# THE VANCE EMPIRE: A WIFE'S REVENGE

A collective gasp rippled through the dining room.

Wife.

Preston’s mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. Bryce Whitman, the car dealership heir, gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white. Cole Mercer and Tyler Vaughn looked as though they were about to vomit. The rumors about Julian Vance were infamous. He had once bankrupted a rival billionaire in three days just for insulting his mother.

"Mr. Vance..." Preston choked out, his voice a pathetic squeak compared to his earlier booming laughter. "We... we didn't know. We thought she was just a..."

"Just a what?" Julian asked, his voice gliding like a blade over velvet. He finally took a step toward their table. "Just a waitress? Just someone you could break for your own amusement? Just a nobody?"

David, the manager, rushed forward, sweating profusely. "Mr. Vance, I am so deeply sorry! I was just about to intervene. I—"

"You," Julian interrupted without raising his voice, not even glancing at the manager. "You are fired. Furthermore, you will never work in hospitality in this state again. If I see your face in Chicago by tomorrow morning, you will regret it."

David crumbled, sobbing as he backed away, but Julian’s focus remained on the four boys.

"You found it entertaining to humiliate her," Julian mused, stopping right in front of Preston. He leaned down, placing his hands on the table. The wood groaned under the pressure. "You poured a drink on my wife, Preston Hale. You asked her how much it costs to make a waitress keep quiet."

Preston’s eyes filled with tears of pure terror. "Please. My father... Richard Hale... he knows you! We do business!"

"We did business," Julian corrected softly. He pulled out his phone and dialed a single number. He put it on speaker and set it on the table. It rang once before a frantic voice answered.

"Mr. Vance! What an honor. I—"

"Richard," Julian said smoothly. "Your son just poured a drink over my wife's head."

A horrifying silence echoed from the speaker. Then, a whispered, "Oh, dear God."

"Your contracts with Vance Holdings are terminated. The Hale Group is being acquired by me at a hostile discount starting at 9:00 AM on Monday. Have your lawyers ready."