In the grand conference room, David Spencer shook hands with Victoria, his face beaming with a smile. "Boss Windsor! Young, capable, and truly a remarkable leader! Come, let's sign this deal. Win-win cooperation, hahaha, win-win!"
Victoria forced a polite smile. "Apologies for keeping you waiting."
"No problem, no problem! As long as you're here, everything's fine! Would you like to review the contract one more time?"
"No need, let's proceed directly with the signing."
"Bold! Truly the most outstanding businesswoman in the North—decisive and straightforward. Excellent, excellent! Let's sign!"
At that moment, the door was violently kicked open.
With a deafening crash, shards of glass scattered across the floor.
Edward stood at the entrance, hands in his pockets, wearing a grim expression that exuded authority and menace.
A security guard started to approach but was stopped by Jon, who placed a firm hand on the guard's chest. "Mr. Edward is handling business. If you value your life, back off!"
Edward's reputation preceded him. In Snow City, if you didn't know Edward, you hadn't truly lived there. And if you hadn't cursed him in your heart at least once, you hadn't experienced life in Snow City.
No one dared to stop Edward.
Loosening his tie, Edward stepped over the shattered glass, his team of a dozen men flooding in behind him like a gang of bandits, pushing both Victoria's and David's teams aside.
For a brief moment, Victoria felt Edward looked undeniably handsome.
That aura, that reckless arrogance, the confidence that screamed "Heaven is first, Earth is second, and I'm third"—it was impossible to resist.
Victoria admired assertiveness; she couldn't stand sycophants. A man without a backbone wasn't a man at all.
Especially when she knew he was doing all of this to protect her—it softened her heart despite her feigned anger.
Still, she maintained her stern expression. "Edward! What are you doing here?"
David Spencer was bewildered. "Boss Windsor, who is this man? Such… impudence!"
"It's fine," Victoria reassured him.
David hesitated but nodded.
Victoria's voice sharpened. "Edward, we're in the middle of a business discussion. Don't cause trouble!"
"Business discussion, my ass!"
Edward strode into the room like a gangster boss, his eyes sharp and unyielding as they swept across the crowd. No one dared meet his gaze.
"David Spencer! Get over here!"
David froze. The man before him was clearly not someone to mess with.
He glanced at Victoria nervously. Victoria gave him a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. I'm here."
She turned back to Edward, her voice rising. "Edward, stop this nonsense! Or I'll really lose my patience!"
"Lose your patience?" Edward smirked. "Well, I've already lost mine! Victoria is my fiancée, and you dare hit on her?!"
David Spencer froze. "Oh… oh no, Mr. Edward! A misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding! I was just discussing business with Boss Windsor. No flirting, none at all!"
Edward picked up the contract from the table, glanced at it, and sneered. "Ridiculous."
With a swift motion, he tore the contract in half and flung the pieces in David's face. "Jon, handle it!"
Jon immediately punched David, knocking him to the ground. He planted a foot on David's chest and raised a baseball bat before pausing. "Mr. Edward, how exactly should I handle this?"
Edward casually leaned back into an executive chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Make sure he can't get up before noon tomorrow."
"Got it!"
Jon raised the bat but then turned back. "Mr. Edward, that's… awfully precise. I'm not sure I can time it that perfectly."
"Why the hell are you asking so many questions? Just do it!"
David's team stood frozen, none daring to intervene.
David cried out, "Boss Windsor! Explain, Boss Windsor!"
Victoria replied calmly, "Don't worry. I'm here."
"What?! This doesn't look fine at all—AHHH!"
Jon had started his work.
Edward swayed back in the chair, utterly content. If Davis weren't around, I could really do whatever I wanted in this world.
David's screams filled the room.
Victoria finally spoke. "Edward, stop! Don't be too harsh!"
David's team was on the verge of breaking down.
What's wrong with these two?!
One side demanded a perfectly timed beating, while the other pleaded, "Don't be too harsh."
How harsh was "not too harsh," exactly?
Edward grinned lazily at Victoria. "Me, Edward—the most notorious villain in Snow City! This is just my style. Don't like it?"
Victoria's facade cracked, and she stifled a laugh before lightly pushing him. "Enough. Stop it already."
Her voice softened slightly, almost like she was pleading.
Edward raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Stop. I won't sign the contract, okay?"
Edward turned to Jon.
Jon glanced at his watch. "Mr. Edward, by my estimate, we're still three hours, twenty-five minutes, and thirty-nine seconds short of your requirement."
Anna's mouth twitched. Are these people serious? Down to the second?!
Edward sighed. "Alright, stop. Let them go."
The chaos subsided.
David Spencer stumbled away, clutching his bruises, still bewildered. Billions of dollars were on the table—and now gone. And for what? Some ridiculous claim that he'd hit on Victoria?
