The event began with the cutting of the blue ribbon, accompanied by a surge of loud music, while the guests were welcomed to explore the building interior design and layout.

The tall chandeliers, the staircase, the balcony, the exquisite design, the luxurious living room, or the marble that embellished perfect floors, walls had no charm for me at all.

Instead, I took a seat and casually observed everyone socializing and having fun. An extravagant buffet was prepared on the spacious dining table, and everyone gathered around it, excluding me. Liam relaxed easily in the biggest chair, absorbed in an intriguing conversation with Sage, who left a while later.

Sage then appeared from the kitchen, accompanied by other women with trays. I was amazed because the party had just started, but she already seemed familiar with it.

As if intentionally directing the focus toward me, she raised her voice and summoned me, causing the guests to cast judgmental looks at me for not helping while she was working.

A wicked sneer slipped from my mouth. They had no idea that everything they touched came as a result of my generosity and funding.

Thinking I would go directly to her, I suddenly stopped at the center of the dining table, capturing the attention of everyone who stared at me in bewilderment.

A thin smile appeared on my lips as I gradually grabbed the edge of the tablecloth, pulling it forcefully and causing the whole dinner arrangement to collapse with a loud clatter.

One by one, each piece of silverware and cutlery crashed onto the floor, shattering into small fragments and filling the air with a sharp, chaotic sound.

Nearly everyone dashed away from the table in a frenzy, while Liam's intense stare stayed fixed on the shattered dishes as though wishing to undo the entire scenario.

Since I owned all of them, why did he seem as if he had purchased them with his own money?

"Are you out of your mind? What did you just do?" He yelled, his gaze lifting to meet mine. And in those eyes blazed a fierce tempest of anger, poised to erupt.

I didn't need a soothsayer to confirm that my presumed romantic connection with Liam had ended that day. His party had officially become a disaster, and it was certain to spark a scandal that would overshadow discussions at local coffee shops and grocery stores in the next few days.

However, I was the least likely person to consider the result. Instead, I crushed the broken pieces harder beneath my heels, a satisfied grin on my face.

Liam approached me directly, his gaze seeking an explanation for the disorder I had created.

Instead, I prevented him by extending a finger and pressing it onto his chest. His existence was already offensive, an annoyance I couldn't tolerate. He was simply a useless person in my eyes.

"If you expect an explanation, Liam, then you're wrong. Nonetheless, I took that action to attract your focus."

A wave of surprise washed over him. "What?-"

I gently tapped his chest, nearly in a parental way, let out a dry sigh, and turned to the confused audience.

"How would it sound to say that Liam Hoods, the CEO of Hood company, achieved all his success with a woman's money and effort?"

A surge of gasps, murmurs, and whispers spread across the audience. With everyone eager to find out what had just occurred.

Liam dashed around to confront me, looking at my expression for any good reason. He appeared stunned, perplexed, and ashamed. At no point in his life did he imagine I would shame him like this.

"Aurora-" his voice seemed shattered. "What-what is the purpose of this? You did all of this for love, didn't you? Because you care for me, why are you embarrassing me in public? We need to talk."

I pushed by him, keeping my gaze on the onlookers. A man who eventually rejected me, ignored me, had me jailed, continually deprived me of food, made me a look like a burden- this disgrace meant nothing.

"If the word gets out, believe me, Liam, you're finished. Should I ask something?" As I turned, I shot him a look filled with lethal intensity. Up to this point, I had not spoken to him harshly nor gazed at him with a murderous glare. In previous times, all my actions and words were marked by deep compassion, forgiveness, and a high ranking of foolishness.

Each time Liam intentionally poured hot coffee on me, he forced me to apologize publicly for getting in his path, making me a target of ridicule. And as soon as we arrived home, he would violently pounce on me without mercy.

"What exactly do you want?" A look of confusion, fear, and doubt crossed his face as he repeated the same question again, "Do you recall anything from two days ago?"

I merely gazed at him, my mouth opening to respond, but Sage moved up and struck me sharply on the cheek.

"What makes you to think you can negotiate with Liam? Go back to being silly and just take a seat!"

However, before she could drop her hand, I had already responded with two even louder slaps in return. My hands struck hard against her face, leaving the mark of my five fingers.

Sage was merely an illegitimate child whose mother had forced herself into marrying my father because of his astronomical amount of wealth.

I still remembered the countless murder attempts they had made on my father and me in my past life, all while pretending that it was the work of an outsider.

As she held her cheek, a less satisfied grin emerged on my face, her eyes flashing with anger and confusion.

"Did you really just slap me, you idiot?" She fumed, but I erupted in laughter and shifted my gaze away from her. I wasn't there for her at that moment - Liam was the one I intended to deal without mercy, she merely crossed her limits.