Attending The Wedding

Staring in sheer disbelief at the heavy, ornate key resting heavily in his palm, Julian immediately thrust his hand back toward William. He knew exactly what the elegant insignia stamped into the cool metal meant. Azure Ridge wasn’t just a pleasant neighborhood; it was an ultra-exclusive, billionaire-tier sanctuary constructed atop the only mountain in Harrington. To own a sprawling property there meant possessing an astronomical fortune. "Mr. Sterling, this is far too much," Julian insisted, his voice tight with strict refusal as he attempted to return the extravagantly expensive gift. "I cannot accept something this valuable."

William, however, merely let out a warm, unwavering laugh and firmly pushed Julian’s calloused hand back. He refused the return with effortless grace. Challenging Julian’s stubborn modesty, the older billionaire leaned in and jokingly asked, "Of course you can accept it, Mr. Valenti! Or is my life simply not worth a mansion to you?"

Cornered by the billionaire's airtight logic and overwhelmed by the sheer, genuine gratitude radiating from William’s steady eyes, Julian was left with absolutely no choice but to wrap his fingers around the cold metal. To add to the immense bounty, William casually pulled out a sleek, black bank card and pressed it directly into Julian's hand. He smoothly mentioned that the account contained ten million dollars in easily accessible funds for any immediate needs. Slipping the staggering wealth into the humble, frayed pockets of his worn trousers, Julian offered a short nod of thanks and finally left the quiet sanctuary of the private room.

The very moment Julian stepped out into the sprawling grand lobby of the hotel, his heightened senses were immediately assaulted. A deafening, chaotic wave of booming music and overlapping, high-pitched chatter echoed heavily from the floor above. Catching the eye of a passing hotel manager, Julian frowned and asked about the sudden commotion.

The manager paused, bowing politely. "The noise is from the highly anticipated wedding banquet of the wealthy Morello Family's heir, sir. It is taking place right now in our massive ballroom on the second floor. It's the event of the season."

Deciding he had zero interest in wealthy socialites, Julian headed straight for the exit. He walked briskly toward the sweeping grand staircase that led to the main doors. However, as he rounded the carved mahogany banister, he collided directly with a couple coming down the polished marble steps.

It was Lucca. The groom was immaculately dressed in a custom-tailored white tuxedo. Wrapped tightly in his arms was a stunningly dressed Sasha. Both of them looked incredibly smug, radiating a toxic, entitled aura.

Upon recognizing the man he had just physically bumped into, Lucca halted abruptly. A split second of shock morphed instantly into malicious glee. He guffawed loudly, the harsh, grating laughter echoing obnoxiously through the luxurious lobby. "Well! I truly didn't expect you to actually have the nerve to show your face and attend my wedding, Julian!" Lucca sneered, sadistically looking the ex-convict up and down. "Are you strictly here to scavenge for free food and premium liquor like a starving beggar?"

Julian offered absolutely no verbal response. He merely shot the arrogant heir a frosty, piercing glance that held the weight of an approaching storm, before completely stepping aside. He fully intended to continue his path out the towering double glass doors.

But Lucca, desperately eager to flaunt his ultimate victory over the man he despised, deliberately shifted his body to aggressively block Julian's path. He paraded Sasha's expensive, manicured beauty right in Julian's face. Sasha clung coquettishly to Lucca's expensive tailored suit, deliberately turning her nose up. She completely dismissed Julian's presence as if he were a foul stench.

Right on cue, Mina bustled over from the sidelines, her sharp heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor. She immediately launched into a vicious, high-pitched, mocking tirade that drew every eye in their immediate vicinity. "You!" she screeched at Julian, her face twisting in violent disgust. "Do you honestly think my precious daughter would ever take a fancy to a disgusting peasant like you again? Hurry up and buzz off instead of desperately trying to kick up a pathetic fuss at our glorious event!"

Within seconds, Julian was completely surrounded by a growing circle of snickering, elegantly dressed relatives from both families. They pointed their fingers at him, their venomous whispers filling the tense air. Julian fiercely suppressed the blazing, violent fury that threatened to completely erupt from his chest. Using just a tiny fraction of his physical strength, he firmly shoved Lucca aside to clear his path. The groom stumbled backward clumsily.

Julian looked dead into the eyes of the sneering family. He vowed in a cold, deadly serious tone that effortlessly cut straight through the ambient noise, "One day, every single one of you will fall to your knees before me and beg for mercy."

Infuriated by the physical shove and the sheer, unadulterated disrespect from an ex-convict, Lucca's face flushed a furious red. He wildly gestured toward the shadows near the entrance. Salvatore Greco and his menacing gang of muscular men immediately stepped forward, physically blocking the main exit doors.

Lucca sneered maliciously, violently straightening his wrinkled lapels. "Since you're already here, Julian, I want to force a piece of trash like you to stay. You're going to watch your beloved girlfriend marry me with your own two eyes!"

Julian slowly turned his back away from the blocked exit. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he locked unwavering gazes with the furious groom. He asked with deadly calm, his voice dropping an octave, "Are you absolutely sure you want me to attend your wedding?"

Lucca puffed his chest out and proudly shouted, his voice echoing in the lobby, "Yes! I want you to witness your own utter unworthiness to go against the Morello empire!"

Julian's gaze remained unnervingly steady. "All right, then," he said smoothly, the words sliding off his tongue like polished ice. "But a word of warning from me—if I attend your wedding, you won't be getting married today!"

Without waiting for a response, Julian whirled around and strode purposefully up the sweeping grand stairs, heading directly into the opulent, crowded banquet hall on the second floor.

Lucca simply laughed off the chilling threat as the desperate, pathetic bluff of a loser. However, an unsettling knot tightened in his stomach. Refusing to take any chances, he cautiously waved Salvatore over. He sternly ordered the mobster to keep a very close, armed eye on Julian and strictly restrain him at the very first sign of trouble.

Inside the massive hall, Julian ignored the extravagant display and settled quietly into a secluded corner table. He casually picked at the scattered appetizers, his expression completely blank. However, whispers of his scandalous identity as the bride's jilted, ex-convict boyfriend spread like absolute wildfire among the elite guests. They drew countless strange, derisive stares, turning his corner into a circus of harsh judgment.

Julian remained entirely impassive, calmly eating while Salvatore's men spread out along the perimeter of the room, watching him like predatory hawks ready to strike.

Suddenly, the clinking of glasses near him stopped. A seductively dressed woman, her face heavily caked in expensive makeup, sashayed aggressively toward his table. She was accompanied by a smirking young man in a sharp suit. Her sarcastic, grating voice sliced cleanly through the ambient chatter of the entire section.

She loudly announced his presence to the room, ensuring her shrill voice carried as far as possible: "Hey, if it isn't Julian Valenti! When did you get out of prison?"

The surrounding wealthy guests, who had previously assumed he was merely a desperate, heartbroken ex, grew increasingly intrigued and visibly disgusted at the loud, public revelation of his criminal record.