THE SERVANT HUSBAND IS THE QUADRILLIONAIRE HEIR

Chapter 12

As the chaos around Isabella's forced apologies began to settle, I noticed Derek Manning lurking near the back corner of the room, trying his best to remain invisible.

But I hadn't forgotten about him—not by a long shot.

"Mr. Montenegro," I said, my voice carrying clearly across the room.

"There's one more matter that needs to be addressed."

All eyes turned to follow my gaze as I pointed directly at Derek. "That man over there tried to coerce my wife into sleeping with him in exchange for a business loan. He used her desperation to help my mother as leverage for his own sick desires."

Derek's face went white as sheet.

"That's... that's not what happened! I was just trying to help—"

"Help?" I continued.

"By demanding she come to your hotel room? By setting conditions that would destroy our marriage?"

Montenegro's expression turned murderous. "Is this true?"

Derek stumbled forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture.

"Mr. Montenegro, please, let me explain! I have the utmost respect for you and your business empire. My father has been trying to arrange a meeting with you for years—"

"Answer the question," Montenegro's voice cut through Derek's rambling like a blade. "

Did you attempt to extort sexual favors from Mrs. Thompson?"

"I... she misunderstood my intentions! It was just business negotiations—"

"GUARDS!" Montenegro's roar filled the entire banquet hall.

Four massive men in black suits appeared instantly, moving with military precision toward Derek.

"No, wait!" Derek screamed, his composure completely shattered.

"My father is Marcus Manning! He has connections! You can't do this to me!"

Montenegro's smile was colder than winter. "Break his limbs. Both arms, both legs. Make sure he remembers this lesson for the rest of his life."

"PLEASE!" Derek's voice reached a pitch of pure terror as the guards grabbed him. "I'm sorry! I'll never go near her again!"

But Montenegro had already turned away, dismissing Derek's existence entirely. The guards dragged him toward the exit as his screams echoed through the hall, growing fainter as they disappeared.

The remaining guests sat in stunned silence, the brutal efficiency of Montenegro's justice leaving them speechless with fear.

Grandmother Fletcher, despite everything that had just happened, still couldn't let go of her social climbing instincts.

"Mr. Montenegro," she said with forced sweetness, "perhaps I could accompany my son and his family upstairs? As the family matriarch, I feel I should—"

"No," Robert said firmly, surprising everyone with his sudden backbone. "You expelled us from the family years ago, remember? You made it very clear we weren't worthy of the Fletcher name."

Grandmother Fletcher's mouth fell open. "Robert, don't be ridiculous. That was just business—"

"It was personal, and you know it," Robert continued, his voice growing stronger.

"You treated my wife and daughter like servants in their own family. Tonight, we're done with all of that."

Montenegro nodded approvingly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. Thompson—shall we proceed?"

As we walked toward the elevator, I could hear the confused whispers behind us.

"What's so special about them?" someone muttered.

"Maybe Sarah has some kind of secret relationship with Montenegro," Richard speculated darkly. "It's the only explanation that makes sense."

The elevator ride to the seventh floor felt surreal. Robert and Tina stood in awed silence, clearly overwhelmed by the luxury surrounding them. Sarah kept glancing at me with a mixture of confusion and growing suspicion.

When the elevator doors opened, we stepped into what could only be described as a fairy tale.

The entire seventh floor had been transformed into an elegant garden paradise. Thousands of white roses and crystal lights created an atmosphere of magical romance.

Tables draped in silk held elaborate floral arrangements, and soft classical music played from hidden speakers.

Montenegro turned to us with obvious pride.

"Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, this evening has been prepared specifically for you, in celebration of your third wedding anniversary."

Sarah's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with wonder. "This is... this is incredible."

"Every detail has been arranged according to your preferences," Montenegro continued.

"The roses, the music, even the menu—everything has been designed to honor your special day."

Tears began forming in Sarah's eyes as she took in the breathtaking scene.

For three years, our anniversaries had been quiet, modest affairs—dinner at a chain restaurant if we were lucky. This was beyond anything she could have imagined.

"Michael," she whispered, turning to me with confusion. "How is this possible?"

Instead of answering directly, I took her hand and led her toward the center of the room, where a small stage had been set up among the flowers.

As we stepped onto the stage, the entire city skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows suddenly exploded in brilliant color. Fireworks burst across the night sky in synchronized waves of gold, silver, and crimson, reflecting off the glass and filling the room with dancing light.

Sarah gasped, her free hand pressing against the window as she watched the spectacular display.

"Sarah," I said, dropping to one knee beside her.

From the center of an elaborate cake nearby, I retrieved a ring—not the simple band I'd given her three years ago, but a stunning diamond that caught the fireworks' light and threw it back in rainbow fragments.

"Three years ago, our wedding was rushed, practical, born out of necessity rather than romance," I said, looking up into her tear-filled eyes.

"I never gave you the proposal you deserved, the celebration you should have had."

Her hands were shaking now, tears streaming freely down her face.

"I promise you, from this moment forward, I will spend every day making up for the years I failed to show you how precious you are to me," I continued.

"Will you marry me again, Sarah? Will you let me love you the way you've always deserved to be loved?"

"Michael," she sobbed, falling to her knees beside me.

"I don't understand any of this, but... yes. Yes, of course, yes."

As I slipped the ring onto her finger, the fireworks reached their crescendo, filling the sky with a finale that could be seen from every corner of the city.

For the first time in three years, Sarah was crying tears of pure joy.

And for the first time in my life, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged.