Meanwhile, in the opposite room, a guy suddenly came in.
"Guys, there are a lot of ladies in the other room. There's a really pretty one inside," he said while giggling and doing a playful, exaggerated dance in front of them.
"Really?" Daniel's eyes widened with interest.
"Yes! I bet you'll like one of them," he said excitedly.
"Woah… what a night," Daniel smiled. "Are you ready, Tom?"
"I need to go home after this round," Tom said seriously.
"Don't be such a killjoy," the guy replied. "Come on, we need to enjoy the whole night and forget all those stressors."
"I promised to spend time with my mom tomorrow," Tom insisted.
"Come on, dude! Tomorrow is tomorrow. You can spend the whole day with your mom, but tonight is tonight. Let's enjoy it. Don't worry—we're not going to tell Mildred."
Tom and Daniel looked at him.
Daniel let out a forced laugh to cut the tension.
"Let's not talk about the ladies tonight," Daniel said. "Let's just drink and have some fun."
"Yeah! Cheers!" they chorused, raising their wine glasses.
Tom drank all his wine in one go—finishing the bottle.
Everyone looked at him, silently understanding.
He was already drunk, exhausted, and emotionally drained.
He lay down on the sofa to rest while his friends continued drinking.
In the meantime, Tom got bored and went outside.
While walking through the hallway, he unexpectedly met one of Mildred's friends.
"Tom?" Isabel greeted him. "How are you?" she asked as she walked toward him.
"Isabel?" he said.
"Oh my goodness," she muttered, clearly surprised.
"Any news about Mildred?" he asked immediately.
"You're an asshole," Isabel smirked, raising her eyebrows. "You don't deserve her, Tom. Let her go… you ruined her life."
Tom took a deep breath.
He felt irritation rising inside him.
His heart started beating faster, and anger surged through his veins at her words echoing in his ears.
But he forced himself to stay calm.
"that is not true... " he speaks gently and soft
"You know what… she found someone else there, and she seems happy and content," Isabel said before walking away from him.
"What did you just say?" Tom frowned in confusion and suddenly grabbed her hand. "What? Say that again."
"Let go, Tom. Look, I didn't say anything… you're drunk," she said sharply. "I don't know. She ignored all of us. She just wanted to be alone and forget you," she shouted.
"What do you mean she found someone else?" Tom asked angrily. "Tell me."
"Isabel?" Betty came out from the VIP room next to them. "Tom?" she said as she quickly removed his hand from Isabel. "Let's go, girl. Leave him alone…"
She clicked her tongue and pulled Isabel away, walking back into the room.
Tom looked desperate and angry. He wanted to punch the wall, but he controlled his temper. He clenched his fist and walked away, leaving the bar.
He felt a tight, suffocating pressure in his chest that made him even more irritated.
He sat inside his car and checked his phone. He dialed Mildred's international number, but no one answered.
He called again.
And again.
He tried calling her dozens of times—almost a hundred—but Mildred still did not pick up.
Frustrated, Tom threw his phone onto the back seat.
"Fuck… fuck… fuck you!" he muttered, punching the steering wheel.
After a couple of hours of sitting inside the car, he finally pressed the start button and turned on the engine.
Just then, he noticed Anna walking out of the bar.
Tom stopped the car and stared at her, his eyes cold and angry. He shook his head slightly, watching her from a distance.
Anna stood near the main door, giggling while talking on the phone. After finishing her call, she went back inside.
Tom drove his car, but after a few moments, he suddenly turned back and parked in front of the bar.
He quickly got out and went inside, looking for Anna—but he couldn't find her.
He immediately called Daniel and told him he had seen Anna.
Both Tom and Daniel were already drunk, yet they started knocking on every room, searching for her.
Meanwhile, Anna had gone to the washroom.
She noticed two women standing in front of the large mirror, busy talking and retouching their makeup.
"They look familiar," Anna murmured to herself.
She slowly closed the door and quietly listened to them.
"How dare he show up after breaking Mildred's heart, and now he's asking about her…" Isabel said angrily to her friend. "If he truly loved her, he would've followed her to the US. Why didn't he? He did nothing."
