Chapter 3: The Falling Patriarch
The arrogant groom looked up, startled by the sudden, frantic movement of his new father-in-law. Julian smiled, assuming Arthur was coming over to personally congratulate him for defending the family's honor against the clumsy staff.
"Mr. Sterling, don't worry, I'm having the security team handle this—" Julian began, his voice dripping with sycophantic charm.
Smack.
Before Julian could even finish his sentence, a heavy, powerful hand swung forward, violently slapping him across the face. The sheer force of the blow echoed through the gold-plated microphones, throwing Julian sideways against the head table. His custom tuxedo shirt caught on a champagne bucket, knocking it over as he stumbled backward in absolute shock.
Julian stood completely stunned, his hand flying to his bright red, stinging cheek. The entire ballroom erupted into chaos. Vivienne gasped, her jaw dropping as she stared at her father in complete horror.
"Dad! What are you doing?!" Vivienne shrieked, her cruel confidence completely evaporating. "He was just throwing out the waiter!"
Arthur didn't say a word to his daughter or his new son-in-law. He completely ignored their existence.
Instead, the wealthy patriarch dropped to his knees, completely destroying his own bespoke designer trousers as he knelt directly into the ruined white cake and shattered porcelain on the floor. His hands shook violently as he reached out, gently wrapping his powerful arms around Leo’s trembling shoulders.
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"Leo..." Arthur breathed, his voice cracking with a raw, visceral agony that made the front-row investors freeze in confusion. With a gentle, trembling finger, Arthur brushed the white frosting away from Leo's collarbone, exposing a unique, silver crescent-shaped birthmark.
The powerful billionaire and the bleeding waiter sat together on the floor, the pristine, expensive illusion of the wedding shattering in an instant right in front of the entire high-society congregation.
