Under the heiress facade

Six burly thugs, armed with long machetes and baseball bats, blocked the entrance to the hall. They wore menacing expressions. "Bruce, it looks like we've got a beauty here," one of the goons said as he eyed Hera.

"I don't need you to state the obvious! I'm not blind!" Bruce Wallace, the leader, snapped while his gaze remained fixed on Hera.

He spat.

"I'm here for the money. Her looks won't change that."

Bruce's eyes lingered on Hera's smooth, flawless skin, but his focus remained on his mission. He was here to collect a debt. It would be a miserable New Year for everyone if he didn't.

"Hey, old hag, are you even listening? Stop wasting our time. Do you have the money or not?" growled a scruffy man who was gesturing aggressively toward Catherine with his baseball bat.

Hera stepped forward to shield Catherine. With a swift kick, she knocked the bat aside.

"Don't point that thing at her!"

Caught off guard by Hera's audacity, the scruffy man fumbled his bat and eventually dropped it.

Meanwhile, the other thugs quickly surrounded Hera, brandishing their weapons. One pressed a gleaming machete against her neck.

the sight of the blade and pleaded

Hera's calm demeanor amidst the danger. Nevertheless,

money?" Bruce

IOU first," Hera

twitched her fingers

noticed Hera's gesture, Catherine grabbed Hera's arm tightly to silently

an IOU for a three-million-dollar loan with two million dollars in interest. The borrower's ID information was indeed Catherine's.

that Giselle had borrowed the money using her ID and had taken

"Hands off!"

a kitchen knife, with Everly close behind, gripping a frying

machete at Hera's neck, Wayne's anger dissipated. Worried for her safety, he hastily pulled a

hurt them! Here's

tossed the

it, weighed it, and threw it back

need five million dollars, not this fucking pocket change! Don't play

with rage as he gripped the knife,

hope of police assistance in this remote location, fighting