Billionaires, politicians, and celebrities erupted in applause. Cameras flashed like lightning. But my eyes locked on Marco—and I watched his champagne glass slip.
CRASH!
His face went pale. His body trembled. Valerie froze, her smile replaced with fear.
“C-Clara…?” Marco whispered, voice shaking, as if air itself had betrayed him. “I-Imposible… s-she’s my wife…”
I walked slowly toward him, guests parting like the Red Sea. I stopped inches from his trembling figure and let my gaze travel over him, mirroring the contempt he had shown me hours before.
“Good evening, Marco,” I said, my smile icy. “I’m here. Sorry I’m a bit late. My husband burned the dress I was supposed to wear.”
Executives nearby exchanged puzzled glances.
“B-Babe… w-what does this mean…?” Marco stammered. “Y-You’re the Chairwoman…?! You own Vanguard Empire?!”
“The company you’re so proud of? Yes, it’s mine,” I replied smoothly. Then I turned to Valerie, who now shook in terror.
“And you, Valerie. Didn’t you tell my husband you’d look perfect together tonight because you both come from high society? What a pity—you’ll both be unemployed by tomorrow.”
Valerie’s confession tumbled out. “M-Madame Chairwoman… I didn’t know he was your husband! He was the one who flirted with me!”
The Final Punishment
Marco sank to his knees. The man who had called me trash hours ago now wept in front of hundreds.
“Clara! Forgive me! I didn’t mean it! I was drunk when I burned your dress! I love you, Clara! We’re family!”
Two bodyguards stepped forward, halting his reach for my gown.
“Don’t touch my dress, Marco. It might get dirty—just like you said earlier,” I replied coldly. I turned to Mr. Sebastian.
“Draft his termination papers. Revoke his promotion. Take back the company car. Blacklist him from every corporation in Asia. And audit his personal assets—I want everything he built using my money reclaimed.”
