THE GENERAL’S REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 2: THE WEDDING CRASHER

The Grand Celestial Hotel stood tall above all the other buildings in downtown Grandview City. Its glass walls reflected the orange and red colors of the sunset like the building was on fire.

Tonight the entire hotel had been reserved for just one event. The marriage of Victoria Hayes and Jonathan Sterling was the biggest social occasion of the whole season and everyone who mattered had been invited.

Expensive cars lined up outside the entrance one after another. Helicopters flew overhead pulling long banners behind them that read congratulations to the happy couple and wished them a lifetime of love together.

Inside the main ballroom, everything sparkled with crystal chandeliers and gold decorations that must have cost a fortune. Five hundred of the city's most important and influential people stood around holding champagne glasses and talking in groups. Everyone wanted to be seen supporting the union of two such powerful families.

"With this marriage, the Hayes and Sterling families will control more than half the city's economy," one businessman whispered to the man standing next to him.

"Actually it will be much more than half," his companion replied in an equally quiet voice. Between Hayes' real estate holdings and Sterling manufacturing, they will be completely untouchable. Anyone with sense will get on their good side starting right now."

"Do you remember the Chen family from a few years back? They tried to compete with the Hayes empire and look at what happened to them."

"All dead or disappeared without a trace. And everything they built ended up belonging to Victoria anyway."

"Which means it will all belong to the Sterling family after tonight."

"Keep your voice down. Talking about that situation is dangerous even now."

The whispered conversation faded away as people near the entrance started making excited sounds. The bride and groom were finally arriving.

Victoria Hayes came down the grand staircase wearing a wedding dress that probably cost more than most people earn in a year. Her makeup looked perfect, and her smile seemed practiced, like she had rehearsed it many times in front of a mirror.

Next to her Jonathan Sterling looked every bit like the successful heir to a fortune. His expensive suit fit him perfectly and his face showed confidence that bordered on arrogance.

"They look absolutely perfect together," someone in the crowd said loudly.

"Like royalty," another person agreed with enthusiasm.

"The Hayes family is so blessed to have such a beautiful daughter."

"And the Sterlings are very lucky to be gaining such a valuable alliance through this marriage."

Victoria's smile grew wider as she heard all the compliments. She held Jonathan's arm tighter as they walked slowly through the crowd of admiring guests.

Then a voice cut through all the happy chatter. It was clear and cold and made everyone stop talking at once.

"I have to admire any man willing to marry someone who betrayed her previous fiancé on their engagement night. Are you not worried the same thing might happen to you Jonathan Sterling?"

The huge ballroom fell completely silent. Hundreds of heads turned at the same time to see who had dared to speak those words.

Standing near the back of the room with his hands held behind his back was Marcus Chen. He wore a simple dark suit that looked plain compared to everyone else's fancy clothes. But something about the way he stood made people near him take steps backward without thinking. He carried an aura of danger around him like morning frost.

"That is impossible," Jonathan's face turned white as fresh snow. "You are supposed to be dead. The execution happened years ago. How can you be standing here right now?"

Jonathan had personally made sure the Chen family's destruction was complete and final. His family spent serious money and pulled many strings to ensure Marcus received the death penalty. So how was this man alive and breathing in front of him?

Victoria's carefully applied makeup could not hide the shock that drained all color from her face. But she recovered quickly like the skilled actress she was. Her expression changed to show concern and worry.

"Marcus? Is that really you standing there?" Her voice trembled but it sounded fake to anyone paying attention. "I thought you were gone forever. Where have you been all these long years? Why did you never try to contact me even once? Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? I cried myself to sleep every single night wondering what happened."

She even pulled out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes even though no actual tears were there.

Marcus's smile was cold enough to freeze fire. If he did not already know Victoria's true nature he might have believed her performance. But he remembered very clearly how she stood beside her father that day and watched without any emotion as they broke his legs.

Their engagement had been arranged by their families but Marcus had been willing to make it work. If she had shown even one moment of real compassion or said even one word in his defense he would have found a way to forgive her.

Instead, she just stood there and watched him suffer. Then she took absolutely everything he owned.

"If you were so worried about me," Marcus said in a calm voice that somehow carried to every corner of the room, "then why are you marrying someone else? Was your faith in me really that shallow? Besides, I am here now, standing right in front of you. You do not need to go through with this ridiculous charade."

Victoria's practiced smile froze on her face. How could Marcus be so stupid and reckless? Did he not understand how much things had changed in the city during the five years he was gone?

"What did you just say to her?" Jonathan's shock quickly turned to burning rage. He pointed an accusing finger at Marcus and his voice got louder. "You are nothing but worthless trash! You actually think you deserve to stand anywhere near Victoria?"

Marcus said nothing at all. His expression did not change even slightly.

"Five years ago you at least had some money to your name," Jonathan continued while his anger grew with each word. "Now you are not even worth the dirt stuck under my expensive shoes. How dare you compare yourself to me in any way? Get down on your knees right now and apologize to everyone here!"

In Grandview City, the Sterling family stood at the very peak of power and influence. Their connections reached into every level of government and business. Even if something terrible happened to Marcus right here in front of all these witnesses no one would dare question the Sterling family about it.

Marcus looked around the fancy ballroom taking in all the expensive decorations and nervous guests with one slow glance. "You have certainly put on quite an impressive show tonight," he said in a casual tone like he was discussing the weather. "But unfortunately you are still not worthy of being with Victoria."

"You must be completely insane," Jonathan shook his head in disbelief at Marcus's bold words. He turned and started walking back toward the stage feeling confident about his position.

"You clearly do not understand how the world works anymore. During your absence, my family has grown stronger than ever before in our history. We practically run this entire city now. And you?" He spun around dramatically and jabbed his finger at Marcus. "You are absolutely nothing! A convicted criminal! A dead man who should have stayed buried! You should be bowing down to me!"

Marcus's slight smile did not disappear which only made Jonathan more furious.

"Do you want to know how your parents really died?" Jonathan's voice turned cruel and mocking. "I made absolutely sure they suffered before the end came. I even have photographs if you would like to see exactly how they begged for mercy."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees instantly. Several guests actually shivered even though nothing had changed.

"If you kneel before me right now and apologize properly in front of everyone," Jonathan continued without noticing the dangerous shift in atmosphere, "then maybe I will only…"

SNAP!

Marcus moved so incredibly fast that most people did not even see it happen. One moment he was standing across the room, and the next moment his fist connected with Jonathan's jaw, making a sickening crunching sound.

Jonathan's whole body spun from the powerful impact. Blood and broken teeth were scattered across the polished marble floor. He crashed hard into a nearby table sending glasses and plates flying in all directions.

Before Jonathan could even begin to understand what just happened an iron grip closed on his shoulder and forced him down with terrible strength. His knees hit the hard marble floor with enough force to crack the bone underneath.

"Stay down where you belong," Marcus said in a quiet voice that was somehow more frightening than if he had shouted.

The horrible sound of Jonathan's kneecaps shattering echoed through the completely silent ballroom.

Jonathan's scream was raw and came from somewhere deep inside him. His face turned as white as chalk and sweat poured down his forehead instantly. He tried to speak but could only make choking sounds through his broken jaw.

Every single person in the room stared at Marcus like they were looking at a demon or a ghost. He had just brutally attacked Jonathan Sterling who was the heir to one of the most powerful families in the entire city. And he did it at Jonathan's own wedding in front of five hundred witnesses without any hesitation at all.