To these men of power, women were never more than fleeting distractions. There were always countless women vying for their attention, throwing themselves at them just for a taste of wealth and influence. But that abundance was also their greatest wound. They knew—those women weren’t there for them. They were there for what they had. The moment they lost their wealth or power, those women would vanish without a trace. They never trusted anyone. Not even the ones who shared their beds. And they certainly would never risk offending someone influential just for a woman. To them, women were playthings. Disposable. Forgettable. So they couldn’t understand it—how Arthur could erupt in fury over just a few disgusting words spoken to Ashley. How he could, without hesitation, attack a sitting Prime Minister. He had to be insane. But now, they witnessed something they had never experienced for themselves. Even as Arthur stood on the brink, surrounded, accused, and silenced by power—Ashley was still there. Still standing beside him. Her hand clasped tightly in his. Unwavering. She was crying—not for herself, but out of fear that he might be hurt. None of them had ever had that. They had more status, more resources, more influence than Arthur ever did… yet they couldn’t get what he had in front of them now. And it made them burn with envy and rage. One of them scoffed coldly. “Don’t think your youth gives you the right to spew nonsense. There’s no need to put on an act—Governor Drake is wise and fair. He’ll see through everything.” Their flattery slid smoothly into their performance. Their voices were so certain, so rehearsed, that anyone unfamiliar might actually believe Arthur and Ashley were the liars here. Drake watched them in silence, his face growing colder by the second. And if one looked closely, there was something else in his eyes—disappointment. He had seen enough.“Enough.” Drake’s voice cut through the room like a blade. The chatter died immediately. When he spoke, no one dared interrupt. His eyes swept across them, sharp and unblinking. Then, without another word, he pulled open a drawer beside him… and took out a USB drive. Everyone stared, confused. What was he about to show them? Drake plugged the drive into the computer. Within seconds, the file was open, projected onto the wall. And the moment the footage began, the entire room froze. Their expressions collapsed into horror. No… no way. It was surveillance footage. Surveillance. Of that exact moment. Their faces drained of color. They had confirmed it—over and over again. There were no cameras near the courtyard. None. They had been so sure. No one else had been there. No one else could have recorded them. Then where… where had this footage come from? Onscreen, the playback continued—complete with audio. “Arthur! You’ve got a lot of nerve sneaking into this courtyard!” “Drop the act! You think you belong here? Get out!” “I live here. Why wouldn’t I be allowed in?” “Hahahaha—did you hear that? He lives here! This kid’s delusional!” “He probably thinks if he acts dumb enough, he’ll fool us!”“Hmph! Maybe you’re safe on Heaven Island for now—but when you leave? Let’s see how long you survive.” “Do you even know who we are, brat? Try learning a little common sense.” As the video played and more of their jeers filled the room, the color continued draining from their faces. Their smirks. Their insults. The threats. Every word was recorded. Clear as day. It had all been for a moment’s satisfaction—mocking Arthur and Ashley, no filter, no restraint. They had checked for surveillance. They had been sure there was none. No guards. No staff. No outsiders. They never imagined it would escalate to this. That Mr. Drake would have footage—from who knows where—that captured every second. They had been completely blindsided. And across the room, Arthur’s eyes lit up the moment Drake pulled out the USB. That motion… he knew it well. Even the casual drawer-opening flick was identical to what he remembered.