Chapter 99

"Who's the sore loser here?" Natalie Valois spat through gritted teeth. "Everyone saw you cheating!"

Emily Garnache scoffed. "Vivian won fair and square. If you're so jealous, why don't you try pulling strings too?"

Her eyes sparkled with admiration. She couldn't believe Vivian had connections at this exclusive restaurant. So cool.

"Shut up!" Natalie glared daggers at Emily. "You're nothing but Vivian's lapdog!"

A sharp slap echoed through the room.

Vivian Laurent retracted her hand, eyes icy. "Insult my friend again. I dare you."

Emily's heart raced. That slap was legendary. Even as a girl, she felt butterflies.

"You hit me?" Natalie clutched her cheek in disbelief.

"You lost the bet." Vivian's voice remained calm. "Backing out now?"

"This was a setup!" Natalie shrieked. "Why should I kneel?"

"Disgusting!" Emily's face flushed with anger. Raised properly, she couldn't think of harsher words.

Vivian nodded. "Fine."

Natalie exhaled in relief and turned to leave.

A sudden pain shot through her knees, sending her crashing to the floor.

Vivian loomed over her. "Did I say you could go?"

Snickers rippled through the crowd.

"Vivian!" Natalie burned with humiliation. She struggled to stand but couldn't move from the pain.

"Remember this lesson." Vivian's voice turned glacial. "Next time won't be so easy."

She took Emily's hand and headed toward their private dining room.

Emily waved her phone. "This video's going viral~"

Oliver Roland hurried to help Natalie up.

"Ahhh!" Natalie screamed hysterically. "I'll kill her!"

Security blocked her path as she lunged forward.

The manager announced impassively, "Miss Valois, you're now banned from this establishment."

Natalie trembled violently. Her wedding ruined, forced to kneel in public, now ejected from the restaurant—she'd become nothing but a pathetic joke in Vivian's shadow.