When the video started playing, the entire hall went silent. It was so quiet that I could almost hear my own breathing. What was supposed to be the most boring part of the ceremony the company’s developnt history had suddenly beco the center of attention.
No one moved. No one even blinked.
At first, a few guests exchanged confused looks. So probably thought it was just a strange private clip between husband and wife. But very quickly, they realized sothing was wrong. Very very wrong
Monica’s face was blurred, but her body shape, her skin tone, and most importantly, her voice, clearly didn’t match Bridget, who was standing beside Zack.
Lincy’s face drained of color.
Unlike the others, she knew exactly who the woman in the video was. Monica had a small red mole on her chest. Lincy had seen it countless tis during spa visits. There was no way she could mistake it. She knows her mother
She slowly turned her head to look at Grant.
If he realized that the woman in the video was Monica, everything would collapse.
But Grant remained calm. He lifted his champagne glass and took a slow sip. There was no anger on his face, no shock. He looked like a man watching a performance he had already rehearsed in his mind.
As if none of it concerned him.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"I always thought Mr. Harrison was decent," soone murmured. "He dotes on his wife and children."
"Please," another scoffed. "Who doesn’t cheat these days?"
Bridget reacted quickly. She covered her youngest son’s eyes, her hands trembling slightly. Her father, however, exploded.
Years ago, Zack had entered their family as a live-in son-in-law. Even though he had grown successful, the shadow of his father-in-law’s authority had never left him.
"Zack! What have you been doing?" his father-in-law shouted.
"Turn it off! Turn it off now!" Zack yelled desperately.
But before the screen went dark, Bridget’s father slapped him across the face. Bridget’s mother rushed forward and clawed at him with her long manicured nails.
"We only have one daughter! You promised to treat her well!"
The scene turned chaotic.
Lincy, trying to distance herself from the truth, quickly joined the criticism.
"That’s disgusting! He looks like a pig. He deserves it!"
I couldn’t help but smile slightly. She was insulting her own biological father without even knowing it.
Beside , Grant swirled his champagne calmly. A cold smile touched his lips.
"I’ve already lost my family," he muttered under his breath. "What right do you have to stay happy?"
Lincy glanced at him nervously. "Dad, what did you say?"
"Nothing."
She studied his face carefully, trying to confirm that he hadn’t connected the dots. Once she felt reassured, she relaxed.
"I can’t believe Mr. Harrison is so morally corrupt," she added loudly.
Grant looked at her with quiet aning. "Yes. Rotten people usually raise rotten children."
Lincy stiffened slightly, as if sensing sothing deeper in his words.
By now, the ribbon-cutting ceremony had completely fallen apart. Zack was being verbally attacked from every direction. When the screen finally shut off, Bridget stepped forward and slapped him.
"Zack, we’re getting a divorce."
"Bridget, please, listen to !" he begged.
But Bridget said nothing more. She grabbed her child’s hand and walked away without turning back.
She still had her dignity.
Zack stumbled after her, panic written all over his face. "Please, don’t go! Let explain!"
But she didn’t stop.
The guests and dia quickly dispersed. What was ant to be a glorious opening had turned into public humiliation.
Zack’s eyes finally landed on Grant. His scratched face twisted with suspicion. He must have guessed that Grant was behind this.
Grant set his empty glass down and walked toward him slowly.
"Mr. Harrison," he said calmly, "quite a spectacle."
Zack wasn’t foolish enough to admit anything. If Grant truly knew everything, there would be no room for denial.
And he knew he couldn’t compete with Grant.
Even after twenty years of struggle, he was still not on the sa level. Grant could crush him effortlessly.
But Grant didn’t lash out. He didn’t need to.
Lincy, however, spat on the ground. "Disgusting."
I stepped forward.
"Mr. Harrison," I said evenly, "there’s nothing wrong with ambition. But if you’re willing to destroy others to get what you want, this is the result."
He glared at , hatred burning in his eyes.
I t his gaze without flinching.
"Trying to take what doesn’t belong to you?" I lowered my voice. "Snowville has no place for people like that. You can leave quietly, or I can help you leave. Your choice."
Then I turned and walked away.
If he stayed, the local powers would finish him. And now that he had offended Grant, his twenty years of effort were already crumbling.
Outside, Grant parted ways with Lincy. I watched as she imdiately called Monica and rushed to the hotel.
Monica had been confined there since yesterday.
Through the security footage, I saw Lincy storm into the room.
"Mom, did you betray Dad?"
Monica looked exhausted. She hadn’t slept all night. Her eyes were dull, her expression defeated. Grant had confiscated her phone earlier, and she had only just gotten it back after everything exploded publicly.
"Yes," she said simply.
"Why would you do that?" Lincy demanded. "Dad did so much for us! And if you had to cheat, why him? He’s disgusting!"
Monica’s eyes hardened. "Lincy, don’t talk about him like that."
"Why not? He’s not my father anyway! Do you know how scared I was today? I thought Dad might recognize you in that video!"
Monica let out a small, tired laugh.
"You foolish child. Of course he recognized . That’s why my face was blurred. It wasn’t to protect . It was to protect his reputation."
"That’s impossible!" Lincy protested. "If Dad knew, he wouldn’t have been so calm."
Monica looked at her directly.
"Because Grant isn’t your father. He never loved . And he doesn’t love you either."
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