[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322E1C3D0-260":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},260,46,"Chapter 46: Dragging Her Out by the Arm","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Twitter/X was in an absolute frenzy again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A popular account had dropped a new set of photos. In every single shot—except for the ones where she was turned away—Marcellus Alexander’s gaze was locked onto the girl beside him, his expression one of tender, unwavering devotion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline Montgomery! Evangeline Montgomery! You wretched bitch, what could you possibly have that I don't?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian Spencer looked at his sister, who was wailing on the floor, her face twisted into a mask of ugly desperation. He looked completely repulsed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Siena, get a grip. You're making a spectacle of yourself. It's pathetic.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Brother! Why won't you help me? You’re so close with Marcellus—if you just pushed for a strategic marriage, he’d have to agree!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Siena, for the hundredth time, the man has someone he loves. Stop acting like a total simp and crawling all over him. Do you hear yourself? Even if he were single, look at you right now. What part of this tantrum makes you remotely desirable?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Damian, no matter what you think, Siena is still a Spencer. You don't have to like me, but you can't talk to her that way—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian curled his lip into a cold sneer. \"Camilla, are we really going to do this? Save the performance for someone who actually believes you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Damian, don't speak to your mother like that.\" Jorge Spencer finally interjected, his voice heavy with frustration as he looked at his son.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh, right. The three of you are the happy, loving little family, and I’m just the spare wheel. I’m out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jorge watched his son walk away and let out a deep, weary sigh.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mom, what am I going to do? Marcellus is married now. My chance is gone… sob…\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Camilla Bishop wiped the tears from her daughter’s cheeks. \"Don't be sad. There are plenty of high-flyers in the city. Why are you obsessing over that cold-blooded demon?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mom, I only want Marcellus! I want him, and that’s it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Honestly, you’re so impatient. So he’s married? People get divorced every day.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jorge exploded. \"Camilla! Is that what you’re teaching our daughter?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who told you not to push for the merger sooner? There’s nothing wrong with a girl fighting for her own happiness!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The man clearly doesn't want her! What, do you expect me to physically drag her into his bed?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jorge felt a splitting migraine coming on. He truly had married a woman whose incompetence would ruin three generations of the family legacy.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If you won’t help me, I’ll handle it myself!\" Siena stood up with a stubborn glint in her eyes and stormed toward the stairs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The following morning at Alexander Corp.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Siena was currently losing her mind at the front desk. \"Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you block me? I’ll have Marcellus fire you the moment I see him!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The young receptionist looked exasperated. \"Ms. Spencer, the CEO gave specific instructions after your last visit. You are not allowed on the upper floors. Please, don't make this difficult for me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That’s impossible!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Siena’s screaming drew a crowd. Employees paused to whisper, their eyes wide.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is that the Spencer girl? Why is she acting like some unhinged local street bully?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Seriously. The CEO has already kicked her out once, and she’s still begging for attention.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s humiliating. The Spencers are supposed to be high society, yet their daughter is a total embarrassment.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Shut your mouths!\" Siena grabbed a stack of corporate brochures from the counter and hurled them at the crowd. The spectators scrambled backward, horrified.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The receptionist didn't want to get physical, but she couldn't keep this up. She reached for the phone and dialed the executive suite.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Preston Wright picked up, his brow furrowed as he weighed his options. Usually, he’d have security toss a nuisance like her out, but given the connection to Damian, it was a delicate matter. Finally, he decided to take it to the top.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Knock, knock.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Come in.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sir, Ms. Spencer is causing a scene in the lobby. How would you like me to handle it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus barely looked up from his desk. \"Preston, has your competence dropped this low?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I apologize, sir. I was just concerned about the connection to Damian—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus was silent for a moment, then grabbed his phone and dialed Damian with an annoyed flick of his thumb. \"Damian, get your sister out of my lobby. If she ever shows her face here again, don't expect me to be polite.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian arrived on the scene minutes later. He found Siena looming over the front desk, screaming insults, the floor littered with papers and magazines.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian’s jaw tightened. With a look of pure, icy rage, he strode forward, grabbed Siena’s arm, and hauled her toward the exit.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Brother! Let go! I’m not leaving until I see Marcellus!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She thrashed against his grip. Damian’s eyebrow ticked upward, and he abruptly released her. Siena stumbled, the momentum sending her crashing to the floor. The onlookers covered their mouths, muffling their laughter. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole—the high-and-mighty Spencer heiress had never been this humiliated.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Damian! You did that on purpose!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Well? You feel like a fool now?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hmph!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Siena scrambled up, smoothed her dress with trembling hands, and stormed out. She knew she could never show her face at Alexander Corp again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian walked into the executive office and headed straight for the elevator.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She gone?\" Marcellus asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Your sister is really becoming the office’s favorite source of entertainment. I should thank her.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Enough with the sarcasm.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So, have you pivoted to the entertainment industry now? You've been trending for three days straight.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is that a problem?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You're acting like a total pick-me, you know. Going to the amusement park just to make a scene.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Like you care!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian waved his hand dismissively. \"Who would want to care about you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. \"Looking for some tips, are we?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"My Remi is tough. She doesn't need your manipulative games!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That’s strange. Maybe you're just not doing it right.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Not doing it right?* Damian felt his brain short-circuit. Being mocked by his own woman was bad enough; now his brother was questioning his performance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Next time,* Damian vowed to himself, *I’m going to show her exactly how 'capable' I am.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Meanwhile, at C&R Atelier, the online buzz had triggered a surge in custom orders. Remi stared at the growing stack of invoices, a goofy, wide-eyed grin on her face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline, we’re rich! We’re actually rich!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline laughed. \"Remi, wipe the drool off your chin. This is just the beginning; there’s so much more to come.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi lunged at her, hugging her tightly and rocking back and forth. \"You really are my luck fairy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And you're mine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They locked eyes in a moment of genuine, heartfelt connection.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, they both recoiled simultaneously, jumping a full meter apart and frantically brushing the imaginary goosebumps off their arms.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Ugh, god… that was way too cheesy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s your fault! You started the sentimentality. I almost thought you were in love with me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They erupted into peals of laughter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In this life, you have to be the best version of yourself first, before you can ever hope to meet someone who deserves you.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272912917]