Chapter 3

Oriana's POV

After a brief, dead silence, the room erupted into ear-piercing laughter.

"Is this woman insane? She can't even pay a $500,000 bill, yet she dares to curse the Thornton Group with bankruptcy?"

I ignored the sarcasm, my eyes icy. "Silas, listen well. Even if I die, I will absolutely never apologize to your mistress and bastard child!"

Brielle shrank coyly into Silas's arms, sobbing pitifully. "Silas, look at her! She's calling me a mistress and cursing our baby..."

"Shut up! You have a death wish!"

Furious, Silas grabbed a plate of iced black caviar off the table and hurled it violently at my face!

The cold, sticky sauce splashed all over me. A sharp piece of broken porcelain sliced my calf, and blood instantly seeped out.

"Since you’re so stubborn, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Silas’s eyes filled with disgust. He turned and roared, "Marcus! Handle her by the rules!"

Manager Marcus stepped forward with multiple large security guards, his eyes indifferent. "Mrs. Thornton, your total is $500,000. How would you like to pay?"

I suppressed the pain and scanned the room. "If anyone here is willing to cover this $500,000 for me today, I will repay you tenfold in the future."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"I'd like to see who dares!" Silas sneered coldly, suppressing the entire room. "Whoever helps her is actively going against me, Silas Thornton!"

The room went instantly silent. No one dared to answer.

I wasn't surprised.I looked at Lucas at the edge of the crowd. "Lucas, let me borrow your phone." I paused, sweeping my cold gaze over Silas and the onlookers. "My friend will drop off the money in half an hour.

Looking at my battered yet unyielding figure, Lucas gritted his teeth and handed the phone over.

"Lucas! Are you looking for death?!" His boss, Carter, roared, pointing at him. "You're fired! Pack your things and get out of Ellis Media Group tomorrow!"

Lucas ripped off his name badge on the spot and threw it on the ground, sneering repeatedly. "Fire me then! I've had enough of this ass-kissing garbage company anyway!"

He pointed sharply at Silas and cursed, "Silas Thornton, everyone here knows perfectly well how Oriana spent the last three years building your business with you! Putting her through hell for a mistress today—you're worse than an animal!"

Then, Lucas's icy glare moved to Brielle. "And you. Do you really think you've hit the jackpot? If he can toss out his legal wife today, he'll throw you out like trash tomorrow! Her present is your future!"

"You—!" Brielle’s face turned livid.

Ignoring the furious Silas, I quickly dialed a number, briefly stated my location, and hung up.

"Thank you, Lucas," I said solemnly. "I will heavily repay this favor."

Lucas nodded slightly and stepped back.

"Half an hour?" Brielle shrieked hysterically. "Listen up, everyone! If she can't pay in half an hour, whichever boss wants to cover her bill gets her for the night! Trading one night for $500,000 is a massive blessing for a broke beggar like her!"

The wealthy businessmen instantly went into an uproar!

"Haha! $500,000 for a night with the wife of the richest man? What a steal!"

Time ticked away.

With only ten minutes left on the clock, Brielle completely lost her patience. "Marcus, stop waiting! Tell the guards to break her arms and legs!"

Several guards aggressively closed in.

"Time isn't up yet." I looked coldly at Marcus. "Does Soleilno Ristorante not even follow its own rules?"

Marcus was intimidated by the authority in my eyes and instinctively raised his hand to stop the guards.

Just then, Miller, a sleazy real estate tycoon, walked up with a grin and brazenly reached out to touch my shoulder.

"Silas, this woman really is top-tier beautiful," Miller harassed me freely. "I'll pay the $500,000 for you tonight, but don't you regret it later..."

Silas kept his arm around Brielle, his expression bone-chillingly cold.

Not only did he not stop Miller, he gave a mocking laugh. "Miller, as long as it makes Brielle happy, you can do whatever you want with this woman tonight. She has nothing to do with me. Play with her however you please."

In that moment, the last lingering trace of affection I had for our three-year relationship was completely obliterated!

"Do it!" Brielle screamed her order.

Two 200-pound bodyguards instantly lunged, pinning me violently down on the dining table! With a loud rip, my sleeve was viciously torn off!

The businessmen let out waves of lecherous laughter.

I clenched my jaw, enduring the spreading pain. Through freezing ash-green eyes, I seared the ugly face of every person kicking me while I was down into my memory.

For the humiliation suffered today, I will make you all pay it back a thousand times over!

"Tear off her clothes!" Brielle's face was twisted in malice.

A bodyguard laughed maniacally, reaching for my collar—

A deafening crash exploded! The restaurant’s expensive carved doors were violently smashed open!

Dozens of elite bodyguards in top-tier tactical black suits, fully armed, flooded in like a tidal wave, instantly clearing the floor!

Before anyone could even react, the two bodyguards pinning me down had their arms instantly snapped. Screaming in agony, they were kicked several yards away!

Miller, who had touched my shoulder, was stomped into the ground. The sound of his ribs shattering echoed through the hall along with his blood-curdling screams!

The entire room fell utterly silent. Everyone was shaking in pure terror.

In this absolute dead silence, a middle-aged man in a top-end custom suit rushed into the restaurant.

It was the President of Veyra City's largest commercial bank—Arthur Vance!

Without even glancing at the utterly shocked Silas and Brielle, he ran straight toward me.

Under the disbelieving stares of everyone present, the usually towering financial giant dropped to one knee with a heavy thud, kneeling respectfully before me!

Behind him, two bodyguards slammed open two massive black metal cases. Inside sat exactly $5 million in perfectly stacked cash!

"Miss! I'm late! I apologize for letting you be startled!"