Chapter 1

Dad called me while I was stationed at a top-secret location. He asked me to make a trip home because he had set me up with someone. The man I had been engaged to was quite impressive. Not only was he good-looking, but he was also the CEO of a prominent, publicly listed conglomerate. Due to my unique identity, I couldn't take a flight. To help bolster my image, my superior, Commander Bayer, specially lent me his official state car. I arrived at my fiancé's company building at the agreed time. Just as I was about to back into a parking spot, a red Ferrari sped toward me. Because I couldn't stop in time, it crashed right into me. The driver rolled down her window arrogantly. While pointing at me, she yelled, "Bitch, did you even see where the hell you were going? Don't you know how to drive?" Suppressing my rage, I yelled back, "You're the one who tried to steal my parking spot. Why are you to blame me for what happened?" The driver scoffed at my accusation. "Your parking spot? Let me tell you, bitch—the Grant family runs all of Seacrest! Don't you know that?" Her words stunned me. A few seconds later, I took out my phone and called my fiancé. "One of your staff just claimed your family owns the entire Seacrest. Is that true?" If it weren't out of respect for Dad, I wouldn't even have bothered to make this call. One of my fiancé's employees had crashed into my superior's car. It wasn't a matter that could be resolved just through monetary compensation. If my fiancé had the decency to take up the responsibility, I might be able to sweep this incident under the rug altogether. My fiancé's tone over the phone was very impatient. "I'm very busy. Whatever it is you have to say, just say it." "Mr. Grant, I think you'd better come down here in person. Otherwise—" The call was abruptly cut off before I could finish my sentence. When I heard the busy dial tone, I was stunned. Was this how all rich people behaved? When the woman who tried to steal my parking spot saw what unfolded, she grinned smugly from ear to ear. "I thought you were someone special, but it turns out you're just all talk and no substance. If you ask me, you'd better hurry and pay up. If Mr. Grant finds out his car is damaged, you might not make it out of Seacrest alive." I looked to be in my early twenties, and my car didn't have a local plate. It was obvious the woman was looking down on me because of this. "Excuse me, miss. You're not even talking sense right now. You're the one who cut me off to steal my parking spot. I haven't even settled that score with you yet. And now, you're trying to extort me?" As I spoke, I pointed to the surveillance camera above us. "This area is under surveillance. If you continue twisting the facts, believe me—I'll call the police right now!" At the mention of the police, the woman's tone turned even more furious. "Save it, bitch. If the cops do come, you'll just end up paying more." She got more worked up as she spoke. The strong smell of alcohol filled the air. I clenched my fists and involuntarily narrowed my eyes. "You've been drinking, haven't you? That's why you don't want me to call the police." The moment I finished my sentence, the woman shoved me hard. "Whether or not I've been drinking has nothing to do with you! Pay up, now! If you dare try to get out of this, best believe I'll make sure you never leave Seacrest!" she yelled indignantly. I had spent the past few years stationed at my unit with very little interaction with those outside of it. Because of this, I had no idea how to communicate with someone so shrill and entitled. My anger surged uncontrollably when I saw how arrogant the woman was. "You're the one who hit my car. Yet now, you're trying to flip the story on me? Are you out of your mind?" I scolded.