Chapter 445

Michael's face twisted with malicious delight, his laughter cutting through the air like broken glass."Ha-ha! Did you miss this little detail, did you? You think revealing you are the CEO gives you the upper hand? Let me enlighten you-the security system here was infiltrated long ago by my men! Every one of them bends to my command. Do you really think they'll listen to you? Keep dreaming!"

Hannah's expression did not waver. "It seems,indeed,they only heed your orders."

Michael's laughter swelled, swelling with arrogance."Exactly! So what if you're Victoria? Who here would obey you? Even if I decide to walk out this very moment, no one can stop me!"

Calvin grasped at a faint ray of hope. "Thankfully, Mr.Clark is always cautious!"

His clique let out a thin breath, as if clinging to a fisia lifelma

Atimem, mothoing the mounting tension, leaned close amdl whrrspenad writh worry to Hannah, "Ms. Hale, the sinuatiom is pevillous You should retreat first. I fear tiheEs uay watm yom."

Bun Hammah only shook her head, her calm gaze like still water. "No need for concern. They can neither harm me nor get out of here unscathed."

Mrichael bwrst into raucous laughter at her words, as though hearing the most absurd jest in the world.With scor dripping from his gesture, he pointed at Hannah. "Can't you see the situation yet? No one will folllow your command here. I can leave wheneverl please,and you are powerless to halt me."

Meeting his frenzied eyes, Hannah's lips curved into a faint, meaningful smile. "Is that so?"

She said no more words. Instead, she simply lifted her hand and clapped twice.

The sharp sound rang clearly through the hushed banquet hall. And then-an astonishing scene unfolded.

From every doorway and side entrance, squads of bodyguards in black suits streamed in, moving with disciplined precision. They swept across the room,descending upon the uniformed security guards.

In the blink of an eye, those security guards were disarmed, restrained, and pressed to the ground.The entire reversal was swifter than a summer storm.

Michael and his crew turned deathly pale. What on earth was happening? Where had these people appeared from?

Hannah rose gracefully, her gaze bearing down on Michael and his clique. "Now, do you still believe you can walk away?"

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Michael's body shook, his steps faltering as he stammered in disbelief, "How... How is this possible?Where did you get so many people?"

Hannah's eyes scanned the bodyguards before returning to Michael. "They are the help I brought in.Did you think I was blind to your dealings with the security team? A glance at your accounts revealed the regular payments. You prepared a safety net, but so did l."

With that, she spared no glance at Michael's defeated expression and instead addressed the hall,"And while we gather here, let me clarify one thing.My name is not Natalie Preston, but Hannah Scott.Victoria Hale is me, and Hannah is also me."

At once, the banquet hall erupted into chaos.

"So the Luminara Group was never sold at all? It has always been under her control?"

Employees exchanged wide-eyed looks, a storm of disbelief and awe sweeping across their faces.

At that very moment, Calvin-ashen and trembling-dropped to his knees. Crawling toward the main seat,-he pleaded in a tear-choked voice, "Ms. Scott, I am sorry! Show some mercy! It was Michael who forced me! Had I refused, he would have destroyed me, left me unable to survive in this industry! I... I never wanted this. I was forced into all these shady dealings! Ms. Scott, I beg you to understand!"

Calvin's plea was like the first domino to topple.

Michael's associates quickly followed Calvin's example, dropping to their knees, each desperate to shift the blame onto Michael.

"Yes, Ms. Scott! We were coerced!"

"Michael swore he'd ruin us if we didn't obey!"

"We are victims as well, Ms. Scott!"

Michael stared at his own men betraying him, his body trembling with fury. "You... You ingrates! When spoils were divided, none of you claimed I forced you! When you pocketed the money, none of you spoke of coercion! Now you call yourselves victims?You wretched curs!"

Unable to restrain himself, Michael lunged forward and kicked Calvin viciously. "I'll finish you, you shameless bastard!" Calvin cried out in agony, rolling on the floor, yet through the pain, he still shouted, "Ms. Scott! See?This is how he threatens us-he is the true mastermind!"

Hannah's eyes, cold as winter frost, remained unmoved by the pathetic commotion. There was no pity, only distance carved in ice. Her voice rang slow and measured. "You are all cut from the same cloth."

Her gaze swept over the bodyguards, commanding,"Take everyone on my list, no exceptions."

The head of the bodyguard squad bowed at once."Yes, Ms.Scott!"

Like a tide advancing, the black-suited bodyguards seized Michael, Calvin, and all the others marked,delivering them directly to the authorities.

The once-crowded banquet hall now felt hollow, its clamor replaced by an eerie half-emptiness.