Chapter 18

The grand conference room and dining room were filled with the who's who of the mafia world. The long, polished table was laden with an array of dishes, from succulent meats to exotic seafood, and fine wines flowed like water. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air heavy with anticipation.

Ivy, the only woman in the room, felt like a fish out of water. She knew she didn't belong here, that this was a world where women were rarely seen and never heard. But Victor had brought her anyway, his eyes gleaming with a sinister intent.

As they took their seats, Ivy's brothers, Julian, Lucas, and Ethan, shot her worried glances. They knew she shouldn't be here and that this was a dangerous game Victor was playing. But Ivy just shook her head, her eyes flashing with anger.

The dinner conversation was stilted, the men discussing their illegal business dealings in hushed tones. Ivy's presence seemed to be a constant reminder of Victor's power, his ability to humiliate her brothers by bringing her to this sacred space.

Victor, seated at the head of the table, smiled smugly as he watched Ivy's brothers squirm. He knew he had them right where he wanted them, and he was determined to rub it in their faces.

Ivy's eyes scanned the room, her mind racing with understanding. She knew Victor's intention now—he hadn't brought her here as his company but to humiliate her brothers in front of her. He wanted to show that she was nothing to him, just a pawn in his game of power and control.

Ivy's heart burned with anger and hurt, but she refused to let Victor see her cry. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten to her. She took a deep breath and stood tall, her eyes flashing with defiance.

Victor, seated at the head of the table, smiled smugly as he watched Ivy's brothers squirm. He knew he had them right where he wanted them, and he was determined to rub it in their faces.

"Sit down, Ivy," Victor said, his voice dripping with condescension. "You must be tired from standing."

Ivy's eyes narrowed, but she knew she had to play along. She started to sit in the chair next to Victor, but he caught her hand and pulled her onto his lap instead.

Ivy's cheeks flamed with embarrassment as she felt Victor's hands on her waist, his fingers digging into her skin. She tried to stand up, but Victor held her firm, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Julian, Ivy's brother, was furious. He moved towards them, his fists clenched, but Ethan grabbed his arm, holding him back.

"Don't," Ethan whispered. "He's trying to provoke us."

Ivy's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her cool. She knew Victor was trying to get a rise out of her brothers, and she wouldn't let him succeed.

The room was tense, the air thick with unspoken threats. If staring could kill, then all of them would be dead by now.

Ivy's face burned with embarrassment as Victor's hands tightened around her waist, holding her in place. She tried to squirm out of his grasp, but he only held her firm, his fingers digging into her skin like vice grips.

How could he do this to her? In front of all these people? In front of her brothers? Ivy's mind raced with humiliation and shame. She had never been treated like this before. She was her father's princess, her brothers' life, and now she was being treated like a cheap club stripper, with no respect or dignity.

Ivy's eyes darted to her brothers, hoping they would do something, anything, to stop this humiliation. But they just stood there, their faces frozen in anger and helplessness. They were powerful men, but Victor's grip on her was like a vice, and they couldn't do anything to stop it.

Ivy felt a wave of despair wash over her. This was Victor's true face, she realized. He didn't care about anyone, only himself. He was a selfish, heartless bastard, and she was just a pawn in his game of power and control.

Tears pricked at the corners of Ivy's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't give Victor the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, but her heart was racing with anger and humiliation.

Why was Victor doing this to her? What had she done to deserve this? Ivy's mind was a jumble of questions and emotions, but one thing was clear: she had to get out of this situation, and fast. She couldn't take this humiliation anymore.

The dinner meeting had begun, and the room was filled with the sound of murmured conversations and clinking silverware. The topic of discussion was the division of territories and the handling of various illegal business ventures. However, Ivy's presence had shifted the focus of some of the attendees.

Ivy's exposed thighs, visible through the high slit of her dress, had caught the attention of several men in the room. She could feel their eyes on her, stripping her naked with their gaze. She knew who was responsible for this humiliation—Victor, who sat beside her, seemingly oblivious to the commotion he had caused.

Victor was eating Kung Pao chicken with chopsticks; his attention was focused on the spicy Szechuan dish in front of him. He expertly twirled the chopsticks, picking up a piece of chicken and bringing it to his mouth. He chewed slowly, his eyes never once meeting Ivy's.

Ivy's brothers, Julian, Lucas, and Ethan, sat silently, their faces masks of anger and helplessness. They were powerless to stop this humiliation, and Ivy knew it.

The man sitting next to Victor, a portly individual with a thick beard and a hungry gaze, was staring at Ivy with an unbridled lust. His eyes roamed over her body, lingering on her thighs and waist, visible through the deep cut of her dress. Ivy felt a wave of discomfort wash over her, her skin crawling under his gaze.

She had lost her appetite the moment she entered this room, and now she couldn't bear the thought of sitting here any longer. "I have to go to the washroom," she whispered softly into Victor's ear.

Victor's response was immediate. "You won't go anywhere," he said, his voice low and menacing. Ivy's desperation increased. "Okay, then I will pee in your lap because I can't hold it anymore," she hissed, her voice barely audible. Victor's expression didn't change, but he nodded curtly. "Fine, don't take too long, and don't try to be smart."

Ivy didn't respond, she simply got up from her seat and left the room, her eyes fixed on the door as she escaped the humiliation and degradation.

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