Chapter 2: The Man Who Walked Through the Silence
The ballroom remained frozen.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Matteo walked across the marble floor with measured steps, his dark eyes fixed on one person only—Anna.
His wife.
The woman kneeling on the floor, her cut hair scattered around her like fallen leaves.
Ethan smirked.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
Matteo didn't answer.
He stopped beside Anna and slowly removed his suit jacket.
Without a word, he draped it over her shoulders.
Only then did he kneel beside her.
His hand gently brushed away the tears on her cheeks.
"Did he hurt you?"
Anna tried to speak but her voice broke.
Matteo looked at the trembling strands of hair on the floor.
His jaw tightened.
Something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
The room felt colder.
Finally, he stood.
And turned toward Ethan.
"You did this?"
Ethan laughed.
"She ruined my suit."
Matteo glanced at the wine stain.
Then at Anna's hair.
Then back at Ethan.
"You cut her hair because of that?"
"Call it compensation."
Several guests chuckled nervously.
They stopped laughing when Matteo smiled.
Because there was no humor in it.
Only disappointment.
"Interesting."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"And who exactly are you?"
Matteo reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card.
The hotel manager saw it first.
His face instantly turned white.
"Oh my God..."
Within seconds, the manager rushed forward.
"Mr. Moretti!"
The room exploded into whispers.
Everyone knew that name.
Matteo Moretti.
Founder of the Moretti Hospitality Group.
Owner of the luxury hotel they were standing in.
And one of the youngest billionaires in the country.
Ethan's confidence vanished.
The manager swallowed hard.
"Sir... I had no idea Mrs. Moretti was working tonight."
Anna lowered her eyes.
The guests looked shocked.
A billionaire's wife?
Working as a waitress?
Matteo nodded.
"My wife enjoys helping train new hospitality staff. She prefers to work without special treatment."
The room fell silent again.
This time for a different reason.
Every person recording suddenly realized they had filmed the humiliation of the owner's wife.
Ethan's face drained of color.
"Wait... she's your wife?"
"Yes."
The single word hit harder than a slap.
For the first time that evening, Ethan looked afraid.
And Matteo wasn't finished.
"Security."
Three guards appeared immediately.
Matteo's voice remained calm.
Too calm.
"The gentleman who assaulted my wife is no longer welcome on any property owned by my company."
Ethan's eyes widened.
"You can't do this!"
"I already did."
"And the videos?"
Matteo looked around the room.
"Keep them."
Everyone stared.
Matteo continued.
"Let the world see exactly what happened tonight."
For the first time, Ethan understood.
May you like
His reputation wasn't about to be protected.
It was about to be destroyed.
