CHAPTER 2 — THE MAN IN THE SHARP SUIT
He walked without urgency, but every step felt like it rewrote the atmosphere. A perfectly tailored black suit. No tie out of place. No hesitation in his posture.
Whispers began instantly.
“Who is that?”
“I’ve seen him before…”
Security tried to move—but stopped.
Because the groom suddenly went pale.
“Wait…” Richard muttered under his breath. “No way…”
The man continued forward.
Calm. Controlled. Unbothered by hundreds of eyes.
He stopped near the altar.
And looked directly at the groom.
“Richard Vale,” he said evenly.
The groom swallowed hard. “Sir… I didn’t expect—”
The man raised a hand.
No anger. Just authority.
“I wasn’t asking what you expected.”
Silence dropped like a blade.
Vanessa frowned. “Excuse me, who are you supposed to be?”
The man finally turned his gaze to her.
Not impressed. Not entertained.
Just cold recognition.
“I’m the person who signs your husband’s paycheck,” he said.
A pause.
“And approves whether he keeps his position… or loses everything today.”
The room froze.
Richard’s face drained of color. “He’s… he’s the CEO.”
A wave of shock rolled through the guests.
The “penniless” man Vanessa’s sister had been quietly associated with—was not penniless at all.
He was Ethan Drake, billionaire CEO of ValeCore Industries.
The very company Richard worked for.
Vanessa’s confident smile cracked for the first time.
“What…?” she whispered.
Ethan stepped closer, his voice steady.
“You spent the last hour humiliating your sister,” he said quietly. “In front of people who depend on my company.”
His eyes flicked toward Lena.
“And you didn’t even know who she was connected to.”
Richard turned sharply toward Vanessa, panic rising.
“Do you understand what you’ve done?” he hissed.
But it was already too late.
Ethan reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone.
One tap.
A message sent.
May you like
Richard’s phone buzzed instantly.
His career began collapsing in real time.
