"Honey, I have a score to settle with her," Lauren Shaw said coldly, her gaze slicing through Eva Snow like a blade. Her beautiful eyes were icy to the core.

Yancy Shaw tactfully stepped aside. "Just let me know if you need your husband."

"This is between women—no need for men to get involved."

Lauren Shaw narrowed her eyes, turning her attention back to Eva Snow.

"Wh-what are you trying to do?" Eva Snow felt a surge of panic. She wasn't sure if it was Lauren Shaw's chilling look or her own guilty conscience, but she desperately wanted to run.

But there was nowhere to go—Yancy Shaw blocked the door, and Lauren Shaw was closing in.

"I never did anything to you. Why are you always trying to hurt me?"

Eva Snow feigned innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go, or I'll call someone."

Lauren Shaw suddenly yanked her by the collar and shoved her hard against the wall.

Caught off guard, Eva Snow crashed into the wall, sucking in a pained breath.

She cursed angrily, "Lauren Shaw, are you fucking crazy? You—"

Before she could finish, Lauren Shaw slapped her hard across the face.

Eva Snow tried to fight back, but Lauren Shaw grabbed her wrist and, with a swift defensive move Yancy Shaw had taught her long ago, she kneed Eva Snow right in the stomach. She'd never needed those self-defense lessons—until today.

Clutching her belly, Eva Snow let out a sharp scream and curled up on the floor in agony.

To keep her from yelling, Yancy Shaw delivered a precise elbow to the back of her neck. Eva Snow went limp and collapsed, unconscious.

Lauren Shaw watched the two of them lying on the floor, but her anger wasn't quite spent.

"Put them on the bed," she said calmly, as if directing an ordinary chore.

It might not be the most proper way to handle things, but she knew that without Yuan Ran's timely help today, she'd have fallen right into their trap. This time, she wasn't going to let them off easy. This was simply giving Eva Snow a taste of her own medicine.

Yancy Shaw chuckled lightly—their thoughts were in perfect sync. There was no letting this go so quietly; whatever tricks others could play, so could they.

He called Yuan Ran in, and together they hauled the two onto the bed.

Once everything was arranged, Lauren Shaw and her companions left the room. Ten minutes later, the curious onlookers arrived.

Mandy Snow and Shen Siyi rushed up the stairs, with Mrs. Chen in tow.

There was a frantic knocking at the door. Yvonne Sung awoke, still dazed from being beaten senseless by Yuan Ran, his mind a complete blur.

He shuffled unsteadily over to open the door.

Seeing the people at the threshold, his eyes cleared a little.

Mrs. Chen was stunned speechless when she saw the bare-chested Yvonne Sung. Shen Siyi, supporting her, shouted furiously, "Where's my aunt? What did you do to her?"

"What are you screaming about? I'm not dead, is there really a need for all the drama?" Lauren Shaw stepped out from the room next door, looking at them with an utterly calm expression.

Shen Siyi's face instantly froze in disbelief. "Why are you... here?"

Lauren Shaw grinned at her. "Why wouldn't I be? Where else would I be?"

Mrs. Chen breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw Lauren Shaw was fine.

"Shengsheng, they said some bad people dragged you into a room—I was scared to death! I rushed up here as fast as I could, I was so worried something had happened to you." Maybe it was her panic, but Mrs. Chen hadn't even paused for breath as she ran upstairs with Mandy Snow, not stopping to think.

Lauren Shaw gave Mandy Snow and her daughter a long, thoughtful look.

"I'm fine—Yancheng's here. Who would dare lay a finger on me?" She looked at Mandy Snow, her words carrying a hidden barb that made Mandy Snow's heart skip a beat.

Spotting Yancy Shaw behind her, Mandy Snow went pale—oh no!

She shoved Yvonne Sung aside and went in. When she saw the bodies on the bed, she staggered back a few steps, hand over her mouth, nearly losing her balance.

Eva Snow was sprawled disheveled across the bed. You'd have to be an idiot not to realize what had just happened.

The commotion woke Eva Snow. Groggy and holding her pounding head, she spotted all the people in the room. Instinctively, she yanked up the covers and shrieked.

Hearing her, Shen Siyi rushed in, stunned. "Cousin, you..."

Mandy Snow, worried her daughter would say too much, quickly covered her mouth—this was not the kind of scandal you wanted getting out.

Mrs. Chen, meanwhile, shot a look of utter disdain at the half-naked Yvonne Sung. Clicking her tongue, she muttered, "Young people these days—can't even wait until nightfall?"

Lauren Shaw, unruffled, glanced at the scene and allowed herself a mocking smile.

Wasn't this just Eva Snow reaping what she sowed?

Eva Snow probably never thought she'd end up the lead in her own little drama—how poetic.

Mandy Snow stormed over to Yvonne Sung and slapped him, screaming, "Bastard!"

Yvonne Sung said nothing. He only looked over at Lauren Shaw standing in the doorway, his gaze dark and inscrutable.

Feeling the atmosphere turn sour, Lauren Shaw turned to leave, only to find Mo Qinglin approaching, Mo Fan pushing his wheelchair behind him. Spotting Lauren Shaw, Mo Qinglin nodded politely. "Miss Li."

Lauren Shaw managed a subtle smile. Yancy Shaw came over and took her hand, giving Mo Qinglin and Mo Fan a cool nod as they passed by.

She wondered how Mo Qinglin felt about what he’d just seen, but one thing was clear: any marriage alliance between their families was as good as dead.

"Why was Yvonne Sung at the annual party tonight?" Lauren Shaw voiced her suspicion.

The hotel was closed to outsiders this evening; rooms were reserved for gala guests. So how did Yvonne Sung get a room key?

"It wasn't just Eva Snow behind this. She couldn't have pulled it off alone—from the inside and out. The event was organized by Sister-in-law."

In other words, only Mandy Snow could have arranged for Yvonne Sung to have a room key.

Heh. That title of 'sister-in-law'—it might be the last time I use it.

"Shengsheng, give me a few days. I’ll get to the bottom of this," Yancy Shaw promised, needing to investigate Shen Siyi’s origins before confronting Mandy Snow.

Lauren Shaw understood his intentions. But facts were facts: if Yuan Ran hadn’t been with her today, she’d have ended up as their pawn—a woman for others to pity.

After that beating she’d given Eva Snow earlier, Lauren Shaw felt she’d actually gone too easy on her.

"What would you have done if Eva Snow had succeeded today?" She looked up at him.

"I’d have killed her on the spot."

The words hung in the air. Despite his calm delivery, a chill ran through her.

…

The banquet hall was lively, with men and women twirling across the dance floor. Nina Shaw and Xavier Quinn were, as ever, the most dazzling couple there—their looks were a feast for the eyes amidst the celebration.

After one dance, Nina Shaw spotted Lauren Shaw and walked over, letting go of Xavier Quinn’s hand.

"Shengsheng, are you okay? I heard you weren’t feeling well. Where does it hurt?" Nina Shaw asked with genuine concern.