Chapter 1

I was about to leave my younger brother's restaurant when the restaurant manager called out to me, "Excuse me, miss. You haven't paid the bill." I stared at this unfamiliar face, thinking that she probably was new and didn't know who I was. So, I courteously explained, "Just put it on your boss's tab. He'll know." The female manager shot me a condescending look. "Miss, we are a restaurant with three Michellenium stars, and there has been no precedent of putting anything on tabs." Upon saying that, she presented a printed bill to me. I lowered my eyes to take a quick look and saw that the meal had cost 50 thousand dollars. The tableware polishing fee was 3000 dollars. There was also an exclusive air purification fee for 5000 dollars, and a VIP's emotional comfort service fee for 1000 dollars. Not to mention, there were also a bunch of other random charges. I immediately let out an exasperated laugh. I didn't realize my younger brother had opened a restaurant that was such a rip-off. "I'm the elder sister of your boss, Mr. Burnett. Tell him to talk to me at home if he has any issues with this." Nevertheless, the manager refused to give up. "Why are you putting on an act when you can't afford the meal? How could you even think of associating yourself with Mr. Burnett?" I sent a text message to Aiden's secretary. "Tell Aidey he can either fire this woman or I will withdraw my financial investment." "Stop wasting everyone's time, miss. Just settle your bill," the manager insisted in a firm and harsh tone. It was as if she had already determined that I was a vain woman and a gold digger who was trying to pull a dine-and-dash. A number of people around us directed their curious gazes toward us. I furrowed my brows, not wanting to waste my time on such meaningless matters. So, I pulled my phone out and dialed Aiden's number right away. However, all I heard was a cold tone on the other end of the call. I tried calling him a second time, but it was the same cold tone that responded again. It was a working day. What was this brat up to? I lowered my phone and stared right into the eyes of the pushy woman. I emphasized, saying, "Let me say it one more time—My name is Shirley Burnett, the elder sister of your boss, Aiden Burnett. "I can't get through to his phone right now, but you can check his card. It's registered with my photo and information." I thought that this was the most straightforward and effective way to resolve the issue. Nonetheless, the manager did not verify the information after hearing my name. In fact, she burst into a shrill, ear-piercing laugh instead. Her laughter drew the attention of even more people. Then, she suddenly leaned in toward me and lowered her voice. In a voice so soft that only the both of us could hear, she whispered, "Still putting on an act, are you? I saw your face on my darling Aiden's Instagram a long time ago. "You're a shameless bitch who's secretly seducing my man! How could you have the audacity to come to his restaurant and put your bill on his tab? Are you that shameless?" Momentarily stunned, I took a brief look at the name tag in front of her chest. It read, "Linda Cross." Instantly, I was rendered speechless. She was Aiden's girlfriend, the person he had been so secretive about that he'd even refused to show me her photograph. So, Linda was this foolish and evil woman right before my eyes. How could his taste be so bad? As it turned out, this exorbitant 50 thousand-dollar bill from today was not a misunderstanding. Rather, it was a calculated, premeditated act of humiliation. Linda lost her patience completely before I could even say anything. "Since this woman wants to dine-and-dash, we have no choice but to first keep her here and wait for the authorities!" She gestured over her shoulder to two buff security guards waiting by the side. They advanced immediately. One of them firmly clamped his hand over my mouth while the other twisted my arms behind my back as if he was wringing out a cloth. I struggled as hard as I could, but my efforts were all in vain. After all, there was an overwhelming difference in strength between a man and a woman. The security guards disregarded the rage in my eyes and the looks of terror in the eyes of the patrons around us. Aggressively, they dragged me toward the kitchen at the back. Following that, I was heavily tossed into the storage room behind the kitchen—a space that was filled with the stench of disinfectant and food waste. The door then slammed shut, cutting off every bit of light and sound from outside.