Chapter 4
The headlights of the black sedan cut through the tinted glass of the storefront, painting long, distorted beams across the marble floor.
Victoria blinked against the glare, her mind spinning from the cascade of revelations.
"That’s Julian," Martha whispered, her voice devoid of panic, carrying only a heavy, inevitable judgment.
"He said he was meeting with the caterers for the rehearsal dinner," Victoria said, her voice hollow.
"He was meeting with his father's lawyers to finalize the asset transfer," Martha corrected.
"The wedding is not a union of love, Victoria.
It’s a corporate merger of stolen guilt."
The front door chimed as the brass bell overhead swayed.
Julian Vance stepped into the showroom, shedding his tailored charcoal overcoat with practiced ease.
He possessed the effortless, chisled charm of a man who had never faced a consequence in his life.
"Tori, darling," Julian called out, his voice rich and smooth.
"You won't believe the tasting at the venue—"
Julian stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the elderly woman in the chef's hat standing beside his bride-to-be.
His smile flickered for a fraction of a second, a micro-expression of pure, unadulterated panic crossing his features before he masked it with professional cordiality.
"Ah, the catering staff is arriving early, I see," Julian said, stepping forward with an easy laugh.
"Listen, good woman, we are in the middle of a private fitting.
Here is a hundred dollars.
Take the back service elevator."
Martha did not move an inch.
She turned her head slowly, fixing those glowing blue eyes on Julian Vance.
Julian’s stride faltered.
He squinted, trying to focus on the old woman’s face under the harsh showroom lights.
"Have we met?" Julian asked, his voice tightening slightly.
"You look familiar."
"I am the ghost of the ledger you balanced with human lives, Julian," Martha said softly.
May you like
Julian’s face drained of its natural color.
He looked at Victoria, then back at Martha, and his hand dropped instinctively to the heavy gold signet ring on his right pinky finger.
