Chapter 226: That’s My Woman

​Downstairs in the grand foyer, the atmosphere was thick with quiet anticipation.

​Samuel stood at the foot of the sweeping marble staircase in his sharp, immaculate suit, alongside Dr. Oliver, who was adjusting his glasses while subtly reviewing security feeds on his tablet.

Alexander leaned against the pillar, looking pristine in a custom-tailored dark double-breasted tux, his arms crossed over his chest. Xavier stood near the entrance, looking imposing and breathtaking in a classic black tuxedo, his jaw tight as he kept checking his watch.

​And then there was Nat.

​Nat sat casually on the edge of the velvet lounge, utterly breathtaking in a deep charcoal suit. In typical fashion, he had completely ignored standard elite etiquette—his crisp white shirt was unbuttoned low enough to expose a portion of his broad, tattooed chest, radiating a wild, dangerous charm that commanded the entire room.

​A soft rustle of silk echoed from the top of the landing, catching all their attention and ​simultaneously, all five men snapped their heads upward.

​Absolute, suffocating silence fell over the grand foyer.

​As April and Emily stepped into view at the top of the marble staircase, the breath was collectively sucked right out of the room.

​Emily descended gracefully, looking like a delicate, pure goddess descended from the heavens in her gown of white diamonds. But it was April who anchored every single eye in the hall.

​Clad in the deep sapphire dress, she moved down the steps with slow, intoxicating power. The rich blue silk clung to her every movement, making her look less like a guest attending a banquet and more like an untouchable sovereign walking down to claim her throne. The silver ’A’ around her neck caught the chandelier light, winking directly at Nat.

​Not a single man spoke. They simply stood there, completely dumbstruck, staring up at her as if gazing upon a living, breathing goddess.

​In Xavier’s mind, the sight of her in the gown he had personally selected made his pulse hammer wildly, though his eyes darkened the moment his gaze locked onto the silver ’A’ resting against her skin and silver stud earrings instead of his selection.

​In Alexander’s mind, his usual charming quips completely evaporated, replaced by a sudden, fierce possessiveness that made his knuckles turn white inside his pockets.

​In Oliver’s mind, every technical calculation instantly short-circuited.

​And in Nat’s mind... a dangerous, dark smirk flared to life. That’s my woman, his thoughts roared with absolute, unyielding conviction.

​Reaching the middle landing, April paused. Seeing the five grown, powerful men staring up at her like struck statues, she casually raised her hand and flipped the dark tendrils of her hair over her shoulder, a sharp, teasing smirk touching her lips.

​"What?" April drawled smoothly, her dark eyes flashing with playful arrogance. "Haven’t you ever seen a pretty lady before?"

​It was the exact same line she had thrown at them back when they were heading to the auction—and just like before, it hit them like a physical blow.

​April glanced over at her twin beside her, her smirk widening. "Although I guess there are two pretty ladies now. Watch your eyes, boys. Or I’ll poke them out."

​Alexander cleared his throat, forcing his usual suave composure back into place as he stepped forward to offer a bow. "April, stabbing our eyes out before we even reach the venue would be a tragic waste of a view, don’t you think?"

​"You look stunning, both of you," Xavier spoke up, his voice low, deep, and slightly strained as he forced himself to maintain his rigid composure, his eyes lingering on April’s face.

​"Yes," Oliver agreed, making a swift, subtle note on his tablet without looking down. "Visual impact: maximum."

"Hm, that’s so humane of you," April said,

​Nat slowly rose from the velvet lounge, sauntering over with his hands shoved casually into his pockets.

He didn’t say a single word about her beauty. He didn’t need to. His dark, intense eyes swept over her from head to toe, lingering on the silver ’A’ resting proudly on her collarbone, before he flashed her a slow, lethal grin. "Perfect," he purred.

​Samuel stepped forward, checking his pocket watch before bowing cleanly. "The car is waiting outside, Miss April, Master Xavier. Security personnel are already in position at the grand hotel plaza."

​April’s smile slowly faded, replaced by a cold, sharp blade of absolute resolve. She lightly touched the edge of her spatial dimension key, knowing full well that tonight was not just a party. Once those heavy hotel doors sealed behind the city’s ruling elite, no one was leaving without her permission.

​"They say revenge tastes better cold," April said softly, her voice carrying an icy, unshakeable authority. "But any colder than this and I might just lose my appetite."

Alexander let out a sharp, low chuckle, his eyes glinting with dark anticipation as he adjusted his cufflinks. "Then let’s make sure we serve it while it’s still sharp enough to cut."

​Nat smirked, stepping beside April as they neared the grand entrance. "Don’t worry about losing your appetite, sweetheart. Once we lock those doors, you can take as many bites out of them as you want. I’ll make sure nobody tries to run for the exit. And even if they did," he slid his thumb over his neck in a deadly way and said no more.

​Xavier stepped ahead, opening the glass front doors as a fleet of pristine, armored black sedans idled in the courtyard, their tinted windows reflecting the fading golden light of dusk.

​​April took Emily’s hand, giving it a reassuring, grounding squeeze before stepping out into the evening air.

​As they glided toward the central vehicle, Samuel opened the rear door, bowing his head with absolute, unwavering devotion.

​April paused at the threshold, looking back at the four men surrounding her—the powerful corporate titan, the syndicate lord, the elite heir, and the brilliant doctor—all aligned behind her single command.

​"Let’s go," April murmured, her dark eyes flashing with a terrifying, breathtaking promise. "It’s time to put on a show."