Chapter 4: The Price of Betrayal
Within an hour, the ballroom was nearly empty.
Guests quietly left through the grand entrance, avoiding reporters gathering outside.
Daniel sat alone in one of the front pews, still wearing his tuxedo.
His phone wouldn't stop ringing.
Board members.
Lawyers.
Investors.
Banks.
Every call carried worse news.
The stock price had begun collapsing.
Multiple directors demanded an emergency vote.
Several partners terminated contracts before the market even closed.
Vanessa approached him cautiously.
"We can fix this."
Daniel slowly looked at her.
"For what?"
She hesitated.
"Our future."
Daniel gave a hollow laugh.
"There isn't one."
She realized then that she'd never been chosen for love either.
She had simply been useful.
Arthur found Emily standing alone outside beneath the evening sky.
The summer air felt cool after the suffocating ballroom.
"Any regrets?" Arthur asked.
Emily watched workers removing the wedding decorations.
"For a long time, I thought losing Daniel would destroy me."
She smiled softly.
"But losing myself would've been worse."
Arthur offered his arm.
"Ready to go home?"
She nodded.
May you like
"This time...
...to the right one."
