Chapter 37
The celebration lasted long into the night,
with dignitaries and philanthropists crowding around their table to congratulate Khloe on her inspiring speech.
Marcus stood by her side the entire time,
playing the role of the proud husband perfectly,
his arm never leaving her waist,
showing the world his devotion.
However,
as the midnight hour approached,
an unwelcome figure approached their table,
causing Marcus’s expression to instantly harden into ice.
It was Xavier Sterling,
the younger brother of Lord Sterling,
a notorious gossip and a man who frequented the seedier circles of high society.
Xavier had a smirk on his face,
holding a glass of whiskey,
clearly looking to stir up trouble and avenge his brother’s humiliation in London.
"Mr.
Vance,
Mrs.
Vance,"
Xavier greeted them,
his tone dripping with a false politeness that fooled no one,
"congratulations on the award."
"Thank you,"
Khloe replied politely,
though she felt an instinctive wave of discomfort from the man's oily gaze.
"It is fascinating to see you here,
Marcus,"
Xavier continued,
looking directly at Marcus with a provocative sneer,
"we all remember when you used to despise these charity events."
"People change,
Sterling,"
Marcus stated coldly,
his voice low and dangerous,
a warning clear in his dark eyes,
"though some remain exactly the same fools they always were."
Xavier’s smile faltered for a second,
but he pushed forward,
determined to make a scene in front of the surrounding guests.
"I heard about what happened with my brother,"
Xavier whispered,
leaning in slightly,
"extortion is a dangerous game,
even for a man of your wealth,
Vance."
Before the words could even fully leave Xavier's mouth,
Marcus stepped forward,
his massive frame completely blocking Xavier from Khloe’s view,
his presence becoming suffocating.
"Your brother made a business decision,"
Marcus said,
his voice so quiet it was almost a growl,
yet it carried a terrifying authority that made Xavier's smirk vanish instantly.
"And if you utter another word in front of my wife,"
Marcus continued,
"I will ensure that your name is removed from every social register from Paris to New York by tomorrow morning."
Julian appeared out of nowhere,
standing right behind Xavier with two security guards,
his usual pleasant smile replaced by a cold,
professional glare.
"I think it is time for you to leave,
Mr.
Sterling,"
Julian suggested smoothly,
gesturing toward the exit,
"before things become unpleasant for your family."
Xavier looked at Marcus's lethal expression,
then at the security guards,
and realized he was completely outmatched,
his face turning pale as he turned and hurried away.
Marcus turned back to Khloe,
his demeanor softening instantly as he checked her face for any signs of distress.
"Are you alright,
darling?"
he asked softly,
his hands gently rubbing her arms,
worried that the encounter had ruined her night.
"I am fine,"
Khloe assured him,
looking up at him with a proud,
May you like
loving smile,
"because I know my king will always protect his kingdom."
