Chapter 5: The Public Humiliation

Tristan stood frozen in the middle of the grand ballroom, his eyes wide as he stared at Sienna in sheer disbelief. The quiet murmurs around them erupted into a buzzing wave of shock, spreading like wildfire through the crowd of high-society guests and media reporters.

​"His... wife?" Tristan stammered, his face turning pale as all the color drained from his skin. "That's completely impossible! Mr. Vance, she's a fraud! She was literally cast out of the Javier family just last night!"

​"Is that so?" Ezekiel raised a single eyebrow, his tone deceptively soft yet sharp enough to slice through the rising noise. He casually rested his heavy hand on the small of Sienna’s back, pulling her flush against his side in a possessive, intimate hold. "Sienna is the sole surviving heir of the original Javier Corporation. Any disrespect or hostile action directed toward her is considered a direct declaration of war against the Vance Empire."

​Chloe’s jaw dropped. She stepped forward, her voice rising into a high-pitched, desperate shriek. "Mr. Vance, you don't understand! Sienna has no money left! She's nothing but a penniless beggar!"

​Sienna let out a soft, elegant laugh that instantly cut through Chloe’s frantic yelling. She looked down at her half-sister with absolute disdain, her silver diamond necklace gleaming under the chandelier lights.

​"I may not have liquid cash at this very moment, Chloe," Sienna said smoothly, her clear voice carrying across the quieted ballroom. "But as of nine o'clock this morning, the thirty percent hidden equity shares left by my late mother were officially reactivated and registered under my name. Which means..."

​Sienna took a slow, deliberate step toward Chloe, leaning in with a cold, predatory smile. "...I am still the single largest individual shareholder of the Javier Group. And my very first order of business tomorrow morning is to launch a full forensic audit of the company's financial records—starting with the millions in funds you and Tristan secretly embezzled."

​Tristan’s eyes filled with sudden, overwhelming terror. He stumbled backward, looking at Sienna as if she had suddenly transformed into a lethal monster. "You... you can't do that!"

​"Watch me," Sienna whispered coldly, her voice laced with absolute venom.

​Before Tristan could utter another word, Ezekiel casually gestured to his elite security team stationed near the entrance. "Escort Mr. Tristan and Miss Chloe out of the venue immediately. They are permanently banned from all Vance Foundation events and properties."

​Four massive security guards stepped forward, grabbing Tristan and Chloe firmly by their arms. Chloe began screaming and flailing her legs, throwing a desperate tantrum as the guards dragged her across the marble floor in full view of dozens of flashing cameras.

​The crowd erupted into furious whispers, completely captivated by the humiliating downfall of the arrogant couple. Sienna watched them get thrown out through the heavy glass doors, a deep surge of dark satisfaction warming her chest.

​"Satisfied?" Ezekiel murmured beside her, his silver eyes fixed intently on her glowing face.

​"It's a good start," Sienna replied, turning her head to meet his gaze. "Thank you, Ezekiel."

​"Don't thank me just yet," Ezekiel said quietly, his tone suddenly darkening as his eyes drifted toward the dark VIP balcony directly above them. "Look up."

​Sienna followed his gaze and looked upward. Standing in the shadows of the upper balcony was a handsome man in a dark grey suit, swirling a glass of aged scotch. He wore a sinister, knowing smile as he slowly raised his glass in a mock toast toward Ezekiel and Sienna.

​"Who is that?" Sienna asked, a sudden chill running down her spine as the man's cold eyes locked onto hers.

​"Marcus Vance," Ezekiel revealed, his jaw clenching tight as his dark aura flared. "My ruthless cousin... and the man who orchestrated my elder brother's murder five years ago. He just returned from abroad to claim my throne."