Chapter 1 - The Shattered Cup at Midnight
The sharp sound of breaking ceramic echoed through the faded retro diner, freezing every patron in absolute terror.
Vincent Moretti, a powerful sixty-something crime boss in a tailored dark suit and a flashing gold watch, hurled the white coffee cup across the counter. Dark, boiling coffee exploded mid-air, splashing violently across thirty-year-old Emily’s face and sky-blue waitress uniform. The white collar and pristine apron were instantly stained in dark brown blotches.
"I asked for fresh coffee, not this garbage!" Vincent roared, his harsh voice rattling the glass windows of the diner.
The elderly patrons in the booths gasped, cowering into their seats. Two beefy bodyguards in black coats took a step forward, hands resting inside their jackets.
Emily flinched as the scorching liquid dripped down her burning cheek and curly brown hair. She closed her eyes for a brief second, taking a single, steady breath. When she opened them, there was no fear, no crying, and no begging. Only cold, fearless dignity.
She wiped her face with the corner of her apron, looking Vincent dead in the eye.
"You could have asked for another cup without throwing it at my head," Emily said in a steady, quiet whisper that cut through the silence like a razor.
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At the glass doorway, a tall, handsome thirty-something man in a tailored dark suit with an open-collar shirt stood frozen. It was Matteo Moretti, Vincent’s son and heir. His eyes locked onto Emily’s face with intense, sudden disbelief.
👉 Read on to discover why the Mob boss froze when Emily looked back at him.
