Faced with Merla's repeated provocations, I was not angry. Instead, I chose to tolerate her entirely.

After all, this was a class reunion. I did not want to ruin the atmosphere.

However, before I could take a few steps, Merla's bodyguards grabbed and restrained me.

She strutted up to me arrogantly and slapped me hard.

"You really think you're somebody, huh? You think you can just leave whenever you want? You loved tattling back when we were on the cheer squad, didn't you? Well, let's see who in this circle is going to stand up for you now?"

I stared at her coldly, my voice low and steady. "Merla, this is my final warning. Back in high school, you loved playing your little clique games, turning the cheer squad into your personal team, teaming up with your lap dogs to isolate any girl who didn't bow to you.

"But you're an adult now. You might want to start weighing the consequences of your actions."

Hearing this, Merla let out a short laugh as if I had just told the most ridiculous joke. Her gaze swept over the former classmates gathered around us.

"You all heard that, right? She told me to consider the consequences! Hahahaha!

"Even if I kill you today, what could you do to me? I'm going to be the future lady of the Reno family. Taking care of you would be as easy as squashing an ant!"

I slowly lifted my head, suppressing the fury burning inside me. "Merla, have you ever heard the saying, 'There's always someone stronger'? Some people are simply not to be messed with. I suggest you let me go now. Otherwise, the one who'll regret it won't be me. It'll be you."

Our former classmates started whispering among themselves.

"A nobody like her acts tough? What a joke."

"So what if she works in New York? Without power or connections, she's nothing more than a stray dog."

The former class president, clearly panicking, lowered his voice and urged, "Just apologize. Don't go against her. The Reno family is ruthless! Even people with higher status than you have had to kneel and beg for mercy after crossing Merla."

I scanned the faces around me that were once so familiar but were filled with nothing but mockery and cowardice.

So this was what they called 'classmate camaraderie'?

All I had done was try to leave early, yet they insulted and humiliated me over and over again.

They called me poor and said I drove a cheap car. I did not care, but…

Someone actually dared to lay hands on me?

When she noticed my silence, Merla assumed I had backed down. She pulled out a thick stack of cash from her pocket. "Nicole, here's a hundred grand. All you have to do is lick the dirt off my high heels, and the money's yours."

"Otherwise…" She drew out the word, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Consider it your medical bill."

My expression turned ice-cold.

"Merla, you're really digging your own grave. Do you have any idea who you just laid hands on?"

Instead of backing down, Merla's arrogance only grew. "You? Who could you even be?"

She lifted her chin, signaling toward the entrance. "That Bugatti over there? A single drop of its paint costs more than your entire car!"

I could not help but laugh.

She didn't know what that old Ford of mine really represented. Every mafia family in the world would be bowing in respect the moment they saw the license plate.

Merla's ignorance was not the scary part.

The scary part was that she did not even realize she had just made the worst mistake of her life.

As soon as the words left my mouth, the private lounge erupted into thunderous applause.

Merla's former cheer squad, her so-called 'sisterhood', grinned excitedly, clapping and showering her with praise like they were worshipping their queen.

"Merla was born to be a queen! She's marrying a mafia heir at such a young age, driving million-dollar sports cars. She's an inspiration to all of us!"

"Exactly! Who would've thought our old cheer captain would become a true high-society lady?"

"Nicole, stop acting tough! Just get on your knees and apologize to Merla already! A single coat of paint on her car is worth more than what you make in years!"

Their laughter was filled with malice, like a flock of vultures circling, waiting to see me humiliated.

Merla basked in their admiration, lounging lazily on the sofa with a smug smirk. "Nicole, weren't you acting all tough just now? What, cat got your tongue?"

She lazily lifted a hand, gesturing toward me with a disdainful look. "If you don't kneel and apologize, I'll have your car smashed to pieces. Do you believe me?"

"I don't."

Merla's expression darkened instantly, her eyes flashing with cruelty.

After a moment of thought, she waved her hand decisively, her tone arrogant and ice-cold as she said, "Everyone, follow me. Let's give our classmates a little show. Watch me wreck her pathetic car."

Her former cheer squad shrieked in excitement, rushing outside as if they were about to witness some grand execution.

The night air carried a sharp chill. The headlights illuminated Merla's face, her expression full of arrogant delight.

"Smash it."

Her bodyguards stepped forward, swinging iron rods straight at the windows and hood.

However, after just a few blows, their movements slowed, and their triumphant expressions turned to confusion.

"Ms. Ivanov, this car… won't break."

Merla frowned at their hesitation, snatching an iron rod herself.

Gritting her teeth, she swung down hard.

Once.

Twice.

Three times!

Sparks flew, the impact numbing her hands, but the car remained almost untouched. Apart from a few scratches, even the windows were completely intact.

She panted, sweat forming on her forehead, her expression twisting with frustration. "What the hell? What kind of crappy car is this?!"

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

As I watched her increasingly frantic performance, I casually answered the call. "Yeah, I've run into a bit of a problem. I won't be able to make it back."

The voice on the other end was calm and steady. "Location."

"The Reno family's hotel. Bring everyone here."

Ending the call, I pocketed my phone and met Merla's furious gaze with a faint smile. "I don't know about steel reinforcement, but this car is bulletproof and worth quite a bit."

She sneered. "Stop bluffing. It's just an old Ford. How expensive could it be?"

Just then, a gasp rang out from the crowd.

"Look!"

Everyone turned at once, their expressions instantly stiffening.

A fleet of black SUVs, all bearing the emblem of the Genovese Family, roared down the street.

Like a pack of silent panthers, they closed in under the night sky.