Chapter 73: The Stunning Entrance

Ending his call with Victoria, Julian Vance had waited inside his parked Lamborghini for a short while before stepping out and walking into the Heart Whisper Cafe.

Because Julian was exceptionally handsome, his arrival drew the immediate, captivated attention of almost everyone inside the establishment the second he pushed open the glass door.

"Look! Look over there!" a cute girl at a corner table grabbed her best friend’s arm in wild excitement.🙅

"What a ridiculously handsome guy! He’s so insanely handsome! Ahhh, I feel like I’m falling in love at first sight!"

"Tch," her best friend scoffed dismissively, sipping her drink. "Even if he’s good-looking, is he really as handsome as my favorite celebrity idol?"

"You know what? He is honestly a million times handsomer than your idol!" the cute girl insisted, cupping her cheeks with starry eyes.

"Heh, I want to see just how handsome he could possibly be!" Her best friend firmly believed her male idol was the undisputed peak of visual perfection in the entire entertainment industry. Handsome guys usually became celebrity stars; how could a random guy in a normal cafe be better?

Her best friend turned her head and looked over at Julian.

"Holy crap!" she gasped aloud, blurting out the most raw, honest reaction possible.

"He’s... he’s so ridiculously handsome!"

"How about it? Isn’t he handsomer than your idol?" the cute girl asked, raising an eyebrow triumphantly.

"Yes... absolutely," her best friend nodded emphatically, her eyes completely glued to Julian’s tall figure as he walked across the room. "I genuinely wish he would join the entertainment industry so I could switch allegiances and become his fan!"

Meanwhile, Natasha was already sitting at a prime window table inside the Heart Whisper Cafe. She held a cup of fine coffee, savoring it slowly while checking her designer watch.

Catching sight of Julian’s figure walking over, her heart unexpectedly skipped a few heavy beats.

Julian’s current appearance was indeed remarkably handsome, elegant, and captivating. If Julian had dressed this smartly and carried himself with such confident class in the past, she wouldn’t have treated him so coldly back then.

Suddenly, a realization struck her mind.

Natasha quickly scanned the space around Julian—he was walking entirely alone! There was not a single woman by his side!

Natasha let out a sharp, cold sneer under her breath.

Just as I thought!

Julian Vance simply didn’t have a real girlfriend who was prettier and possessed a better figure than her! Julian had been blatantly lying to her face all along!

The lingering panic in Natasha’s heart instantly evaporated, replaced by smug satisfaction.

Julian walked over and casually sat down in the plush chair directly opposite Natasha.

THUMP!

Natasha slammed her coffee cup onto the saucer with a sharp, dramatic clatter.

"Julian Vance," Natasha said with a cold, triumphant smile. "Didn’t you claim with such confidence that you were bringing your wonderful girlfriend to meet me?"

"Where is your supposed girlfriend?"

"You’re not going to tell me that something ’unexpectedly came up’ and your girlfriend suddenly can’t make it, are you?"

Natasha’s smirk clearly conveyed that she had thoroughly seen through his entire desperate act. In her mind, if Julian refused to apologize and confess his lie right now, he was obviously planning to use that exact cliché excuse!

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"What’s the rush?" Julian Vance glanced at Natasha and said calmly. "She’ll be here soon."

"Oh?"

Natasha’s face was brimming with pure mockery and disdain. "Julian, you’re still pretending even now? I’d really love to see how long you can keep up this pathetic act!"

She decided to wait a little longer. It was nearly seven o’clock now. She wanted to see whether Julian Vance’s so-called "girlfriend" would actually show up or not!

Time passed minute by minute in the cozy cafe.

Natasha glanced at the clock on her phone every now and then, watching the numbers tick forward. She was waiting—patiently waiting for seven o’clock sharp to arrive.

There were only three minutes left until seven o’clock.

Victoria Sterling had still not appeared.

Natasha crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in her chair with a triumphant sneer. Ha! At this hour, she still hasn’t arrived. It’s crystal clear that Julian’s so-called girlfriend doesn’t exist at all!

She decided she would wait out these final three minutes. She wanted to see what ridiculous excuse Julian Vance would pull out of his hat then!

Meanwhile, Julian tapped his phone screen and sent a quick message to Victoria via WeChat:

> [Julian Vance]: Victoria, are you here yet?

> [Victoria Sterling]: I’ll be there very soon, my Julian.

Julian frowned slightly as he looked at Victoria’s contact name on his phone screen. Isn’t "Victoria Sterling" a bit too formal and distant for a relationship? Should I change her contact nickname to "Baby"? "Vicky"? Or maybe something else?

After pondering for a moment, Julian renamed Victoria’s contact to "Little Victoria."

Recalling Victoria’s occasional intense jealousy and surprisingly cute, coquettish behavior whenever they were alone, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly to himself. On the outside, Victoria usually appeared as a domineering, icy chaebol CEO, but sometimes she acted so sweet and vulnerable, like a little kid begging for candy.

