I was trying to leave the restaurant my brother owned when the manager stopped me. "Excuse me, Miss. You haven't paid your bill." I looked at the stranger, assuming she was new and didn't recognize me. So, I explained politely: "Put it on your boss's tab. He knows." The female manager looked me up and down with pure disdain. "Miss, we are a Michelin three-star establishment. We never allow tabs." She slapped a printed bill in front of me. I glanced down. Fifty grand for one meal. "Flatware Polish Fee: $3,000." "Exclusive Air Purification Fee: $5,000." "VIP Mood Stabilization Service: $10,000." And a bunch of other nonsense charges. I didn't know my brother was running a scam joint. I laughed out loud. "I'm your boss Brandon's sister. If you have a problem, tell him to talk to me at home." But she wouldn't let it go. "If you can't afford it, don't act rich. Trying to name-drop Mr. White?" I sent a text to my secretary right then and there: Tell my brother to either fire this woman, or I'm pulling my investment. 1 "Miss, stop wasting everyone's time. Pay up." Her tone was sharp and cutting, as if she had already branded me as a broke gold-digger trying to dine and dash. A few curious diners were already looking our way. I frowned. I didn't want to waste time on this nonsense, so I pulled out my phone and called my brother, Brandon. It went straight to voicemail. I called again. Same thing. What is that idiot doing on a weekday? I put down my phone and looked the aggressive woman in the eye. "I'll say this one more time. My name is Bailey White. I am the biological sister of your owner, Brandon White." "He's not answering right now, but you can check his credit card on file. My photo and info are linked to it." I thought that would settle it. Instead of checking, the manager burst into shrill laughter. She leaned in close, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "Still acting? I've seen your face on my boyfriend Brandon's Instagram a long time ago!" "You shameless homewrecker. Trying to hook up with my man on the sly?" "And now you have the nerve to come to his restaurant and try to put it on his tab? Is your face made of brick?" I froze for a second. I glanced at her name tag—Tiffany Zheng. A wave of speechless realization washed over me. Brandon’s mysterious girlfriend, the one he refused to show me a picture of... was this stupid, vicious woman? His taste was truly appalling. Turns out, this wasn't a misunderstanding over a fifty-grand bill. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could speak, she lost patience. "Since this lady wants to dine and dash, we have no choice but to detain her until the police arrive!" She waved her hand. Two burly security guards who had been hovering nearby stepped up immediately. One clamped a hand over my mouth. The other twisted my arms behind my back like a pretzel. I struggled violently, but I was no match for them. Ignoring my furious glare and the shocked looks from other patrons, they dragged me toward the kitchen. I was thrown into a storage closet that smelled of bleach and rotting food. The door slammed shut, cutting off the light. 2 In the darkness, the manager didn't say a word. She just lifted her stiletto heel and kicked me hard in the stomach. Pain exploded in my gut. I curled into a ball, nausea rising in my throat. "That's for spending my man's money!" "That's for seducing him!" She shrieked, her voice twisted with jealousy and rage. She looked down at me and ordered the guards, "Beat her! Beat her to death!" The guards, clearly her henchmen, didn't hesitate. Kicks and punches rained down on me. I gritted my teeth, swallowing my screams. My bones felt like they were shattering. My organs felt displaced. Her shrieking continued. "Who do you think you are? Just a cheap slut throwing herself at him!" "I told you I'm his sister! Ask Brandon! Call him right now!" I tried to explain, but she ignored me. She didn't stop until I was dizzy and seeing stars. She put her heel on my shoulder, smiling down at me. "You'd better pay the bill right now. And add another fifty grand for my trouble." "This is what happens when you mess with my man and spend his money." "I'm not afraid of killing you. Brandon will cover it up for me." Curled in agony, I whispered weakly, "It's my own money. I told you. Ask him." Her face darkened. She kicked me again, and the guards resumed the beating. I knew she wouldn't listen. If this continued, I might actually die here. After coughing up blood, I used the last of my strength to reach for my phone. "Stop... I... I'll pay." Satisfied with my submission, she signaled the guards to stop. She crouched down and patted my swollen cheek. "Should have done that sooner. Why do it the hard way?" "One hundred thousand. Not a penny less." I lay on the cold floor, gasping for air, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend, Mia. She answered immediately. "Mia, bring two hundred thousand dollars to my brother's restaurant." "I need it now." Mia paused, sensing something wrong. "Bailey? What's wrong? Your voice..." "Don't ask. Just hurry." I hung up. Tiffany heard "two hundred thousand" and her eyes lit up. Greed flashed across her face. She probably thought I was scared and offering more money to save myself. She couldn't hide her smugness. "Smart choice." 3 Mia was incredibly fast. Moments later, the closet door burst open. Mia strode in with two bodyguards. She gasped when she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my torn clothes, and me huddled on the floor. She rushed to help me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak. I took the bank card with the PIN code taped to it from her hand and threw it at the woman. Tiffany took the card and waved dismissively. "If this card is fake, I have ways of finding you. Get out." Enduring the bone-deep pain, I limped out of that disgusting place with Mia's help. Outside, I thanked Mia. "Thanks, Mia. I'll pay you back as soon as I handle this." She looked at me with worry. "The money is nothing. What happened to you?" I let out a cold laugh. "My brother found himself quite the girlfriend. It's time I settled accounts with him." I pulled out my phone and called the restaurant's Vice President. He was the actual manager, headhunted by me personally. He was loyal. When he answered, I didn't waste words. My voice was devoid of emotion. "You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Tiffany Zheng." "If not, the White family pulls all investment from the restaurant. Every cent." The VP was terrified just hearing my voice. He must have heard the weakness and anger in my tone. He agreed frantically, not daring to ask why. I hung up and went straight to the police station. I calmly and logically reported everything that happened to the officer on duty. After giving my statement and getting a medical examination at the hospital, I held the thin report in my hand. The fire of betrayal burned hotter than ever. I needed an explanation. I needed Brandon to look me in the eye and explain this. My assistant located Brandon at his own villa—the one I bought for him. When I arrived, heavy bass music thumped through the walls. He was throwing a party. That’s why he didn't answer his phone. The front door was ajar. Instead of barging in, I paused. I heard a familiar, tearful female voice. Tiffany. She was crying to the room, painting herself as the victim of an arrogant mistress who bullied her. "...I just asked her to pay the bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face and got me fired..." "Brandon, she's too much! She doesn't respect you at all!" "She just wants to humiliate me. She wants us to break up!" Inside, Brandon's frat-boy friends were shouting in indignation. Brandon was loudly comforting Tiffany, his voice full of love and protectiveness. "Tiffany, don't worry! I won't let you be treated like this!" Then, as if to prove his manhood to the room, he swore: "When I find that woman, I'll make her kneel and apologize to you!" His friends cheered, shouting about how they'd make me pay. "Just say the word, Brandon, and we'll go drag her here!" "Yeah! Show her who's boss!" I couldn't listen anymore. I raised my hand. My bodyguard kicked the villa door wide open. Boom. The music cut. The laughter died. Dozens of shocked eyes turned to the door. "No need to drag me. I'm right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?" 4 The air solidified. The only sound was the click-clack of my heels on the floor. I walked step by step toward the couple embracing in the center of the room. Brandon's face was a masterpiece. Shock, then uncontrollable fear. He turned pale instantly. He instinctively let go of Tiffany and started to stand up. But then he looked at Tiffany's tear-streaked face, and hesitation flickered in his eyes. Finally, fear was replaced by a laughable, bravado-fueled stubbornness. He stayed seated, staring at me, trying to mask his panic. Tiffany’s eyes went wide when she saw me. But she quickly realized she was on Brandon's turf, surrounded by his friends. She snuggled deeper into his arms, wailing louder. "Brandon! It's her... she's the one who hurt me..." She cried while shooting me a look of pure malice and triumph. See? He chose me. I ignored her. My eyes were fixed on my dear brother. "Brandon White. I asked you a question." "Didn't you just say you were going to make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?" Brandon swallowed hard. His lips trembled, but no sound came out. He was afraid of me. He had always been afraid of me. He knew who really ran this family. His friends looked confused. One of them, a rich kid with bleached blond hair, tried to impress Tiffany. He stepped forward. "Who are you? Talking to Brandon like that?" "If you know what's good for you, apologize to Tiffany right now, or else..." He didn't finish. My bodyguard stepped forward, blocking him with a menacing glare. The blond kid shut his mouth instantly. I walked around the bodyguard and stood over Brandon. "It seems you aren't planning to give me an explanation." Brandon finally mustered some courage. He stood up, puffing out his chest. He pulled me aside, lowering his voice to a beg. "Sis, what are you doing?" "Do you have to embarrass me in front of my friends?" "Tiffany didn't mean it. She's just straight-forward. Can't you just let it go?" I looked at him and wanted to laugh. Let it go? After she had me beaten half to death and extorted two hundred grand from me? "Brandon," I said his full name. "Are you joking?" "I..." He stammered, avoiding my eyes. Just then, sirens wailed outside. Sharp and clear, cutting through the fake party atmosphere. Everyone froze. Police officers marched in, faces grim. The lead officer scanned the room and locked onto me. "Are you Ms. Bailey White?" I nodded. "Yes." The officer pulled out a warrant and turned to Tiffany. "Tiffany Zheng, you are under arrest for assault and extortion. Please come with us for questioning."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "386392", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel