Chapter 29: Superficial Affections

Leo Vance stood completely frozen, his mind scrambling to process what had just happened.

Only ten minutes ago, Miss Ross was crying and begging him to stop the engagement! How could she suddenly change her mind so drastically?!

The Ross family held far greater financial leverage than the Vance family. If Miss Ross actually fell in love with Julian, wouldn’t that give Julian an unshakeable foothold in high society?

"Miss Ross... why?" Leo asked, his voice strained as he forced a gentle, mournful expression. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

Miss Ross offered a bright, smitten smile. "Because he’s breathtakingly handsome! He looks like he walked straight out of a fairy tale."

Leo’s hands clenched into tight fists, his nails digging painfully into his palms.

It turned out her feelings for him had been purely surface-level all along! The moment a man with far superior looks appeared, she discarded him without a second thought. How utterly superficial!

"Miss Ross," Leo said, forcing a soft, approving smile. "It’s wonderful that you like my brother so much. I sincerely wish you both happiness."

"Thank you, Leo! I definitely will be happy," Miss Ross replied cheerfully.

As she wheeled herself toward the refreshment table, Leo watched her go, a dark, venomous glint flashing in his eyes.

He had spent months carefully cultivating her affection to manipulate the marriage alliance, only for Julian’s mere appearance to ruin everything.

Fine, Leo thought maliciously. Once you two are married, I’ll find a way to permanently ruin Julian’s face. Let’s see if she still loves a disfigured cripple!

Besides, as long as Julian married into the Ross family, he would be completely removed from the Vance family inheritance race.

========================================================

Meanwhile, outside the main doors of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, a covert operative stationed by Victoria Sterling approached a venue security guard.

"Excuse me," the operative asked casually, "what kind of private event is taking place inside tonight?"

"Oh, it’s the high-profile engagement banquet for Miss Ross and Young Master Vance," the guard answered politely.

The bodyguard frowned. Young Master Vance? Master Julian is already with Miss Sterling—why would he be getting engaged to another woman?

Realizing the potential gravity of the situation, the bodyguard pressed further. "Do you happen to know the groom’s full name?"

The guard paused, thinking for a moment. "I think his name is Julian Vance."

The operative’s eyes widened in horror.

He quickly pulled out his phone, opened a secret photo file, and displayed a picture of Julian. "Is this the man?"

"Yep, that’s him!" the guard recognized Julian instantly. "You don’t forget a face like that."

We are so dead, the operative thought, cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

Over the past few weeks, Miss Sterling had been in an exceptionally bright mood purely because of Master Julian. If she found out he was secretly getting engaged to another heiress behind her back, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Without wasting a second, the operative dialed Victoria’s private line.

Inside an executive suite on the top floor of a commercial tower, Victoria Sterling was wrapping up a multi-million-dollar partnership discussion with a corporate CEO.

While the executive was reviewing the contract clauses, a notification pinged on Victoria’s phone.

It was a text from Julian:

[ Victoria, it’s only been seven hours since I left the manor, but I miss you already. ]

Attached was a charming selfie of him throwing a small hand-heart gesture toward the camera.

Victoria’s slender fingers tapped out a rapid response:

[ I miss my Julian too. ]

A soft, radiant warmth melted the usual icy demeanor in her dark eyes.

The client looked up to ask a question, only to freeze in shock. In all previous negotiations, President Sterling had been as unyielding and terrifying as a tyrant. Seeing her smile so tenderly at a phone screen felt almost surreal.

Is President Sterling... in love?! The client quickly dismissed the thought. Impossible. She despises intimacy with men.how could this female tyrant be in love.

"President Sterling, regarding section three of the terms—"

Before the client could finish, Victoria’s phone rang with a high-priority tone.

She tapped the screen, placing the phone to her ear. "Speak."

"M-Miss Sterling! Something terrible has happened!" the operative reported anxiously over the line. "Master Julian is currently inside the Grand Hyatt Hotel... attending his own engagement banquet with Miss Ross!"

The temperature in the executive suite seemed to drop fifty degrees in a fraction of a second. A suffocating, terrifying aura erupted from Victoria, radiating pure rage.

The client shivered uncontrollably, pulling his jacket tightly around himself. What on earth just happened?! Why did she suddenly go completely demonic?!

"Location," Victoria demanded, her voice deceptively calm, laced with lethal authority.

"The Grand Hyatt Hotel, main ballroom!"

Clack. Victoria ended the call immediately.

"Something urgent requires my attention. We will reschedule," she announced coldly, sweeping out of the suite without waiting for a reply.

Her dark eyes burned with an unhinged, possessive fury.

Julian... you promised you wouldn’t mess around with other women. You said you would stay by my side and be good to me.

You lied to me.

I told you what happens if you lie to me... I’ll lock you away where no one else can ever look at you again.

Behind her, her executive assistant, Evelyn, rushed to catch up. "President Sterling, what happened?"

Receiving no answer, Evelyn quickly checked her secure channel and saw the emergency report from the operative. Her heart sank.

Master Julian was actually getting engaged to another woman behind Miss Sterling’s back!

Back inside the executive sedan, secretory Evelyn glanced nervously at the backseat. "President Sterling... could there be some kind of misunderstanding regarding Master Julian’s presence there?"

"There is no misunderstanding," Victoria murmured softly, staring out the tinted window at the passing city lights. "He never intended to stay with me. He only acted so gentle and sweet to drop my guard so I would grant him freedom."

She had let herself believe he genuinely cared for her. In the end, it was all just a calculated act to escape her.

No one can ever truly love a monster like me...

Since gentle devotion couldn’t keep Julian by her side, she would simply have to resort to absolute force.

"Evelyn," Victoria commanded in a low, chilling tone. "Mobilize thirty armed operatives from security division one. Have them converge on the Grand Hyatt Hotel immediately."

Evelyn swallowed hard, feeling a wave of pity for Julian Vance.

Master Julian... you had better pray you have a flawless explanation. If this engagement is real, not even heaven can save you from Miss Sterling tonight