A Divorce She Regrets

CHAPTER 10

The hall erupted.Gasps. Shouts. Excited whispers spreading like wildfire.

"Helicopters?"

"Sterling Global?"

"How many did he say?"

A woman near the bar clutched her companion's arm. "Did you hear that? Dozens of helicopters!"

"All with the company logo," someone else added, their voice filled with awe.

The guests who had been backing toward the exits stopped. Their fear transformed into something else. Excitement. Curiosity.

They turned to look at Richard Langley.

He stood near the cage, his face still pale from watching his bodyguards get dismantled. But now, confusion flickered across his features.

Helicopters?

He had not called for any helicopters.

He did not have the authority to command that many aircraft. Those helicopters belonged to Sterling Global's executive fleet. They only responded to direct orders from the highest levels of the company.

From Claire Sterling herself.

Why would she send them here?

But before Richard could voice his confusion, the guests began to speak for him.

"Mr. Langley must have called for reinforcements!" one man said loudly.

"Of course!" a woman agreed. "He has that kind of power. He is a senior executive!"

"I heard he has direct access to the CEO," another guest whispered. "He must have contacted her when this criminal showed up."

The murmurs grew louder. More confident.

Richard's mind raced. He had not made any calls. But if Claire Sterling had sent helicopters here… perhaps she had heard about the disturbance somehow? Perhaps she was coming to support him?

It made sense. He was a veteran of Sterling Global. He had served the company for years. Of course the CEO would respect him. Of course she would come to his aid if he was being threatened.

His confidence began to return.

Marcus, still gripping Lily's throat, broke into a wide grin. Relief flooded his face. "You hear that, you bastard? You are finished now! Mr. Langley's people are here!"

Vivian laughed, her voice shrill with renewed arrogance. "I told you! I told you that you should have left when you had the chance!" She pointed at Ethan, her expression triumphant. "Now you are going to pay for every stupid thing you have done tonight!"

The crowd's energy shifted completely. Fear turned to excitement. Whispers turned to cheers.

"Mr. Langley is amazing!"

"To summon so many helicopters at once!"

"That criminal is done for!"

Richard straightened his jacket. He smoothed down his tie. His smug smile returned, wider than before.

He stepped forward, his chest puffed out, basking in the crowd's admiration.

"Yes," he said loudly, his voice carrying across the hall. "They are here for me."

The guests erupted in applause. Some even clapped.

Vivian turned to Marcus, her eyes gleaming. "This is perfect. Once Mr. Langley's men deal with that trash, we can finalize the partnership tonight."

Marcus nodded eagerly. "We are so close. Just a few more minutes and everything we have worked for will be ours."

Richard turned his gaze back to Ethan. His arrogance had fully returned now. He looked at Ethan the way someone might look at a bug.

“I gave you a chance to slink away,” he sneered, arms crossing over his chest. “But you’re too stupid to know when to quit. Now learn your place.”

He leaned in, voice dripping with contempt. “Kneel. Slap yourself —hard. Beg for my forgiveness. Do it, and maybe I’ll let my men break just your legs instead of ending you.”

Marcus tightened his grip on Lily's throat again, making her gasp. "And if you do not kneel right now, I will make your sister serve every single man in this room. Right here. Right in front of you."

Vivian laughed cruelly. "Yes. Let us see how tough you are when you watch her crawl on her knees for everyone."

The crowd joined in, their voices rising.

"Kneel!"

"Apologize!"

"You brought this on yourself!"

Ethan stood perfectly still. Not a muscle twitched.

“Kneel?” he sneered, his voice cold, “I kneel to no one—least of all to a pest like you.”

Richard’s face turned crimson. Arrogance curdled into raw, unbridled rage—this nobody dared to mock him? In front of everyone? “You insolent piece of trash!” he roared, veins bulging in his neck. “Grab him! Tear him apart! I want him begging—no, I want him dead! ”

His men, already circling, lunged forward. Marcus tightened his grip on Lily until she whimpered, Vivian’s grin twisted into a cruel snarl. The guests scattered back, some cheering, some gasping, as chaos teetered on the edge of erupting.

Before the first thug’s fist could fall—

Bang!

The double doors slammed open.

A woman walked in, every step seemed to suck the air from the room.

 The guests stumbled back instinctively, and even Richard’s men froze mid-step.

Claire. The CEO of Sterling Group.

A name that ruled boardrooms, markets, and entire industries.

Richard’s grin widened, pride swelling in his chest. “Claire! You came personally to back me—”

Click.

The sound was sharp and clear.

Claire raised a black handgun and aimed it straight at his forehead.

Her voice was calm.

“Do you want to die?”