Chapter 98

The heavy scent of spilled liquor dissipated, leaving a chilling tension in the air.

"Are you alright?" Yvonne inquired, seemingly unaware of the menacing stares fixed on her.Kneeling to assist the young man, her tone brimmed with worry.

The frail, disheveled teen shook his head, gazing up at her with eyes reflecting both bewilderment and dread-bewilderment that anyone would defend him in such a merciless place, and dread because the harsh truth loomed. They were like cornered prey amidst ravenous beasts, just him and her, who seemed ill-equipped for a fight.

To him, escape felt like a distant dream, and her presence only meant another soul doomed to his grim fate.

Barely stepping into adulthood, the teenage boy's courage wavered, tears streaming down his face.

Yvonne, at a loss for how to console him, paused in silence before facing Vince.

"What's the cost to free him?" she demanded.

By now, she knew reasoning with these callous elites was futile; they only valued gain.

At her words, Vince's eyes narrowed, and with a subtle gesture, a bodyguard beside him hesitantly extended a hand.

Vince pressed his lit cigar into the guard's palm,snuffing it out. The guard's face glistened with sweat from the agony, yet he stayed silent.

To these affluent elites, the poor were mere playthings.

Vince's voice was icy. "No amount will free him now.You might even lose yourself here."

With that, a wave of bodyguards advanced.

While Vince might hesitate to defy Andrew alone, this gathering was a sacred tradition among the elite.Since Yvonne, brought by Andrew, had broken their unspoken code, they deemed her accountable.

The trembling teen gripped Yvonne's hand,pleading,"Miss, abandon me and escape. These people are monsters!"

Yvonne gently tousled his hair, then faced the crowd,drawing her phone. Its screen showed a recording in progress.

With unwavering resolve, she declared, "I've captured everything that just happened. None of you wants this online, do you?"

Pandemonium erupted in the space. Most attendees were high-profile figures, celebrities like Vince.

Yvonne locked eyes with one and said, "Robin Hardy,you just signed with a luxury brand, didn't you? A scandal now-imagine the contract penalties ruining your career."

Upstairs, the named celebrity turned pale instantly. She then turned to another. "Adrian Morphew, a world-famous philanthropist, what a shock to find you here..."

A mustached older man looked panicked.

Yvonne steadily named others, each mention stoking their panic.

Smiling calmly, she added, "I assure you, every face in this video is unmistakable, leaving no room for denial."

The crowd's alarm morphed into rage, many directing their fury at Vince.

"Vince, fix this! You hosted this event-if that video leaks, you're finished too!"

Vince's expression darkened as he glared at Yvonne,then flashed his trademark charming grin. "Let's see if you can leave this place."

He raised a hand with a casual wave. "Seize that phone!" A horde of bodyguards surged toward Yvonne and the teen. Grabbing the boy, Yvonne spun to flee but tripped, her ankle twisting as she fell.

The guards surrounded them. Vince approached with a sinister smirk. "You bitch, I'll make you regret this!"His hand rose to strike.

At that instant, a commanding voice boomed. "I dare anyone to lay a finger on her!"

All eyes turned as the villa's main gate burst open,a man striding in, flanked by his own bodyguards.