Natasha found Julian’s gentle smile particularly irritating to watch. Her brows knitted together deeply.

What on earth is Julian looking at on his phone that’s making him laugh so happily... and look so genuinely romantic?!

"Julian Vance, what are you looking at?!" Natasha couldn’t help but demand sharply.

Julian didn’t even lift his eyes. "Just reading through my girlfriend’s chat history."

"Ha! Still pretending!" Natasha sneered with absolute contempt. "Julian, your acting skills are honestly good enough to win an Oscar!"

Indeed, Natasha was entirely convinced that Julian’s sweet smile while staring at his phone was merely another calculated performance intended to make her jealous.

Julian: "..."

What kind of hopelessly delusional person is Natasha? He genuinely thought she was mentally unwell and desperately needed to get her head checked by a doctor.

"Believe whatever you want," Julian said indifferently.

At that exact moment, just outside the main glass entrance of the Heart Whisper Cafe, Victoria’s heart was pounding with an unusual, fluttering nervousness.

"Secretary Evelyn," Victoria said, smoothing down the front of her light blue silk cheongsam and pursing her red lips. "Is there anything wrong with my current attire?"

Secretary Evelyn smiled warmly and reassured her, "President Sterling, please don’t worry at all. There isn’t a single flaw! You look absolutely breathtaking in this outfit."

With President Sterling’s natural world-class looks, she could easily outshine anyone on the planet the moment she stepped out. The clothes she wore were merely subtle accessories to her natural beauty.

"I bet Young Master Vance will be completely mesmerized the second he lays eyes on you," Secretary Evelyn added with a light smile.

"Mmm." Victoria’s crimson lips curved into a soft, glowing smile.

Stepping out of the luxury vehicle, she walked step by step toward the entrance of the cafe in her elegant high heels.

There was only one minute remaining until 7:00 PM.

Natasha glanced down at her phone screen one last time, her expression dripping with smug satisfaction.

"Julian Vance, it’s almost seven o’clock now, and your so-called girlfriend still hasn’t arrived. Could it be that she doesn’t even exist in reality?"

Her face was completely filled with ruthless mockery.

Suddenly—

Gasp!

Involuntary gasps of shock and awe erupted from all around the cafe!

"My god... who is that woman?! She’s... she’s insanely beautiful!"

"Damn, her face, her figure... this woman is just too perfect! It feels like she was personally sculpted by the Creator!"

"She’s so mind-blowingly gorgeous! I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of incredible man could ever qualify to be her boyfriend!"

"A ridiculously handsome guy came in earlier, and now an impossibly beautiful woman arrives! My goodness, today is an absolute feast for the eyes!"

Hearing the sudden, explosive chatter around the room, Julian knew immediately that Victoria had arrived. He turned his head and looked toward the entrance.

The moment his eyes landed on her, Julian was completely stunned.

Today, Victoria seemed to radiate an indescribable, intoxicating charm, looking even more breathtaking than usual.

Natasha felt that something was distinctly wrong. When she had walked into the cafe earlier, she certainly hadn’t drawn this level of overwhelming, stunned praise from the patrons.

Hmph! I want to see what this woman actually looks like!

Natasha turned her head to glare at the entrance as well.

The instant her eyes locked onto Victoria, her pupils suddenly dilated in sheer, unadulterated shock!

The woman walking through the door possessed sharp, breathtaking features, skin as flawless as white jade, a perfectly straight nose, crimson lips, and captivating, slightly upturned eyes. She was dressed in an exquisite, light blue silk cheongsam that perfectly highlighted her slender waist and graceful, flowing curves. Her smooth, lustrous hair was tied up loosely at the back with a matching ribbon.

Phrases like "peerless beauty" and "naturally enchanting" felt almost too faint to describe her. Most strikingly of all, her noble, icy demeanor gave her an aura of an untouchable, aristocratic queen.

A violent surge of intense jealousy instantly welled up in Natasha’s eyes.

How... how could such a perfect woman exist in this world?!

Even with all her vanity, Natasha was forced to admit in her heart that this woman was vastly more beautiful than her. Her figure wasn’t just better—it was several levels superior in every conceivable way!

Victoria caught sight of Julian’s stunned, captivated expression from across the room. A faint, tender smile bloomed across her face.

Wearing her high heels, she walked step by step toward the man she loved with all her heart.

Natasha’s brow furrowed tightly as she watched her approach. Why does it look like this woman has been staring directly in our direction the entire time?!

The arrogant words Julian had spoken earlier suddenly flashed through Natasha’s mind: His girlfriend was much better looking and had a vastly superior figure than her.

Could it be...

Is she really the girlfriend Julian Vance was talking about?!

Natasha snapped her head around to stare at Julian in pure horror.

No! That’s completely impossible! Even I don’t think much of Julian, so how could a breathtaking, top-tier woman like this possibly look twice at him?! She’s probably just passing by our table to sit somewhere else!

Right! She’s definitely just passing by!