CHAPTER 12: Caught a Cute Little Cat

Outside, on the mansion's grand balcony, Damon stood with a glass of champagne in his hand, the city lights reflecting in his dark eyes.

A quiet chuckle rumbled from his chest.

Daniel, his right-hand man, turned toward him in surprise. "Damon, you seem to be in a good mood."

Damon swirled the champagne in his glass, lips curving slightly.

"I just caught a cute little cat," he murmured, "one that likes to act fierce."

Daniel frowned, confused, but didn't press further.

Behind them, Caleb stood silently, observing. He didn't speak—he simply followed as they left the balcony and re-entered the mansion.

The party was over.

JING MANSION

As I stepped through the doors of the Jing Mansion, the butler greeted me with a polite nod.

"Welcome back, Miss Jing. Your father has returned."

I barely acknowledged him, my mind already occupied with what lay ahead.

Before I even reached the sitting room, I could hear them—my father and stepmother, deep in conversation.

I didn't care.

I simply walked past them, offering my father a respectful greeting before heading toward the stairs.

But then—

"Lisa!"

His voice, sharp and commanding, stopped me mid-step.

I turned slowly.

"What now?"

My father, Mr. James Jing, eyed me coldly.

"What did you do to your sister at the party today?"

I blinked, confused.

"What?"

"I didn't do anything to her," I said honestly.

But his expression darkened. "You spiked her drink!"

I felt my chest tighten.

"Ah, so that's the story Ava fed them."

"Who told you that?" I asked, my voice steady. "Because she's the one who gave me the drink." you need to start investigating words before you believe them .... i added

I expected him to at least hesitate.

To consider my words.

But instead—

"SLAP!"

My head snapped to the side as the sting of his hand burned across my cheek.

I stood there, stunned, as silence settled over the room.

"Don't talk back to me!" His voice thundered. "Is this how you were raised? Mannerless!"

I could only stare at him.

'Raised? ...… Aren't supposed to raise me?, where were you?'

Sorry am mannerless, and wasn't raised well because you didn't raise me" refuted immediately

Not because of the pain—no, this was nothing compared to the betrayal I had already suffered.

But because I realized, at that moment—I had truly lost him.

My father was shocked

Immediately, beside him, my stepmother placed a hand on his arm, pretending to calm him down.

"Darling, please stop… You know how Lisa behaves," she sighed, playing the role of the concerned wife.

Fake.

All of it was fake.

I clenched my fists.

Without another word, I turned and walked up the stairs.

"Come back here! I'm not done talking to you!" my father shouted after me.

But I didn't stop.

Didn't look back.

Let's just say… that was the last bit of respect I would ever give him.

I had thought—just for a moment—that maybe, just maybe, he would take my side.

That despite everything, he would believe in me.

That he was still my father.

I was wrong.

As I stepped into my room and shut the door behind me, a single teardrop slipped down my cheek.

I raised a hand to my face, brushing it away.

"I can't believe I shed a tear for that man."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I collapsed onto my bed.

"Whatever."

Tomorrow was a long day.

And I had more important things to focus on.

The next morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose.

No more hoping.

No more expectations.

It was time to move forward.

I freshened up, dressed in a sleek white blazer and high-waisted pants, exuding confidence and power.

As I picked up my phone, a message popped up.

Damon Zichen: "Come to Zichen Empire at noon. My lawyer is ready."

A smirk tugged at my lips.

"Showtime."

In front of the Zheng Empire building I stood

The towering glass skyscraper loomed over me as I stepped out of the car.

Few people who passed by whispered and stared.

"Isn't that Lisa Jing?"

"Why is she here?"

"Wasn't she humiliated at the last social event?"

Its seems like am really popular but still yet I ignored them. I don't care enough to waste my breath on strangers

Let them talk.

By the time I'm done, they'll be speaking my name with fear and admiration.

The receptionist recognized me immediately.

"Miss Jing, Mr. Zichen is expecting you. Please take the private elevator to the top floor."

With a nod, walked toward the elevator there were Two Elevator on the left and one on the right .... I stopped and I stepped inside the empty one and press the highest floor, before the elevator door could close i can hear mumbling but am too much in a hurry to care about them, ... I tapped my feet while waiting for the elevator to ascended—taking me one step closer to my new fate.

Outside the Elevator 

Someone asked ..... who was that? and she just made use of the Boss personal elevator

Another answered "i dont know but this is juicy they converse ask they entered the staff elevator