Chapter 3

Sunrise Hotel.

The black bulletproof sedan swung in a tight arc and stopped at the hotel entrance. Behind it, several dark green military Humvees followed close behind, kicking up clouds of dust.

The convoy came to a halt.

Jack pushed open the door and stepped out, his leather shoes clicking crisply against the marble pavement. He looked up at the Sunrise Hotel before him, grand and imposing, with a bright red banner hanging over the enormous archway:

"Congratulations to Isabella Simpson and Bill Sanchez on Their Wedding"

Jack merely gave it an indifferent glance before looking away. He carried a square object in his hands, covered with a heavy black velvet cloth. Then, with long strides, he walked straight toward the hotel entrance.

At that moment, the hotel greeter noticed this uninvited guest.

"Sir, please stop."

A staff member extended an arm to block Jack's path, watching him with a wary, scrutinizing look. "May I ask who you are?"

"Here for the wedding." Jack stopped, his voice calm and unruffled.

For the wedding?

The staff member was slightly taken aback, then smiled professionally. "Then, may I see your invitation?"

After all, the Sunrise Hotel had been reserved for the day. This wedding banquet was by invitation only from Isabella, and no unauthorized persons could enter.

"Don't have one."

Jack's expression remained calm, as if discussing something trivial.

Don't have one?

The staff member's smile instantly froze, then turned into a hint of annoyance.

He looked Jack and Joseph up and down. These two men carried a dangerous air about them - they didn't look like wedding guests at all, but more like troublemakers.

"I'm sorry, sir." The staff member's expression turned cold, and he made a gesture for them to leave. "Without an invitation, you cannot enter. Please leave immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand.

Several security guards in black suits quickly moved in from both sides of the hotel entrance, folding their arms and glaring menacingly at Jack and Joseph.

But just then, the ground gave off a strange tremor, as if some massive creature was approaching.

The staff member turned around in confusion. In the very next second, his pupils contracted sharply, and his entire body froze in place as if struck by lightning, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.

At the far end of the street outside the hotel, a roaring column of armored vehicles was bearing down on them.

They were countless camouflage combat vehicles, like a steel dragon, rumbling over the road with overwhelming force. The ground tremor from earlier was the resonance of this mighty army advancing.

Sharp braking sounds rang out in unison.

The convoy stopped in perfect formation at the hotel entrance, instantly sealing off the entire Sunrise Hotel.

The vehicle doors were pushed open almost simultaneously.

Countless soldiers in camouflage uniforms and steel helmets leaped from the vehicles. They held M4 carbines, their tactical movements crisp and efficient as they formed an impenetrable cordon.

Everywhere the eye could see was solemn military green, and the air rang with the metallic clatter of weapons.

A fully armed sergeant hurried over to Jack, snapped to attention, gave a textbook military salute, and shouted loudly:

"Report! Viridis State Marine Corps Third Battalion assembled! Full lockdown of the hotel perimeter in effect! Awaiting orders!"

As his shout echoed through the air, hundreds of soldiers in front racked their rifles in unison, black gun barrels aimed at the hotel entrance, countless eyes staring ahead through scopes, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder and deadly intent.

"This..."

The greeting staff member's legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, his face pale as paper.

Those security guards who had been aggressive moments ago were now trembling with fear, their batons clattering to the ground.

Marine Corps?

An entire battalion?

My God!

What do they want to do?

Storm the hotel?

They were just security guards with rubber batons - where had they ever seen such a scene - an endless steel torrent, a war machine armed to the teeth!

"Stand by."

Jack said these words lightly, as if merely discussing the weather.

He walked slowly to the collapsed staff member and looked down at him, his voice cold and utterly devoid of warmth:

"Now... may I go in?"

The staff member trembled all over, his teeth chattering together. He couldn't even get out a complete sentence and could only nod desperately.

Jack withdrew his gaze, no longer paying attention to this frightened nobody.

"You all wait here."

Jack said to the people behind him.

Then he walked into the hotel with steady steps. Joseph stood at attention, and the soldiers behind him stood as straight as ramrods, blocking the entrance.

As for the supervisor and those security guards, seeing this situation, they kept swallowing nervously but didn't dare move.

They could only huddle in the corner, shaking in fear...

Inside the hotel banquet hall, it was magnificent and glamorous, filled with well-dressed guests.

The huge crystal chandelier cast brilliant light, illuminating the fake yet eager smiles on every guest's face.

The champagne tower reflected the light, and the air was filled with expensive perfume and the aroma of food.

Isabella wore a white mermaid wedding dress, her arm linked with her groom Bill's, standing on the platform accepting everyone's blessings. She was radiant, every gesture showing the elegance and dignity of a high society lady.

Before them.

