The cathedral erupted into chaos. Guests half-rose from their seats, necks craning to get a better view of the supposedly dead man standing in the aisle. Camera flashes exploded like lightning strikes as journalists scrambled to capture the moment, their fingers flying across phone screens to update breaking news.Mariya swayed slightly, gripping the edge of the altar to steady herself. Her knuckles turned white against the polished marble, the blood draining from her face beneath her expensive veil."Karvel?" she whispered, the name barely audible over the growing din. "How is this possible?"Leo stepped in front of her protectively, his face a mask of fury barely contained beneath a veneer of composure. His eyes darted to the cameras, acutely aware of the media presence capturing his every reaction."Mr. Cross," he said, his voice artificially pleasant, "this is quite the dramatic entrance. Though I must say, interrupting a wedding is in poor taste, even for someone of your... backg

The stunned murmurs rippled through the church like a gathering storm. Guests exchanged shocked glances and whispered behind cupped hands, their eyes never leaving the spectacle unfolding before them."Look at him," a woman in the fourth row whispered loudly enough for nearby journalists to hear. "What kind of man crashes his ex's wedding? And after faking his own death? That's not just desperate—that's deranged."Karvel's grip on Mariya's wrist remained firm as they stood in the center aisle. The wedding ceremony had devolved into Carson City's most exclusive reality show, with the city's elite having front-row seats to the drama."Karvel," Mariya pleaded softly, her voice trembling. "Why are you doing this to me? Today of all days? Couldn't this have waited?"Karvel turned to her, his eyes glacial. The church fell silent, straining to hear his response."Waited?" His voice was quiet but carried throughout the hushed space. "Let me ask you something, Mariya. Did you know that your pr

Vincent Langford paced the length of his apartment, the expensive whiskey in his glass sloshing dangerously close to the rim. The humiliation of losing his company still burned fresh in his mind, but the promise of reclaiming it—and more—fueled his determination. Leo Romano's words echoed in his thoughts: make Karvel Cross pay, and receive everything he'd lost and more in return."Cross thinks he's untouchable," Vincent muttered to himself, taking another swig of whiskey. "Everyone has a weakness, a pressure point. What's his?"The evening shadows lengthened across his living room as he racked his brain. Physical confrontation was out of the question—Vincent had neither the strength nor the courage for that approach. But there were other ways to destroy a man.I need something that can't be traced back to me, he thought, his mind racing through possibilities. Something that will stick, that will ruin him completely.After hours of deliberation, a slow smile spread across Vincent's fac

Vincent Romano leaned back in his leather chair, a satisfied smile playing across his lips as he ended the call with Vincent Langford. The news of Karvel Cross's arrest had reached him within hours, and for the first time in weeks, he felt like himself again—powerful, untouchable, vindicated.Finally, that bastard gets what he deserves, Vincent thought, savoring the moment. No one humiliates me and walks away unscathed.His office door opened, and Vincent Langford entered with a spring in his step that hadn't been there in months. The man looked like he'd won the lottery, his usually nervous demeanor replaced by confident swagger."Vincent," Romano said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you to deliver results so swiftly. When you told me you had a plan, I was skeptical."Langford settled into the chair, his chest puffed out with pride. "I told you I knew how to handle Cross. The man thinks he's untouchable, but everyone has weaknesses. His

Vincent Romano stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office, gazing out at the city skyline as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the urban landscape. The satisfaction from Karvel Cross's arrest had been sweet, but now his mind was occupied with other pressing matters.Cross can rot in jail for now, he thought, turning away from the window. But Sophia Chen is becoming a real problem.The intelligence report on his desk contained disturbing information about Sophia's recent business activities. She had somehow managed to secure a partnership with Maxwell Industries, Romano's biggest national rival. The deal was worth millions and would give her company the backing it needed to compete directly with his own enterprises.How the hell did she manage to get Maxwell's attention? Romano wondered, his jaw clenching with frustration. That connection should have been impossible for someone like her.He pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Send Vincent Langford