She Mocked the Pregnant Waitress—Until the Deed Revealed Who Owned the Hotel

He Caught Her Wrist Like It Was Nothing

Viktor moved like a storm. One moment he was in the doorway, the next he was between me and Bianca, his hand wrapped around her wrist mid-air. The force of his grip made her gasp.

"Don't ever touch my wife," he said, his voice low and calm. But I knew that calm. It was the calm before he destroyed you.

Bianca laughed, trying to pull her hand free. "Your wife? You mean this little—" She stopped, her eyes finally registering the cut of his midnight-blue tuxedo, the platinum cufflinks, the security guards flanking him. "Viktor Ashworth?"

"You know the name," he said, releasing her wrist. She stumbled back, rubbing her skin.

"Of course I know the name," she said, recovering her composure. "You're the king of this city. But your taste in women is clearly—" She looked at me, my apron stained with berry juice, my hair falling loose. "—questionable."

Viktor didn't react. He just turned to me, his eyes softening. "Are you okay?" he asked, his hand resting on my belly.

I nodded, but I was shaking. Leo pressed against my leg, his face buried in my skirt.

Bianca laughed again, louder this time. "Oh, how sweet. The billionaire and his little servant girl. But I'm still a client here, and I want her fired. Now." She snapped her fingers at the floor manager, who stood frozen.

Before anyone could move, the Chief Operating Officer stepped forward. He was a tall, gray-haired man with a face like stone. He held a glowing platinum tablet in his hands.

"Ms. Moretti," he said, his voice carrying across the terrace. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding?" Bianca demanded. "That woman is a waitress. I'm worth more than this entire hotel."

The COO turned the tablet toward her. On the screen was a deed, and at the top, in bold letters, my name: Lily Ashworth. Sole Owner.

"This hotel belongs to her," he said.

Bianca's face went pale. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. "That's impossible. That's—you're lying."

"I don't lie," I said, my voice finally steady. "I've owned this hotel since the day I turned twenty-five. Viktor gave it to me as a wedding gift."

Bianca shook her head, backing away. "This is a joke. A sick joke."

But then Viktor spoke again, and his words were ice. "Ban them from every property."

"You can't do that!" Bianca shrieked. "My father will sue you into the ground!"

Viktor smiled, and it was the coldest smile I'd ever seen. "Your father already knows. He's the one who called me to tell me you were here."

Bianca's face crumpled. "What?"

"He's tired of your tantrums," Viktor said. "Tired of paying for your messes. He told me to handle you however I see fit."

Security guards closed in on Bianca. She turned to the other guests, looking for help, but everyone looked away.

"This isn't over!" she screamed as they grabbed her arms. "You'll regret this!"

But even as they dragged her away, I saw the spark of defiance in her eyes. And I knew—this wasn't over. Not even close.