Chapter 6 Shareholder

Allison had no clue that some were eagerly awaiting her downfall. With a swift, practiced motion, she twisted Danny's other wrist, snapping it just as effortlessly as the first.

"Seems like you have a hard time grasping simple instructions," she remarked coldly.

Without a moment's hesitation, she slammed the glass in her hand directly onto his head.

Crash!

Glass shards and tequila cascaded over him, mingling with the blood that immediately dripped from his forehead.

Allison's expression remained stone-cold. "Sober up and get lost!"

Danny screamed in agony as he crumpled to the floor, drenched and utterly humiliated. His face was a mess of blood, tears, and snot, his shattered wrists rendering him defenseless. "You psycho! Do you even know who I am?" he spat out between ragged breaths, his eyes burning with venom.

"What are you all standing around for?" he yelled at his crew. "Beat her to death already!"

A group of muscular thugs closed in on Allison, smirking like wolves circling prey.

"You've really stepped in it now," one of them sneered. "You've pissed off the heir of the Mason family. They own Cloudland Hotel over in Ontdale. Even if you drop dead right here, they've got enough money to make it disappear like smoke!"

Bottles were grabbed; the air crackled with the threat of violence.

Before anyone could blink, Allison snatched a bottle from one of the men, smashed it against the table, and with a fluid motion, pressed the jagged edge right against Danny's throat.

"So, the Mason family's got the cash to cover it up, huh? Tell me - how much is your life worth?"

Her tone was as calm as still water, but the smile that played on her lips was pure ice. Danny, feeling the bottle's sharp edge bite into his skin, stammered, "You- you think you can actually- oh God, no! Help me! Please, I'm sorry!"

A thin line of blood trickled down his neck, the bottle poised to end him with the slightest pressure.

Danny's face turned ghostly white. This woman was out of her mind!

Satisfied, Allison released the bottle and sent him sprawling to the floor with a swift kick.

Turning to the cruise manager, who had rushed over in the chaos, she said with calm authority, "Handle this mess. And make sure I never see anyone from the Mason family aboard this ship again."

Danny, spotting the manager, assumed his rescue had arrived. With newfound arrogance, he staggered to his feet. "Who do you think you are, ordering them around? My family has a stake in this cruise line!" he spat, pointing with rage. "Well? What are you waiting for? Take her down!"

By now, the spectacle had drawn quite a crowd. At the railing, Colton frowned, while Melany leaned over to whisper, "What if Ms. Clarke gets expelled from the cruise..."

Before she could finish, the situation took an unexpected turn.

The cruise manager didn't hesitate. He swiftly ordered the security team to tie up Danny and his goons. Then, to everyone's shock, he turned and bowed toward Allison, his voice filled with respect.

"Yes, ma'am."

Danny, now restrained and livid, screeched, "Are you all blind?!"

The manager's response was calm. "Ms. Clarke is the primary shareholder of this cruise line. Anyone who disrespects her is no friend of ours."

The crowd gasped.

No one had expected the woman standing before them to be the largest shareholder of the prestigious Royal Princess cruise ship.

"This... this has to be some kind of mistake!"

Danny's face drained of all color. Then, as if on instinct, he began frantically bowing his head, pleading, "I'm so sorry, ma'am. I didn't know - please, have mercy! My family... we're business partners..." But the damage had already been done.

Allison's stiletto heel dug into Danny's fingers with a slow, deliberate twist, the sound of bones cracking under her heel. Then, she casually threw a black card onto the floor.

"You've got a point," Allison said, her voice as cold as a glacier. "Money can solve some problems. And as for the Mason family? The Royal Princess will be steering clear of you from now on."

The impact of her words hit Danny like a bolt from the blue.

He was so stunned that the searing pain in his fingers seemed to fade into the background. All he could think about was the mess he'd landed in. His grandfather had been crystal clear: strengthen ties with the Royal Princess. Now, he had not only bungled the business deal but was also staring down the barrel of a much worse fate when he returned home.

Even Colton, who had been leaning against the railing, stood there in a state of frozen disbelief, while his wealthy friends were shifting from shock to outright amazement.

"Hold up, are you saying Colton's wife is the biggest shareholder in the Royal Princess? I remembered she was an orphan. How did she get her hands on that kind of money? Building this ship cost over $200 million!"

"Look over there - that's Rebecca, the only daughter of the Green family. Allison's rubbing shoulders with her? She must be riding Rebecca's coattails for all it's worth."

"Most likely. The Green family's real estate empire is enormous. Investing in the Royal Princess is probably just a drop in the bucket for them."

Melany sighed softly.

"I envy Ms. Clarke for having such a steadfast friend. I've been overseas for three years, and aside from you, I haven't had any friends at all."

Colton snorted in response, his irritation bubbling over. "Ha, someone like her probably doesn't have real friends. She's likely just tricking the Green family, just like she's been tricking my grandfather."

His frustration gnawed at him, a stark contrast to his affection for Melany. He couldn't shake the feeling that Allison had changed somehow, or maybe he was just seeing her in a new light tonight.

Colton wrestled with his mixed emotions and grasped Melany's hand, trying to anchor himself.

"From now on, you'll never be alone. I'll always be by your side, and you'll make plenty of new friends, too."

Melany smiled gently, their fingers entwined. "That sounds wonderful. Oh, by the way, Colton, your grandfather's set to be discharged the day after tomorrow. He specifically asked to see her. Maybe we should go and extend an invitation."

She looked up at him with an innocent expression, adding softly, "And I'd really like to meet Ms. Clarke to offer my apology. Would that be okay?"