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Chapter 6

Author: Adam
Heavy and chaotic footsteps sounded at the entrance to the hall.

Dozens of black-clad bodyguards swept in around a middle-aged man with graying temples as he strode into the hall.

The bulge of a snub-nosed pistol showed plainly at his waist. This was Karina's own father, Anthony, the former Don of the Perrone family.

Anthony's features were mean and sinister, and the moment he came through the door his eyes locked onto me in the main box upstairs.

He lifted a hand, and every bodyguard behind him drew, raising their guns in unison to aim my way, the dense cold glint of metal pressing the guests into holding their breath and shrinking back.

He charged up the stairs in long strides, his heavy leather shoes thudding against the marble.

He looked me up and down with open contempt, his tone insufferably arrogant. "Layla? Long time no see. You dare cause trouble at Thorne's auction, and put a gun to my daughter's head? You've got a death wish!"

I lowered my hand, and Karina instantly threw herself to Anthony's side, her eyes reddening as if she'd been wronged.

"Layla slipped in here by some crooked means, then lied that she's Don Thorne's wife, throwing her weight around and humiliating us, and now she's openly broken the auction's no-weapons rule. Father, kill her, quickly!"

Anthony gave a cold snort and waved a hand, and two bodyguards immediately moved up to block the box's exit.

He took half a step forward, looking me over from on high.

"Layla, you're the one who stole family secrets back then, and when you got caught you tried to flip it around and blame us. If we hadn't been merciful, do you think you'd still be alive today?"

"I thought you'd turn over a new leaf. Instead you've only gotten worse! Three years gone, and you're bolder than ever, daring now to pass yourself off as Don Thorne's wife. An orphan who lives by killing for hire, and you think you're fit to drag the Thorne family name through the mud?"

My blood surged, the past rising up to choke my chest.

"I flipped it around to blame you?"

"It was your precious daughter, plain and simple, who drugged me and set me up, then framed me for the theft to root me out for good, forcing a conviction onto me."

"I'll tell you the truth: the whole point of holding this auction tonight was to drag out the truth you people buried back then!"

The words had scarcely landed before cries of shock went up all around.
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