UPRISING GENERAL

Chapter Five: Collision at the Banquet

The grand ballroom glittered with chandeliers and golden drapes, filled with the hum of powerful voices and the clink of crystal glasses.

Business tycoons, heirs, and officials mingled like wolves dressed in silk, each smile masking sharp teeth. At the entrance, Katherine Liu walked arm-in-arm with Yan Ming (Cooper).

Her gown was an elegant cascade of silver, her cold beauty making the room pause in admiration. Yet her thoughts were clouded, her heart uneasy from her mother’s call.

Yan Ming leaned close, whispering smoothly, “Relax. Tonight, all eyes are on you. With me here, MAGETO-Group will shine. Zedixon Group has no reason to refuse us.”

Katherine forced a smile, her gaze scanning the hall. She stiffened the moment her eyes froze on the doorway. Because there, stepping in beneath the golden lights, was Thomas Bradley.

He was dressed simply, but he carried himself with a presence that turned heads. Beside him, Clara Zhao blazed in a crimson gown, every movement radiating dominance.

She held his arm tightly, a proud smile dancing on her lips as though daring the world to challenge her claim. A murmur rippled through the hall. “Isn’t that Clara Zhao?”

“The daughter of the Zhao Chamber of Commerce president…”

“And the man with her, isn’t he Katherine Liu’s ex-husband? The one who just came out of prison?”

Gasps followed, whispers sharp as knives. Katherine’s face paled, her breath catching in her throat. So it’s true. Mother wasn’t lying.

Yan Ming’s smile widened. He leaned closer, voice dripping with mock pity. “Katherine… seems your former husband wasted no time. Quite a scandal, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no one dares laugh at you.”

Katherine’s hands clenched into fists, her nails biting into her palms. Anger and humiliation churned, but above it all was a deeper ache, betrayal.

Thomas could feel the weight of every gaze, the poison in their whispers, but he walked forward unfazed. His mission demanded shadows, yet tonight he would stand in the light.

Clara clung to him proudly, whispering in his ear, “Ignore them. Let them choke on their jealousy. Tonight, you walk beside me. No one here can touch you.”

He gave a small smile, though his eyes scanned the crowd with quiet calculation. Allies, enemies, informants, he read them all at a glance. Yet his gaze inevitably found Katherine.

Their eyes met across the ballroom. Her expression was cold, unreadable. His heart clenched, but he forced himself to look away first.

The master of ceremonies announced the opening of the charity banquet. Guests took their seats at tables draped in velvet, while servers moved like shadows with silver trays of wine.

At the front, a spotlight illuminated the stage where Clara Zhao ascended gracefully, microphone in hand.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her voice ringing with poise, “thank you for attending tonight’s charity gala. On behalf of Zedixon Group, it is my honor to host this event and welcome you all.”

The crowd applauded, though many eyes flicked toward Thomas, curiosity burning hotter with each second.

At Katherine’s table, her mother’s voice echoed in her memory. He’s cheating on you. The sight of Clara standing center stage, with Thomas seated at her side in a place of honor, felt like confirmation.

Yan Ming leaned back in his chair, sipping his wine leisurely. “So Zedixon Group’s elusive CEO was Clara Zhao all along. Interesting. And to think, she’s brought your ex-husband as her escort. Quite the twist of fate.”

Katherine’s chest tightened. She had always known Thomas was stubborn, reckless, unwilling to bend. But to flaunt another woman here, on the very night MAGETO-Group needed to secure cooperation… it was unforgivable.

As the speeches continued, Thomas felt the heat of Katherine’s glare. The shards of the broken pendant weighed in his pocket, a silent reminder of everything lost. He had no words to give her, not yet.

But trouble was already brewing. Yan Ming rose from his seat, wine glass in hand. His smile was charming, but his eyes glinted with malice. He approached Clara’s table, bowing slightly.

“Miss Zhao, an excellent speech. MAGETO-Group looks forward to working with Zedixon Group in the future. May I propose a toast?”

Clara’s smile was polite but cool. “A toast is fine. But cooperation isn’t decided by empty words.”

Her rejection was sharp, and murmurs spread through the hall. Yan Ming’s face tightened, but he masked it with a laugh.

Then his gaze flicked to Thomas, and the laugh turned mocking. “And here we have… Thomas Bradley, isn’t it? Quite a surprise to see you here instead of behind bars. I didn’t expect Miss Zhao to keep such… company.”

The room went silent, the insult hanging heavy. Clara’s eyes flashed dangerously, but before she could speak, Thomas rose to his feet.

He picked up his glass, calm and unshaken. His voice carried clear across the hall. “Funny. I didn’t expect the heir of a crumbling family to still have the gall to show his face in public.”

The words struck like thunder. Gasps erupted, whispers igniting into a storm. Yan Ming’s smile froze, his face paling for a heartbeat before twisting into fury.

Katherine’s heart stopped. Thomas’s words were knives aimed at her “business partner.” She rose abruptly, her voice sharp.

“Enough!”

All eyes swung to her. Her cold gaze locked on Thomas, anger and betrayal blazing. “Thomas Bradley, you’ve shamed yourself enough. Must you drag me down with you?”

The room erupted. Thomas stood frozen, the weight of her words heavier than any battlefield wound. Clara’s hand gripped his arm, her glare burning toward Katherine.

And at the center of it all, Yan Ming smiled once more, because the seeds of chaos had been planted.