Chapter 5: The Red Dress
A blinding, white-hot rage erupted within Julian. It was a primal, consuming fury that obliterated the refined billionaire and left only a dangerous, violent protector in its wake. He realized in a sickening flash of clarity how Victoria had kept Mary Jane "quarantined." How the staff had been terrorized into silence. The woman he was about to marry had been treating his daughter worse than an animal.
He didn't stay to comfort her just yet; he couldn't. Not while the monster was upstairs sipping champagne. Julian turned on his heel, his eyes dark and manic. He stormed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He burst back into the golden warmth of the ballroom. The music was playing a lively waltz. Victoria was holding court near the grand ice sculpture, laughing at a joke, holding a crystal flute of Dom Pérignon.
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Julian marched across the floor, ignoring the confused stares of his guests. He reached her in seconds. Without a word, he grabbed the glass from her hand and threw the drink in her face, the liquid splashing violently against her perfect makeup.
"Julian! Stop!" she shrieked, stumbling back, her eyes wide with feigned shock and genuine fear as she saw the murderous intent in his gaze.
