Chapter 3

Theo's brow furrowed, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Strangers? Is that what we are now? What is your problem?"

I met his gaze evenly.

"I can afford my own clothes. My job is highly respectable, and my life is fine."

"Save your money for someone who actually needs it."

He stood frozen, gripping the check, his lips pressed into a thin, furious line.

Leah walked over, her eyes darting to the money.

"If you're too proud for cash, Evelyn, I can give you a job."

"I just opened a high-end nail salon on Fifth Avenue. You can come work as an apprentice."

"It's only six thousand a month, but you'll learn a trade. Even if you hit rock bottom later, you can open your own shop to survive."

"What do you say? It’s honest work. Better than whatever this is."

I took another bite of my food and flatly declined.

"Thanks, but I'm very satisfied with my current career. I'm not looking for a change."

A few classmates nearby started jeering loudly.

"Evelyn, don't be ungrateful! They're handing you a lifeline. Just take it!"

"You're dressing like that and you still care about your pride? Didn't you come here to network? Drop the act!"

Leah played the peacemaker, sighing softly.

"Don't be too hard on her, guys. Maybe Evelyn really does love her current job."

She turned back to me.

"Evelyn, we're only offering this because of our shared history. Don't let your ego ruin a good thing."

I truly couldn't comprehend this forced, condescending charity.

"I really don't need it."

Leah kept her sweet smile, but she looked up at Theo with eyes full of manufactured grievance.

Clutching the check, Theo sneered.

"You really are a lost cause. Even when someone tries to pull you out of the mud, you refuse. Fine. Spend the rest of your life at the bottom."

The second the words left his mouth, a few male classmates surrounded my table, holding up glasses of liquor.

"Drink this, Evelyn, and I'll Venmo you a grand."

"Hell, I'll make it two if you're really desperate!"

The man's eyes were sleazy and predatory. The crowd erupted into laughter. Not a single person stepped forward to intervene.

I frowned. This reunion was a complete waste of time.

If I wasn't waiting for someone, I would have walked out the door already.

Just as I reached for my phone to call hotel security, Theo crushed his cigarette, lunged forward, and grabbed the arm of the man harassing me.

His intimidating FBI aura flared as his eyes turned icy. "Back off."

The man cried out in pain as Theo's grip nearly snapped his bone.

Leah quickly grabbed Theo's sleeve.

"Theo! What are you doing?!"

His face was stone-cold.

"Stopping harassment. This is a reunion, not a frat house."

He shoved the man away.

Too terrified to cross a federal agent, the man could only glare viciously at me as he backed down.

I was slightly surprised. I didn't expect Theo to actually step in.

Leah gritted her teeth and swiftly changed the subject to reclaim the room's attention.

"I heard the young heir of the Moretti family and the Don himself are having a meeting upstairs! If we're lucky, we might actually get to see the Mafia boss, Luca Moretti!"

The entire room instantly buzzed with electric excitement.

Luca Moretti. In his thirties. The undisputed ruler of Manhattan's underground empire.

He possessed unimaginable wealth and had a five-year-old son.

The identity of his wife was a strictly guarded secret; no one in the outside world had ever seen her face.

"Are we really going to see Moretti? I have to get a picture!"

"This is exclusive!"

Soon enough, a team of men in black suits escorted a little boy into the banquet hall. The crowd surged forward in a frenzy.

"Look at that security! That has to be the Moretti heir! He's so cute!"

People crowded around with sycophantic smiles, holding up their phones to record.

Even the usually aloof Leah put on her most affectionate face and hurried forward.

"Hi there, sweetie! Do you want something to eat? Leah has a treat for you."

She reached out, trying to pinch the boy's cheek.

But to everyone's absolute shock, the heavily guarded little boy completely ignored the crowd and sprinted straight toward me.

With a bright, beaming smile, he threw himself into my arms.

"Mommy! You're finally here!"

Chapter 3

Theo's brow furrowed, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Strangers? Is that what we are now? What is your problem?"

I met his gaze evenly.

"I can afford my own clothes. My job is highly respectable, and my life is fine."

"Save your money for someone who actually needs it."

He stood frozen, gripping the check, his lips pressed into a thin, furious line.

Leah walked over, her eyes darting to the money.

"If you're too proud for cash, Evelyn, I can give you a job."

"I just opened a high-end nail salon on Fifth Avenue. You can come work as an apprentice."

"It's only six thousand a month, but you'll learn a trade. Even if you hit rock bottom later, you can open your own shop to survive."

"What do you say? It’s honest work. Better than whatever this is."

I took another bite of my food and flatly declined.

"Thanks, but I'm very satisfied with my current career. I'm not looking for a change."

A few classmates nearby started jeering loudly.

"Evelyn, don't be ungrateful! They're handing you a lifeline. Just take it!"

"You're dressing like that and you still care about your pride? Didn't you come here to network? Drop the act!"

Leah played the peacemaker, sighing softly.

"Don't be too hard on her, guys. Maybe Evelyn really does love her current job."

She turned back to me.

"Evelyn, we're only offering this because of our shared history. Don't let your ego ruin a good thing."

I truly couldn't comprehend this forced, condescending charity.

"I really don't need it."

Leah kept her sweet smile, but she looked up at Theo with eyes full of manufactured grievance.

Clutching the check, Theo sneered.

"You really are a lost cause. Even when someone tries to pull you out of the mud, you refuse. Fine. Spend the rest of your life at the bottom."

The second the words left his mouth, a few male classmates surrounded my table, holding up glasses of liquor.

"Drink this, Evelyn, and I'll Venmo you a grand."

"Hell, I'll make it two if you're really desperate!"

The man's eyes were sleazy and predatory. The crowd erupted into laughter. Not a single person stepped forward to intervene.

I frowned. This reunion was a complete waste of time.

If I wasn't waiting for someone, I would have walked out the door already.

Just as I reached for my phone to call hotel security, Theo crushed his cigarette, lunged forward, and grabbed the arm of the man harassing me.

His intimidating FBI aura flared as his eyes turned icy. "Back off."

The man cried out in pain as Theo's grip nearly snapped his bone.

Leah quickly grabbed Theo's sleeve.

"Theo! What are you doing?!"

His face was stone-cold.

"Stopping harassment. This is a reunion, not a frat house."

He shoved the man away.

Too terrified to cross a federal agent, the man could only glare viciously at me as he backed down.

I was slightly surprised. I didn't expect Theo to actually step in.

Leah gritted her teeth and swiftly changed the subject to reclaim the room's attention.

"I heard the young heir of the Moretti family and the Don himself are having a meeting upstairs! If we're lucky, we might actually get to see the Mafia boss, Luca Moretti!"

The entire room instantly buzzed with electric excitement.

Luca Moretti. In his thirties. The undisputed ruler of Manhattan's underground empire.

He possessed unimaginable wealth and had a five-year-old son.

The identity of his wife was a strictly guarded secret; no one in the outside world had ever seen her face.

"Are we really going to see Moretti? I have to get a picture!"

"This is exclusive!"

Soon enough, a team of men in black suits escorted a little boy into the banquet hall. The crowd surged forward in a frenzy.

"Look at that security! That has to be the Moretti heir! He's so cute!"

People crowded around with sycophantic smiles, holding up their phones to record.

Even the usually aloof Leah put on her most affectionate face and hurried forward.

"Hi there, sweetie! Do you want something to eat? Leah has a treat for you."

She reached out, trying to pinch the boy's cheek.

But to everyone's absolute shock, the heavily guarded little boy completely ignored the crowd and sprinted straight toward me.

With a bright, beaming smile, he threw himself into my arms.

"Mommy! You're finally here!"