HIS FIANCÉE SLAPPED THE MAID IN FRONT OF EVERYONE — THEN THE BILLIONAIRE TOOK OFF HIS JACKET
HIS FIANCÉE SLAPPED THE MAID IN FRONT OF EVERYONE — THEN THE BILLIONAIRE TOOK OFF HIS JACKET
The slap echoed through the ballroom so loudly that the orchestra stopped playing.
Three hundred guests turned toward the marble staircase.
Emily Carter stood frozen beside the champagne table, one hand pressed against her burning cheek.
Across from her, Victoria Langley lifted her chin.
“How dare you touch my glass?”
Emily's voice trembled.
“I was only trying to keep it from falling, ma'am.”
Victoria laughed.
“You're a maid. Know your place.”
Several guests looked away.
Nobody wanted to challenge the future wife of Chicago's most powerful businessman.
Nobody except the man standing at the top of the staircase.
Alexander Kane.
He owned half the buildings in downtown Chicago.
And according to rumors, the other half belonged to people who owed him favors.
Victoria noticed him and immediately smiled.
“Alexander, darling, she dropped champagne on my dress.”
Emily looked down.
There wasn't a single drop on Victoria's dress.
Alexander slowly descended the stairs.
“Did she?”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes. In front of everyone.”
Alexander stopped three feet away.
“Emily.”
She looked up.
“Yes, Mr. Kane?”
“Did you spill anything on her?”
“No.”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“She is lying.”
Alexander didn't look at Victoria.
“Emily, go get yourself cleaned up.”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“She isn't going anywhere until she apologizes.”
Alexander finally turned toward his fiancée.
“Apologize for what?”
“For embarrassing me.”
The room became silent.
Alexander's expression hardened.
“You embarrassed yourself.”
Victoria's face reddened.
“You're defending a servant?”
“No.”
Alexander removed his black suit jacket.
He walked toward Emily.
Then, in front of three hundred guests, he gently placed the expensive jacket over her shoulders.
Emily stared at him in disbelief.
“You're shaking,” he said quietly.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you're not.”
Victoria exploded.
“Take that jacket off her!”
Alexander didn't move.
“Why?”
“Because she's touching something that belongs to you!”
Alexander looked at Victoria.
Then at Emily.
Then back at Victoria.
“She doesn't belong to anyone.”
A murmur moved through the ballroom.
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
“You're making me look foolish.”
Alexander's voice became dangerously calm.
“You managed that without my help.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Do you have any idea who my father is?”
Alexander gave a cold smile.
“Yes.”
“My father controls half the city's construction contracts.”
“And tomorrow,” Alexander replied, “he won't control mine.”
Victoria's expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Call your father.”
Victoria hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because the engagement is over.”
Gasps erupted around the ballroom.
Victoria stared at him.
“You can't be serious.”
“I've never been more serious.”
She pointed toward Emily.
“This little nobody?”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Don't call her that again.”
Victoria suddenly grabbed Emily's wrist.
“You ruined everything!”
Emily cried out.
Alexander immediately stepped between them.
“Let go.”
Victoria released her.
But Emily stumbled backward.
Alexander caught her before she fell.
For one brief second, their eyes met.
Emily whispered,
“Why are you doing this?”
Alexander's expression softened.
“Because eleven days ago, you saved my life.”
Emily froze.
Victoria stared at them.
“What?”
Alexander turned toward the guests.
“Eleven days ago, someone poisoned my drink during a private dinner.”
The ballroom went silent.
“I survived because Emily noticed something was wrong and knocked the glass from my hand.”
Victoria's face went pale.
“That was an accident.”
“No.”
Alexander looked directly at her.
“She knew.”
Victoria stepped backward.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Alexander raised his phone.
“I have security footage.”
A large screen behind the orchestra suddenly came alive.
The footage showed Victoria entering the private dining room earlier that night.
She approached Alexander's glass.
The room gasped.
Victoria's voice cracked.
“That's not what it looks like.”
Alexander stared at her.
“Then explain it.”
She couldn't.
Emily looked at the screen, then at Alexander.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Then why did you let me keep working here?”
Alexander lowered his voice.
“Because I needed to know who I could trust.”
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“And now?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Now I know.”
He took her hand.
Across the ballroom, Victoria watched in horror as security officers approached.
But before they reached her, her father called Alexander.
Alexander answered.
A voice screamed through the phone.
“You don't know what you've just started!”
Alexander's expression suddenly changed.
He looked toward the ballroom doors.
Then he whispered,
“Everyone out. Now.”
Emily tightened her grip on his hand.
“What's wrong?”
Alexander stared at the dark windows.
“Because whoever hired Victoria…”
He paused.
“…just sent someone to finish the job.”
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