As the evening progressed, an unexpected event was added to the already lively occasion. Many elites approached the couple to offer their congratulations, while others toasted Sebastian and Old Mr. Rutherford. Sebastian, ever modest and uninterested in the spotlight, quietly excused himself and departed with his convoy, leaving Mr. Rutherford, Diamond, and Claire behind.
Diamond, feeling fatigued and slightly unwell, walked over to Mr. Rutherford and sat beside him, keeping Claire close in his arms, unwilling to let her drift even an inch away. Just as they settled, Ashton approached with a warm smile—so genuine that no one could detect the subtle tension beneath it. She embraced Claire and said, "I'm glad you made this choice. Let's talk in my suite."
Diamond immediately stood, gripping Claire's wrist protectively. Claire had already been gently pulled by Ashton, who hadn't waited for her agreement. Diamond said coldly, "She's not going anywhere."
Ashton didn't react to his tone, nor did she look at him. Instead, she turned her gaze to Claire, silently waiting for her response. Claire, caught in a difficult position, felt compelled to agree, but Diamond refused to let go, tightening his grip.
Mr. Rutherford observed quietly, understanding Claire's dilemma. He knew that as Ashton's future daughter-in-law, Claire would need to learn to stand up for herself. He and Diamond wouldn't always be there to shield her. Rising from his seat, Mr. Rutherford gently placed a hand on Diamond's wrist and said with a smile, "Let them talk for a while. I also have something to discuss with you."
Diamond hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of Claire being alone with his mother. "But Grandpa…" he began, only to be cut off by Mr. Rutherford's reassuring look. Though Claire hadn't shared the details of her earlier conversation with Ashton at the presidential palace, Diamond suspected it hadn't been pleasant. Still, he trusted his grandfather's judgment and believed Ashton wouldn't push her limits under his watch.
With a reluctant sigh, Diamond nodded. He watched Ashton and Claire converse—sometimes Claire nodded, sometimes she shook her head—until they disappeared from view. Only then did Diamond realize something was wrong. A strange heat surged through his body, unlike anything he'd experienced before. Though he'd heard of similar reactions from comrades during missions, he felt embarrassed to admit his discomfort.
Turning to Mr. Rutherford, he said, "Grandpa, please send a guard to bring Claire to the President's suite." Mr. Rutherford looked surprised, but quickly nodded and instructed a nearby bodyguard to retrieve Claire. Diamond then left for the suite.
Meanwhile, in Nolan's suite, things were unraveling. Nolan, who was supposed to monitor Diamond and ensure their plan went smoothly, was now lying weak and disoriented on the bed. His body felt feverish, as though tiny sparks were racing across his skin. Confused, he wondered how this had happened—he had personally watched Diamond drink the spiked beverage. Who could have tampered with his own drink?
Now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Nolan needed to find a solution. His thoughts drifted to Claire, and in his dazed state, he began imagining her calling his name. Overwhelmed by the effects of the drug, Nolan lost control of his reasoning. When someone rushed into the room to warn him, he mistook her identity and, in his confusion, acted aggressively and inappropriately, causing harm.
In the President's suite, Claire found Diamond in distress. He was sweating profusely, his clothes scattered, and clearly struggling. Yet despite his condition, he remained composed and didn't act impulsively. Moved by his restraint, Claire whispered gently, "Diamond, please don't remember what happens tonight. I'm not taking advantage—I just want to help you. I can't bear to see you suffer when I can do something."
She leaned in and kissed him softly. To her surprise, Diamond responded with urgency, wrapping his arms around her and shifting their position. Their connection deepened, and though Claire felt discomfort at first, she understood the effects of the drug and chose to stay with him. The night unfolded with emotional intensity, and eventually, Diamond drifted into sleep.
Exhausted but still awake, Claire watched him sleep peacefully. She quietly slipped out of bed, cleaned his body with a damp cloth, and returned to his side, pulling him into her arms. In that moment, she felt a deep sense of belonging. She didn't just want to be with him in this life—but in every life to come.
Back in Nolan's suite, Ashton was furious. Nolan had unknowingly consumed the drink she had intended for Diamond. She had asked a staff member to deliver it to "her son," assuming no one would suspect her of ill intent. Few people knew that Diamond was also her son—and even fewer knew how deeply she resented him.
The waiter, unaware of the family dynamics, delivered the drink to Nolan, believing it was a celebratory toast. Nolan, thinking the plan had succeeded, drank it without hesitation. Ashton, realizing the mistake, ordered her guards to remove the woman from Nolan's bed. Only then did she recognize the girl—they had arranged for her to be with Diamond, but she had rushed to warn Nolan and ended up harmed.
Ashton, confident that no one would be in the President's suite, remembered a secret passage from the underground parking lot. Using her birthday as the access code, she entered the suite with the girl. She was prepared to confront Claire.
Inside, she found Claire and Diamond asleep in each other's arms. Her anger surged. Claire stirred at the sound and quickly tried to cover herself. Ashton placed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, and played a video on her phone. Claire watched in horror, covering her mouth to stifle a scream. Ashton gestured for her to follow.
Obediently, Claire dressed and watched as the girl was placed beside Diamond. With a heavy heart, she followed Ashton out of the room.