THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.

At that moment, Lovi leaned back slowly in his seat, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It wasn't the arrogant kind of smile it was more like the smile of someone who was trying to keep his cool under pressure. He raised both of his hands slightly in a calming gesture, his voice calm but with a noticeable edge of seriousness.

"Come on now," he said. "Let's not escalate this. It hasn't gotten to the point where we start treating each other like enemies. Not yet."

His words caused a brief silence between them. Cora's eyes remained sharp, unwavering, but Melissa's jaw clenched, still visibly furious. Lovie looked at both of them before continuing.

"I'm a genuine person," he said, more softly this time. "I'm not trying to rip anybody off. I never intended to. Look, I let go of the payment we initially agreed upon. I walked away from that money, not because I don't need it, but because I realized something, money alone can't save me right now."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice just enough that the weight of his next words could sink in.

"This thing I've discovered... it's not child's play. If I open my mouth and tell you what I know, I'm risking everything. My name. My life. Everything. You think James is just playing a game here? No. He's not. He's cornered and he's dangerous. And there are other people involved."

He paused and glanced at Cora.

"That's why I need leverage. I need something that gives me security. Something that guarantees you won't double-cross me or leave me hanging when the storm comes. Because the moment I tell you what I know, I become a threat to certain people. And threats don't live long, Cora."

His voice became lower and more intense now.

"I'm not asking for luxury. I'm asking for protection. I need you to see me as someone who needs to be kept close. Someone worth protecting. That's why I asked for leverage. Because I want to live."

At that moment, Malisa then said up, her voice still tight with irritation but more controlled than before.

"So let me get this straight," she said, folding her arms. "You're trying to tell us that you're not planning to double-cross us or rip us off. You just want leverage, is that it? That's all this is about?"

Lovi, still seated calmly and trying to maintain the peace, nodded slowly with a small, almost cautious smile. "Yes," he replied. "That is all I want. I'm not that kind of person that would betray my clients. You should know that by now, Melissa. I just want leverage because what I found… what I have… is not small. It's big. Very big. And if I'm going to lay everything out, I need something that protects me too."

He looked from Melissa to Cora, as if hoping they'd at least try to understand the position he was in. "This is bigger than just you or James. It's going to explode. And I don't want to get caught in the middle of it without some kind of shield."

At that moment, Cora, who had been silently observing everything, trying to connect dots and control the growing storm of thoughts in her head, narrowed her eyes slightly. Her voice was low, calm, but filled with curiosity.

"So," she said carefully, "what exactly are you asking for, Lovi? What kind of leverage are you demanding for?"

At that moment, Lovi would then say to Cora.

"Since you have agreed to give me leverage, i also needs another assurance, that you will do whatever I says when the time comes. "

His eyes were sharp, unwavering, almost as if he was staking his own life on her answer. But before he could finish his words properly, Cora had already raised her hand to cut him off.

Her expression was calm but firm. "No," she said with a cold stare, shaking her head slowly. "I am not going to agree to anything blindly, Lovie. I don't care what kind of information you have or what you think you're trying to protect. If what you have doesn't benefit me or doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of what I'm building, I will not follow through with it. Don't mistake me agreeing to give you leverage as me agreeing to be used like a puppet."

Lovi leaned back in his seat, slightly amused but also slightly impressed. He nodded slowly, his smile returning. "I expected you to say something like that. And honestly, it makes me more confident that I picked the right person to work with." He folded his arms and continued. "I'm not asking for blind loyalty, Cora. I'm asking for understanding, understanding that what I'm about to reveal might shake everything. And if you find it valuable, I'll expect your full cooperation. If not, you're free to walk."

Cora narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to read between the lines. Her instincts were screaming at her that this man knew something extremely dangerous, something that could either ruin James completely, or put her in the crosshairs of an even larger game.

Malisa, who had been listening quietly again, finally spoke.

"So, say it then. No more stalling, Lovi. You've asked for leverage, you've been given a promise that you won't be double-crossed, and now you've gotten Cora's boundaries. If you truly want to protect yourself, the best thing to do is bring the truth to the table."

Lovi nodded again and simply said, "No problem."

At that moment, Lovi then continue calmly but with weight in his voice, "I hope Cora still remembers the 20% of ZXZ Company shares. That's where everything stands now. Legally speaking, if James decides to push for a merger in court, he's not just going to win—he's going to bury you under technicalities. Every document, every investment trail, every record has been perfectly lined up from his side. And if that merger goes through, you lose everything. You lose ZXZ, you lose control, and everything you've planned for goes back to James."