Trash Son-in-law is the Almighty Marshal

CHAPTER 5

Marcus’s smile disappeared immediately, and for a moment, he wondered if he had heard Katie correctly.

Gerard Hall? As in the same person whose Bentley he had just been forced to lick less than an hour ago?

Marcus’s fingers curled into fists, and he was itching to punch the wall behind him.

On the stage, Katie’s smile brightened as her gaze remained on Gerard. “And I would like to invite him up here,” she announced, her hand beckoning on him in a come-hither motion. “Gerard, please join me.”

The guests began clapping as Gerard rose from his seat. He adjusted his lapel and sleeves, and puffed his chest as he climbed the steps leading to the stage.

When he reached Katie, he gently took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, giving it a peck.

The crowd immediately responded with louder cheers, but Belinda’s was the loudest as her eyes glowed with approval.

Marcus stared blankly at them.

His mind refused to accept what his eyes were showing him. He even had to pinch his wrist to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, and the sharp pain that followed proved he wasn’t.

“Gerard has believed in me since the very beginning,” Katie continued, her hand in his as she looked at him in adoration. “He’s invested in this brand right from when it was just an idea in my head. He’s been my rock through every setback. I don’t know where I’d be without him.”

Gerard mustered a small smile in an attempt to be humble, even though inwardly, his head had grown twice its size.

“Thank you, Katie. But you’re being way too generous,” he chuckled and Katie’s cheeks flushed red.

“The truth is,” he continued, facing the guests now. “She didn’t need me. She’s brilliant. Ambitious. The kind of woman who has brains and the beauty to match with it. The sky is definitely not her limit, but her starting point. And I intend to make sure Maison Rubie becomes a household name not just in Eastwood, but across the entire country.”

The guests applauded again. Belinda clapped both hands to her lips as she fawned at the scene.

Marcus felt his lungs constrict, and suddenly it was hard to breathe.

He remembered Katie sitting on the floor of their bedroom five years ago with sketches of dress designs spread everywhere.

He remembered her crying when she thought she wasn’t good enough.

He remembered taking extra shifts at his various jobs because she needed money for fashion school.

He remembered coming home exhausted, barely able to keep his eyes open, only to find her waiting for him with another problem she needed help solving.

He had never complained. Not even once, because he loved her and he wanted to see her succeed.

Yet now he was standing helplessly while another man received every bit of credit for the career he had helped her build.

“No!” Something inside Marcus snapped and he shook his head defiantly. “I refuse to be helpless.”

He marched to the front and Katie’s smile disappeared the moment she saw him.

For a second, her expression flashed with panic, but she quickly masked it with irritation.

Don’t. She shook her head, silently warning.

Marcus understood what she meant, but he ignored it.

Belinda noticed him next, and her face immediately darkened. “Don’t you dare,” she mouthed through gritted teeth.

Marcus also ignored her.

A few guests even turned in their seats to stare at him.

Katie’s fingers tightened around the microphone as he stopped directly in front of the stage and looked up at her.

“Katie, what is going on?” His voice shook with disbelief. “What are you saying? Gerard helped you? What about me? Why is he getting all the credit for everything I did?”

Katie stared at him as though he had just said something absurd.

“Are you crazy, Marcus?” She demanded in a hushed whisper. “What do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to embarrass me?”

Gerard tilted his head as he saw Marcus. “Well, well, well,” he sang in a condescending tone. “If it isn’t the professional car licker.”

Marcus clenched his jaw as he reluctantly turned to him. “Stay out of this,” he gritted.

“Marcus!” Katie snapped, and smacked him across the cheek. “Have you gone mad? How dare you speak to my special guest like that!”

Marcus stumbled back in shock. “Katie—”

“No!” she spat. “You’re whining because you feel wronged?! You want to take credit because you delivered food and worked a few stupid jobs?”

Her words pierced Marcus harder than a double edged sword.

“You could barely feed yourself, let alone my family,” Katie continued, her voice growing harsher by the second. “And now you’re standing in front of all these people acting like I owe you anything!”

“Katie. Darling,” Gerard interrupted, lightly stroking her arm to get her attention. “Who exactly is this man?”

He looked Marcus up and down before adding, “And why was he allowed into your event? He sticks out like a sore thumb.”

Katie’s expression softened instantly. She turned to the guests first and forced out an embarrassed smile as she joined her hands together. “Everyone, I’m terribly sorry you had to witness this. Please forgive the interruption.”

Then she lowered her voice and turned back to Gerard. “Gerard, I apologize for the way he spoke to you. This is Marcus. He’s my…husband. Someone I was forced to marry. I’ve been trying to manage him. I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but he isn’t worth your attention. Please, just ignore him.”

A few people gasped while Gerard’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

“Wait.” He looked at Marcus with disgust.

“You mean to tell me you’ve actually been married to this pathetic excuse of a man?”

He shook his head slowly. “Katie, why would a beautiful woman like you subject herself to something so shameful?”

Someone in the crowd whispered, “That’s really her husband? He’s a kept man!”

“I can’t believe it!” Their partner chimed in. “Look at them. They don’t even belong in the same world.”

Katie covered her face with her palms, embarrassment flooding her as another guest snickered. “Even the lowest employee at my company cleans up better than him.”

Marcus stood there, eyes blazing and taking every word. Then Belinda stormed toward him.

“Marcus!” She yelled.