Chapter 2: The True Matriarch of Aether
The heavy, bone-crushing impact of Marcus’s fist sent Chad flying backward into a low glass table, shattering a dozen premium crystal tumblers. The surrounding VIP guests shrieked in horror, backing away instantly as Chad hit the floor, clutching his rapidly swelling jaw, his perfect, porcelain veneers smeared with crimson.
"Marcus! Are you insane?!" Tiffany screamed hysterically, dropping her phone as she knelt beside her bleeding boyfriend. "Do you know who his father is?! He will buy this entire club tomorrow just to fire you and have you thrown in prison!"
Marcus ignored her entirely. His face was a mask of sheer, paralyzing terror—not of Chad’s family, but of the quiet, soaking-wet woman standing in the center of the room. Marcus dropped to his knees right into the puddle of expensive champagne, his hands trembling violently as he offered Clara a pristine, white silk handkerchief from his suit pocket.
"Ms. Vance... I am so, so incredibly sorry," Marcus gasped, his voice shaking so hard it was barely audible over the thumping club music. "I was in the security vault reviewing the nightly revenue logs. I should have been down here to receive you personally. Please, allow me to call our private medical team."
Clara calmly took the handkerchief, wiping the sticky alcohol from her face with slow, deliberate precision. Her freezing emerald eyes locked onto Chad, who was struggling to sit up, staring at the manager in absolute, mind-numbing confusion.
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"He... he called her Ms. Vance?" Chad muttered, his voice cracking as the alcohol-induced arrogance instantly evaporated from his system, replaced by a cold, sickening dread.
"Yes, you idiot," Marcus growled, turning his head to glare at Chad with murderous intensity. "This isn't a trespasser. This is Clara Vance. The sole proprietor of Vance Entertainment Group, the woman who owns the land beneath this building, and the literal boss of everyone in this room. You didn't just pour champagne on a guest, Chad. You just assaulted the absolute owner of Aether."
