-5-

Why not?

I looked at Mr. Khill, who was standing proudly before me. He looked at Alex with his cold, sharp gaze, then turned to me with his warm, reassuring gaze.

“Get ready and come with me,” he said.

I turned to Alex, and he nodded, signaling for me to comply.

Shortly after, a waitress came to give me a dress and luxurious jewelry, complete with a bag and a pair of red shoes.

“Where are we going, sir?” I asked curiously.

Shouldn’t I have a photo shoot scheduled?

Mr. Khill knelt before me, took my hand, and kissed it.

“Come with me to the party, Stefani,” he requested.

He seemed gentle and seductive, I nodded my head involuntarily, as if hypnotized.

“Um, I need to change first,” I replied.

I immediately got up and grabbed the red dress he had given me. I was about to walk away, but he grabbed my hand.

Mr. Khill looked at me again.

“Change your dress here. I want to see it.”

I swallowed hard.

Here?

In front of him?

Mr. Khill stood up and approached me. He wrapped his arms around my neck and then pulled the string around it.

My black dress fell perfectly in front of him without warning. Then he smiled, his gaze locked on mine.

Mr. Khill unhooked my bra, then took the dress from my hands. He draped it over my skin, deliberately touching my sensitive areas occasionally.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, a sensation I’d never felt before, and I almost bit my lower lip.

“You’re so beautiful, Stefani,” he whispered, blowing his warm breath into my ear.

When he was done, he pulled back, then smiled in satisfaction at my appearance.

Once everything was done, he offered his arm again for me to take. We walked together to the party Mr. Khill had mentioned.

We both were in silence on the journey.

Mr. Khill was busy on his phone, and I chose to watch him in silence.

Not long after, we arrived.

Dozens of luxury cars were lined up in a very real way, and I swallowed hard again.

“I want to introduce you to someone,” he said.

Mr. Khill got out, then walked around, grabbing my hand and getting me out of the car. His gesture was truly sweet.

We entered a restaurant, and everyone there began greeting Mr. Khill and even trying to get his attention.

I knew Mr. Khill was the most influential figure in this country, and there must be many who needed his support.

Finally, we stopped in front of the restaurant’s VVIP door.

Someone slowly opened the door, and I froze, refusing to take a single step.

That man?

“Stefani, my daughter…”

My fists clenched tightly, wanting to rip his mouth open with both of my hands.

My daughter?

A disgusting word came out of his filthy mouth.

My eyes felt hot, they were now glazed over.

Mr. Khill held my hand tightly, we looked at each other, and he smiled.

“I’m here, calm down.”

It was a short sentence, but it was like magic to me.

My rising anger began to subside, and I looked at him with absolute certainty.

We walked in and sat opposite the damn man and his woman.

They both held hands. The woman glared at me and then stroked her protruding belly.

My jaw clenched, and Mother’s face flashed through my mind.

Bitch!

“Mr. Khill, why did you bring my daughter here?” asked Mr. Chang.

I didn’t really understand what Mr. Khill meant by this.

Mr. Khill smiled, looking at my father with a sneer.

“Didn’t I make it very clear? I want to invite someone who will inherit seventy-five percent of your company’s shares to ratify it.”

I remained silent, as did the damn man.

So, Mr. Khill bought shares belonging to… Mr. Chang?

So this wasn’t just a figment of my imagination?

How was that possible? Hadn’t that damn man’s business been very stable all this time?

I looked at Mr. Khill, and he was smiling sarcastically.

“So, you mean the owner—"

“From now on, seventy-five percent of your company’s shares are in the name of Ms. Stefani Chang.”

A lawyer came in, and I was certain it was Mr. Khill’s. He sat in the middle and then pushed a document across the table.

“Stefani, sign it,” Mr. Khill ordered.

I was starting to get confused.

Wasn’t this too… excessive?

But I couldn’t show Mr. Chang my shock.

“Wait…” Mr. Chang said, stopping me as I was about to sign the paper. “How could you give all the shares you bought from me at such a crazy price to… this woman?” he asked in disbelief.

Although I had the same thought, I didn’t protest at all.

Mr. Khill immediately grabbed my hand, and I turned to look at him.

I was still confused.

“What about this woman?” Mr. Khill asked Mr. Chang.

The old man stood up, then brazenly pointed at me with his dirty finger.

“She is just a poor woman who does not deserve anything!” he said angrily.

My heart was squeezed, I did not expect that the man who had given his seed to my mother until I was born would be able to speak like this.

Did he hate me that much?

Or did he really never want me?

Or did he really not notice my presence?

Then, why did he call me… my daughter?

I gasped as Mr. Khill grabbed Mr. Chang’s hand and easily broke his finger.

Mr. Chang screamed in pain, falling from his seat after being pushed by Mr. Khill.

I stood up in shock and stared at Mr. Khill, who was already exploded with rage. But more than that, his strength was completely unreasonable.

“If you say anything bad about my future wife again, believe me, it won’t just be your finger that’s broken, sir,” Mr. Khill said threateningly.

He pulled me into a hug and then crushed my lips passionately.

“And rest assured, to me your tiny share is still worthless compared to my woman’s happiness. I could even buy the whole world and everything in it just to make her happy."

I looked at Mr. Khill, my eyes welling with tears.

The way he defended me, saved my dignity, and protected me truly touched and made me feel proud.

I smiled. Without hesitation, I took the pen and officially signed the share transfer letter. I smiled with satisfaction as I saw Mr. Chang still prostrate with his wife, who was looking at me with hatred.

“Forgive me, Mr. Chang. I may have been a poor woman, living with my mother who struggled desperately to support me. But now, don’t you know who I am and who my future husband is?” I said confidently.

I looked at Mr. Khill and returned his embrace.

“I’m a top model in this country, and…” I deliberately left the sentence hanging. “I have a future husband like Mr. Khill. Trust me, after this, I’ll make sure you experience everything my mother and I have felt!”