And there was more. The girl Sheryl Yardley had hired for this stunt was a victim in her own right. To think Sheryl had actually used the poor girl's sick brother to blackmail her-it was absolutely despicable.

A few guests at the weekend gala who knew Sheryl scrambled to pull out their phones to warn her, only to realize the network had been completely severed. Everyone was effectively trapped in the banquet hall, corralled by imposing security guards stationed at every exit.

Every scandalous second of this unfolding drama was being recorded by the reporters Shanley had brought in. Using portable Wi-Fi hotspots, they were broadcasting the entire spectacle live to the internet.

Up in the hallway, Sheryl led the way, practically buzzing with nervous energy as she issued a flurry of instructions.

"The feed shows he's already asleep," she muttered, glancing at the security footage on her phone. On the screen, Shanley Schwartz was lying on the bed, his eyes firmly shut.

She turned to the trembling girl behind her. "Once you're inside, just take off your clothes and get into bed with him. I shouldn't need to teach you the rest, right?"

"Y-yes," Lila whispered, shrinking back as she gave a terrified nod.

"Get in there." After confirming the hallway was clear, Sheryl pushed the door open. "In exactly ten minutes, I'll have the reporters storm the room."

She grabbed Lila's chin, her grip bruising. "Remember this," Sheryl warned, her voice dripping with malice. "If you screw up my plan, neither you nor your brother will ever see a good day again."

"I know." Lila bit her lip hard. Even though the live-stream viewers couldn't see her face, her quiet, terrified sobs echoed clearly through the broadcast. Against Sheryl's cold, calculated cruelty, the girl sounded utterly helpless.

Down in the banquet hall, the guests were glued to their screens, whispering feverishly. This Global Securities Summit was turning out to be infinitely more entertaining than usual. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if the formidable Mr. Schwartz would actually fall for this honey trap.

The hunter was about to become the hunted-but who exactly was playing who?

*Click.*

The bedroom door opened, and Lila slipped inside, moving like a frightened mouse. Since Sheryl couldn't risk being caught on camera, she lingered cautiously by the doorway.

A second later, the unmistakable sound of the lock clicking into place echoed through the hall.

Sheryl immediately tapped the surveillance feed on her phone, expecting to see the girl crawling into bed. Instead, she saw Shanley standing right in front of Lila.

Sheryl scoffed. She knew it. All men were the same. So what if he was the untouchable Shanley Schwartz? Even he couldn't resist a woman throwing herself at him.

But just as she eagerly waited to see what would happen next, her screen went black. The feed was dead.

What was going on? Sheryl frantically refreshed her app, only to realize her phone had lost all network connection.

Whatever. It didn't matter. She had already timed everything with the reporters. They would be up here in ten minutes regardless. All she had to do was stand guard and make sure no one interfered.

Meanwhile, in a VIP lounge downstairs.

"Let's go." Juniper Payne wiped her hands clean and stood up, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. "Ready to go catch a cheater, Felton? Excited?"

Felton's mouth twitched. He tried to offer a polite smile, but he just couldn't manage it. Even though he knew exactly what was really happening upstairs, the fact remained that she was gleefully marching up to "bust" her own fiancé.

How was she this thrilled? Her lack of jealousy was honestly terrifying.

Just as expected, the moment the two of them stepped off the elevator, a mob of reporters was already crowding the hallway.

Before Juniper even had a chance to

steady her footing, a stampede of footsteps echoed behind them. The

prestigious guests from the hall had practically sprinted upstairs, their eyes shining with an insatiable hunger for gossip.

The stakes of tonight's game were astronomical.

"That's Ms. Payne," someone whispered, nudging the person next to them. "Mr. Schwartz's fiancée."

Instantly, a wave of pity washed over the crowd. Had she rushed up here after getting tipped off? Even though the live feed had cut out, it didn't take a genius to guess what was happening behind those closed doors.

Poor, oblivious girl.