The priest was conducting the ceremony. "Bill, do you take Isabella Simpson to be your wife, and promise to care for her, respect her, and be faithful to her in your future life together, until death do you part?"

The groom Bill Sanchez looked at Isabella and nodded, saying, "I do."

The priest turned his gaze to Isabella. "Isabella... do you..."

"She doesn't."

Before the priest could finish.

A deep voice rang out like thunder.

Immediately after, the banquet hall doors were pushed open with a loud bang, interrupting the entire ceremony.

Instantly.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance.

A young man in a suit, tall and well-built, slowly walked in. His face was expressionless as he stepped into the hall, his deep eyes flashing with cold light, his black boots hitting the floor with a heart-stopping rhythm.

"Who are you?"

Bill asked with a frown, his voice icy.

Today was his big day, and someone actually dared to cause trouble - they must have a death wish.

"Where are the security guards? Where did they all go?" Bill's face turned dark as he shouted toward the entrance.

The supervisor and guards at the entrance heard his voice, but looking at the dark gun barrels in front of them, they didn't dare move.

Jack paid no attention to Bill's shouting. His gaze cut through the crowd and landed directly on Isabella. The woman was in her thirties, with a graceful figure and outstanding charm - a beautiful woman. No wonder William had fallen for her.

What a pity. William had been deceived. This was a femme fatale!

The moment Isabella saw Jack, the smile on her face froze. Now, as Jack stared at her, she felt like prey being watched by a wild beast.

At the same time.

She found Jack somewhat familiar.

But she couldn't remember where she'd seen him.

"Who are you, and why have you come to disrupt my wedding?" Isabella asked coldly, her voice icy.

"Just here to deliver a gift."

In Jack's hand.

He took out what he was holding.

Then, under the puzzled gazes of everyone in the hall, Jack slowly lifted the black cloth covering it.

The next moment.

The whole room erupted.

Countless people stared wide-eyed at Jack.

Under the black cloth wasn't anything unusual - just a photograph.

A photograph!

Of William!

William's photograph!

In the photo, William looked kind, with a smile on his face - clearly a gentle person.

The next instant.

Everyone turned their eyes to Isabella.

Seeing William's photograph, Isabella's pupils suddenly contracted, her body trembled, and she stumbled backward several steps in her high heels, nearly falling to the ground.

"Who the hell are you!"

Isabella's voice was shrill. She had completely lost her composure, pointing at Jack and shouting hysterically.

Bill's face turned extremely ugly. Tremendous anger surged through his nerves, making his temples throb.

"Today is my and Isabella's wedding. What do you mean bringing a dead man's photo? Someone! Throw this lunatic out!"

As his words fell.

A burly bodyguard rushed toward Jack, cursing as he went. "Where did this bastard come from, daring to cause trouble with such an unlucky thing? Today is Isabella's wedding, that dead..."

The bodyguard hadn't finished speaking.

A dark shadow flashed.

The bodyguard only felt his vision blur. The next moment, a sharp pain shot through his chest, accompanied by the clear sound of breaking bones echoing through the hall.

Then came a piercing scream.

The bodyguard who had been so arrogant moments ago now flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily in front of Isabella and Bill, knocking over a table. The champagne tower on it spilled everywhere, the sound of shattering glass crystal clear.

The guests screamed in fright and scattered in all directions.

Looking at the fallen bodyguard, Jack calmly withdrew his leg, his eyes still cold. He looked around, and no one dared meet his gaze.

"Who are you, and why are you disrupting my wedding?"

Isabella stared hard at Jack, asking in a cold voice.

Jack raised his eyes.

Looking at the woman before him, Jack's lips curved into a cold smile, containing a mixture of mockery and killing intent.

He didn't answer directly. Instead, he stepped forward, staring down Isabella. His voice wasn't loud, but it rang out like thunder in the dead-silent banquet hall.

"Technically speaking, I should call you mother."

Isabella's whole body stiffened, her pupils trembling violently.

She finally remembered.

William had an adopted son.

She had seen Jack's photo before in William's room, but in that photo, Jack was still very young - you could say he and the man before her were two different people.

However, their eyes and brows were the same!

No wonder she had felt that sense of familiarity earlier.

"You are..." Isabella's lips trembled.

Jack's gaze cut across Isabella's face like a blade. He glanced around and clearly stated his own name.

"That's right. I'm Jack. Jack Carter."

This statement was like thunder on flat ground, instantly setting off the entire room.

"Jack Carter? He's from the Carter family?"

"I remember William did have an adopted son. It must be him."

"This just got interesting."

The surrounding guests erupted in an uproar, exclamations rising one after another.

Everyone knew there was something fishy about William's death, but Isabella was clever, and with the mafia's shadow behind it all, those rumors were eventually suppressed.

No one expected that William's adopted son would return at this exact moment.