Chapter 7: Breaking the Rules of Power
895 Words
Chapter 7: Breaking the Rules of Power
Liana rounded the hallway corner and came to an abrupt stop.
A man was standing outside the VIP lounge—one of the guys who had been hanging around Harvey He earlier. Her pulse kicked up.
She strode toward the door.
The man jumped, startled by her sudden appearance, and stepped in front of the entrance.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Liana’s eyes narrowed. “That’s what I should be asking you. What are you and Harvey up to in there?”
He smirked, clearly unfazed. “We’re not doing anything. Who even are you?”
“I’m Liana Ashford. Third daughter of the Ashfords,” she said, her voice firm. “Move. Now.”
The man hesitated. “Ashford or not, someone’s inside. You’re not allowed in.”
Liana’s lips curved into a cold smile. “If you don’t move, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
The man let out a scoff. “What, you’re gonna—ow!”
Before he could finish, Liana slammed her knee into his groin.
The man collapsed with a strangled scream.
Without missing a beat, Liana shoved open the lounge door.
“Wait—!”
Too late.
Inside, Harvey He had one hand clamped over Mia Prescott’s mouth and the other wrapped tightly around her waist. Her eyes were wide, brimming with terror, tears streaking down her face.
Liana’s expression hardened. She surged forward and shoved Harvey aside.
“What the hell—” Harvey spun around, glaring at the man at the door. “You i***t!”
“Not my fault!” the man wheezed from the floor.
Liana grabbed a jacket off a nearby chair and wrapped it around Mia’s trembling body. The girl clung to her like she was the only solid thing in the room.
“I’ve got you,” Liana whispered. “You’re safe now.”
But as they tried to move, Harvey blocked the door. His face was dark with rage. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Think very carefully about your next move,” Liana warned. “Do you know who Mia is? What you’re doing right now… do you think your family can survive the fallout?”
She was trembling slightly, but her voice stayed strong.
That’s when it clicked—this was what had happened in her past life. The engagement between Harvey and Mia hadn’t been love. It had been a cover-up. A dirty, desperate deal after Harvey had tried to force himself on her.
This time, Liana had seen it with her own eyes.
And she would not let history repeat itself.
“Just go,” Mia sobbed. “Don’t get hurt because of me!”
“Don’t say that,” Liana said softly. “I won’t leave you behind.”
Harvey lunged, trying to grab Mia again.
Liana moved to shield her, but he shoved her hard. She crashed into the side of the couch, her knee slamming against it with a sickening thud.
Pain shot up her leg, but she forced herself to stand, heart pounding.
“Don’t you touch her!” she shouted.
But Harvey wasn’t listening. He reached for Mia again.
Liana gritted her teeth and grabbed his arm to stop him.
Infuriated, Harvey yanked her by the hair, dragging her backward.
“Let her go!” Mia screamed.
“You meddling—”
BANG!
The lounge door burst open, slamming into the wall.
Grayson Ashbourne stood in the doorway, fists clenched, eyes blazing.
His gaze scanned the scene: Mia in tears, clutching a suit jacket around her torn dress. Liana, her hair twisted in Harvey’s grip, clutching her ribs. And Harvey, mid-swing, arm raised.
Grayson’s jaw flexed. The man at the door was already groaning on the ground behind him.
“Cousin—help!” Mia cried.
Grayson didn’t hesitate. He crossed the room in three strides and landed a brutal punch straight to Harvey’s face.
Harvey stumbled back, crashing to the floor.
Liana darted forward, pulling Mia into her arms.
Grayson loomed over Harvey, eyes burning like ice.
“Who gave you permission to touch her?” he growled.
Harvey tried to speak. “S-Sir, this is a misunderstanding—”
Grayson grabbed his shirt collar and hauled him up. “Misunderstanding, huh?”
Another punch. Blood burst from Harvey’s nose.
“I’ll show you a misunderstanding,” Grayson said darkly. He pressed his shoe onto Harvey’s hand, pinning it to the ground.
Harvey howled.
“You think you can lay a hand on either of them and walk away breathing?”
He raised his fist again.
“Grayson, stop!”
Liana threw herself forward, grabbing his arm.
He froze.
She was disheveled, bleeding slightly, but her eyes were clear, urgent.
“If you beat him unconscious now, people will come. We can’t let this get out—it’ll ruin Mia’s name. We need to report this properly. Quietly.”
Grayson stared down at her.
“I swear I’ll make them pay,” she whispered. “But not like this.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then, finally, he let out a low breath and nodded.
Mia watched, stunned. This was the first time in her life she’d seen someone calm the infamous Grayson Ashbourne.
The notorious devil of the capital… brought to a halt by a girl’s quiet voice.
- Writer
