I never told my parents that I had invested $500 million to save their failing company. My sister took credit, claiming she had closed the deal. At the victory party, my five-year-old son accidentally spilled water on his dress. She hit him so hard he lost consciousness. My mother snorted, “You clumsy speculator! Take the boy and go!” I gave them one last chance to apologize. Instead, they shouted, “Your sister saved us! You’re nothing but a burden!” Then they turned their attention to me. “Hello, our CEO…” What I had done had completely shattered their world.

Elias knelt down and gently lifted Leo from my arms. My family watched in amazement as the “hotel security guard” treated me with a respect they had never seen before.

“Isabella, what are you doing?” Marcus asked. “I told you to leave.”

I stood up. I smoothed my simple black dress. I wiped a tear from my cheek and stood up. I was taller than Vanessa, and in that moment I felt taller than the entire building.

“Sorry,” I said.

Vanessa laughed, her voice high and unpleasant. “Excuse me?”

“Apologize to my son,” I said, stepping closer. “Apologize for hitting me. Apologize now, and I might even feel sorry for you.”

“Have mercy?” Vanessa snorted, looking around at the guests who were now whispering. “Who do you think you are, ra lệnh cho tao?” I am the savior of this company. Thanks to me, you have a roof over your heads. You are just a stain on our reputation. Security!” she shouted, searching for Marcus’s team. “Get that woman out of here!”