Ridiculous! Even if he wanted to flirt, would he even stand a chance?
As Edward and his team exited, he glanced back at Victoria's staff. "Why are you all still here? Waiting for me to hand out money?"
Anna flinched. She knew better than anyone how terrifying Edward could be—his shameless smile could turn ice-cold in an instant.
Victoria gave Anna a subtle look.
Anna straightened and spoke quickly. "Everyone, please leave. Let Boss Windsor and Mr. Edward talk privately."
The room emptied, leaving only Victoria and Edward behind.
Edward lounged in the chair, one leg casually bouncing.
"Stop shaking your leg!" Victoria smacked him lightly.
Edward smirked. "That's just my style!"
"If you keep acting like a thug in front of me, I'm really going to get angry."
"Alright, alright, I was just messing around."
"Tell me, how did you know he was trying to scam me?"
"Huh? He was trying to scam you? Damn, if I'd known, I would've let Jon beat him for a few more hours."
Victoria glared at him. "Tell me the truth. How did you know?"
"I didn't."
"Still not telling the truth?"
"I didn't know! How am I supposed to explain something I don't know?"
Victoria's patience snapped. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me, don't ever come to me with your problems again. Don't ever show up in front of me!"
"Haha, deal!"
Edward stood up and said, "About the engagement, we should sort it out soon. Have you talked to your family yet?"
"I did. It's set for the tenth of next month."
"No, I mean we should call it off. Go our separate ways and never see each other again."
"Oh, depends on my mood."
"Don't 'depends on your mood' ! Just… call your parents now and explain everything!"
"Edward, what do you mean? You spent three years chasing me!"
"And didn't you refuse me back then?"
"Well, now I've changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Because I like you. Because I'm happy. Because I love you."
Edward froze, visibly flustered. "Please stop messing with me. You hate me, you can't stand me, everyone in Snow City knows you'd rather strangle me than look at me. Now I've decided to back off, we can finally end this mess cleanly—why is breaking up with you so hard?"
"Do you really want to cut ties with me?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me why."
Edward thought to himself:
[ If I could tell you, wouldn't I have said it already? The point is, I can't! ]
[ Does it even matter? The truth is, you don't like me. You like Davis. ]
Victoria said calmly, "I don't care what nonsense is running through your mind. If you don't tell me the truth, I'm not letting you have your way."
Edward looked at her and suddenly laughed.
[ Alright, girl. If I don't show you some tricks, you won't know how capable I am. ]
He stood up, stepped closer to her, and leaned in.
Victoria instinctively leaned back, her hips pressing against the edge of the table. "What are you doing?"
"See? Women are so fickle." Edward grinned slyly. "When I liked you, you played hard to get. Now that I'm trying to leave, you suddenly can't let me go."
Victoria's eyes flared with anger. "Edward! Watch your words!"
Edward grabbed her chin, his face inches from hers, smirking like a rogue. "Today, I'm going to show you how serious I am."
Victoria's mind went blank.
[Is he… is he going to kiss me?
This jerk! This absolute scoundrel!
So annoying! His smug face, his arrogant attitude—it's infuriating!
Oh no, he's getting closer… closer…
Wait, am I even ready for this? Does my breath smell okay?
What am I thinking?! He's going to kiss me! ]
Edward inched closer, his mind racing:
[ Why isn't she moving? Come on, slap me already! If we have a falling out, we can just cancel the engagement. It's the perfect setup! ]
[ Wait, why are her eyes closed? Why is she playing along? No way… Is she really giving up resistance? ]
Edward froze as he held Victoria's flawless face in his hand. Her closed eyes and slightly parted lips made her look stunning, almost fragile.
Any normal man—any normal man—would have leaned in without hesitation, consequences be damned.
But Edward couldn't.
Because this was Victoria, the heroine, the untouchable first female lead tied to Davis.
But now, he was stuck.
A strange standoff began—who would blink first?
Victoria could hear Edward's thoughts. Instead of getting angry, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
[Oh, I see what you're trying to pull. Acting all tough in front of me? You think I'll fall for this? Come on then, do it! I dare you! ]
Edward panicked and quickly changed tactics. He let go of her chin and said, "Fine. If you're so bold, come kiss me yourself. Don't embarrass me now."
Victoria opened her eyes and stared directly into Edward's.
Edward faltered.
In her gaze, he couldn't see anger, frustration, or rejection.
Instead, Victoria's soft, pale hands gently cupped Edward's face.
Now it was Edward's turn to panic.
[ Wait, what are you doing? ]
[ No way. Are you serious? Are you actually going to…? ]
[ This doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense! ]
[ How did things escalate to this point?! ]
Edward's eyes widened as Victoria's face, with her delicate features and soft red lips, slowly moved closer… closer…
[ No way. ]
Edward's mind went blank.
[ Has the plot completely collapsed today? ]