“Where’s your wife? Let her come out and meet me!”

The moment I said that, Daniel Carter’s face instantly darkened.

“Ethan, don’t push your luck just because I called you an old classmate.”

“My wife is the daughter of Los Angeles’s wealthiest man, the heiress of the Reed family. Do you really think she’s someone you can just see whenever you want?”

I gave a short, dismissive laugh.

“The city’s richest man? That’s nothing more than the threshold for meeting me.”

The entire crowd erupted.

“This guy must be out of his mind—causing trouble at Isabella Reed’s wedding? He’s asking to die!”

“Exactly! Isabella is the real definition of beauty and wealth. What does this loser have to compare with her?”

“If she hears someone slandering her behind her back, he’ll never find a job in this city again.”

As the chatter grew louder, Daniel’s expression turned smug.

“Listen, Ethan, today’s my wedding. I won’t stoop to your level. If you’re smart, grab a chair and sit outside—you don’t have the qualifications to step into the hall.”

Their threats didn’t bother me. In fact, I almost found them amusing.

“Daniel, let me make it clear—if I don’t see her today, I’m not leaving.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Daniel swung his fist at me, cursing furiously.

“You little bastard, I’m giving you too much face!”

At that critical moment, a sharp voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop!”

“Daniel, you’re supposed to be a respectable figure in Los Angeles. Why are you lowering yourself to argue with a nobody?”

At those words, a tall young woman, surrounded by bodyguards, slowly entered the room.

“So, you’re the bride?”

I studied her carefully. I had to admit, my mother’s taste wasn’t bad at all.

Nearly five-foot-seven, dressed in a pristine white gown that hugged her flawless figure.

The only flaw, if it could be called that, was the icy coldness in her eyes as she looked at me.

“Miss Reed, since this is our first meeting, please allow me to introduce myself.”

“My name is Ethan Brooks, and I—”

“No need!”

Before I could finish, Isabella Reed impatiently raised her hand to cut me off.

“I couldn’t care less who you are.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

After all, she and I were engaged, yet she was standing here marrying another man behind my back.

Did she really think I was a fool?

The anger in me flared instantly.

“Miss Reed, although we’ve never met in person and the engagement was arranged by our parents, marrying another man in secret—don’t you think that’s a bit immoral?”

At that, Isabella’s face hardened.

“Immoral?” She sneered.

“Why don’t you take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself—do you really think you’re worthy of me?”

With a dismissive glance, she scoffed,

“This marriage was arranged by my father. What does it have to do with me?”

Then, raising her voice so everyone could hear, she added,

“And don’t you ever mention this matter again in front of others. Looking at a loser like you for even one second makes me sick!”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to swallow the fury boiling inside, my gaze locked firmly on her.

“Since Miss Reed has already made herself so clear, I won’t bother dragging this out any further.”

As I spoke, my tone suddenly shifted, growing colder.

“But do you know the consequences of breaking off our engagement with me?”

I had meant it as a warning, but the arrogant woman before me wasn’t listening. She even thought I was bluffing.

“Loser, stop playing games with me!”

“I’m the daughter of Los Angeles’s wealthiest family. Do you really think I’d be afraid of you?”

Instead of getting angry, I laughed.

“Isabella, I’m only stating a simple fact. Whether you believe it or not makes no difference.”

“As for this ‘richest family’ title you love to brag about—without me, it means nothing.”

The wedding hall erupted in chaos.

“My God, this guy is insane. He doesn’t even put the Reed family in his eyes—has he lost his mind from studying too much?”

“Exactly! The Reeds are the real elite in Los Angeles, and this idiot dares say they can’t survive without him?”

“If you ask me, he just wanted to latch onto a rich family, but failed, and now he’s throwing a tantrum.”

I ignored the jeers around me.

Yes, in Los Angeles the Reed family was indeed powerful, their business thriving.

But… what no one knew was that at least half of their success came from me.

I still remembered vividly when Richard Reed, Isabella’s father, now the city’s wealthiest man, had begged me to marry his daughter.

In less than thirty minutes, his white shirt had been soaked through with sweat, terrified I would refuse.

He probably had no idea that the fortune he had begged for was now being destroyed by his own daughter’s hands.

“Isabella, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you truly determined to break off our engagement?”

Her indifference was like a slap in the face.

“That’s right!”

“Even if every man on earth were dead, I still wouldn’t marry you!”

At that, Daniel couldn’t sit still anymore. He shoved me hard.

“Ethan, I was kind enough to invite you to my wedding, but you’ve harassed my wife again and again!”

“Do you even respect me as the groom?”

I narrowed my eyes, my voice low and cold.

“Daniel, do you actually think stealing another man’s fiancée is something to be proud of?”

Daniel burst out laughing.

“Stealing your fiancée?”

“Come on, man—strength speaks louder than words. If Isabella doesn’t want you, it’s because you’re not good enough!”

“The Carter family may not be as wealthy as the Reeds, but in Los Angeles we’re still a family of status. What do you have to compete with me?”

I let out a quiet sigh, my gaze unwavering.

“Daniel, as a former classmate, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you dare to marry the woman standing beside you today…”

“Within half an hour, both of you will end up in prison.”

But before Daniel could reply, Isabella stepped forward with a sneer.

“Loser, stop trying to scare us.”

“You’re just hanging around here because you want money, aren’t you?”

“Fine—how much hush money do you want?”

If it weren’t for my classified status, I would have slapped her right there.

The moment Isabella said that, the crowd burst into laughter again.

“See? I told you—people marry the spouse they deserve. A broke nobody like him? Even with an engagement, his fiancée was bound to run off with someone better.”

“Exactly! Look at that junk car he drove here. How can he even show his face at this wedding?”

“True. No matter the wealth or background, Daniel is ten leagues ahead of him.”

The classmates’ jeers kept coming, but I pretended not to hear.

What does money matter?

In the face of absolute power, it all turns to dust.

“Since Isabella is so confident in her family’s empire, let’s just wait and see.”

“As for money… you’d better save it for the prison commissary.”

With that, I stood, ready to leave.

“Ethan, leaving already?”

Just as I turned, Daniel blocked my path.

I paused, slowly glancing back.

“What? Having second thoughts now?”

He arched a brow and sneered.

“Since you’re already here, why not have a glass of wedding wine before you go?”

I clenched my fists, answering each word with deliberate calm.

“Sorry. Division rules—no drinking outside of approved leave.”

Daniel, of course, wouldn’t let it go.

“I don’t care about your damn rules!”

“If you don’t drink today, that means you’re disrespecting me!”

Years of service had kept me far removed from spoiled heirs like him, and I had no patience for his antics. His arrogance only stoked the anger rising inside me.

“And what if I refuse?”

Daniel smirked, his eyes glinting with malice.

“I heard you drove here, Ethan. What do you think will happen if I smash that car of yours? Still planning on driving home?”

My fists tightened, and I glared at him coldly.

“Daniel, I’m warning you—don’t you dare. That’s the Presidential State Car.”

“Presidential, national—whatever. It’s still just a domestic car.”

He ignored my words completely and quickly rallied the security team.

I counted—seventeen or eighteen men, each with badges reading Reed Corporation.

Once assembled, Daniel lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke as he pointed toward the entrance.

“Today’s my wedding with Isabella. No car worth less than a hundred grand should be here!”

“Smash that piece of junk to pieces!”

At his command, the guards swarmed toward the vehicle.

Watching the scene unfold, I asked calmly,

“Isabella, you’re really going to let your husband destroy my car?”

She scoffed dismissively.

“It’s just a cheap car. If it makes him happy, he can smash ten of them and I’ll still cover the cost.”

After ten minutes or so, the head guard hurried back, looking uneasy.

“Mr. Carter, there’s a problem.”

Daniel took a long drag and exhaled a smoke ring.

“What could be such a big deal?”

The guard held up his bruised, reddened hand.

“The men have been hammering it nonstop, but the car’s barely got a scratch. Just some chipped paint. Should we… keep going?”

Daniel cursed, furious.

“Useless fools! You can’t even handle something this simple?”

Grabbing the hammer from the guard, he marched to the parking lot himself.

One strike. Two strikes. Ten strikes.

He swung again and again, but the car’s body remained untouched, and the shock left his hands numb.

“What the hell is this thing? My arms are dead from hitting it!”

I curled my lips into a faint smile and followed him outside.