Vanessa's friendly mask completely shattered into tiny pieces right in front of the entire audience of wealthy friends and business partners. Her eyes narrowed into angry slits, and her dark eyebrows pulled together as sheer venom replaced her previous gentle expression. She realized that her dream of living in a luxury mansion with endless credit cards was slipping away right now. Outraged by Mark's firm words and refusal to obey her control, Vanessa let her intense temper take over completely without thinking. She turned her glare down toward eight-year-old Chloe, who was peeking out from behind her father's white tuxedo jacket with wide, frightened eyes. Vanessa raised her right hand high in the air, pulling back to slap the helpless little girl hard across her face.
Vanessa: You little brat, you ruined my entire life today!
Chloe: Daddy, help me!
Mark: Do not touch her!
Before Vanessa's hand could strike the small girl, Mark's strong arm shot forward like a lightning bolt through the bright daylight air. He blocked Vanessa's swinging arm with swift precision, catching her wrist with a grip made of solid steel and fierce anger. Without hesitating for a single second, Mark swung his open hand around and forcefully slapped Vanessa hard across her own face. The heavy strike hit her cheek with a loud impact sound that echoed clearly across every corner of the silent ballroom. Vanessa gasped out loud as the force of the blow sent her stumbling backward across the floor, tripping on her dress. She hit the edge of a flower stand and fell onto the floor, clutching her red, bruised cheek with trembling hands.
Vanessa: Ah! You slapped me! You actually hit me!
Eleanor: How dare you strike my daughter in front of these people!
Mark: Touch my daughter again and I will destroy your life.
The entire room erupted into shocking gasps and loud whispers as guests stood up from their golden seats to see the drama clearly. Eleanor rushed to her daughter's side, helping Vanessa sit up from the light marble floor while glaring hatefully at Mark. Vanessa was crying real tears now, but not from sadness or heartbreak; her tears came from pure embarrassment and defeated fury. Her makeup was smeared across her pale face, and her red cheek showed the exact outline of Mark's angry strike. Mark stood tall under the bright natural daylight, looking down at both women like a protective giant who would never back down. Chloe held tight to her father's left leg, feeling completely safe for the first time on that strange, chaotic wedding day.
Mark: You thought you could trick me and remove my child from my home.
Vanessa: She does not belong here! She is just in our way!
Mark: She belongs here more than you ever could, you greedy snake.
Mark stepped forward, his cold eyes locked directly onto Vanessa's trembling frame as her mother tried to pull her up away from him. The crowd fell quiet once more, eager to hear every single word spoken by the powerful businessman defending his only young child. Mark drew the signed boarding school document from his pocket, holding it next to the crumpled note in his strong hands. He looked at his lawyer, Marcus, who was standing near the second row with a phone already raised to his ear. Marcus nodded firmly back to Mark, understanding exactly what legal steps needed to happen next to eliminate these dangerous women completely. The fake marriage was over before it even began, saving Mark and Chloe from years of hidden abuse and misery.
Mark: Marcus, call security and have both of them removed immediately.
Marcus: Security is already at the front double doors, Mark.
Vanessa: You cannot throw me out! We signed a contract together!