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The Fortress at the Graveside
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He leaned in and kissed my forehead.
Vanessa’s glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Red wine spread across the carpet in a dark stain that looked far too appropriate.
Darren stared as if the world had tilted off its axis.
“Mr. Hamilton,” he whispered. “CEO of Apex Defense.”
Marcus turned slowly, his gaze settling on Darren with surgical calm.
“Mitchell,” he said. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Shouldn’t you be at your office?”
Darren swallowed hard.
Gasps rippled through the room.
“That’s a misunderstanding,” Darren stammered. “A restructuring—”
“Restructuring?” Marcus cut in, laughing softly without humor. “My compliance team flagged your company months ago. You leveraged your parents’ home to maintain appearances. Fake assets. Fake ring.”
Vanessa let out a sharp sound. “What are you talking about? You said we were buying a boat!”
“I am the man who just acquired the defense contract you attempted to bribe your way into,” he said. “I am the reason Mitchell Logistics is dissolving.”
He turned his attention fully to Vanessa.
“But more importantly,” he said evenly, “I am Demi’s husband. And I want to thank you.”
Vanessa’s lips trembled. “For… for what?”
“For taking the trash out four years ago,” Marcus replied. “If you hadn’t been so greedy, I never would have met the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever known.”
The room emptied faster than I thought possible.
Relatives vanished. Conversations died mid-sentence. No one wanted to be associated with a sinking ship.
Within minutes, only four people remained.
