Lucas’s voice echoed across the banquet hall.
The instant she heard it, Maya, who had unconsciously shut her eyes in frustration, slowly opened them again. Her vision was slightly blurred from the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, but the very first person she saw... was Lucas.
He stood between her and everyone else, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. His posture looked relaxed, almost lazy, yet his presence alone seemed to suppress everyone around him.
His sharp gaze swept coldly across Durnik and Malrik without the slightest hint of fear before he spoke in a calm yet domineering voice.
"Let’s see..."
"...who dares touch my person."
The entire area instantly fell silent.
Several nearby guests exchanged astonished glances. No one had expected someone to openly challenge Malrik at the Reid Family’s own banquet.
Among everyone present...
Only one person recognized Lucas.
Malrik.
The moment he saw Lucas’s face, his brows furrowed deeply, and his expression darkened almost instantly.
"It’s you..."
How could he possibly forget?
This was the arrogant young man from before.
The same idiot who had casually paid for the damages after Mia smashed his luxury car.
The same fool who had even bought the damaged car on the spot...
Just to show off in front of a bitch.
At least...
That was how Malrik had always interpreted the incident.
A cold sneer appeared on his face.
He didn’t even bother listening to another word Lucas had to say. Instead, he immediately raised his hand toward the entrance.
"Security!"
His voice echoed loudly through the hall.
Within seconds, several security guards stationed around the venue hurried over.
Pointing directly at Lucas, Malrik spoke with complete authority.
"Throw him out."
"This is my event."
"And I don’t recall sending an invitation to this idiot."
"I don’t know how he got inside..."
"But I don’t want him here."
The security guards immediately nodded.
However...
These weren’t Bellagio Grand’s permanent security staff.
Because tonight’s banquet required additional manpower, the Reid Family had hired an outside security company to handle crowd control. They didn’t know Lucas. Nor did they know who actually owned Bellagio Grand.
To them...
Malrik was simply today’s host.
Naturally...
They obeyed his instructions without hesitation.
The group surrounded Lucas.
One of the guards stepped forward politely.
"Sir..."
"I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you to leave."
"If you cooperate..."
"We’d rather not make this unpleasant."
Another guard quietly added,
"Please don’t make things difficult for us."
Lucas looked at them for a moment.
Then...
He suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha..."
His laughter wasn’t loud.
But it was so unexpected that everyone froze.
The guards exchanged puzzled looks.
"...Is he crazy?"
"He’s about to be thrown out, and he’s laughing?"
The lead guard finally lost his patience.
He reached forward, intending to grab Lucas by his clothes and escort him outside.
But just before his hand could touch Lucas...
A sharp female voice suddenly rang out.
"Stop!"
At almost the same moment, Connie Blue, who had been walking through the lobby carrying several documents, noticed a small crowd gathering near the banquet entrance.
Normally, she wouldn’t have paid it any attention. Minor disputes happened from time to time during large events, and security was already there to handle them.
But then...
She caught sight of one familiar figure standing at the center of the commotion.
Lucas.
The instant she recognized him, her expression changed dramatically.
Without the slightest hesitation, she abandoned the documents in her hands and hurried toward the crowd as quickly as possible.
As Connie approached, everyone instinctively paused.
Even the security guards lowered their hands.
She was about to ask Lucas what had happened when Malrik arrogantly spoke first.
"Manager Connie."
"Perfect timing."
"Can you believe this?"
"This idiot sneaked into my banquet without an invitation."
"And now he’s causing trouble and interfering in my personal affairs."
"I want him removed immediately."
"As the host of tonight’s banquet..."
"I don’t think that’s an unreasonable request."
His tone carried absolute confidence.
After all...
No matter who Lucas was...
This was still the Reid Family’s event.
Connie glanced at Malrik before calmly looking back at Lucas.
A strange expression appeared on her face.
"I’m sorry, Mr. Reid..."
"But I don’t think that’s possible."
Malrik frowned.
"...What?"
Connie answered without hesitation.
"Because..."
"Chairman Lucas is the owner of Bellagio Grand."
The words crashed into everyone’s ears like thunder.
For a split second...
The entire hall became deathly silent.
"...What?"
Malrik froze.
His confident smile disappeared completely.
The security guards reacted even faster.
The guard whose hand had almost grabbed Lucas instantly pulled it back as though he’d touched fire. He even took two hurried steps backward.
Unlike everyone else...
He didn’t stand there doubting Connie’s words.
Years of working security had taught him something very simple.
If the hotel’s general manager personally addressed someone as Chairman...
You never questioned it.
You apologized later if necessary.
