THE RISE OF THE CONGRESS MAN

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The banquet hall buzzed with murmurs and side glances. Guests whispered behind champagne glasses as Malcolm stood beside Mr. Hathaway and Aurora.

His plain suit couldn’t hide how out of place he looked among men in silk and women in diamonds. But still, he stood tall and confident.

“That’s him? The one engaged to Aurora?”

“He looks like a waiter.”

“I heard he used to be a low-level secretary.”

Malcolm overheard some of the whispers but chose not to react. He reminded himself why he was there. This was his chance at redemption and revenge.

Just then, a man walked through the crowd with calm elegance and a warm smile. His hair was greying, but his posture still carried power and grace.

The guests made way for him to pass signifying that he was a man of importance.

It was Mr. Wade—the former vice president during Malcolm’s father’s administration.

He was again hit by nostalgia which each step Mr Wade made towards them.

Mr Wade was Malcolm’s Dad’s best friend. A man who watches Malcolm grow and also took part in taking care of him.

The only reason he didn't go to Mr Wade the moment he was done with surgery was because he didn't know if his family’s killed would come for him if they found out that he was still alive.

Mr Wade walked up to Malcolm, smiling kindly. “Congratulations, young man. Engaged to Aurora Hathaway, huh? You must be very impressive to have earned the trust of Mr Hathaway who is very hard to please and satisfy,”

Malcolm let out a small but sincere smile. “Thank you, sir,” Malcolm said, bowing slightly.

But Mr. Wade paused. His smile faltered a bit as his brows creased. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Malcolm’s face. “You know… your voice sounds familiar. Have we met before?”

Before Malcolm could respond, Anthony let out a loud, mocking laugh.

“Him? Met you before?” he said with a smirk. “Sir, with all due respect, there’s no way this peasant has ever met you before. Maybe he came to one of your parties or office as a genitor”

The people around them laughed quietly.

Mr. Wade’s eyes sharpened. He turned to Aurora’s ex, his voice calm but firm. “Mind your words, Assemblyman Anthony. Every citizen deserves respect. A man’s value isn’t measured by how rich he is.”

Malcolm felt a jolt in his chest. Assemblyman? So, Aurora’s ex-fiancé was a politician too. No wonder he carried himself like a king.

Malcolm nodded at Mr. Wade, trying to his emotions from showing. Even though Mr Wade didn't know him, he was still kind enough to defend him.

He wished that he could reveal himself to Mr Wade but it wasn’t the right time.

He was thankful for the defense, but he also grew more cautious.

Mr. Wade was smart—he might recognize him if he stayed around too long.

Malcolm still didn’t know who had tried to kill his family, and until he did, he felt that revealing himself was too dangerous.

From across the room, Malcolm noticed someone watching him—Aurora’s mother.

She stood among her friends, her posture elegant but stiff. She raised a glass of red wine to her lips, never breaking eye contact with Malcolm. Then, suddenly, the glass slipped from her fingers, crashing to the floor.

The sound of shattering glass silenced the room.

Everyone turned.

“Madam!” a waiter rushed forward. “Are you alright?”

Aurora’s mother smiled calmly and shook her head. “I’m fine. Just clumsy fingers.”

Several waiters bent to clean up the glass, but then she lifted a perfectly manicured finger and pointed straight at Malcolm.

“Wait,” she said, her voice sharp. “Let him clean it.”

The room froze.

Malcolm looked at her, stunned. Was she serious?

“You heard me,” she said louder. “Let my daughter’s fiance show us how obedient and respect he is going to his future in-laws. A man shouldn’t be ashamed of honest work, right?”

Gasps rippled across the hall.

Aurora’s eyes widened. “Mother, what are you doing?”

Mr. Hathaway clenched his jaw. “That’s enough, Eleanor.”

But she ignored them. “Come on, Malcolm. Let’s see if you’re humble enough to be with with my daughter.”

Malcolm’s throat tightened.

He glanced at the broken glass, then at the waiting faces around him. His fists clenched. This was humiliation. A clear and cold one.

He took a deep breath, and just when he was about to kneel, Aurora butted in.

“I’ll do it,” Aurora said suddenly, stepping forward.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked to the shattered and collected the dustpan from one of the waiters.

The entire room watched in stunned silence.

Aurora looked up at her mother. “If you think cleaning glass proves anything about someone’s worth, then I’ll do it. And if being rich means acting like you just did, then I’d rather be poor and marry someone poor.”

Aurora knelt and swept the broken glass carefully into the pan.

Malcolm’s chest burned. Not with shame, but with admiration.

She defended him… again.

Aurora’s mother went pale. “Aurora, stand up this instant.”

But Aurora didn’t listen. She finished cleaning, handed the dustpan to the waiter, and turned to the crowd. “Anyone else want to test my fiancé?”

No one spoke.

She walked back to Malcolm and stood proudly beside him. “If you think wealth is what makes someone important, you’ve forgotten what this country stands for.”

Mr. Wade chuckled softly, clearly impressed. “You’ll make a fine wife,” he said.

Anthony, her ex-fiancé, gritted his teeth. His face turned red with anger. “This is a mistake. All of this is a mistake,” he hissed under his breath.

Malcolm stayed quiet, but he noticed Anthony slip away from the group. The way he moved, sharp and hurriedly, made something stir in Malcolm. He didn’t trust that man.

The rest of the night went on, but tension lingered. People avoided Malcolm’s eyes now, not out of mockery, but out of quiet curiosity.

Whispers continued, but the laughter was gone.

Later that evening, Mr. Wade pulled Mr. Hathaway aside. Malcolm noticed from a distance. He could tell they were talking about him.

Malcolm wanted to sip his champagne when his phone buzzed. It was an unknown number.

He answered.

A deep voice said, “For someone who is supposed to be dead, your bringing too much attention to yourself,”

Malcolm’s heart dropped. Fear enveloping him.

The call ended.

He looked around but no one was there.

But someone knew.

Someone knew who he really was.

And they were watching.