<b>Chapter </b><b>493 </b>
Reese’s voice exploded behind her, sharp and shrill, Caitlin, already suspecting the noise downstairs had been trouble, now the furn standing at the doorway through the mirror.
So Reese hade to get styled by émile too?
Reese stormed in, eyes locked on Caitlin’s reflection with naked rage,
“émile, so the reason you wouldn’t do my styling is because of her?”
émile calmly paused his work and looked over.
“Miss Nguyen, I apologize, but if you’d like a styling session, I can help you once I’ve finished with Caitlin. If you’re in a rush, we have other excellent stylists avable.”
“Not eptable!” Reese snapped. “I just want to know–what’s her status? Is she even a VIP here?”
“Actually, Caitlin isn’t—”
Before émile could finish, Reese cut him off with a sneer.
“Exactly! I’m a super VIP here. I have priority. That’s the rule. So drop what you’re doing and take care of me first.”
émile’s face stiffened, but his tone stayed firm.
1
“Sorry, Miss Nguyen. I can absolutely assist you–after Caitlin. She booked first and arrived first.”
“I don’t care! I want priority, and I want it now!”
Her voice rose another octave. Caitlin slowly stood, turning toward her.
“Miss Nguyen, there’s such a thing as basic courtesy. You cameter, so you wait your turn. You can’t throw your VIP status around like a club and expect people to bend over backward for you.”
“Oh? So now you’re lecturing me? You think you can tell me what to do? Even my parents don’t try that–who the hell do you think you are?”
Reese had always gotten her way. She was the spoiled princess of the Nguyen family, worshipped and obeyed by everyone around her.
Being confronted–especially in public–was something she had never tolerated.
“And that’s exactly the problem,” Caitlin said coldly. “Your parents may not rein you in, but that doesn’t mean the world has to suffer for it. The rules of society don’t bend <i>to </i>your tantrums. Keep acting like this and you’re just dragging your family down with you.”
“If your parents ever saw the way you abuse their name, they might just die of shame.”
Reese’s face twisted with fury. She grabbed a bottle of toner from the table and raised it to hurl it at Caitlin–only for her wrist to be caught mid–swing.
It was James.
“What the hell are you doing?” he growled, ring down at her with raw menace. “You try to hurt her, and I swear I’ll <b>make </b><b>you </b><b>regret </b><b>it</b>.”
Reese tried to wrench her arm free, but his grip/only tightened.
“Let go of me! I said let go!” she shrieked.
But James didn’t. He twisted slightly, just enough to make her wince.
<b>20:12 </b>Tue, <b>19 Aug </b>J~
Chapter <b>493 </b>
<b>“</b>Ow–<b>ow</b><b>! </b>You’re breaking my arm!”
“Let her go,” Caitlin said calmly.
James reluctantly obeyed, loosening his grip, though his eyes remained dark and unrelenting
Reese staggered back, holding her wrist and ncing from Caitlin to James.
“Fine!! see how it is!” she hissed. “No wonder you’ve got some boy toy hanging off your arm everywhere you go.”
She smirked, eyes gleaming with malice.
Caitlin didn’t bother exining. But James?
He snapped.
“Say that again. I dare you.” He stepped toward her slowly, each word colder than thest. “Insult my sister one more time, and I will end you
His threat wasn’t empty. His aura turned predatory, dangerous.
Reese backed away instinctively, her bravado deting.
émile jumped in front of James, hands raised.
“Mr. Ling, please. Calm down. Miss Nguyen is still our client. Let me handle this. Please—for my sake.”
James didn’t speak, but Caitlin nodded.
“Harrison, give émile some face.”
That was enough. James stepped back, letting the tension bleed off, though the warning in his eyes never faded.
émile turned to Reese.
“Come on, Miss Nguyen. Let’s talk outside.”
After ten minutes, émile returned,posed.
“Apologies, Caitlin. Let’s get back to it.”
As if nothing had happened, he resumed styling. Caitlin didn’t mention it again.
In another <i>room</i>, Reese was <i>seated </i>with a different stylist. émile had calmed her down with a generous offer–three free sessions with him personally. That finally soothed <i>her </i>pride.
But she hadn’t forgotten the humiliation. Grinding her teeth, she took out her phone.
She wasn’t letting Caitlin walk away unscathed. Not tonight.
An hourter, Caitlin’s styling wasplete. émile pulled out a delicate gift box and opened it to reveal an exquisite gown.
“Caitlin, would you mind trying this on?”
She took the dress, eyes lighting up.
“This is one of my favorite designers… It’s a limited–edition haute couture piece. How did you get this?<b>” </b>
émile smiled.
Chapter <b>493 </b>
<b>“</b><b>It </b><b>wasn’t </b><b>me</b><b>. </b><b>Mr. </b>Vanderbilt had it prepared for you in advance.”
Caitlin looked surprised.
<b>“</b>Oh… of course.”
James grinned.
“Come on, try it on!”
“Alright.”
Inside the dressing room, Caitlin changed into the gown–a brilliant white dress that shimmered like a trait of stardust. The fabric <b>sparkled </b>under the lights, flowing like liquid moonlight.
When she stepped out, émile’s eyes widened in admiration.
“Stunning. Absolutely stunning.”
James gave a dramatic thumbs–up.
“Wow. You look incredible.”
Caitlin twirled slightly, admiring the silhouette.
“I love it. It’s beautiful. Perfect, really.”
With everything ready, James extended a hand.
“Come on, time to head out.”
“Okay.”
Caitlin took his hand, letting her brother lead her out. She gave émile a parting smile.
“Thank you for everything.”
“It was my honor.”
émile watched them go with satisfaction. He’d even scored an
autograph from his idol–something to brag about to Yatester.
headlights red on at once, flooding the road with blinding light.
They got into the car, and James started the engine.
But halfway to the venue, things took a dark turn.
Suddenly, their path was blocked by a <i>convoy </i>of cked–out vehicles. All
James mmed on the brakes,
“Shit,” he muttered, reversing–only to see more vehicles closing in from behind.
They were surrounded.
One by one, car doors opened, and figures poured out. Dozens of them. Maybe a hundred.
Each one armed with bats and metal rods, marching toward their vehicle in total silence.
<b>20:12 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>19 </b><b>Aug </b>