Chapter 4 - The Groomsman's Shadow
Marcus adjusted his silk tie with agonizing slowness, a sickeningly polite smile plastered across his face as he surveyed the wreckage of the bridal suite. His eyes lingered for a fraction of a second on the shattered vase on the floor before locking onto the smartphone clutched in Julian’s hand. The tension in the room spiked instantly, turning the air thick and unbreathable.
"I see the family secret is out of the bag," Marcus said smoothly, his voice carrying an infuriating tone of corporate detachment. "Julian, old man, you really should teach your niece better boundaries. Snooping through digital archives is a dangerous hobby."
Julian’s arm shot out, grabbing Marcus by the lapels of his designer tuxedo and slamming him hard against the wood-paneled wall. The impact rattled the framed artwork hanging nearby. "You bastards. You murdered my brother, you terrorized Sarah, and you thought you could just walk away into the sunset with my company and my life?"
Marcus didn’t flinch. He merely smiled, raising his hands in a placating gesture while maintaining eye contact. "Careful, Julian. Remember the wedding guests downstairs. Three hundred elite investors, media executives, and family members are currently sipping champagne waiting for the bride and groom to make their grand entrance. If you make a scene, your stock plummets by morning. Your reputation is toast."
"I don't give a damn about the stock market!" Julian roared, pressing his forearm against Marcus’s windpipe with increasing pressure.
"You should," Lily chimed in coldly, walking over to pick up her discarded bouquet from the vanity table. "Because if you ruin this wedding, Marcus won't just release the files. He’ll make sure little Mia here suffers the consequences of her mother's ongoing absence. We know where Sarah is hiding, Julian. And she doesn't have police protection."
Mia shrieked, darting forward and biting down hard on Julian’s wrist to make him let go of Marcus. Julian gasped, releasing Marcus and stumbling backward as he looked down at the tiny girl. Mia’s eyes were wide with primal terror. She wasn't just defending herself; she was trying to save everyone.
Marcus coughed, straightening his jacket with a smug smirk. "The clock is ticking, Julian. You have two choices: walk down that aisle, smile for the cameras, and pretend everything is fine while we quietly restructure your assets, or watch your entire world burn to the ground in front of the entire city."
May you like
Julian stood in the center of the chaotic room, breathing heavily, knowing that whichever path he chose, innocent blood was already on the floor.
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