CHAPTER 4

At that moment, Josephine's lips curved into a wicked smile.

Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she watched Hailey's body falling helplessly toward the hard marble floor. In her mind, it was over. The embarrassment. The pain. The fall. Maybe even death. It would all be pinned on Hailey. Another win for the family that never wanted her to rise.

At that moment a blur of movement.

It was like a flash, and gasps filled the room.

The very next second, the young gentleman who had walked in moments ago was no longer by the door. He was right there—at the altar—kneeling slightly, holding Hailey gently in his arms.

He had caught her, Effortlessly.

Everyone was stunned. They stared like statues, not breathing, not blinking. They had never seen someone move so fast. So silently. So powerfully. It was as if time paused just for him to make that one move.

Seeing what had just happened Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Did you see that?"

"How did he—?"

"Who is he?"

Even Benjamin, who stood only a few steps away, looked completely thrown off.

The young gentleman, calm as ever, didn't look up at the crowd. He kept his eyes on Hailey, his arms wrapped around her like a shield. His voice was deep and gentle, cutting through the silence.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Hailey, still dazed, still drowning in shame, could barely raise her head. Tears blurred everything. But his voice… it didn't sound harsh. It didn't sound cold. It sounded safe.

Then she managed a small nod.

She didn't know who he was. She had never seen him before in her life. But right now, that didn't matter. Her whole body leaned into him like she had found a place to hide.

At that moment he slowly placed her on her feet, careful not to let her stumble. But as soon as she stood, Hailey's arms curled inward and her head dropped. She couldn't face the crowd. Couldn't face the looks, the laughter, the whispers. So when the young man said, "I'm taking you to the hospital," she only nodded quickly and leaned back into his chest, covering her face in the safety of his embrace.

Everyone watched, unmoving.

Then, the young gentleman slowly lifted his eyes and locked them on Josephine. The kindness in his face vanished instantly.

His voice came out dark—cold enough to freeze the air.

"You are going to rot in prison for what you just did," he said. "You just dug your own grave."

The power in his voice sent a chill crawling across Josephine's skin. Her smile faded for a second.

But she lifted her chin and shrugged. "Please," she muttered under her breath, trying to brush it off. "I've heard that before. And who the hell is he… in front of Benjamin?"

At that moment, Benjamin's eyes stayed locked on Hailey and the man who had caught her.

Deep down, he had wished she'd fallen—wished she'd hit her head on the cold marble floor. Maybe then she would finally learn her place. Maybe then all this nonsense would end.

He gritted his teeth, staring stubbornly at the young man who now stood tall before them, Hailey still in his arms.

"You know what she's done," Benjamin snapped, anger growing in his voice. "All around you—these people saw it. The proof, the pictures, the—"

But before he could finish his words, the young man turned his back on him.

His voice was calm. Cold. Deadly.

"I don't care what she did," he said. "But you all... are going to pay for this."

The room froze again.

Without waiting for anyone to speak, he adjusted Hailey carefully in his arms—holding her like a bride—and walked toward the exit of the hall.

Gasps echoed again. Everyone shifted. No one moved to stop him. The way he walked… the way he held her… he wasn't asking permission. He was making a statement.

Immediately Scarlett's face twisted in rage. She had never been ignored like that. Never been looked over as if she was nothing.

She stood up quickly and shouted, "Who do you think you are?!"

However the man didn't stop, he didn't even glance back.

Fuming, Scarlett waved her hand toward the security men near the altar. "Don't just stand there! Get him! Attack him now!"

Hearing the order the security team didn't hesitate. Five of them moved at once, stepping down the stairs, ready to surround the young man and drag Hailey away from him.

Benjamin didn't say a word. He watched with arms folded, satisfied. Let the stranger get what he deserved. Let him learn that no one stood above the Taylor family.

But just as the security team approached the bottom of the stairs—

The double doors of the hall suddenly burst open.

At that moment a group of men dressed in solid black stepped inside.

Their suits were clean. Their steps were in sync. Their faces were unreadable.

And they weren't ordinary men, there was something sharp about them. Controlled. Dangerous.

The moment they entered, their presence sliced through the room like a blade.

The security men froze, their feet stopped mid-step.

Their hands twitched, unsure whether to fight or flee.

Everyone else in the room turned around, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

Who were these men in black? Why did the air suddenly feel so heavy?

At that moment, Scarlett and Josephine exchanged smug glances. Their lips curled into wide smiles, thinking the group of men dressed in black had been sent by Benjamin himself. Josephine even let out a soft laugh, whispering, "Finally, someone with sense."

The men fifteen in total walked with silent precision toward the young man still holding Hailey.

Then something happened that none of them expected.

All fifteen men suddenly stopped in front of him… and bowed.

A full ninety degrees.

Their voices came out in perfect unison, loud and firm: "Master!"

The hall fell into a thick silence. Everyone was stunned—frozen like statues.

Immediately the pride slipped from Scarlett's face.

Josephine blinked rapidly, her breath catching in her throat. "W-what?" she muttered under her breath.

At that moment Benjamin's jaw twitched.

The guests looked at each other in disbelief.

However the man didn't acknowledge the bow. He didn't need to. Without a word, he continued walking, each step quiet but heavy with authority. The air around him was no longer tense it was commanding.

When he reached the point where his men stood forming a protective path, he paused and spoke for the first time since leaving the altar.

"If anyone tries to stop me…" he said coldly, "kill them."

His words hit like thunder, Immediately Gasps rippled through the crowd, then Scarlett's eyes widened in horror.

Guests began backing away, A few screamed. Some pulled out their phones, others held their breath.

Then, the sound of knives unsheathing filled the room.

All fifteen men drew long, curved blades from beneath their suits. Not guns. Not batons. Knives deadly, gleaming, and ready.

Immediately Panic broke loose, Chairs fell, People ran behind pews.

The wedding hall that was once full of noise and whispers turned into chaos. No one wanted to stand in the path of death.

Upon seeing what was going on Benjamin's expression darkened like a storm. His fists clenched at his sides. His teeth gritted so hard it showed through his jawline.

He stepped forward, pointing furiously. "Hailey! You think you can run from me?! After everything?! I will zero you to nothing for this humiliation you brought to me!"

His voice rang out in fury, but the only response he got was silence.

No one even looked his way.

The young man walked on, unfazed. His grip on Hailey gentle, yet firm. He carried her like she meant everything.

He passed the exit doors, his guards forming a tight shield behind him.

They were gone.

The room was left in confusion, fear, and disbelief, In the quietness of the hallway outside, Hailey slowly lifted her head. Her face was wet with tears, her eyes swollen, her breath soft and shaky. She looked up at the stranger holding her so carefully.

Her voice was low, weak.

"Who are you…?" she whispered. "Do I know you? What's your name?"

Hailey asked with eyes swollen, cause of tears.