Chapter 2

Emerald Oasis Hotel, the most luxurious five-star hotel in San Francisco.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the presidential suite on the top floor was tense.

"Sophia, just listen to me this once and marry Ronnie," Clio Webb pleaded earnestly. "The Ford family is the underground emperor of San Francisco, and Ronnie is the Ford family heir. If you marry him, Faye can have a good life too."

"Mom!" Sophia gripped the scissors in her hand tightly, her eyes red, "How can you do this? You're my mother, not the Ford family's spokesperson!"

Clio sighed, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes. "I'm doing this for your own good. It's been five years, and Faye's father hasn't shown up once. How long can you keep going as a woman raising a child alone?"

"I'd rather starve to death than marry that scumbag!" Sophia said through gritted teeth.

She remembered three days ago when Ronnie groped her at a bar. When she fought back, Ronnie's men knocked her out, and she woke up locked in this suite.

"Ms. Brown, don't make this difficult for us," several strong-built maids surrounded her, holding a white wedding dress. "Mr. Ford said tonight's engagement party must go ahead as planned."

"Get away!" Sophia raised the scissors to her own neck, "If anyone comes closer, I'll die right in front of you!"

The maids looked at each other, not daring to approach. Though they were strong, if they really drove her to death, Ronnie would never forgive them.

"Sophia, why do this to yourself?" Clio panicked, "If you die, what about Faye?"

Hearing Faye's name, Sophia's body trembled slightly, and her grip on the scissors loosened a bit.

Yes, what about Faye?

For the past five years, she had raised Faye alone, fleeing from New York to San Francisco, enduring countless cold stares and humiliation. But whenever she saw Faye's bright eyes, she felt it was all worth it.

But now, she couldn't even protect Faye anymore.

"Faye..." Sophia's tears finally couldn't be held back.

Just then, the suite door suddenly swung open.

A young man in a white suit walked in. He was fairly handsome, but his eyes showed cruelty and lust. Behind him followed an elderly man in a black butler's uniform.

It was the Ford family heir, Ronnie, and the Ford family butler, Jett Ford.

"Sophia, still throwing a tantrum?" Ronnie said with a smile, but it sent chills down one's spine.

"Ronnie!" Sophia said through clenched teeth, "Let me go!"

"Let you go?" Ronnie laughed loudly, "Do you know how much effort I put into getting you? If I let you go, wouldn't all that be for nothing?"

He walked up to Sophia, his eyes greedily roaming over her body, "Sophia, just be with me. I promise to give you and Faye a good life."

"Dream on!" Sophia raised the scissors, pointing them at Ronnie.

Ronnie's face darkened, and he snorted coldly, "You brought this on yourself! Jett, bring her in!"

"Yes, Mr. Ford." Jett turned and left the suite.

Moments later, he returned with a small figure.

"Faye!" Seeing Faye, Sophia dropped the scissors.

Faye was only four or five years old, wearing a worn little dress. There was a bright red handprint on her face, and blood at the corner of her mouth. When she saw Sophia, tears instantly flooded out.

"Mommy..." Faye cried and threw herself into Sophia's arms.

"Faye! My baby!" Sophia held Faye tightly. Seeing the wounds on her face, her heart felt like it was being cut with knives, "Who hit you? Who!"

She raised her head, looking at Ronnie with eyes full of hatred.

Ronnie shrugged. "It wasn't me. It was one of my guys named Luca Ford. Faye stole his money and ran outside to make a phone call. He caught her."

"She's only four!" Sophia sobbed, "She's just a child!"

"Mommy, it doesn't hurt," Faye instead hugged her mother, wiping her mother's tears with her small hands. "Don't cry, Mommy. Daddy will come save us soon."

"Daddy?" Sophia froze.

Faye nodded seriously, "Faye called Daddy. Daddy said he'll come save us!"

Sophia's body shook violently.

She remembered that resolute, cold figure from five years ago, that man who burst into her life at a life-or-death moment.

Damien...

