Chapter 1 - The Public Humiliation
Ethan boldly stood up at the head of the long dining table, his spoon clinking sharply against his crystal champagne glass.
The lavish American country club banquet room instantly fell completely silent. Tall lit candles cast a warm glow over the extravagant white floral centerpieces, illuminating dozens of wealthy guests in formal evening attire.
Ethan was thirty-eight, a devastatingly handsome CEO wearing a sharp, tailored black suit and a burgundy tie. He looked down at Claire, his beautiful fiancée, who was sitting perfectly poised in a stunning red silk evening dress, her hair styled in an elegant chic updo.
Instead of delivering a romantic toast, Ethan’s face twisted into a smug, arrogant smirk.
"I love you, Claire," Ethan announced loudly, ensuring his deep voice echoed across the massive room. "But before we walk down the aisle, I want a prenup. I’ve worked too hard to build my empire, and I’m not risking my future because of a marriage."
A collective, horrified gasp rippled through the wealthy guests. People began to whisper, staring at Claire with sheer pity.
Ethan laughed arrogantly, openly humiliating the woman he was supposed to protect. "Nothing personal, darling," he smirked, raising his glass. "Good contracts protect good relationships."
Everyone in the room expected Claire to burst into tears and run out of the banquet hall.
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Instead, a calm, chillingly confident smile slowly spread across Claire’s face.
👉 Ethan’s triumphant smirk began to falter, completely unaware that his "penniless" fiancée was hiding a terrifying secret.
