"Who are you?" Nelson glared at the tall man, deeply displeased.
"You haven't earned the right to know who I am." Erik showed zero respect for the Hills heir.
At that moment, only one thought occupied Erik's mind: This little fox's waist is incredibly slender!
It felt as if the slightest pressure from him could snap her impossibly soft waist in two.
She was just that exquisite – making him want to ruin her utterly, yet unable to bear the thought.
Lillie also scrutinized the imposing man. His plain black shirt bore no discernible brand label.
His aura was sharp and intimidating, yet both his face and physique held a fatal attraction for women.
A man like him in bed... must be incredibly intense!
The thought that such a man belonged to Janelle filled Lillie with resentment.
"Janelle, is this your boyfriend? From the border?"
Probably dragged back from the border. That place had no real elite families. So this man was likely just a pretty face, utterly incomparable to Nelson, heir to the Hills fortune.
Janelle understood Lillie's mindset perfectly. To Lillie, pedigree and background were everything.
Janelle leaned softly against the man's body and nodded.
"Mmm, he's my boyfriend. What of it? Oh, right... you always want to take what's mine. Do you want to take him too?"
"Janelle, what are you implying? The border is full of all sorts. I'm just worried you were taken advantage of."
"Her?" Erik glanced dismissively at Lillie. "I'm not interested. Rest assured, she couldn't steal me if she tried."
"..."
Lillie was furious. This man spared no one's feelings.
The little fox stopped resisting his closeness, actively leaning into him.
The simple act of her nuzzling against his chest ignited a shameful reaction within him.
This little fox's figure is truly unmatched.
"Why not? She's a top graduate from Imperial Capital University!" Janelle prodded deliberately.
Hearing this, Erik gave Lillie a cursory glance.
"Isn't it obvious to anyone with eyes? First, she's not as beautiful as you. Second, her figure isn't as good as yours. Third, she's not as smart as you. I dislike stupid women."
"..."
Lillie seethed. The first two points were undeniable.
"Hahahaha!" Sara, who had been watching nearby, couldn't hold back her laughter. "Man, I don't know who you are, but you've got excellent taste."
Lillie's expression successfully delighted both Janelle and Sara.
"Security! Throw these two out!" Mrs. Hill shouted towards the entrance.
"Janelle, I know you resent me because of Nelson, but today is our engagement banquet. Is this really appropriate?"
"What's inappropriate? I find it perfectly fitting!" Janelle retorted lazily, still draped in the man's suit jacket. The red gown paired with the black jacket gave the stunning Janelle a fierce, captivating edge.
"Janelle, don't go too far." Nelson's face was dark, especially irritated by Janelle's intimacy with this unknown man.
"This is too far?" Janelle's laugh was cold. Compared to what they had done to her and her mother, this was a drop in the ocean.
"Sir," Nelson addressed Erik directly, "you are not welcome here. Please leave. Or I won't be held responsible for the consequences." He knew all the prominent families in Graham City and the Imperial Capital. This man was unheard of – likely just living off his looks. How dare he cross the Hills and the Lorenz?
"And what consequences might those be?" Erik found the threat amusing. It had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like that.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hill had summoned the manager and security.
"It's these two! They're here to cause trouble! Get them out immediately!"
The manager paled seeing it was the man staying in the Presidential Suite facing off against the Hills. "There must be some misunderstanding!" he tried to mediate, caught between the powerful Hills and the mysteriously dangerous VIP guest.
"There is a misunderstanding!" Janelle stepped out of Erik's embrace, causing him to frown slightly.
Seeing Janelle seemingly back down, Mrs. Hill felt triumphant. Who in Graham City dares defy the Hills?
"Kneel and apologize now, and I might magnanimously let this go," Mrs. Hill declared, confident she had Janelle cornered.
"Apologize? Sure. Bring me the microphone." Janelle commanded Elora, who had been pretending invisibility.
Elora raised an eyebrow. This bitch dares order me?
"Miss Hill, did you not hear me?" Janelle's smile turned dangerous.
Remembering the photos and the threats, Elora gritted her teeth but went to the stage and fetched the microphone.
"Elora! What are you doing?" Mrs. Hill was furious.
"Mother, forget it. The Lorenz representatives will be here soon. Don't cause a scene," Elora whispered urgently.
The mention of the Lorenz made Mrs. Hill frantic. They needed these troublemakers gone before they arrived. She couldn't risk the Lorenz hearing this little bitch's slander.
"Fine! Apologize and get out! I'll be magnanimous and let it slide," Mrs. Hill said dismissively.
"Janelle, apologize now! If you dare cause more trouble, I'll have you thrown back to the border tomorrow!" Westin hissed, his threat low. "You might not care about yourself, but what about your mother?" With the Hills connected to the Lorenz, the Hills would dominate Graham City. How dare she provoke them now?
Others couldn't hear Westin's threat, but Erik, standing beside Janelle, heard every word.
Is this truly her father? Makes me want to take him out.
"Need me to help you take him out?" Erik offered quietly. A single nod from her was all he needed.
"You—!" Westin sputtered, unnerved by the terrifying aura radiating from the man.
"No. Death would be letting him off too easily." Death wasn't the worst fate.
Janelle switched on the microphone, her smile flawless.
"Everyone, acquaintances and strangers alike, good evening. I am Janelle Rovella!"
"Officially, I came today to attend Lillie and Nelson's engagement banquet!"
"But due to a little... incident earlier, I'm short on time. After all, it's an auspicious day, and I have a funeral to attend later."
Seeing this wasn't an apology, Mrs. Hill gestured frantically for security to intervene.
Erik stepped forward, a formidable barrier, preventing anyone from getting near Janelle.
"An apology? Not happening! As for talk of wedding crashing? Impossible. My taste isn't that bad."
"Enough preamble. I announce," Janelle's voice rang clear and powerful through the speakers, "that effective immediately, I am taking full control of Blue Whale Co., Ltd. And within three months, I will acquire every single company under the Hills Group."