Stop!

The crowd jeered with excitement as they clapped happily. The priest then turned to Ava. Sebastian was smiling sheepishly as Ava tried to force a smile.

"Will you take Mr. Sebastian Debanka to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?" The priest asked Ava. 

She kept mute for sometime, as if she was thinking about making her decision. This was a life and death decision, her choice of reply would determine the life she'd live afterwards. She didn't want to make a mistake as she hesitated. She was scared to give her reply as she stared at the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Julie patted her on the shoulder. The crowd felt emotional as they saw her in tears. They thought she was being emotional because she was happy but only she and Julie knew the truth of her feelings. She wasn't happy at all.

"Come on baby." Sebastian said to her as he tried to persuade her.

"Allow her to take her time." The priest said to him as Sebastian frowned. Ava raised up her head as she tried to suppress the tears. Julie wiped them away with a handkerchief. The microphone was taken closer to her mouth as she was ready to speak.

Just as she opened her mouth to say something, someone shouted "stop" as he barged into the hall.

"Stop!" A voice screamed. Everyone turned to see who it was. Ava's eyes buldged out in fear. It was Maxwell!

"Who are you to stop the wedding? Can't you see that they are exchanging their vows?" A voice from the crowd asked. Maxwell ignored him.

"How much do you want, Mr. Debanka Sebastian?" Maxwell asked with a loud voice. He was dressed in a plain black expensive suit. It was either he was from work, or came for a wedding.

"What the hell are you? Get him out of here!" Sebastian yelled and his men hurried towards Maxwell but he stopped them.

"One more step closer and I'll kill you." Maxwell threatened. Everyone was scared, including Ava.

"Ava, who is he?" Julie asked as she saw how scared her sister was.

"I…" Ava stammered but the right words weren't coming forth.

"How much is your money? I hate to repeat myself twice." Maxwell asked again.

"It's the confidence for me? Who is this bastard?" Sebastian asked as he took a step away from Ava.

"You are the bastard here. For the last time, how much is your money?" Maxwell asked again.

"Get that bug down to his feet!" Sebastian commanded and his men surrounded Maxwell. They pointed guns at him. Everyone got scared as they shrieked out in fear.

"No one should dare leave this place, or else you'll be gunned down!" Sebastian added as he saw the fear that was created among the crowd. They weren't expecting weapons in that place. The men carried the guns in their suits all along, so no one suspected them to have any weapons.

His men also guarded the wedding hall, so they weren't any security men around the corner.

"What is going on here?" Julie asked Ava again as she shook in fear. Ava was really scared upon hearing Maxwell threatening to kill someone but more scared on seeing real guns and thugs, surrounding the whole place.

"Do you really want to turn this place into a massacre hall? Tell your men drop down their guns." Maxwell peacefully told Sebastian, with boldness in his voice.

"Step aside!" Sebastian ordered after he clapped his hands twice. His gun men retreated but still had their guns pointed at Maxwell.

"And the guns?" Maxwell inquired again and Sebastian nodded at them to drop it.

"Who are you and why do you have so much audacity to speak to me that way?" Sebastian asked. 

"My identity is none of your business. I am here for Ava Smith and her sister, not you." Maxwell replied coldly.

"Huh?" Sebastian scoffed.

"That girl is being forced to marry you. You are forcing her to take you as her husband when she doesn't want it." Maxwell announced to everyone's hearing. Some people began to murmur in low voice.

"Quiet!" Sebastian yelled and the hall became dead quiet.

"Release her and I'll pay you whatever you want." Maxwell continued.

"Young man, I'm not the patient type but your guts is too much. Who do you think you are? I will send you to your grave if you don't get out of here now!" Sebastian threatened.

"Enough with the threats! Only the lame and feeble threaten men. Answer me and act like a man and not a coward." Maxwell continued, his confidence scared Sebastian and everyone were scared for this man.

"How dare you!" Sebastian raged in fury. He could no longer hold himself again.

"Tell everyone how you threatened her! Tell everyone how you attempted to rape her! Tell everyone you are marrying her to clear her debts! Tell everyone the beast that you are!" Maxwell replied in the same energy.

"What?!!" Everyone exclaimed including Julie.

"Ava is this true?" Julie asked her sister. Ava couldn't stand the shame as she cried. She wanted to run away but was stopped by Sebastian, who gripped her wrist firmly.

"You are drunk! Kill him!" Sebastian ordered and his men took out her guns to fight Maxwell. He fought every single one of them and shot them down to death.

Everyone was scared on seeing blood everywhere. Sebastian was terrified at who this man was. 

Just after everyone was down, Eric walked in with a black bag and handed it to Maxwell.

"Here is your money! It's half a million dollars and I'm sure that more than enough to cure your greed." Maxwell said as he showed the bag to Sebastian.