Chapter 32: The Arrival of the Empress

Thirty elite, dark-suited operatives had been waiting outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel since early evening.

As Victoria Sterling’s dark limousine glided to a halt in the VIP driveway, the men instantly dispersed and formed two disciplined lines framing the path to the main entrance.

Victoria opened the rear door and stepped out onto the marble pavement.

"President Sterling!" they greeted in unison, bowing deeply.

The venue’s security guards stood frozen in sheer disbelief. Even when the hotel owner conducted annual inspections, there was never a display of power this intimidating.

A short distance away, Secretory Evelyn stood near the vehicle, holding her phone to her ear as she listened to the covert operative stationed inside the banquet hall.

"What’s the status now?" Evelyn asked nervously. "Are you absolutely sure Master Julian is actually participating in the ceremony? Could it be a casual meeting?"

"The ceremony is in full swing," the operative reported in a hushed whisper. "We’re inside the main hall. Master Julian is standing on the center stage, and Miss Ross is right beside him. There’s zero mistake."

Evelyn felt a wave of absolute despair wash over her.

Master Julian... you were acting so sweet and devoted to President Sterling this morning! How could you turn around and get engaged to another woman in the evening?!

If Julian had been putting on an elaborate charade just to deceive her boss, he was utterly doomed—and so was anyone caught in the crossfire. Victoria’s wrath would be legendary.

Evelyn frantically tried dialing Julian’s cell phone once more, only for the automated operator to repeat:

[ The party you are calling is currently unavailable... ]

Evelyn clasped her hands together, sighing heavily. Master Julian... you had better pray for your own soul.

Victoria narrowed her dark, dangerous eyes, her voice dropping to a freezing whisper as she looked toward the entrance. "Julian... you’ve been a very bad boy. Don’t blame me for what happens next."

She stepped briskly into the hotel lobby.

The hotel security guards immediately backed away, cowering near the side pillars.

"Why aren’t you stopping them?!" a newly hired guard hissed, trembling. "They’re obviously here to crash the event!"

"Stop them with what?!" an older guard muttered under his breath. "We make three thousand dollars a month. You want to throw your life away for minimum wage? Look at her—she’s a top-tier billionaire who could erase us before breakfast. Stand still and keep your mouth shut!"

In truth, every guard in the lobby was dying to see what was about to unfold inside.

Up on stage, Julian felt a massive headache coming on. These families talked way too much, barely giving him a split second to officially decline the engagement.

"Arthur," Mr. Ross said with a polite nod, "I must thank you for raising such a fine son."

"Not at all, Mr Ross," Arthur Vance beamed, soaking in the social validation. "I should thank you for bringing such a sweet, obedient daughter into our family fold."

The emcee cleared his throat, raising his microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Let us congratulate this magnificent young couple on their official engagement!"

A polite round of applause echoed through the hall as guests offered generic praise.

"Next, will the couple please exchange engagement rings?" the emcee announced smoothly.

Julian picked up the velvet ring box from the tray. The diamond band was undeniably exquisite, but he had zero intention of putting it on anyone’s finger.

Even setting aside Victoria’s terrifying possessiveness, Miss Ross in the original novel was completely unhinged. The previous owner of this body had been forced into the marriage, only to endure daily verbal and physical abuse from her family.

Miss Ross reached her hand toward him, smiling brightly. "Julian, hurry and put it on for me!"

"I—" just has Julian started to speak.

Bang!

Before he could finish his sentence, the heavy double doors of the grand ballroom burst open. A tactical squad of thirty burly, black-clad operatives marched inside, forming a strict perimeter around the perimeter.

The entire ballroom fell into a stunned silence.

"What is going on?! Who are those bodyguards?"

"I don’t know... but they look lethal!"

Julian’s heart skipped a beat, a sickening knot forming in his stomach.

A tall, breathtaking figure emerged from the shadows of the doorway.

Victoria Sterling stepped into the hall, wearing a high-collared crimson cheongsam under an unbuttoned black trench coat. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and her icy, emotionless face radiated the chilling authority of an empress who had returned from hell.

A collective gasp swept across the room.

"Who is that woman?! She’s ridiculously gorgeous... but her aura is terrifying!"

"Is she here to crash the wedding?!"

