Chapter 16
One year later, Thane’s law firm went public on Wall Street, quickly emerging as one of the most prominent breakout successes among firms in recent years.
Champagne towers reflected dazzling lights, and among the elegant crowd were business elites and tech moguls from around the
world.
As one of the founding partners, Sierra stood beside Thane, receiving congratulations from all directions.
As the party reached its climax, Thane, the star of the evening, was pushed onto the stage.
He held the microphone, thanking all guests and team members. Finally, his gaze crossed the crowd and landed tenderly on Sierra.
The room fell quiet-everyone sensed what was coming.
Thane stepped down from the stage and walked to Sierra step by step. Under countless cameras and gazes, he knelt on one knee and opened a velvet box.
Inside lay a brilliant diamond ring.
“Sierra, the days with you have been the happiest of my life. I hope to extend this happiness into the next fifty years, or even longer.”
He looked up at her, his eyes surging with love. “Will you… marry me?”
“Say yes! Say yes!” The crowd began cheering, applause thundering.
Eli was even more excited, tugging at Sierra’s dress hem, his big eyes sparkling. “Mommy! Say yes to Uncle Thane!”
Sierra’s eyes welled up as memories of the past year flooded her heart.
She slowly extended her hand, about to speak.
“I object!”
A voice pierced through the joyful atmosphere.
The crowd automatically parted.
Magnus stood there.
Like a lone wolf that had been hunting prey in the wilderness for a year, exhausted but sustained by sheer obsession, he stared fixedly at Sierra,
The party music stopped, and everyone’s eyes moved between the three of them.
Sierra’s body trembled uncontrollably as hatred buried in her heart’s depths burned in her chest.
Thane immediately shielded her and Eli behind him, his expression darkening.
Magnus’s gaze swept past Thane. “Sierra… don’t say yes!”
Her response was resolute action.
She took the ring from Thane’s box and placed it on her ring finger.
Then she raised her hand, turned to look at Thane, and said firmly, “Thane, I’m willing to marry you.”
Magnus’s tall frame swayed violently, as if struck hard in the chest by a heavy hammer.
He stared at that ring, so blindingly painful it nearly brought bloody tears.
“Eli…” He grasped at his last lifeline, turning toward the little boy hiding behind Thane with only half his head showing. “Eli, come here, come to Daddy. It’s Daddy…”
Eli peeked out, glancing at him timidly.
That face so similar to his own showed no affection, no longing-only wariness.
Eli hugged Thane’s leg tightly, buried his face against it, and shook his head vigorously.
“Magnus,” Thane’s dismissive intent was obvious. “If you don’t want to embarrass yourself further, please leave.”
He signaled to nearby security personnel.
Two burly guards immediately stepped forward, flanking Magnus.
“Get away!” Magnus broke free from their grip, glaring at Thane with bloodshot eyes. “What are you? How dare you steal my wife
and son!”
Thane pulled Sierra and Eli closer behind him. “Sierra and Eli are my family now.”
“Family?” Magnus repeated those words, laughing maniacally.
The guards approached again, trying to escort him out.
Then something no one expected happened.
Magnus suddenly pulled a black handgun from his jacket’s inner pocket. The cold barrel gleamed with deadly light under the party’s illumination, aimed directly at Thane’s forehead.
“Let’s see who dares to move!”