Chapter 2 – The Debt Vincent Moretti Refused to Forget
Chapter 2 – The Debt Vincent Moretti Refused to Forget
For three endless seconds, nobody moved.
Victoria Langford struggled to pull her wrist free, but Emma's grip never tightened or loosened. She simply held it long enough to stop the slap from falling.
The silence became unbearable.
Then Victoria laughed.
Not with amusement.
With disbelief.
"You miserable little waitress," she said quietly. "Do you have any idea whose arm you're holding?"
Emma slowly released her wrist.
"No," she answered honestly. "But I know she couldn't defend herself."
A murmur swept through the ballroom.
Several guests exchanged nervous glances.
Someone whispered,
"She's finished."
Another shook his head.
"She'll never work in this city again."
Victoria stepped closer until only inches separated them.
"You've just assaulted me in front of half of Chicago."
Emma lowered her eyes.
"If protecting someone costs me my job..."
She swallowed.
"...then I'll accept that."
Before Victoria could respond, a calm voice echoed through the ballroom.
"No."
The single word carried no anger.
No volume.
Yet every conversation stopped instantly.
People turned as one.
Vincent Moretti stepped from behind the marble pillar.
His black tuxedo fit him perfectly, but nothing about him drew attention more than his eyes.
Cold.
Measured.
Completely unreadable.
His security team appeared almost magically behind him.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody even breathed too loudly.
Victoria's confidence faltered.
"Vincent..."
She forced a smile.
"I was simply correcting—"
"You were raising your hand against my mother."
He never raised his voice.
He didn't have to.
The color drained from Victoria's face.
Emma blinked.
Mother?
She slowly looked toward the elderly woman.
Isabella offered her a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry you had to learn this way."
Emma's heart nearly stopped.
This elegant old woman...
Was Isabella Moretti.
The woman everyone in Chicago knew Vincent would protect at any cost.
Victoria immediately changed her tone.
"There has been a misunderstanding."
Vincent ignored her.
Instead, he walked directly to Emma.
Every guest expected him to dismiss her.
Perhaps even accuse her of touching one of Chicago's most powerful families.
Instead...
He bowed his head slightly.
A gesture so small that many wondered if they had imagined it.
"You protected the only person I cannot afford to lose."
Emma stared speechlessly.
"I only did what anyone should have done."
Vincent looked around the ballroom.
"No."
His eyes swept across hundreds of wealthy faces.
"You did what nobody else had the courage to do."
Not a single guest could meet his gaze.
Security escorted Victoria away without another word.
Her protests echoed down the hallway.
No one followed.
The gala ended early.
May you like
But for Emma Carter...
Everything had only begun.
