cross, I’m talking to you.”

“Weren’t you just saying you’d make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?”

Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips trembling, but not a single word escaped him.

He was afraid of me.

He had always been afraid of me, ever since we were kids.

He knew who truly called the shots in this family.

His friends exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding the situation.

A rich kid with bleached hair, probably wanting to impress Madison, stepped forward.

“Who are you? How dare you talk to Lucas like that?”

“If you know what’s good for you, apologize to Madison right now, or else…”

He didn’t finish his sentence.

Because the bodyguard behind me had already stepped forward, standing impassively in front of me.

That invisible pressure instantly silenced the blonde kid.

I walked past the bodyguard, stood before Lucas, and looked down at him.

“It seems you’re not going to give me an explanation.”

Lucas finally mustered his courage, stiffened his neck, and stood up.

He pulled me aside, lowering his voice, his tone a mix of pleading and a hint of impatience.

“Sloan, what exactly do you want?”

“Do you really have to humiliate me in front of my friends?”

“Madison didn’t mean it, she just has a short temper. Can’t you just let it go?”

I looked at him and suddenly found it incredibly laughable.

Let it go?

After she had her goons beat me half to death, after she extorted a million dollars from me, he wanted me to *let it go*?

“Lucas Cross.” I called him by his full name. “Are you kidding me?”

“I…” He was speechless for a moment, his eyes darting away.

Just then, from outside the villa, the sound of police sirens grew louder and clearer.

The sharp, piercing wail cut through the party’s false festive atmosphere.

Everyone froze.

Soon, several uniformed police officers, their expressions serious, walked in.

The lead officer scanned the room, then his gaze settled on me.

“Excuse me, are you Ms. Sloan Cross?”

I nodded. “Yes, I am.”

The officer pulled out an arrest warrant and turned toward Madison Reed.

“Madison Reed, you are suspected of assault and extortion. You are now under arrest. Please cooperate with us and return to the station for questioning.”