"I heard he's not allowed to leave the country—he's banned," Betty explained.
"That's not the reason," Isabel snapped. "Even if his grandfather prohibited him… even if immigration held his passport… there are still ways if he really wanted to."
Betty stayed silent.
"He has no guts… you know that."
"We know that, Isabel," Betty replied. "Someone like him doesn't deserve her. Just move on…"
"Do you think that woman used a love potion on Tom?"
Anna reacted the moment she heard it.
"What?" she whispered to herself. "Love potion? Why would I—grrr…" she muttered, clenching her fist in frustration as if she wanted to slap them.
"Nah, I don't think so…" Betty replied.
"Yes," Anna said quietly to herself inside the cubicle. "Thank you," she whispered, trying to calm herself down.
"Who the hell is she? I've been trying to find information about her, but I can't find anything… not even on Facebook."
"What? You tried?" Betty laughed.
"What? I'm just curious about her," Isabel said while fixing her lipstick.
"Hm… we only know that she's the granddaughter of Chairman Yang's best friend," Betty explained.
"Yes… but I still want to dig more information about her. You know, if she's rich like Mildred… or if she's—well, I don't know," Isabel continued.
"You probably won't find anything," Betty said. "I think she has Instagram, because Mildred used to follow her."
"Yes… but her account is private. I can't see her photos… and I don't want to follow her," Isabel replied.
Anna was surprised when she heard them. She slowly shifted inside the cubicle, careful not to make any sound.
She wanted to go out, but decided to wait until they left first.
The two women noticed that the person who entered the stall still hadn't come out.
They stopped talking, turned around, and stared at the cubicle where Anna was hiding.
"Shhh," Betty whispered, placing a finger on her lips.
They stayed silent, pretending no one was there anymore.
Anna, thinking they had already left, slowly opened the door.
She peeked out cautiously, leaning her head first and looking left and right.
Seeing the coast clear, she stepped out confidently and walked toward the mirror.
But the two women were still there—standing near the door, arms crossed.
"What are you doing?" Betty asked. "Paparazzi?" she added.
"Ah… ah… no," Anna stammered.
Isabel raised her eyebrows and grinned, staring at her.
"Come on, darling… I bet you did," she said suspiciously.
"Give me your phone," Isabel demanded, stepping closer. "I think you recorded us."
Tom suddenly called her. His picture appeared on the screen as the call came in.
Isabel noticed it immediately.
"Shit," Anna whispered to herself.
"Oh my… that's why you looked familiar… you're Anna," Isabel said.
Isabel slapped her.
"You bitch," she said sharply.
"Hey!" Betty shouted, grabbing Isabel to stop her. "What are you doing?!"
"Don't try to stop me, Betty. She's the reason our friend is heartbroken," Isabel said.
Betty then turned to Anna, grabbed her hair, and leaned in close.
"You knew they were both in love," she whispered into Anna's ear.
Anna's eyes filled with anger and tears as she cried.
"Oh… cry, cry baby… what now?" Isabel mocked.
Isabel held Anna's hand tightly while Betty continued grabbing her hair.
Then Isabel slapped her again.
"That's enough," Betty said while pushing her toward the mirror. "Remember, Tom is here."
Isabel grinned and suddenly pushed Anna's head toward the mirror.
Anna didn't fight back. She felt terrified and weak.
Betty and Isabel then left her inside the restroom.
Anna stayed behind, still weeping. She opened the faucet, washed her face, and fixed her hair.
Her whole body trembled uncontrollably as the huge man stepped into her path.
"Hi, baby," he said, his voice casual but unsettling.
Anna froze for a split second, her breath catching in her throat. She forced herself not to look at him.
Without responding, she lowered her gaze and tried to walk past him, her steps quickening as she attempted to escape his presence.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" he snapped, grabbing her arms.
"I'm so sorry… please…" Anna stammered, panic rising in her voice as she struggled to pull free. "Let go of me…"
"What's wrong? You don't like me?" he asked, tightening his grip.
