Betrayed On The Supposed Wedding Day.

CHAPTER 4

​The man was the Vice Chairman; his name was Thomas, the leader of the hostile takeover faction.

​"My father is not gone, and B Corporation belongs to those who built it, not snakes like you," Clara said, her voice shaking slightly despite her strong words.

​Thomas chuckled coldly. "Words mean nothing in business, little girl. You have no allies left."

​"She has me," a quiet voice spoke from the doorway.

​Every head in the room snapped toward the entrance.

​Alex stepped into the boardroom, walking with slow, relaxed strides.

His simple, faded clothes looked completely out of place among the sea of tailored suits, but his calm posture commanded the entire room.

​Thomas looked Alex up and down, a sneer spreading across his face. "Who allowed this beggar to come inside here? Helen, call security immediately!"

​Clara’s eyes widened as she looked at Alex.

She didn't recognize his face, but as he reached the table, her gaze fell upon his left hand. Resting on his finger was the dark, antique steel ring carved with a soaring phoenix.

​Her heart skipped a beat. The Phoenix Ring! Her father had told her about this legend—the ultimate symbol of authority from the former Chairman himself.

​Before Thomas could call security, Alex pulled out a chair next to Clara and sat down.

He casually placed his hands on the table, letting the steel ring catch the bright light of the chandelier.

​"You said she has no allies, Vice Chairman Thomas," Alex said softly. "I suggest you take a closer look at who you are talking to."

​Thomas frowned, glancing down at the ring.

At first, he looked confused. But then, a flash of recognition hit him like a physical blow.

His face drained of all color, and his eyes bulged in absolute terror.

​

Ten years ago, Thomas had been a minor manager who witnessed the Chairman clear out an entire rogue family in a single night.

The man who wore that ring was the supreme commander of the shadow network across the entire East Coast.

​"That... that ring..." Thomas stammered, stepping back so fast he nearly tripped over his own chair. "Where did you get that?!"

​"The former Chairman handed it to me himself," Alex replied calmly. "Along with full authority over his affairs."

​The other board members looked between Thomas's sudden panic and Alex's unfazed expression, completely bewildered.

​"Vice Chairman, what is going on?" one of the board members asked nervously. "He's just an arrogant young man in cheap clothes!"

​"Shut up! All of you, shut up!" Thomas yelled, his forehead dripping with cold sweat.

​Alex reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek black-and-gold card, sliding it onto the center of the table.

The dark surface gleamed, revealing a subtle embossed emblem that only the top elite in the nation recognized.

​"One hundred million dollars in liquid capital," Alex said, his voice echoing in the silent room. "B Corporation's financial troubles end today.

As for those who tried to betray President Clara..."

​Alex leaned forward, his dark eyes locking onto Thomas.

​"You have one hour to sell your shares at a lower price and leave Boston forever.

If you are still in this city by sunset, I will personally review every illegal offshore account you've opened in the last five years."

​

Thomas collapsed back into his chair, his body trembling uncontrollably. He began to ask himself: How did this young man know about his secret offshore accounts?

​There was no doubt left.

The power behind the Phoenix Ring was real, and Alex held total control over their fates.

​"I... I will sell," Thomas whispered, completely defeated, bowing his head in submission.

​The rest of the takeover faction quickly followed, frantically nodding their agreement to save themselves from ruin.

​Clara watched the entire scene in complete shock.

The powerful men who had pushed her to the edge of a cliff just minutes ago were now cowering before a man in faded clothes.

​Alex stood up, slipping the Black Gold Card back into his pocket. He turned to Clara with a polite nod.

​"Your father sent me to ensure you were safe, President Clara," Alex said gently. "The company is yours again, and it is safe too." He dismissed them and walked away, moving out from the B Corporation,

A sleek, dark car with pitch-black windows, without a plate number, sat idling right at the curb.

Four tall men in sharp suits and dark glasses stood waiting for him.

The moment Alex stepped through the glass doors, all four security men bowed down deeply at the same time.

​"Welcome, Chairman Alex!" they shouted together, their voices calm and respectful.

​Sophia was still standing in a confused manner in front of the B Corporation. She stared at the luxury car and the four bow-headed bodyguards in total shock.

Her mouth hung open. She couldn't believe her own eyes.

​Just a few feet away, William’s phone rang again.

He picked up the phone. “Have you offended anyone?”

​"No, Dad? What is going on?" William stammered, his face turning ghost-white.

​"You idiot!" his father screamed through the phone so loudly that everyone nearby could hear.

"What did you do?! Our Company is going down. Five major companies just canceled all our contracts! Our bank accounts are frozen! The Vance family is ruined!" Dad calmed down. I will tell you what happened”.

​The phone slipped out of William’s hands and crashed onto the hard pavement.

He turned to Sophia, looking completely broken.

​Sophia’s mind raced with bitter regret.

They went backwards. Memories flashed through Sophia's head like sharp knives.

​She remembered two years ago, when Alex worked three jobs to maintain and buy her favorite handbag, the one she was holding.

She remembered how he quietly took the blame for their car crash without complaining once.

Back then, she thought he was weak and foolish.

She thought that throwing him away for rich William was the smartest decision of her life.

​Now, the irony crushed her heart.

​The man she dumped was actually a powerful king.