When he left, he had left a satellite phone number, saying if she encountered trouble she couldn't handle, she could call it.

But in these five years, the strong-willed Sophia had never dialed that number. She didn't want to owe anyone, even if that person was Faye's father.

Last month, she had specifically looked for the note with the number, but couldn't find it anywhere. Turns out Faye had taken it.

"Will he really come?" Sophia murmured.

Ronnie burst out laughing, "Faye's father? That man who abandoned his wife and child? Sophia, you're not still hoping he'll come save you, are you?"

Sophia bit her lip and said nothing.

She knew Damien wasn't an ordinary person. Five years ago, those shocking wounds on his body and that cold killing intent in his eyes showed he was a dangerous man.

But five years had passed, and he had never appeared.

Perhaps he had long forgotten about her and Faye.

"Enough!" Sophia wiped away her tears and looked up at Ronnie, "I'll marry you, but I have one condition!"

Ronnie's interest was piqued. "What condition?"

"The person who hit Faye must be punished!" Sophia said word by word, her eyes shining with determination.

Ronnie paused, then laughed, "That's it? No problem! Jett, bring Luca here!"

"Yes, Mr. Ford." Jett turned and left.

A few minutes later, a piercing scream came from outside.

The screaming lasted for more than ten seconds, then stopped abruptly.

Jett pushed the door open and said respectfully, "Mr. Ford, Luca's right hand has been crippled."

"Did you hear that?" Ronnie looked at Sophia with a smile, "I've already broken one of his hands. Now it's time for you to pay interest."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand, wanting to touch Sophia's face.

Sophia instinctively pulled back, her face full of disgust.

Ronnie's expression instantly darkened, a flash of viciousness in his eyes, "Sophia, don't be ungrateful!"

He grabbed Faye's arm and yanked her out of Sophia's embrace.

"Mommy!" Faye cried out in terror.

"Faye!" Sophia tried to rush forward but was held down firmly by several maids.

Ronnie held Faye and sneered, "Sophia, my patience is limited. Tonight's engagement party must go ahead as planned. As for when we have our wedding night, that depends on your performance."

He paused, a lustful gleam in his eyes, "When you're willing to sleep with me, I'll give Faye back to you. Otherwise..."

He didn't finish, but the threat was clear.

"You bastard!" Sophia struggled, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

"Mommy, Faye's not scared!" Faye instead comforted her mother, "Daddy will come save us. Daddy said he's really strong!"

Ronnie snorted coldly, turned with Faye in his arms, and left.

"Faye!" Sophia screamed heartbreakingly, but was quickly pushed to the ground by the maids.

"Ms. Brown, stop resisting," one maid said. "Put on the wedding dress quickly. The engagement party is about to start."

Sophia collapsed on the floor, her eyes empty.

She knew she was finished.

Faye was finished too.

Damien wouldn't come.

Meanwhile, at San Francisco International Airport.

A private jet slowly landed on the tarmac.

The cabin door opened, and Damien stepped out. He had changed into a black trench coat, his entire being radiating a cold aura.

Behind him were dozens of men in black tactical gear. Each one was an elite from Shadow Sect, top-tier assassins of S-rank or above.

Ironclaw walked to Damien's side and said respectfully, "Lord, everyone's here."

Damien nodded, his eyes coldly looking into the distance, "Begin deployment."

"Yes!"

Ironclaw pulled out a map of San Francisco, pointing to several marked locations, "Tiger Strike Squad, handle the Ford family's outer forces and the Ford family alliance. Eagle Watch Squad, control all of San Francisco—don't let any enemy escape, and don't let anyone in."

He paused, looking at Damien, "Iron Bear Squad, follow the Supreme King to Emerald Oasis Hotel!"

"Good." Damien's voice was low like a beast's roar, "Remember, after tonight, the name Ford family cannot exist in San Francisco anymore!"

"Yes!"

All the assassins responded in unison, their voices shaking the sky.

Damien turned and strode toward the tarmac exit.

Tonight, he would make all of San Francisco run red with blood!