Dark Fate: The Useless Son-in-Law’s Vengeance

Show of strength

Sophia felt anxiety clawing up her throat. She had no idea why Adrian had brought her here, and she certainly didn’t have a pass. Around them, familiar faces stared at them together with former business partners who’d abandoned her after the bankruptcy, people who now looked at her with pity or contempt.

She wanted to disappear.

Tugging lightly at Adrian’s sleeve, she whispered urgently, “Adrian, please. Let’s just go.”

But Adrian stood perfectly still, his expression calm and unreadable. He didn’t move.

The security guard approached, his hand resting on his baton. “Sir, ma’am, I need to see your passes.”

“I don’t have one,” Adrian said simply.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

The guard’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t need a piece of paper to prove my identity,” Adrian continued, his tone flat and matter-of-fact.

A bit of silence followed his words. The guest exchanged puzzled glances, shocked by the audacity of his words. Did he just say that? What does he mean?

The security guard broke the silence with his laughter.

The guard laughed so hard he had to steady himself. “Oh, I see! So what do you want me to do…call the heads of the stock exchange to personally escort you inside? Should we have one of the sponsors hand you the bell-ringing mallet themselves? Let everyone give you a standing ovation?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Would that be worthy of someone as ‘distinguished’ as you?”

The hall roared with laughter.  A man in a red tuxedo near the front chucked, adding loudly. “ Maybe we should roll out a red carpet for him.”

Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver, he didn’t flinch at the sound of their laughter. “Yes,” he said calmly. “That’s exactly what I want you to do.”

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The guard’s smile vanished. His face twisted with fury. “You’re out of your mind! If you’re crazy, go get treatment. Stop acting high and mighty here. Get lost!”

He raised his baton, arm swinging back to strike…

A hand caught his wrist mid-swing.

The guard froze, his eyes going wide.

His head snapped up, the smug confidence draining from his face in an instant. The man's expression was that of a cold, simmering anger that made the guard’s blood run cold. The air around them seemed to drop several degrees.

“So all the money we pour into this exchange every year,” Brennan said quietly, his voice cutting through the shocked silence, “is it just to let security guards strut around like tyrants?”

The guard’s face went white. “Mr. Brennan, I…I didn’t…”

“Save it.” Brennan released the baton and turned, his expression transforming instantly to one of deep respect. He gestured toward Adrian. “This way, sir I’m very sorry about this disrespect.”

The crowd stood frozen in disbelief.

Victoria’s champagne glass slipped slightly in her hand. “What…”

Sophia stared at Adrian, her mind reeling.

Victoria recovered first, hurrying forward with a forced smile. “Mr. Brennan, there must be some misunderstanding. This is Adrian Cole…he was my… my family’s…” She struggled to find words that wouldn’t sound too damning. “He’s just a relative. Why would someone of your stature personally come out to receive him?”

Brennan’s eyes turned cold. “Your information is outdated, Mrs. Cole. Starting tonight, every bell-ringing ceremony will feature an honorary guest of public welfare…to give back to the taxpayers who support these enterprises.” He gestured to Adrian. “Mr. Cole is tonight’s honorary guest.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Champagne glasses rose immediately as guests rushed to voice their approval of such a “socially responsible” decision.

Victoria’s face had gone pale, but she forced herself to maintain composure. “That’s wonderful news, of course. But I’m confused…I’m tonight’s bell-ringer, and I wasn’t informed of any changes to the ceremony.”

Brennan downed his champagne in one swift motion, set the glass on a passing tray, and turned to face Victoria with an expression of cold satisfaction.

“That’s because your company’s listing has been suspended, Mrs. Cole. Effective immediately.” He let the words hang in the air. “Tonight’s bell-ringing belongs to Stellar Dynamics.”

The room erupted into chaos.

Victoria’s champagne glass shattered against the marble floor.

Sophia’s knees nearly gave out. “What?”

Vincent grabbed Victoria’s arm, his face a mask of confusion and rising panic. “Suspended? What does he mean suspended?”

Brennan pulled out his phone and held it up for the crowd to see. “As of 6:47 PM this evening, the regulatory commission received credible evidence of financial irregularities in the approval process for Cole Industries’ IPO. The listing has been suspended pending a full investigation.”

Victoria’s voice came out as a strangled whisper. “That’s impossible. Vincent, tell them…”