PART 5: The Grand Debut

PART 5: The Grand Debut

High society gasps at unexpected royalty.

The Beverly Hills restaurant was a sprawling, glass-enclosed sanctuary of dim lighting, white linen tablecloths, and whispering celebrities who paid thousands of dollars just to be seen in the right booths.

When the private valet door opened and I stepped out wearing a stunning emerald-green dress Julian had personally selected, paired with a delicate gold necklace Liam had given me that afternoon, the paparazzi stationed across the street exploded into a frenzy of flashing camera strobes.

“Is that Julian Vance’s new girlfriend?”

“Wait, who is the girl with Liam? Is she an investor?”

“Look at the tech mogul and the movie star! Who is she?!”

Shouting voices echoed from behind the security barriers as flashbulbs lit up the night sky like a thunderstorm.

I instinctively flinched, shrinking back slightly against the car door, but Julian immediately stepped in, offering his arm with practiced Hollywood grace while Liam flanked my other side, shielding me from the glaring camera flashes.

“Eyes forward, Summer,” Julian murmured with a reassuring smile. “Let them look. Tonight, the world finds out the Vance family is back together.”

We walked past the velvet ropes into the restaurant, where the maître d’ instantly turned pale, rushed forward, and escorted us to the premier private dining alcove overlooking the city lights.

As we took our seats, I noticed several prominent Hollywood executives and venture capital titans whispering among themselves at nearby tables, casting shocked, calculating glances in our direction.

Word travels fast in Los Angeles.

By the time our appetizers arrived, the digital gossip columns and financial news tickers were already lighting up with breaking headlines: MYSTERY WOMAN IDENTIFIED AS THE FOURTH VANCE HEIR; SILICON VALLEY AND HOLLYWOOD SHAKEN BY UNRECORDED SIBLING.

Leo chuckled, refreshing his phone under the table.

“Look at this,” Leo whispered, sliding his screen over to me. “The financial blogs are already speculating whether you’re going to run a tech startup or star in an action movie.”

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I laughed, taking a sip of sparkling water. “Tell them I’m majoring in marine biology and keeping my plaid tote bag in the closet.”

“Never put the tote bag in the closet, Summer,” Liam smiled warmly, raising his crystal glass. “It’s a family heirloom now.”