Chapter 3 - THE UNINVITED QUEEN
I didn't look at Julian. I didn't look at Chloe.
I stepped into the center of the ballroom, every step echoing on the polished marble like the ticking of an executioner's clock. Behind me marched two senior executives from Vance International's legal team, holding silver briefcases.
"Clarissa?!" Julian shouted, breaking the dead silence as he marched toward me, his face red with a mix of embarrassment and explosive anger. He grabbed my arm roughly—or tried to, before one of my father’s bodyguards step in, grabbing Julian’s wrist with a force that made the CEO wince in pain.
"Let go of me!" Julian snarled at the guard before turning his furious gaze back to me. "What the hell are you doing here?! How did you get in? Where did you steal that dress and those fake jewels?!"
Chloe rushed up beside him, her voice shrieking across the silent room. "She snuck in! Security! Security, get this crazy woman out of here! She’s trying to humiliate Julian! Look at her, she’s wearing replica jewelry to mock us!"
The General Manager of the Grand Hyatt stepped forward, his eyes burning with absolute ice as he looked at Chloe. "Miss Miller, if you raise your voice at this lady again, I will have you physically dragged out to the curb in handcuffs."
Julian spat. "Are you insane, Manager? Do you know who I am?! I am Julian Cross, CEO of Apex Group! We are hosting this event! I am paying for this entire floor!"
"Correction, Mr. Cross," a smooth, authoritative voice spoke up from behind me. It was Richard Sterling, the Chief Global Legal Counsel for Vance International. He stepped forward, opening a leather dossier. "You were leasing this floor under a temporary corporate credit line issued by City Trust Bank. A credit line that was revoked precisely seven minutes ago."
Julian stared at Richard, his breath catching. "What... what are you talking about? Who are you?"
"I am Richard Sterling, representative of Vance International," Richard said calmly, adjusting his rimless glasses. "And the woman you just referred to as your 'pathetic wife' is Clarissa Vance. Sole heir, Vice-Chairwoman, and majority owner of the Vance Financial Trust."
A violent silence dropped over the ballroom.
You could hear the faint hum of the air conditioning. Board members of Apex Group looked at each other, their faces instantly turning grey.
Julian laughed nervously, a frantic, hysterical sound. "Clarissa... Vance? Don't be ridiculous! Her father was an unemployed high school teacher who died broke! She didn't have a penny when I married her! She’s been living off my generosity for three years!"
I finally turned my eyes toward Julian. The coldness in my gaze made him stumble back a step.
"I let you believe that, Julian," I said, my voice echoing clearly across the frozen crowd. "Because I wanted to see if you loved me for who I was, or what I could offer. You proved tonight that you didn't even see me as a human being."
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"Clarissa, stop this ridiculous act!" Chloe shrieked, clutching Julian’s arm. "You think dressing up in costumed clothes makes you a billionaire?! Julian, call the police! She’s ruining your big night!"
Before Julian could answer, the heavy double doors smashed open once more.
