The unstoppable vengeance of Micheal Krux.

42; Public Humiliation

Chapter 42; Public Humiliation

The atmosphere inside the ballroom changed the moment Gabriel Luxter entered.

People did not return to their conversations immediately like they normally would at events like this. Instead, whispers spread quietly across the hall while reporters subtly shifted closer with their cameras already prepared, hoping something dramatic would happen between the Luxter family and Michael Krux.

Layla watched her father carefully as he walked through the crowd with controlled steps, but she knew him well enough to recognize the anger hidden beneath his calm expression. Gabriel Luxter hated public embarrassment more than anything else, and for the past week Michael had given the entire city front-row seats to his humiliation.

Several business executives greeted him politely as he passed, but Layla noticed something uncomfortable immediately.

People who normally rushed to impress her father now seemed cautious around him.

Respect was still there.

But confidence was not.

Michael noticed it too.

Layla saw the faint amusement in his eyes as he calmly placed his champagne glass down on a nearby table before turning fully toward Gabriel.

“Mr. Luxter,” Michael said smoothly. “You made it.”

The sentence itself sounded polite.

But the calm confidence behind it made it feel like a challenge.

Gabriel stopped a few feet away from him while reporters immediately gathered closer pretending to take random photographs around the ballroom.

“You seem very comfortable for someone causing chaos everywhere he goes,” Gabriel replied coldly.

Michael gave a small shrug. “Chaos usually exposes weak foundations.”

Layla closed her eyes briefly.

There it was again.

That effortless way Michael embarrassed people without even raising his voice.

Gabriel’s jaw tightened slightly, but before he could respond, another man suddenly approached them excitedly.

“Michael!”

A tall older businessman wearing a navy tuxedo walked over quickly with a smile on his face before shaking Michael’s hand warmly.

“I’ve been trying to reach your office all week,” the man said. “Your assistant said your schedule is full for the next three months.”

Michael nodded politely. “Things have been busy.”

Layla immediately recognized the man.

Victor Hale.

One of the biggest investors in the country.

Her father had spent nearly two years trying to secure a partnership with him.

Victor suddenly noticed Gabriel standing there and smiled politely.

“Oh, Gabriel,” he said casually. “Good evening.”

The difference in his tone was impossible to miss.

One handshake carried warmth and excitement.

The other felt like obligation.

Layla saw her father notice it too.

Victor turned back toward Michael almost immediately.

“I reviewed the proposal your company sent yesterday,” he continued. “Honestly, I haven’t seen numbers that impressive in years.”

Michael nodded calmly. “Then I assume we’ll continue discussions next week.”

“Absolutely,” Victor replied immediately.

Layla’s chest tightened slightly.

Her father had chased this same man for years without success.

Meanwhile Michael secured his interest within days.

And somehow, Michael did not even look impressed by it.

Victor lowered his voice slightly before speaking again.

“Between us, several investors are already pulling away from Luxter Energy quietly. People are nervous.”

Gabriel’s expression darkened immediately.

Victor seemed to realize too late that he had spoken too openly.

“Oh,” he said awkwardly while glancing briefly at Gabriel. “I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” Michael interrupted calmly.

No mockery.

No arrogance.

And somehow that made it worse.

Because Michael did not need to insult Gabriel directly anymore.

Other people were already doing it for him naturally.

Victor quickly excused himself after that uncomfortable moment, leaving the tension hanging heavily between them.

Gabriel finally looked directly at Michael again.

“You planned all this carefully,” he said quietly.

Michael’s expression remained unreadable.

“I planned survival carefully,” he corrected.

Layla watched both men silently.

The hatred between them no longer felt like ordinary business rivalry.

It felt deeply personal now.

Dangerously personal.

A reporter suddenly approached before security could stop her.

“Mr. Krux,” she asked quickly, “is it true you’re preparing to acquire more shares from Luxter Energy?”

Several nearby guests immediately became quiet enough to listen.

Michael glanced briefly toward the reporter before answering calmly.

“If shareholders continue losing confidence, opportunities naturally appear.”

The woman quickly turned toward Gabriel.

“Sir, would you like to respond to concerns that Luxter Energy may lose control internally?”

Gabriel’s face hardened instantly.

“There is no internal crisis inside Luxter Energy,” he replied sharply.

At that exact moment, another businessman walked past them while laughing quietly with his companion.

“No crisis?” the man muttered just loud enough to be heard. “Their stocks have been falling for days.”

His companion chuckled softly. “At this point Michael Krux owns more confidence than the Luxter board itself.”

The two men continued walking casually without realizing Gabriel heard every word.

Layla saw the humiliation settle across her father’s face immediately.

Not loud humiliation.

The worst kind.

The quiet type powerful people suffered in public when nobody feared them the same way anymore.

Gabriel turned toward Michael slowly.

“You think this makes you powerful?” he asked coldly.

Michael stared at him calmly for a few seconds before answering.

“No,” he said quietly. “Watching powerful men panic reminds me they were never untouchable to begin with.”

Layla felt the tension rise instantly between them.

For one dangerous second, she genuinely thought her father might lose control publicly.

But before anything else could happen, another voice suddenly entered the conversation.

“Michael.”

Everyone turned immediately.

A beautiful older woman stood nearby wearing an elegant dark green gown with diamond earrings resting against her neck. Her presence alone carried quiet authority, and several people in the ballroom immediately recognized her.

Layla frowned slightly.

Then realization hit her.

Catherine Sterling.

One of the most respected women in international business.

And somebody who openly avoided almost everyone.

To Layla’s shock, Catherine walked directly toward Michael before smiling warmly at him.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming tonight,” she said naturally.

Michael’s expression softened slightly for the first time all evening.

“I almost didn’t.”

Catherine touched his arm lightly. “You promised me one dance at least.”

The ballroom became noticeably quieter again.

Because everybody watching understood what this meant.

Catherine Sterling never publicly associated herself with struggling businessmen.

Never.

Yet here she was standing comfortably beside Michael Krux in front of the entire city.

Gabriel noticed it too.

And judging from the look on his face that realization hit harder than every headline combined.