Julian: "What did you just say?"[cite: 1]
Maya: "Look at his vest, Mr. Vance! The chain on his vest is missing its locket!"[cite: 1]
Julian turned his gaze from Maya to the tall man standing at the entrance doors[cite: 1].
Julian: "Dominic... what are you doing here?"[cite: 1]
Dominic: "I came to celebrate your company’s expansion, brother. Is it a crime to attend a family gala?"[cite: 1]
Julian: "You were banished from the board of directors two years ago!"[cite: 1]
Dominic: "A temporary setback. The family trust fund belongs to both of us, Julian."[cite: 1]
Noah: "Dad, that’s the man! He bumped into the table hard and ran away when the glasses started falling!"[cite: 1]
Julian's eyes narrowed into slits of pure ice as he stepped in front of his son[cite: 1].
Julian: "You tried to crush my son under two hundred pounds of crystal?"[cite: 1]
Dominic: "Don't be dramatic, Julian. The boy was just collateral damage in a much larger financial transaction."[cite: 1]
Maya: "You monster! He's just a little boy!"[cite: 1]
Dominic: "Keep your mouth shut, maid. You're bleeding on my family's marble floor."[cite: 1]
Maya looked down at her hands and realized sharp glass fragments had sliced her palms during her dive[cite: 1].
Julian noticed the blood dripping onto her uniform and felt a sudden wave of deep shame for shouting at her earlier[cite: 1].
Julian: "She took the hit meant for my son, Dominic. And now you're going to pay for every drop of blood she lost."[cite: 1]
Dominic: "With what evidence? A cheap pocket watch you can't prove is mine?"[cite: 1]
Maya: "It's not just a pocket watch. The latch has your initials engraved on the back—D.V."[cite: 1]
Dominic instinctively reached for his vest pocket, his smug expression cracking for a split second[cite: 1].
Dominic: "That proves nothing in a court of law!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "It proves enough for security. Guards, grab him!"[cite: 1]
Dominic stepped back toward the entrance as his two heavy bodyguards moved forward, blocking the mansion hallway[cite: 1].
Dominic: "Touch me and my lawyers will freeze every asset in the Vance estate before midnight!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "Try it. You won't live long enough to enjoy the money."[cite: 1]
Dominic: "We'll see about that at tomorrow's emergency board meeting, little brother."[cite: 1]
With a bitter laugh, Dominic turned and walked out into the night, his bodyguards trailing close behind[cite: 1].
Julian turned back to Maya, kneeling beside her amidst the sea of broken glass[cite: 1].
Julian: "I... I don't know what to say. I thought you were negligent."[cite: 1]
Maya: "I would never let a child get hurt, sir."[cite: 1]
Julian: "Your hands are severely cut. Please, let me help you up."[cite: 1]
He gently took her arm, lifting her away from the sharp debris while Noah held tightly onto her apron[cite: 1].
Noah: "Dad, make sure the lady doesn't leave! She's my hero!"[cite: 1]
Julian: "She's not leaving, Noah. In fact, she's coming with us right now to the private medical wing."[cite: 1]