Julian’s eyes widened in sheer panic.

How on earth is Victoria here right now?! Didn’t Butler Chen say she had a late corporate banquet that wouldn’t finish until ten?!

Oh crap... she thinks I lied to her!

He remembered her dark promise from yesterday—if he tried to leave her or get involved with another woman, she would lock him up for the rest of his natural life.

I need to explain myself right now, or I am officially dead!

Meanwhile, standing near the edge of the stage, Leo Vance stared at Victoria in absolute awe. A woman of that tier, power, and beauty... she’s the only one worthy of standing beside me! I need to find a way to introduce myself.

Victoria’s dark eyes swept across the stage, landing directly on the massive digital backdrop hanging above the altar.

She parted her red lips slightly, reading the glowing words aloud in a low, terrifying voice:

"[ Engagement Ceremony of Julian Vance and Miss Ross. ]"

A cold, venomous laugh escaped her throat.

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

My Julian was secretly getting engaged behind my back after all.

Without waiting for anyone to react, Victoria glided smoothly up the stairs toward the podium.

Arthur Vance frowned, stepping forward to block her path. "Miss, who invited you? This is a private family engagement party

"..."

Victoria didn’t even grant him a glance.

With a subtle wave of Evelyn’s hand, two heavy-set operatives instantly stepped in, grabbing Arthur by the shoulders and shoving him cleanly off the stage.

"Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!" Elenor vance shrieked, backing away in terror as the black-suited operatives swarmed the platform, surrounding Julian and Victoria in an impenetrable perimeter.

Victoria stopped mere inches from Julian. Her pitch-black eyes locked onto his, swirling with a volatile mix of obsessive love and deadly resentment.

She reached out, her slender, manicured fingers gently cupping his jaw. Her touch was soft, yet her grip was as unyielding as iron.

"My sweet Julian..." Victoria whispered softly, her voice carrying a terrifying tenderness that sent shivers down his spine. "Is this the ’casual dinner with friends’ you told Butler Chen about?"

Julian swallowed hard, feeling the suffocating pressure of her presence. "Victoria... let me explain. It’s not what it looks like—"

"Explain?" Victoria interrupted smoothly, her thumb tracing his lower lip. "Explain why my man is holding an engagement ring meant for another woman?"

Miss Ross, sitting in her wheelchair nearby, finally snapped out of her shock. She looked at Victoria’s hands on Julian and yelled angrily, "Who do you think you are?! Get your hands off my fiancé! Julian is marrying me tonight!"

Victoria turned her head slowly, her cold, lethal gaze dropping onto Miss Ross as if looking at a piece of trash.

"Your fiancé?" Victoria chuckled softly, the sound entirely devoid of warmth. "Miss Ross... do you have any idea who you’re trying to take from me?"

"I don’t care who you are!" Miss Ross retorted, turning to her father. "Dad, have security kick this crazy woman out!"

Mr. Ross, however, had finally recognized Victoria’s face. His skin drained of all color, and a cold sweat instantly soaked his collar.

"Merry ! Shut your mouth right now!" Mr. Ross stammered, scrambling forward and bowing frantically toward Victoria. "P-President Sterling! Please forgive my daughter’s ignorance! She doesn’t know who you are!"

The entire ballroom gasped.

President Sterling?! As in Victoria Sterling, the head of the Sterling Group?! The most powerful, terrifying CEO in the entire region?!

Arthur and Elenor Vance stood frozen on the floor, their minds completely blank.

Leo Vance’s jaw dropped. She’s President Sterling?!

Victoria ignored the Ross family entirely. She turned back to Julian, her dark eyes pinning him in place.

"Julian," Victoria murmured, her voice dripping with possessive dark tenderness. "Tell her. Whose man are you?"

Julian looked into her unhinged eyes, knowing that a single wrong answer would result in him being locked in Rose Manor for the rest of his days.

Taking a deep breath, Julian casually dropped the engagement ring onto the floor, stepping on it with his dress shoe, and looked straight into Victoria’s eyes.

"I’m yours, Victoria. Only yours." 🥺

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So what should happen next ,will victoria activate her yandere mode , and lock julian forever or jullian take same path as protagonist and run away from our villainess are you excited please let me know .