The Supreme General

Chapter 11 A Coffin for the Bride

The city of Ironhaven glittered beneath the afternoon sun.

Inside the grand dining hall of the Imperial Crown Hotel, crystal chandeliers shimmered like frozen stars. White-gloved servers moved quietly between tables, placing delicate plates of gourmet cuisine before the elite guests who frequented the establishment.

At a private window table sat Marcus Hale and the mysterious woman he had rescued weeks ago.

Today she was no longer dressed like a frightened girl from a dark alley.

She wore an elegant black dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and the quiet authority surrounding her made even the hotel staff treat her with subtle reverence.

She was Isabella Hawthorne.

The Heiress of the Hawthorne Dynasty—the ruling family of the Second Group.

And one of the most powerful women in Ironhaven.

Marcus remained calm despite the luxurious surroundings. He had changed into a simple suit, but compared to the elite atmosphere of the hotel, he still looked like a man who didn’t belong.

Isabella watched him carefully.

“You should have contacted me,” she said softly, stirring her tea. “After that night.”

Marcus lowered his glass.

“I thought about it.”

Her eyes lifted.

“But?”

Marcus sighed quietly.

“I was still married then.”

Isabella blinked.

Marcus continued calmly.

“I didn’t want my wife to misunderstand anything.”

For a moment…

Isabella said nothing.

Then something unexpected flickered in her eyes.

Respect.

Even admiration.

“You were loyal to her,” she murmured.

Marcus chuckled bitterly.

“Apparently that didn’t matter.”

Isabella had heard about the scandal already.

The cheating accusations.

The humiliating divorce.

The public spectacle.

And yet the man sitting across from her had saved her life and still chose loyalty over advantage.

Even when his wife betrayed him.

Isabella placed her cup down.

“I owe you my life.”

Marcus shook his head.

“You don’t.”

“Yes I do.”

She leaned back slightly.

“That night… I was undercover. I didn’t want my family to know I had snuck out alone.”

She smiled faintly.

“They would have locked me in a fortress for the rest of my life.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“So the mighty Second Group heiress was playing vigilante?”

“Something like that.”

Her smile faded slightly.

“But because of that… I couldn’t thank you properly.”

She pulled a sleek card from her purse and slid it across the table.

“My family owns several estates in Ironhaven.”

She looked at him seriously.

“If you need somewhere to stay, one of them is yours.”

Marcus glanced at the card.

Then slowly pushed it back.

“Thank you.”

“But I’ll find my own place.”

Isabella studied him carefully.

“You’re proud.”

“No.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

“I’m just stubborn.”

For a moment the tension dissolved and Isabella laughed softly.

Then she pushed the card back toward him again.

“Take it anyway.”

Marcus hesitated.

“Why?”

Her expression softened.

“Because good men are rare.”

He finally accepted the card.

“Call me if you ever need help,” Isabella added.

Marcus nodded.

“Same to you.”

They finished their lunch quietly.

Neither of them knew that the world around them was already beginning to shift.

Three weeks later.

Ironhaven’s most extravagant wedding was about to begin.

The wedding between Sophie Bennett and Lucas Laurent, heir of the powerful Goldspire Group.

The ceremony took place at the legendary Aurora Palace Hotel.

Every elite figure in the city had arrived.

Politicians.

Billionaires.

Executives.

Everyone wanted to witness the union between the Fourth Group and the rising Bennett Industrial Holdings.

Inside a quiet dressing room nearby…

Marcus adjusted his black suit calmly.

Behind him stood several men dressed in dark suits.

His men.

One of them spoke.

“Boss… the coffin you ordered has arrived.”

Marcus straightened his cuff.

“Good.”

The man hesitated.

“Boss… why exactly do we need a coffin?”

Marcus smiled slowly.

“It’s a wedding gift.”

The room fell silent.

Marcus turned toward them.

“Dress up, gentlemen.”

His eyes gleamed coldly.

“We have a wedding to attend.”

The wedding hall glittered with luxury.

Gold decorations.

Crystal arches.

A long aisle covered with white roses.

