Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Tiffany, shouting about how they would make me pay.
“Julian, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!”
“Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!”
I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door.
The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished.
Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway.
“No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”
The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click–clack of my heels on the floor.
Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room.
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Julian Cross’s expression was nothing short of spectacular.
First, shock, then an uncontrollable terror, his face instantly paling.
He instinctively let go of Tiffany Reed, as if to stand up.
But his gaze caught Tiffany’s tear–streaked face, and he hesitated, a struggle in his eyes.
Finally, that fear was replaced by a ridiculous, blustering defiance.
He remained seated, just staring fixedly at me, as if that could mask his inner panic.
As for Tiffany, the moment she recognized me, her pupils constricted violently.
But she quickly regained her composure. This was Julian’s territory, surrounded by all his friends.
Instead, she burrowed deeper into Julian’s arms, crying even louder.
“Julian, it’s her… she’s the one who bullied me…”
She cried, casting me a malevolent, triumphant look, as if to say, *See? He still protects me.*
I ignored her, my gaze fixed solely on my dear brother.
“Julian Cross, I’m talking to you.”
“Weren’t you just saying you’d make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?”
Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips trembling, but not a single word escaped him.
He was afraid of me.
He had always been afraid of me, ever since we were kids.
He knew who truly called the shots in this family.
His friends exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding the situation.
A rich kid with bleached hair. probably wanting to impress Tiffany stepped forward.
1:10 AM P P .
<
His friends exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding the situation.
A rich kid with bleached hair, probably wanting to impress Tiffany, stepped forward.
“Who are you? How dare you talk to Julian like that?”
“If you know what’s good for you, apologize to Tiffany right now, or else…”
He didn’t finish his sentence.
Because the bodyguard behind me had already stepped forward, standing impassively in front of me.
That invisible pressure instantly silenced the blonde kid.
I walked past the bodyguard, stood before Julian, and looked down at him.
“It seems you’re not going to give me an explanation.”
Julian finally mustered his courage, stiffened his neck, and stood up.
He pulled me aside, lowering his voice, his tone a mix of pleading and a hint of impatience.
“Stella, what exactly do you
want?”
“Do you really have to humiliate me in front of my friends?”
“Tiffany didn’t mean it, she just has a short temper. Can’t you just let it go?”
I looked at him and suddenly found it incredibly laughable.
Let it go?
After she had her goons beat me half to death, after she extorted a million dollars from me, he wanted me to *let it go*?
“Julian Cross.” I called him by his full name. “Are you kidding me?”
“…” He was speechless for a moment, his eyes darting away.
Just then, from outside the villa, the sound of police sirens grew louder and clearer.
The sharp, piercing wail cut through the party’s false festive atmosphere.
Everyone froze.
Soon, several uniformed police officers, their expressions serious, walked in.
The lead officer scanned the room, then his gaze settled on me.
“Excuse me, are you Ms. Stella Cross?”
I nodded. “Yes, I am.”
The officer pulled out an arrest warrant and turned toward Tiffany Reed.
Tiffany Reed, you are suspected of assault and extortion. You are now under arrest. Please cooperate with us and return to the station for questioning.”
5
All the color drained from Tiffany’s face in an instant.
She shrieked in terror, clinging desperately to Julian Cross’s arm as if it were her last lifeline.