Anna looked at him, fear and disgust flashing in her eyes.
"Go away," she said, her voice shaking but firm.
The man's expression darkened.
In an instant, he shoved her hard against the wall.
Anna gasped, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She froze, stunned and terrified, as he invaded her space, trapping her there.
She struggled, pushing at him with trembling hands, but he didn't move—his strength overpowering hers completely.
"Stop…" she whispered, her voice breaking as panic set in.
Anna pushed him with all her strength, but he barely moved. His massive build made it impossible for her to break free, no matter how hard she struggled.
"Please stop it!" Anna shouted, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.
"Hey!"
A sharp voice cut through the tension.
Tom rushed in and smashed a bottle of wine against the man's head.
The impact made the man stagger backward, visibly dazed as he lost his balance and became dizzy.
"Hey! She said stop—what are you doing, dude?" Tom shouted. "Get out!"
The man stumbled away, moving in an unsteady gait as he held the back of his head, quickly disappearing from the area.
Daniel rushed to Anna and helped her steady herself.
"Are you okay? I didn't know you were here… Tom saw you earlier," he said worriedly.
Anna didn't respond. She stood there silently, shaken and unable to speak.
Tom turned sharply toward her.
"Are you out of your mind?!" he yelled. "You come here, get yourself drunk, and you can't even handle a situation like this—are you stupid?!"
"Tom, that's enough," Daniel interrupted. "I don't think she—"
"That's what you think," Tom cut him off, glaring at Anna. "Look at her… are you blind? She's being stupid."
Anna walked away in silence, her steps unsteady but determined, as if holding herself together by sheer will.
Tom followed her immediately, his footsteps sharp against the ground. He moved in front of her and blocked her path, forcing her to stop.
"Yeah… you're welcome," Tom snapped, his voice cold and cutting. "Bitch."
The word hung in the air like a slap, tightening the space between them with unbearable tension.
Anna's hand flew across his face, the sound sharp in the tense air.
"Bitch… s-stupid," she stuttered through tears. "Yes… I am."
A broken, shaky laugh escaped her as she wiped her tears away, trying to steady herself.
"What else are you going to say? Whore?"
Her voice trembled, but her words cut deeper with every breath.
"Because you're rich… your friends are rich… Mildred is rich and pretty…" she continued, her voice cracking. "Her friends are beautiful, educated, from wealthy families… you all can just degrade someone like me…"
She swallowed hard, forcing herself not to break completely.
"Do whatever you want," she said, her voice rising with pain and anger. "I despise you… I hate you, Tom."
Her body shook violently as she stepped back.
"I don't want to see you… please just leave me alone…"
She turned away and walked off, struggling to hold herself together.
Tom clicked his tongue.
"tsk. Because you chose that path, Anna… don't blame us."
"Tom, come on dude… let's go. You're drunk," Daniel said, trying to pull him back. "Anna, please… let's go. You're both having a hard time."
He glanced between them, trying to calm the tension. "Just… stop this."
"I can go home," Anna said quietly. "Thanks."
om suddenly grabbed her arms, stopping her in place.
"Do you really think this is what I want?!" he shouted, his voice breaking with anger and pain. "In the first place, you are the reason my life is falling apart… why I can't find Mildred… why everything turned into this mess!"
His grip tightened as his emotions spiraled, his chest rising and falling sharply.
"You deserve it," he said through clenched teeth. "But even that's not enough… not enough to calm what I feel inside."
His voice lowered, more dangerous now—controlled, but trembling underneath.
"I want you to feel it, Anna… every bit of it. The hurt. The loss. The way everything shatters and leaves you empty."
He pointed to his own chest, eyes burning.
"Every time I try to be good to you… I regret it. Because you don't deserve it."
A sharp pause.
"You're Chairman Yang's favorite. And if I can't get back at him…" he said slowly, "then I'll start with you. I'll destroy what he values most."
"Tom," Daniel stepped in urgently, his voice firm now. "Enough. Both of you, stop this."
nna wiped her tears and let out a shaky laugh.
"Let's see if you can ruin my life," she said firmly, her voice trembling but defiant. "Aren't you tired?" she added, then turned away from him.
But Tom didn't stop her.
He grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.
Daniel stepped forward immediately. "Tom, come on dude… let's go. You're drunk. Anna… please, just go home. You're both not okay right now," he tried to calm them down.
"I can go home," Anna said quickly, her voice breaking slightly. "Thanks."
But the moment she turned—
Tom tightened his grip.
"Do you really think this is what I want?" he shouted, his voice cracking with rage. "In the first place, you are the reason my life is broken! Why I can't find Mildred! Why we haven't talked until now!"
He stepped closer, eyes burning.
"You deserve this… and even that isn't enough," he continued, breathing heavily. "It's not enough to satisfy what I feel. I want you to feel it too, Anna. I want you to understand how it hurts… how it shatters someone from the inside."
His finger trembled as he pointed to her chest.
"Every single day, I try to be good to you… but you don't deserve it. You're Chairman Yang's favorite, right? Then I'll use that. My revenge against him… is you. I'll ruin your life first."
"Tom!" Daniel shouted. "Stop it, both of you!"
A heavy silence followed.
Anna slowly wiped her tears. Then she chuckled—broken, bitter.
"Let's see if you can ruin my life," she said coldly. "Aren't you tired yet?"
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked away.
But Tom followed again.
He grabbed her arm and spun her around.
Daniel rushed in between them. "Tom, stop!"
Tom shoved him aside.
"Stay out of this, Dan. This is between us," he snapped.
"You're hurting her!" Daniel yelled.
"I don't care!" Tom shot back. "Go home!"
Daniel hesitated, then looked at Anna. "Call me," he whispered to her before stepping back.
Anna gave a small nod.
Then everything moved too fast.
Tom dragged her toward the car.
"Get in!" he ordered.
"No!" Anna pushed him away. "I said no!"
"Get in," he repeated sharply, forcing her into the passenger seat.
"I said no," she breathed, glaring at him. "Or what?"
Tom slammed the door open again. "Or I'll make you."
Daniel stepped forward one last time. "Tom, I'll take her home. Just stop this."
"Stay out of it," Tom snapped. "This is not your business."
Anna looked at Daniel briefly.
"Call me," she whispered again.
Daniel nodded, helpless.
Tom got in, slammed the door, and started the engine.
The car sped off.
Silence filled the space between them.
Anna stared ahead, refusing to look at him.
"Where are we going?" she asked after a moment.
No answer.
"Tom… where are we going?" her voice turned sharper, but her hands were already shaking.
Still nothing.
"We're going to hell," he said coldly.
Anna's breath hitched.
She instinctively reached for the brake.
"Stop it!" Tom snapped, pushing her hand away. "Don't touch anything!"
"Stop the car!" she shouted now, fear breaking through her anger. "Stop it, Tom!"
But he didn't respond.
He just drove faster.
Anna gripped her seatbelt tightly, biting her lip to stop herself from crying.
Her eyes closed.
The car finally stopped in front of the mansion.
"Get out," Tom said immediately, opening his door.
Anna stepped out slowly, confused and breathless.
"What are we doing in your house?"
Tom didn't answer.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.
"Tom, you're hurting me!" she protested.
But he didn't stop.
Inside the house, chaos erupted.
Janet and Mrs. Yang rushed after them. Marvin and Chairman Yang were still in the office when the doors burst open.
Everyone froze.
Tom shoved Anna forward—right onto the table.
Her hands hit the surface to steady herself.
"Is this what you wanted?" Tom shouted, voice echoing through the room.
Chairman Yang stood up immediately. "What is the meaning of this?!"
Anna tried to step back.
"I'm leaving," she said quickly.
But Tom grabbed her again.
"Where do you think you're going?" he snapped.
"Let me go," she said, struggling. "I'm done with this."
Tom let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
"You wish."
He tightened his grip and turned toward the room.
"From now on," he declared coldly, "we're engaged."
A pause.
Then—
"In two months," he added, eyes locked on everyone in the room, "I'm marrying this woman."