C2 I Believe in You

At Miron's table sat the Evans family's sons-in-law, a group of men whose wealth and power cast a long shadow over Miron's own standing within the family. As they chatted and clinked glasses, exchanging business cards with one another, they completely ignored Miron, treating him as if he were invisible.

"Is everyone here? Let's raise a glass together!" came a voice.

"Brother Mason, it's us who should be raising a glass to you," someone replied.

Mason Evans, with an air of nonchalance, approached with a glass of wine. The other sons-in-law, clearly awestruck, stood up and fawned over him, their faces twisted into obsequious grins as they toasted him. Mason, the son of Carter Evans—the third son and an heir to a significant portion of the Evans empire—held a status that dwarfed those of his fellow in-laws. Carter's influence within the Evans Jewelry Group rivaled that of his elder brother, Henry, making Mason's wealth and influence far exceed those of the other men at the table.

"What's the matter, Miron? You think you're too good to drink with me?" Mason's cold voice cut through the air as he fixed a steely glare on Miron, who had remained seated.

In the briefest of moments, hesitation flickered across Miron's face. That was all it took for Mason to fling his glass of white wine in Miron's direction, dousing his face.

"What's the matter with you? Can't accept a kind gesture? I offer you a drink, and you have the audacity to refuse?" Mason's sneer was filled with contempt, his demeanor overbearing.

The sting of the alcohol on his skin and its sharp smell soaking into his clothes were nothing compared to the humiliation. Yet, no one spoke up for Miron; their faces were etched with scorn.

Miron's eyes sharpened, a fierce edge to his gaze, but he thought of Julietta, tirelessly working for her father, and he held back. He wouldn't add to her burdens.

"Alright, I'll drink to that," Miron said, wiping the wine from his face and rising to his feet, his voice steady.

Mason's lips curled into a cold smile, thinking Miron's submission was the end of it. But as Miron stood, Mason suddenly staggered backward, feigning a fall, and in a sweeping motion, he overturned the table laden with expensive wines and gifts meant for the guests.

The sound of shattering glass filled the room.

But when Miron stood up, Mason took a calculated step back, feigning a fall. He crashed into a banquet table, sending it toppling over with a loud clamor. Dozens of pricey red wine bottles and delicate jade artifacts lay in ruins on the floor, instantly becoming the center of attention in the banquet hall.

"Miron, you good-for-nothing! How dare you lay a hand on me!" Mason bellowed, drawing even more eyes to the unfolding drama.

"What's going on here?"

Rhyd and Julietta made their way over, with the groom, Leon, following close behind, his face etched with concern. The crowd of distinguished guests closed in, eager for the details.

"Ms. Rhyd, Leon, on your very wedding day, this lowlife, Miron, has the audacity to cause a scene and assault me at your celebration. What is this, a mutiny?" Mason spat out the words, glaring at Miron as if he had suffered the ultimate betrayal.

"Miron, what exactly happened?" Leon demanded, barely keeping his anger in check, his tone icy.

"Mason Evans tripped over his own feet. I never touched him," Miron stated truthfully.

"He tripped on his own? Then why is Mason accusing you of hitting him?" Leon pressed, his voice heavy with skepticism.

"Everyone present saw the whole incident. If you doubt my word, feel free to ask them," Miron countered.

"Leon, Miron's just trying to weasel his way out of this. I was simply making a toast when he inexplicably lashed out at me—everyone saw it," Mason insisted, visibly fuming. "To be honest, Leon, if it weren't for the respect I have for you, I would've dealt with him right then and there."

"Can anyone tell me what they actually saw happen?" Leon asked, turning to the Evans family's sons-in-law.

"It's as Mason said. Perhaps Miron's had a bit too much to drink."

"Exactly. Miron was reeking of alcohol, probably from spilling it all over himself. Mason was just coming over to share a drink with us when Miron, for no apparent reason, attacked him."

"Yeah, that's exactly what we saw," declared some of the Evans family sons-in-law, their faces etched with feigned solemnity.

A bitter smile crept across Miron's face as he gaped at them in disbelief. With Mason Evans positioned as the heir to the influential third branch of the Evans family, his clout was undeniable. No one would risk offending Mason for the sake of Miron, a mere son-in-law. They all opted for willful blindness, speaking lies with eyes wide open.

Miron realized that any further explanation was futile. In the world of the Evans family, the weak had no platform for their grievances.

In this hierarchy, Miron was at the bottom rung, his innocence irrelevant. If someone declared him at fault, that became his truth.

"What a spectacle! A few drinks and he forgets his own name!"

"The Evans patriarch must have lost his touch. How could he let such a failure into the family?"

The guests buzzed with gossip, their ridicule sharp and unrestrained.

"Miron, you're completely worthless!" Julietta fumed as she approached him, her face flushed with anger and shame.

She had been in the midst of discussing her father's factory with Ms. Rhyd and Leon, and Miron's debacle had just thrown her into utter mortification.

"You! Apologize to Ms. Rhyd and Leon, now!" Julietta's voice was laced with bitter disappointment, her frustration with Miron palpable.

Meeting Julietta's tear-brimmed eyes, Miron bit back his pride and managed, "Ms. Rhyd, Leon, I'm sorry. My behavior today was inexcusable, and I've disrupted your wedding. Please accept my apologies."

Mason Evans could barely contain his glee from the sidelines, his smug satisfaction clear for all to see. In his mind, he had successfully sabotaged Miron, and no one would dare speak up for him.

"Miron, a man should own up to his mistakes. But instead, you deny your wrongdoing and falsely accuse my brother Mason? You're the kind of person I despise the most!" Rhyd's voice was cold, her face a mask of disdain.

Leon's face was a shade of thunder, his fury magnified by the embarrassing fiasco on his wedding day. With the city's elite in attendance, his reputation was on the line.

"Miron, I reject your apology! I won't stoop to violence today, but I don't want your compensation for the broken gifts either. Just get out of here, now! And make sure you never cross my path again!" Leon's command was icy, leaving no room for argument.

Miron let out a deep sigh, ignoring the curious glances of the other guests, and made his way to the exit of the hall.

Just as he was about to leave, Rhyd blurted out, "Julietta, you wanted my help with your father's predicament, right? Well, I can't stand the sight of Miron any longer. If you divorce that good-for-nothing and banish him from the Evans family for good, I'll take care of your father's factory troubles immediately!"

Miron paused for a moment but didn't look back, continuing his exit from the opulent banquet hall.

Stepping out of the G Vallie Hotel, Miron lit a cigarette, wondering what choice Julietta would make.

"Let's head home."

The sound of a familiar voice caught him off guard. Turning around, Miron's heart stirred at the sight of his wife, Julietta, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Home it is," Miron agreed. "But what about your dad's issue? What's your plan?"

With a fiery look, Julietta declared, "I've said it before—we were bound to divorce at some point. But it will be on my terms, not because they forced my hand."

"We'll figure out another solution for Dad's problem," Miron proposed. "We are family, after all. When they target you, they're disrespecting me too. There's nothing left to discuss with them."

Miron whispered to himself, "Family..."

They walked in silence for a time.

"Miron, I apologize for the things I said at the banquet. I take them all back," Julietta murmured, dabbing away her tears. "I was too angry to think straight. Now that I've calmed down, I realize you would never have hit Mason Evans. And you're not one to drink."

"Do you believe me?" Miron asked.

"I believe you," Julietta affirmed without hesitation.

"Thank you for trusting me."

Looking into Julietta's eyes, Miron resolved then and there to never let down anyone who had such faith in him.