Chapter 6 - Ghosts of the Past
Marcus stood confidently under the bright stage lights looking exactly as handsome as he had six years ago.
He wore an impeccably tailored dark suit and a very dangerous, familiar smile.
The entire ballroom immediately erupted into confused whispers and frantic murmurs from the press.
Hannah took a staggering step back, her mind violently trying to process the impossible sight before her.
She had deeply mourned this man, cried at his empty grave, and spent years going to therapy to heal from the profound loss.
Now he was standing here alive, effortlessly claiming ownership of her father’s biggest development project.
Ethan looked completely bewildered, having absolutely no idea who this mysterious new corporate rival was.
Marcus walked straight up to Hannah under the spotlight and smoothly kissed her freezing cheek.
He whispered softly into her ear that she looked even more beautiful than the day he left her.
Hannah pushed his chest away forcefully, loudly demanding to know where he had been hiding all these years.
Marcus just chuckled darkly and turned his undivided attention to the captivated crowd of investors.
He officially introduced his new massive firm, Apex Holdings, as the primary financial investor for the city's future.
Thomas Whitaker clapped nervously from the side, clearly having been bought off by Marcus's endless deep pockets.
The prestigious gala abruptly ended in complete chaos as aggressive reporters aggressively swarmed the stage.
Hannah managed to escape the flashing cameras and locked herself in a quiet VIP lounge in the back of the hotel.
Ethan burst into the room a moment later, sweating profusely and looking exactly like a cornered animal.
He fell to his knees once again, shamelessly begging Hannah to forgive him so they could combine their assets to beat Marcus.
Hannah laughed bitterly at his incredibly pathetic display of fake loyalty and desperation.
She told Ethan plainly that she would rather burn her money in a fire than give him a single dime.
Suddenly, the heavy door locked from the inside, and Marcus stepped casually out of the shadows.
He told Ethan to get out of the room immediately, and surprisingly, Ethan scrambled away like a terrified coward.
Marcus poured himself a dark drink from the minibar and sat comfortably on the leather sofa.
Hannah demanded the absolute truth about his fake death and his sudden return to Charlotte.
Marcus took a slow sip of his drink and smiled a very dark, calculating smile.
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He told her he never actually wanted to leave her, but he was physically forced out of the city.
He calmly revealed that Jonathan Vale had paid him ten million dollars in cash to fake his death and disappear forever.
