He Made Her Queen, Then Took Her Crown

Chapter 4: Rowan Kane -A Secret

 The venue was nothing short of breathtaking, its towering glass walls glistening under the dusky city lights. 

 The grand event was being held in one of the most coveted locations in the city—a building owned by Echelon Eight, the empire whose shadow loomed over the business world like a storm.

 In the heart of this architectural masterpiece was the Echelon Tower, an exclusive establishment where world leaders, corporate giants, and the wealthiest elites gathered for affairs of power and wealth. 

 The building itself symbolized the epitome of success. Echelon Eight had its hands in every major industry—finance, technology, real estate, and even covert operations. If you wanted to change the world, you made a deal with them. If you wanted to stay on top, you stayed in their good graces.

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 Inside Echelon Tower, Rowan Kane sat in a lavish office, bathed in the warm golden light of sunset. Around him were ten servants—dressed in black, each holding garments and accessories as they prepared him for the night’s event.

 Rowan was calm, the sort of quiet command that made people listen, but his expression remained neutral. His assistant, Elena, a poised woman in her early thirties, was carefully organizing the final details for the evening. She spoke to him as if she were a trusted confidante, but with the professional distance a servant would have to her master.

 "Everything’s set for the event, Mr. Kane. All of your instructions regarding your wife have been carried out, as requested."

 Rowan glanced over at the suits the servants had laid out for him. "These are too much," he muttered, his voice almost drowned by the rustling of the fabric. "Get me something... simpler. Good enough to make her see that I’m doing better, but not too flashy. We don’t need to draw attention.”

 Elena nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. "Understood, Master Rowan. I’ll find something that fits your needs."

 Rowan leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window. The vast cityscape stretched before him, a reminder of how far he'd come—and how little anyone knew of the empire he controlled.

 As Elena turned to leave, she hesitated, a hint of concern in her voice. "Your wife will be at the event, won’t she? You’ve taken care of her... I just hope she sees things the way you want her to."

 Rowan's eyes darkened for a moment. "She’ll see," he replied with a quiet assurance. "She will see."

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 The event was in full swing as sleek, black luxury cars rolled up one after another. Guests in sharp tuxedos and glamorous gowns stepped out, moving into the opulent ballroom, where the air smelled of expensive perfumes and freshly poured champagne. The whir of polite conversation was broken only by laughter and the occasional clinking of crystal glasses. 

‘Click’ ‘click’.

 At the center of the room stood Lena Aston, resplendent in a high-end designer gown, surrounded by the whispers of approval from the gathered elite. She was one of the stars of the evening—her company had just secured a major contract with one of the most influential firms in the city. She was seen as a rising star, someone to watch closely.

 Lena’s mother, Megan Aston, was beaming with pride as she stood at her daughter’s side. Megan was a seasoned manager with decades of experience, but to Lena, she represented the opposite of what she truly desired in life—stability, conformity, and the reminder of how small her aspirations used to be.

 As Lena took the stage to give a short speech, she couldn’t help but bask in the moment. This was the kind of attention she’d always craved, and tonight, it felt like the beginning of something even bigger.

 Lena’s speech was well-received, but as soon as she finished, she found herself heading toward the quieter side of the ballroom to catch her breath. That's when Dominic approached her with his trademark smug grin.

 "Quite the entrance, Ms. Aston," he said with a sly smile, stepping into her personal space. "You’ve certainly made your mark."

 Lena couldn’t hide her discomfort as he moved closer, but she forced a smile. "Thank you, Dominic," she said politely, her eyes darting away, wishing for some peace. But Dominic was relentless, his fingers brushing against hers as he leaned in closer.

 "We’ll make a great team, won’t we?" he whispered, his breath hot on her ear. "I could make things happen for you, you know."

 As Rowan Kane entered the room, the hum of conversation seemed to dim, but. He walked in like any other guest, blending in with the crowd, wearing a simple suit that was a far cry from the towering wealth he secretly commanded. His presence, however, was unmistakable.

 He made his way through the ballroom, the elegant space filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of wealth in the air. Guests mingled, but none took much notice of him. After all, who would? He was just another face in a crowd of elites. His gaze, however, was locked on a familiar figure—Megan Aston, his mother-in-law, standing near the back.

 Her eyes met his, and Rowan felt the subtle shift in the room. Megan’s face tightened, a mixture of disgust and something akin to fear in her eyes. She knew who he was. He was the man she'd always belittled, the one she'd mocked, the one she thought had nothing to offer her daughter.

 “You,” Megan spat, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “I told you to stay away from my daughter. You’re nothing but dead weight. She deserves someone more, not a nobody like you.”

 Rowan didn’t flinch. His expression was calm, his posture relaxed, but his eyes—there was a cold fire in them. The crowd around them began to quiet, sensing the shift, wondering what would unfold next.

 With an eerie calmness, Rowan stepped closer, his voice low but filled with undeniable authority.

 “Perhaps you should remember just how much you owe your daughter.” He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. “Maybe I should make sure your position here is… reconsidered.”

 The room seemed to freeze. Megan blinked, her mouth falling open in disbelief. “What did you just say?” she asked.

 Rowan was calm. “You heard me. I may not be a rich son-in-law, but I can pull a few strings and get things done.”

 Megan got pissed. “I dare you, Rowan!”