Chapter 257

No.1

Thorne's comment hung in the air.

The words chilled the immediate circle. The surrounding guests who overheard stopped talking,their eyes darting toward the group.

Cyprian's smug expression vanished. It was replaced by a flash of genuine, aristocratic offense. The skin around his eyes tightened.

"Excuse me?" Cyprian stepped closer to Thorne.He lowered his voice, trying to keep the argument discreet, but his chest heaved with sudden anger."My family has spent months negotiating this merger. You don't get to dismiss my sister."

Thorne picked up a glass of sparkling waterfrom a passing waiter. He was completely unruffled by Cyprian's rising fury,

No.2

" am dismissing the concept of being bought,Cyprian," Thorne stated plainly. He took a sip of water. "The merger is off."

August raised an eyebrow. He was genuinely surprised. Walking away from billions in Thatcher assets without a second thought was a level of arrogance even August rarely displayed.

Allena, feeling emboldened by August's silent presence beside her, decided to interject again.She wanted to prove she belonged in this circle.

"Maybe the Thatcher heiress just isn't woman enough to keep his attention," Allena sneered maliciously, looking at Cyprian.

It was a pathetic attempt to align herself with Thorne by insulting Cyprian's family.

No.3

Cyprian whipped his head around. His eyes blazed with unfiltered fury at Allena.

"Shut your mouth, you cheap fraud," Cyprian snarled viciously. Spittle flew from his lips. "You aren't fit to speak my sister's name."

Allena shrank back, her face flushing red. August stepped slightly in front of her, though his face showed more annoyance than actual protectiveness.

"Cyprian, control yourself," August warned. His

defense of Allena was noticeably half-hearted.

No.4

Thorne watched the petty squabble with a look of profound boredom.

"If you're all quite finished, I have a prior engagement," Thorne said. He adjusted his platinum cuffs,preparing to leave.

"You can't leave! You haven't even spoken to the board!" Cyprian protested. Panic mixed with his anger. The humiliation of a public rejection was setting in.

"The board can wait. Family business takes precedence," Thorne replied. His tone was absolute and final.

"Family business?" Cyprian echoed, bewildered."You don't have any family here."

No.5

Thorne stopped walking. He turned back to face Cyprian. A glint of deliberate provocation flashed in his dark eyes. He knew exactly how much chaos this was going to cause, and he was entirely ready for it.

"That's where you are misinformed, Thatcher,"Thorne said. His voice carried a lethal,quiet calm.

The string quartet's music seemed to dip perfectly,creating a pocket of dead silence around them.

"I am leaving to spend the evening with my daughter," Thorne announced clearly.

The words hit the group like a physical shockwave.Cyprian's jaw literally dropped open.

No.6

August's hand tightened around his bourbon glass so hard his knuckles turned stark white. His mind raced,trying to process the impossible information.

Allena covered her mouth in exaggerated shock,her eyes wide with gossip-hungry delight.

"A daughter? You... you have a bastard child?"Cyprian stammered. The color drained completely from his face.

Thorne's eyes turned instantly lethal. The casual demeanor vanished, replaced by pure, terrifying menace.

"Call her that again, Cyprian," Thorne promised softly, "and I will dismantle your family's fund by morning."

No.7

<The Unwanted Wife Is A Zillionaire +120 Points at most