The remaining guards quickly copied him, immediately putting distance between themselves and Lucas.
None of them wanted to offend the owner of Bellagio Grand.
Meanwhile...
The surrounding guests stared at Lucas with expressions of complete disbelief.
Whispers immediately spread throughout the hall.
"The owner?"
"He’s the owner of Bellagio Grand?"
"How old is he?"
"Is this even possible?"
Malrik finally snapped back to reality.
"No."
"That’s impossible."
He pointed at Lucas, unable to hide the disbelief in his voice.
"This brat?"
"The owner of Bellagio Grand?"
Lucas merely smiled faintly.
"I only recently acquired the hotel."
"So it’s understandable."
"You wouldn’t know about the previous owner."
His tone was casual.
As though buying Bellagio Grand had been no different from purchasing an ordinary office building.
However...
Those simple words shocked the three businessmen standing nearby even more.
Unlike the younger guests...
They understood exactly what Bellagio Grand represented.
Money alone wasn’t enough.
Even if someone possessed limitless wealth...
Without terrifying influence...
Without unimaginable connections...
Acquiring the city’s most prestigious hotel was practically impossible.
Yet...
The young man standing before them had done exactly that.
Who exactly was he?
How terrifying was the family standing behind him?
Or...
Had they all underestimated him from the very beginning?
Malrik clenched his fists.
Even after learning Lucas’s identity...
His anger didn’t lessen.
Instead...
It burned even hotter.
He absolutely couldn’t allow himself to be humiliated in front of so many people.
So what if Lucas owned Bellagio Grand?
There had to be limits.
No matter how powerful someone was...
They couldn’t simply interfere in another man’s affairs.
Taking a step forward, Malrik spoke coldly.
"So what?"
"So you’re the owner."
"What gives you the right to interfere in my business?"
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Lucas didn’t become angry.
Instead...
He laughed softly.
"...Interfere?"
He slowly turned toward Maya before speaking calmly.
"Who said I was interfering?"
"Maya is my personal assistant."
"She’s employed by me."
"I have every right to speak to my own employee."
He looked back at Malrik.
"...Do you have a problem with that?"
Malrik’s pupils contracted.
His expression became increasingly ugly.
Personal assistant?
This woman...
Actually chose to work under Lucas?
Immediately, he shifted his gaze toward Maya before deliberately looking at Alexander.
"If you don’t resign from that useless job immediately..."
"The investment I promised the Laurent Family..."
"...will disappear."
"Effective immediately."
Alexander’s face instantly turned pale.
The Laurent Family simply couldn’t survive without the Reid Group’s investment.
Lucas narrowed his eyes before suddenly asking,
"...Family business?"
He looked at Malrik with genuine curiosity.
"You and Maya don’t even share the same surname."
"So how exactly did it become your family business?"
He paused thoughtfully before adding with complete seriousness,
"Or..."
"Could it be..."
"You’re actually Maya’s long-lost younger brother?"
Several nearby guests quickly lowered their heads, desperately trying not to laugh out loud.
Malrik’s face instantly turned bright red.
He knew...
He couldn’t possibly beat Lucas in a war of words.
Grinding his teeth, he finally shouted,
"Maya and I are getting engaged!"
"Very soon!"
"So tell me..."
"Doesn’t that make her family my family?"
A cold glint flashed across Lucas’s eyes.
He slowly stepped aside, giving everyone a clear view of Maya.
Then he calmly asked,
"Getting engaged..."
"Means you’re not engaged yet."
"Correct?"
Without waiting for Malrik to answer...
Lucas looked directly into Maya’s eyes.
"In that case..."
"Why don’t we ask the only person whose opinion actually matters?"
He smiled gently.
"Maya."
"Tell everyone."
"Are you willing to marry him?"
As he spoke...
Lucas quietly gave her a reassuring look.
Maya understood immediately.
She knew...
Lucas had just handed her something priceless.
A choice.
Perhaps...
The final chance she would ever have to fight against the fate everyone else had already decided for her.
Before she could answer...
Malrik’s cold voice interrupted once again.
"Maya."
"Think carefully."
"Don’t forget the situation your family’s company is in."
His words were an unmistakable threat.
Maya slowly turned her head.
Her eyes landed on Alexander, who stood there with an anxious expression, silently begging her not to ruin everything.
For a brief moment...
The entire world seemed to grow quiet.
Should she sacrifice the rest of her life...
To save her family’s company?
Or...
Should she finally choose the path her own heart desired?
Maya slowly closed her eyes.
She remained silent for several long seconds.
Then...
She slowly opened them again.
Her lips parted.
She finally spoke.