Chapter 171: Malrik’s First Mistake
As the elevator doors slowly slid open, Lucas and Mason stepped into the lavish lobby of Bellagio Grand.
The atmosphere had completely changed.
Compared to earlier...
The hotel was now under noticeably tighter security.
Additional security personnel stood at every entrance and intersection, their sharp eyes constantly scanning the arriving guests. Luxury cars pulled up one after another beneath the grand entrance as elegantly dressed businessmen, celebrities, and influential figures made their way inside.
The charity banquet was about to begin.
Lucas casually swept his gaze across the lobby.
Then...
His eyes suddenly narrowed.
He had spotted two familiar figures.
The first...
Was someone he recognized instantly.
Maya.
She had changed into an elegant evening dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. Her long dark hair rested naturally over her shoulders, and despite the faint smile on her face, Lucas could immediately tell she wasn’t happy.
Walking beside her was another well-known figure.
Durnik Mudwhisk.
Almost everyone in Silvermont’s internet entertainment industry knew his name.
He owned one of the country’s largest livestream and talent management companies and had built an empire around short-form content creators and online celebrities.
Although successful...
His reputation among women was far from respectable.
Lucas watched as Durnik hurried to keep pace with Maya, almost jogging to remain at her side as though afraid she might walk away.
Lucas exchanged a brief glance with Mason before quietly slowing his own pace.
"Let’s keep some distance."
"I don’t want her noticing us yet."
Mason nodded without asking questions.
The two deliberately stayed several meters behind, blending naturally into the flow of arriving guests.
From this distance...
Lucas could observe everything clearly without attracting attention.
Only now did he get a proper look at Durnik.
The man was in his fifties.
His body had long since surrendered to years of luxury.
A large beer belly strained against his expensive tailored suit.
The thinning hair on top of his head had already begun turning white around the temples, leaving only sparse strands combed awkwardly across his scalp in a futile attempt to hide the balding patches.
His face was permanently flushed, and his small eyes constantly wandered toward Maya.
It was the kind of gaze that immediately made people uncomfortable.
...
"Maya!"
"You’ve become more and more beautiful every time I see you!"
Durnik laughed loudly, exposing a mouthful of yellow-stained teeth.
"Do you remember?"
"When you were little, your father brought you to one of our business cocktail parties."
"I even carried you in my arms!"
As he laughed...
A heavy smell of cigarette smoke mixed with alcohol escaped from his mouth.
Even standing beside him...
Was unpleasant.
Maya instinctively wanted to take a step farther away.
The smell almost made her stomach turn.
Still...
She forced herself to remain polite.
"Uncle Durnik..."
"Good evening."
Her smile was gentle.
But completely forced.
Durnik either failed to notice...
Or simply didn’t care.
His eyes slowly swept across Maya from head to toe without the slightest attempt to hide his admiration.
Then he suddenly laughed again.
"Maya..."
"With looks like yours..."
"Why don’t you come work for Uncle?"
"My company is always looking for beautiful young women."
"If you become one of my streamers..."
"I guarantee you’ll be famous."
"No..."
He grinned broadly.
"I guarantee you’ll become one of the biggest stars on the entire platform."
His gaze lingered on Maya just a little too long.
Watching everything unfold from a distance...
Lucas’s expression gradually darkened.
Maya’s mood had already been at rock bottom.
Ever since arriving at Bellagio Grand, she had been forcing herself to smile through countless uncomfortable conversations.
Every greeting.
Every fake compliment.
Every knowing look from the guests who had already heard rumors about tonight’s announcement.
She endured all of it.
But now...
This disgusting man standing beside her had the audacity to suggest she become one of his streamers.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened into fists.
Who does this idiot think he is?
She knew exactly what he meant.
It wasn’t a compliment.
It was an insult.
In Durnik’s eyes, the once-proud eldest daughter of the Laurent Family had already fallen so low that she should be grateful for any opportunity thrown her way.
He was reminding her...
That her family was finished.
That she no longer belonged among the elite.
Taking a slow breath, Maya forced another polite smile onto her face.
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Durnik."
"But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline."
"I’ve already found a job."
"A much more meaningful one."
The moment those words left her mouth...
The smile on Durnik’s face froze.
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
He had been subtly mocking her...
Yet this little girl actually dared to answer back.
Interesting.
For a brief second, he wondered whether she had simply misspoken.
After all...
The Laurent Family was already hanging by a thread.
What confidence did she still have?
Suppressing his annoyance, he forced another smile.
"A job?"
"What kind of job could possibly compare to joining my company?"
"Forget about whatever you’re doing now."
"Quit."
"Come work for me."
This time...
There was no trace of invitation in his tone.
Only command.
As though refusing him wasn’t even an option.
Maya’s smile disappeared completely.
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I’m sorry."
"But just like I said..."
"I’m not interested."
"Not in livestreaming."
"And certainly not in working for your company."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Several nearby guests quietly slowed their footsteps, pretending to admire the decorations while secretly listening.
Durnik’s expression finally darkened.
Without warning...
He reached out and grabbed Maya’s wrist.
His grip wasn’t gentle.
It forced Maya to stop walking.
"Who do you think you are?"
His voice dropped several degrees.
The smile had completely vanished.
"Hmph."
"I really don’t know where someone like you finds this confidence."
He stepped closer, his cigarette-stained breath making Maya instinctively frown.
"Let me make something very clear."
"Do you honestly think that just because you’re about to marry Malrik..."
"You’ve suddenly become some kind of phoenix?"
"You think clinging to the Reid Family gives you the right to speak to me like that?"
His eyes narrowed coldly.
"Do you even know what kind of relationship I have with Malrik?"
"I’ve known him for years."
"We’ve done business together."
"If I say one word..."
"He’ll stand on my side without hesitation."
"So before you offend someone..."
"You’d better learn exactly who you’re talking to."
Maya struggled to pull her hand free.
"Let go."
Her voice was icy.
"I said..."
"Let go."
Durnik merely sneered.
"And if I don’t?"
Just as Maya was about to answer...
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Both of them turned at the same time.
Walking toward them with several guests following behind him...
Was Malrik Reid.
He glanced briefly at Durnik before his gaze landed on Maya.
Without asking what had happened...
Without even hearing both sides...
His face immediately turned cold.
"Maya."
"How can you speak to Uncle Durnik like that?"
His voice carried the authority of someone giving an order.
"Apologize."
"Right now."
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