The grand ballroom of Harbor City's Maritime Heritage Museum was awash in crystal chandeliers and polished brass—an ornate setting for the annual Sea of Hope charity auction. Beneath a canopy of naval relics, socialites and magnates gathered at tall cocktail tables, whispering over flutes of champagne. Tonight's star lot: a rare 18th‑century naval map once owned by Admiral Hart, courtesy of Leon's family collection.
Eden Lin swept into the room in a slate-gray evening gown, her hair pinned back to reveal a slender neck and the faint silver scar on her wrist. She moved with deliberate grace, scanning the crowd for Calvin Liu—rumor had it he'd use the auction to extort her into relinquishing her shares of Lin Holdings.
Moments later, she spotted him: sleek in black tie, dark hair slicked b