Sophie stood proudly in a breathtaking wedding gown, her arm wrapped around Lucas Laurent.

She looked radiant.

Victorious.

The orchestra played softly as guests admired the perfect couple.

Then—

The doors opened.

Marcus walked in.

The music faltered.

Every head turned.

Sophie’s face twisted instantly with rage.

“You!”

Lucas frowned.

“You’ve got some nerve showing your face here.”

Marcus smiled politely.

“I came to give my congratulations.”

Ryan Bennett stepped forward furiously.

“If you cause trouble we’ll throw you out!”

Marcus remained calm.

“I only brought a gift.”

Sophie laughed mockingly.

“A gift?”

Marcus nodded.

“For the bride.”

His men carried forward a small polished wooden coffin and placed it gently before her.

The room froze.

Sophie’s face turned red with fury.

“You disgusting bastard!”

She tore open the lid angrily.

Then screamed.

Inside the coffin lay funeral lining.

Guests gasped.

Sophie threw the coffin across the floor in terror.

“You psycho!!”

The Bennett family erupted with insults.

“How dare you!”

“Trash!”

Lucas stepped forward furiously.

“I’m going to break your legs!”

He grabbed Marcus’ collar.

But suddenly—

Several men in black suits appeared behind Lucas.

They grabbed his arms instantly.

Lucas struggled.

“What the hell—?!”

Marcus calmly brushed his suit.

“Relax.”

He looked at Mrs. Bennett.

“You should check the coffin again.”

She glared at him.

“If this is some joke—”

“Just look.”

Fuming, she opened the coffin again.

Inside…

Two documents rested neatly.

She grabbed the first one.

Her eyes scanned the page.

Then suddenly widened.

“What?!”

Her voice echoed across the hall.

The guests leaned closer.

Mrs. Bennett trembled.

“The Vanguard Enterprises contract…”

Her voice shook violently.

“Has been withdrawn.”

Gasps exploded through the room.

“That’s a $50 billion contract!”

Sophie snatched the document.

“You gold digger!!”

The family began shouting insults.

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“How am I the gold digger?”

“I was the one who got the contract.”

Ryan yelled angrily.

“You stupid bastard!”

Marcus smirked.

“You’re the stupid one.”

“Who signs contracts without reading them?”

Silence.

Because it was true.

Greed had blinded them.

Emily Bennett spat angrily.

“It doesn’t matter!”

“The Bennett company is powerful on its own!”

Mrs. Bennett nodded.

“And if this was your plan to crawl back into the family, you failed!”

Sophie wrapped her arms around Lucas proudly.

“I’m marrying the Fourth Group heir.”

“We’ll be bigger than you could ever dream of!”

Marcus chuckled quietly.

“You should read the second document.”

Mrs. Bennett froze.

“There’s… another one?”

“Right under the first.”

Marcus smiled.

“Seems like reading problems run in the family.”

Ignoring him, she opened the second document.

Then—

Her face drained of all color.

“What is it?!” everyone shouted.

Her voice trembled.

“This document…”

“…transfers ownership of all Bennett assets.”

The room fell silent.

“Everything,” she whispered weakly.

“Our resources… our holdings… our entire net worth…”

She looked up slowly.

“…have been transferred.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

Memories flashed through his mind.

The call from the Supreme General.

The truth behind the funding.

The secret condition tying the Bennett fortune to his marriage.

Now that the marriage was gone—

So was their empire.

Mrs. Bennett suddenly screamed hysterically.

“It’s not true!!”

“Impossible!” Sophie shrieked.

Mrs. Bennett frantically called the company’s hedge fund managers.

Her hands shook violently.

“What’s happening?!”

Her phone crackled with the response.

“Ma’am… the company’s assets have been liquidated.”

Her heart nearly stopped.

“The sponsor has withdrawn everything.”

Mrs. Bennett screamed into the phone.

“WHO IS THE SPONSOR?!”

The answer came calmly.

“The documents list the sponsor as…”

“…Marcus Hale.”

The wedding hall fell into stunned silence.

And Marcus simply smiled.