For several seconds after Adrian's announcement, no one spoke. The garden that had been decorated for a celebration now felt like a courtroom. Every guest sat frozen while the orchestra members stared down at their instruments in confusion. The soft breeze that moved through the flowers did nothing to break the tension hanging in the air.
Seraphina stood at the altar between two men who represented two different futures.
Adrian Hawthorne watched her with cold satisfaction.
Lucien Ashford stood beside her with quiet patience.
The audience waited.
Adrian slipped his phone back into his pocket and addressed the crowd as if he were delivering routine business news. "The board finalized a restructuring vote this morning," he said smoothly. "The decision places Vale Holdings under my executive control."
Shock rippled through the front rows where several directors sat.
