Chapter 3 - The Stranger in the Shadows
Chaos instantly consumed the elegant wedding ceremony.
Guests stood up from their wooden pews, shouting and pointing at the mysterious man striding confidently down the side aisle.
Valeria felt her heart hammer wildly against her ribs, completely unable to process the surreal scene unfolding before her.
Mauricio released her hand as if it had suddenly caught fire, stepping forward with his fists tightly clenched.
"Julian," Mauricio spat, his voice trembling with a toxic mixture of pure rage and absolute panic.
Julian smiled, a sharp and dangerous expression that made him look like a predator playing with its food.
He was the CEO of a rival investment firm, a man Mauricio had spent five years desperately trying to destroy.
Julian tossed the heavy manila envelope directly onto the altar, the documents sliding across the pristine white linen.
"Every single mortgage, every business loan, and every promissory note you held over Valeria's family is now legally mine," Julian declared.
Mauricio’s perfectly styled hair fell into his eyes as he aggressively lunged toward his bitter rival.
Two of Mauricio's large groomsmen immediately intercepted him, holding him back to prevent a physical brawl inside the church.
"You have no right to interfere in my private family matters!" Mauricio screamed, completely losing his carefully crafted composure.
Julian ignored him and turned his intense, dark eyes entirely onto Valeria.
"You have exactly thirty seconds to decide if you want to leave this nightmare, or stay and become his property," Julian told her.
Valeria did not need thirty seconds to make the easiest decision of her entire life.
She grabbed her mother’s hand, lifted the torn skirt of her expensive dress, and ran straight toward Julian.
Julian quickly turned and escorted them toward the heavy side exit, aggressively shoving a protesting usher out of their path.
They burst out into the bright afternoon sunlight, gasping for fresh air as they reached a sleek black armored SUV idling by the curb.
Julian opened the heavy door and ushered both women into the safety of the dark leather back seat.
As he slid into the driver's seat and accelerated aggressively into the chaotic city traffic, Valeria finally exhaled.
"Thank you," she whispered, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
May you like
Julian looked at her through the rearview mirror, his sharp smile entirely vanishing.
"Do not thank me yet, Valeria, because I didn't spend thirty million pesos just to be your knight in shining armor."
