Chapter 180

Marilyn and Jason jumped right in, egging her on.

"Come on, Isabelle, what's the harm in trying? Who knows, maybe they'll actually say yes!"

"Think of it as taking a shot. Even if they turn you down, you've got nothing to lose!"

Unable to withstand her parents' relentless persuasion, Isabelle gave in with a reluctant nod, anxiety written all over her face.

"Fine, I'll give them a call. But I'm telling you right now, I can't guarantee they'll show up."

She took a deep breath, pulled out her phone, and dialed the private numbers of the three most powerful family heads in Harborview City, one by one.

The calls didn't last long.

After hanging up, Isabelle stood frozen in place, phone still in hand, her expression blank and dazed.

Seeing her stunned look, Marilyn and Jason's hearts sank. Assuming she'd been rejected across the board, they rushed over.

"What happened, Isabelle? Did they all say no? Too busy?"

"It's okay, sweetheart. We were probably asking for too much anyway."

Isabelle snapped out of it, disbelief flickering in her eyes. "No… they all said yes. Every single one. They promised they'd be there on time."

"They even congratulated me on landing the project!"

The moment those words left her mouth, Marilyn and Jason exploded with joy. Their disappointment vanished instantly, replaced by wild excitement.

"Really? They all agreed to come?"

"Oh my God! These are the top three families in Harborview City! We're officially part of high society now!"

The two of them dove into planning the banquet details, buzzing with anticipation for the celebration three days away.

But what shocked Isabelle even more wasn't just their acceptance—it was how the three family heads had 'thanked' her for the invitation. Their tone had been so respectful, almost deferential.

As if 'they' were the ones getting the better deal.

What was going on?

Kane grinned. "See, babe? Told you they'd say yes."

For once, Isabelle had no idea what to say.

Meanwhile, all three major families had received Isabelle's invitation simultaneously.

And without exception, each family head treated it with the utmost importance.

They immediately mobilized their teams to prepare extravagant gifts.

Samuel barked orders. "Get me a medieval royal platinum embossed jewelry set, paired with a century-old natural sapphire brooch. Deliver it to Isabelle's banquet!"

Thomas commanded, "Prepare a limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom!"

Scott was even more serious. "Have my estate—that castle—prepared as a gift for Isabelle. Immediately!"

Every single gift was top-tier.

Kane stepped outside and dialed Mateo's number.

The call connected, and Mateo's voice came through instantly, brimming with respect and gratitude. "Mr. Lockwood! What can I do for you?"

Ever since Kane had swept through Harborview City and crushed the three entrenched gangs, Mateo had consolidated all the power and become the undisputed underground emperor of the city. He controlled every resource, every connection. His influence was staggering.

And he knew full well that everything he had—every ounce of power, every shred of status—had been handed to him by Kane.

When it came to Kane, respect and gratitude ran bone-deep.

Kane's tone was calm. "Three days from now, my family is hosting a celebration banquet."

"I want you there personally, with a crew of reliable people to handle security."

"Also, notify the mayor and the city's top officials. Tell them to attend on time."

"No special treatment. Just show up, keep things smooth, and make sure the event doesn't fall flat. But don't make a scene."

Mateo didn't hesitate for a second. "Consider it done, Mr. Lockwood. I'll handle everything personally."

The moment he hung up, Mateo sprang into action.

He handpicked his best men and reached out to government leadership directly.

Once everything was arranged, Kane pocketed his phone and headed back inside.

At the same time, over at The Jones Manor, tension was brewing.

Evelyn lounged in Jeremy's arms, idly inspecting her nails as she vented. "Babe, that Isabelle is 'so' lucky. Someone drops a billion dollars on jewelry for her, and now she's throwing some fancy celebration banquet. It's infuriating!"

Jeremy let out a cold laugh, his eyes flashing with venom. "Lucky? I'm going to make sure that banquet of hers crashes and burns."

"I've already got the details. Three days from now, we're showing up and wrecking it in front of everyone."

"Let's see how she enjoys the spotlight then."

Evelyn's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Oh, I love it! I've been dying to take her down a peg!"

Then she paused, her tone curious. "By the way, who was that mystery guy at the auction? The one who threw all that money around?"

"I passed out before I got a good look at him."

Jeremy's expression flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't reveal the truth. "Who knows? Probably just some rich kid. Doesn't matter."

Deep down, he still couldn't believe that the mysterious powerhouse who'd dominated the auction was actually the Mercenary King.

Too bad the man had been wearing a mask. Jeremy never got to see his face. Meeting the Mercenary King in person would have been the honor of a lifetime.

The two of them finalized their plan: storm the banquet and ruin Isabelle's big night.

Meanwhile, Isabelle stayed buried in work.

Kane, on the other hand, spent his days doting on Winnie, taking her out for fun.

They hit up amusement parks—riding carousels, roller coasters, bumper cars—laughing and goofing around together.

In the evenings, he'd take her to private screenings of the latest animated films, loading her up with her favorite donuts and pastries.

The days were peaceful and warm.

Three days flew by, and the much-anticipated celebration banquet arrived.

On the morning of the event, Kane and the family started preparations early.

Kane rose before dawn, slipping into a tailored black suit that fit him like a second skin. He stood tall and commanding, radiating quiet authority.

Isabelle wore an elegant, understated evening gown, her makeup flawless and refined. A delicate pearl necklace rested against her collarbone, subtle yet luxurious. She looked stunning.

Marilyn and Jason dressed to the nines, glowing with pride.

Even Winnie wore an adorable little princess dress, looking sweet and charming.

The whole family, dressed and ready, drove together to the Platinum Haven Hotel.

The grand banquet hall was already set—lights sparkling, tables arranged, flowers in full bloom. The scene was lavish and impressive.

Outside the hotel entrance, the crowd began to grow. Relatives trickled in one after another, and as more guests arrived, the atmosphere buzzed with energy!