Betrayed On The Supposed Wedding Day.

CHAPTER 7

Alex looked down at his simple, faded clothes. He said to the driver. "No need for anything too grand.

Just a clean black suit will do, and I am not going there to show off. I am going there to finish things."

​Two hours later, the grand entrance of the Boston City Center was packed with people.

Bright flashbulbs clicked rapidly as expensive cars dropped off rich guests on the long red carpet.

Reporters shouted questions, trying to get photos of the most powerful people in the city.

​Inside the huge golden ballroom, music played softly while waiters walked around with trays of food and expensive drinks.

​Near the center of the room, Sophia was standing in a shiny blue dress, holding a glass of juice.

Her face looked pale, but she was trying her best to stand tall and smile.

​Beside her stood a tall man in his late thirties with dark hair, sharp eyes, and a cold smile. He was Master Vance—the head of the main Vance family from the West Coast, and the uncle of William and Marcus.

He was the true mastermind who had been trying to take over Boston's businesses.

​"Stop looking so sad, Sophia," Master Vance said. "My two nephews were useless fools. They were weak. But I am different. Tonight, I will officially take control of the city's main trade routes. And since you brought me useful information about B Corporation, I will make sure your family becomes rich."

​Sophia forced a small smile, but inside, her heart was still heavy. "Thank you, Master Vance. I... I just can't believe Alex had so much power. I thought he was just a useless criminal."

​Master Vance scoffed loudly. "Power? Oh, come on. He used a few cheap tricks and called a favor from an old military friend.

That's not real power. Real power is money, contacts, and army backing. By the end of tonight, he will be nothing again."

​

Suddenly, the large double doors at the front of the hall opened wide.

And the music stopped. The room went completely quiet as everyone turned to look towards the entrance.

​Alex walked into the hall. He wore a simple, well-fitted black suit. He didn't wear any fancy watches or gold chains—only the dark, antique steel Phoenix Ring on his left hand.

Clara was walking beside him, wearing an elegant white gown, and COO Helen was behind them.

​The guests in the room began to whisper excitedly.

​"Is that him?"

​"That's the new holder of the Phoenix Ring!"

​"He defeated the board members of B Corporation in one single day!"

​

Sophia’s glass nearly slipped from her hand. She stared at Alex, her breath catching in her throat.

He looked so calm, so powerful, and completely out of her reach.

​Master Vance’s eyes narrowed as he watched Alex walk in. He set his glass down on a table and stepped forward, blocking Alex’s path with a proud expression.

​"So, you are Alex," Master Vance said loudly, making sure everyone in the room could hear him.

"The little ex-convict who caused trouble for my family today."

​Alex stopped walking. He looked at Master Vance with calm, steady eyes. "And you must be the person behind the attack on B Corporation."

​

Master Vance laughed, stepping closer. "That was just a small test! You think you are a king because you have that ring? Let me tell you something, boy. The West Coast Alliance has three billion dollars in cash ready to dump into Boston tomorrow.

We will buy every bank, every factory, and every shipping dock! What can your little ring do against three billion dollars?"

​The crowd gasped softly. Three billion dollars was an enormous amount of money.

Many of the local business owners looked worried.

​Clara stepped up next to Alex, her voice firm. "Boston is not for sale, Master Vance!"

​"Quiet, little girl!" Master Vance snapped coldly. He turned back to Alex, pointing a finger at his chest. "I'll give you one choice, Alex. Kneel right here, apologize to my family, and hand over the Phoenix Ring.

If you do that, I might let you leave this city alive."

​Sophia watched from the other side, holding her breath. She thought to herself: Three billion dollars is too much. No single person can match that kind of money. Alex is going to lose this time.

​Alex didn't look scared at all. In fact, a small, cold smile appeared on his face.

​"Three billion dollars is indeed a lot of money," Alex said quietly.

​He slowly reached into his suit pocket and pulled out the sleek Black Gold Sovereign Card.

He held it up between two fingers, letting the golden emblem shine under the bright lights of the hall.

​Master Vance sneered. "A Black Gold Card? So what? It has a hundred million dollars on it at most! That is nothing compared to three billion!"

​"You're right," Alex said. "This card only has a hundred million in cash."

​Alex turned his head slightly toward COO Helen.

"Helen, call the Chairman of the National Central Bank right now."

​Helen immediately pulled out her phone and made a quick call.

She spoke two short words into the phone, then handed it directly to Alex.

​Alex put the phone on speaker.

​

A loud, respectful voice echoed clearly across the quiet ballroom:

​"Chairman Alex! The National Central Bank is at your service! How can we assist you tonight?"

​Master Vance’s face froze. The National Central Bank was the top financial institution in the entire country!

​"Master Vance from the West Coast claims he has three billion dollars to buy Boston," Alex said into the phone, "Freeze all accounts associated with the West Coast Alliance and the Vance family immediately."

​"Understood, Chairman!" the bank official replied without a second of hesitation. "Processing the order now... Done! All bank accounts linked to the Vance family and their alliance across the entire country are now frozen indefinitely!"

​Before Master Vance could even react, his own phone rang.

​He picked it up. “Hello… What happened?!" he screamed into the phone.

​"Boss, we're ruined!" his secretary cried out in pure panic. "All our bank accounts are blocked! The three billion dollars is gone! Our company stocks are falling to zero! The government is seizing all our offices on the West Coast!"