Chapter 3 - The Billionaire's Arrival
"What is the meaning of this commotion?" a deep, commanding voice boomed from the doorway.
Julian Vance—a thirty-two-year-old shipping magnate in a tailored charcoal suit—stepped into the ruined dining room. His sharp, handsome features hardened as his eyes took in the scene: the shattered glass, his crying son, and a bruised waitress clutching her bleeding hand while holding a slapped cheek.
Victoria instantly transformed her expression, dropping to her knees beside Leo and wringing her hands with dramatic sorrow.
"Oh, Julian, thank God you're here!" Victoria sobbed hysterically. "This careless waitress almost killed our little boy! She knocked over the cabinet, and when I confronted her, she attacked me!"
Julian's eyes narrowed as he walked over to his son. He knelt down, pulling Leo into a firm embrace. "Are you hurt, buddy?"
"No, Daddy," Leo snuffled, pointing a tiny finger at Emma. "The lady jumped over me! She got hurt so I wouldn't!"
Julian stood up slowly, his tall frame looming over Emma. He looked at her uniform, her neat hair bun that had come loose during the dive, and the calm, unwavering dignity in her dark eyes.
Something about her face sent a sudden, unexplainable jolt through Julian's chest.
"What is your name?" Julian asked quietly, ignoring Victoria's dramatic weeping in the background.
Emma lifted her head, meeting his gaze directly without a single flinch. "Emma. Emma Bennett."
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At the sound of that name, Victoria's face drained of all color, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably against her silk gown.
👉 Why did the name Emma Bennett send a shockwave of panic through the wealthy stepmother?
