Born to Rule, Destined to Destroy Novel 20

Rewritten Chapter 20
The glowing phone screen blazed with undeniable proof: the reservation for Room 205, etched in stark clarity. The waiter’s face drained to a ghostly pallor, his trembling fingers fumbling to scan the QR code with his device. The verification chimed through—a cold, irrefutable truth—and his expression twisted into a grimace of disbelief as he waved the security guards back with a shaky gesture. The air in Star Whisper Restaurant grew thick, charged with the weight of shattered assumptions. Dominic and Adriana stood rooted, their stunned silence a testament to the unthinkable: Valeria and her companion had secured the pinnacle of VIP privilege.
Dominic’s shock curdled into a scowl, his dark eyes boring into Valeria with a ferocity that seemed to ignite the space between them. “You’ve been flaunting yourself with this man at every turn,” he growled, his voice a low rumble of accusation. “Are you having an affair? We’re not even divorced yet, and you’re already scrambling to replace me?”
Valeria’s gaze flicked briefly to Adriana, a shadow of contempt crossing her features before she met Dominic’s stare with icy composure. “And what does that have to do with you?” she replied, her tone a crystalline shard, cutting through his bluster with effortless precision.
“You—” Dominic’s words snagged in his throat, his frustration boiling over like a storm breaking against a cliff. He wheeled on Diego, his chest puffing with wounded pride. “I’m Dominic Herrera, CEO of the Barnett Group,” he declared, his voice rising with a brittle edge. “Valeria’s still my wife—technically. Standing with her like this? You’re picking a fight with the entire Barnett Group!”
Diego’s lips curved into a light, unshaken chuckle, his confidence radiating like a beacon in the dim light. “The Starbright Group has never bowed to the Barnett Group,” he said, his tone smooth and unwavering, a quiet challenge that hung in the air like a drawn blade.
Dominic’s scowl deepened, his bravado faltering as Diego’s words echoed in his mind. He and Adriana exchanged a fleeting glance, both recalling that night at the bar when Diego had casually claimed a high seat within Starbright’s ranks. Doubt flickered in Dominic’s eyes, a whisper of suspicion tugging at his certainty. Could it be true? Could this man wield such power?
Adriana shattered the tense stillness with a dismissive laugh, her hand fluttering delicately to her mouth as if to stifle her amusement. “Oh, please,” she purred, her voice sharpening into a mocking lilt. “I don’t know how you snagged that VIP room, but I’ve never once seen your face among the elite.” Her eyes glinted with scorn as she pressed on. “If you’re going to play pretend, at least make it convincing. Flashing some business card and calling yourself Starbright’s vice president? That might trick a drunk at a bar, but causing a scene here at Star Whisper? It’s laughable—pathetic, really.”
Her lips twisted into a smile dripping with false pity as she turned her gaze to Valeria. “Ms. Gordon, I understand it stings that Dominic doesn’t love you anymore, that he’s eager to cut you loose. But if you’re trying to make him jealous, couldn’t you pick someone less… hollow? This pretty boy’s all flash and no substance. Don’t forget—you’re still tied to the Barnett name, divorce or not. Your little stunts don’t just tarnish you; they drag the whole family through the mud.”
Her words bolstered Dominic’s resolve, a faint snort escaping him as he brushed off Diego’s claim with a dismissive flick of his hand. If Valeria truly had ties to someone of Starbright’s caliber, why had she lingered in his shadow for three years, playing the dutiful wife? The notion was absurd. “Don’t waste your breath on their nonsense,” Adriana snapped, pivoting to the waiter with a voice like a whip. “Even if they somehow nabbed Room 205, there’s no way they can afford a single bite here. Get them out before they stir up more trouble.”
The waiter’s eyes darted between Dominic’s commanding presence and Diego’s unflinching poise, his loyalties torn. After a moment’s hesitation, he clenched his jaw, siding with the known over the uncertain. “Mr. Navarro, I think it’s best you leave,” he said, his tone firm despite the tremor beneath it. “We’ll refund your reservation fee later.”
Valeria’s eyes narrowed, her voice slicing through the air like a winter wind. “Reservations can’t be canceled or changed without the guest’s consent,” she said, each word measured and edged with steel. “Is this how Star Whisper operates—bending over backwards to appease the Barnett Group?” She hadn’t intended to linger here, not with Dominic and Adriana poisoning the atmosphere, but their relentless push to humiliate her ignited a fire she couldn’t douse. She wouldn’t yield—not now.
Diego stepped forward, his anger a palpable force as his voice dropped to a cold, commanding timbre. “Call your manager,” he ordered, his words ringing with authority. “It’s disgraceful that your staff can’t even recognize their own boss. How do you expect this place to thrive like this?”
His declaration froze Dominic and Adriana mid-breath, their faces paling as a ripple of doubt cracked their certainty. The waiter faltered, beads of sweat glistening on his brow as the weight of Diego’s claim sank in. Star Whisper was a jewel in Starbright’s crown, and the mention of the manager rattled his fragile confidence.
Adriana leapt to counter the shift, her voice rising with a venomous edge. “They’re bluffing—don’t you dare fall for it!” she hissed, her disdain sharpening her words. “Call the manager, and they’ll only humiliate themselves when they’re tossed out. Do your job—get rid of them before you’re the one in trouble!”
The waiter’s fists clenched, Adriana’s insistence steeling his resolve. Dominic was a proven titan, the CEO of a mighty empire, while Diego remained an enigma. “Escort them out!” he barked, signaling the guards with a sharp gesture, their heavy steps closing in once more.
But before they could act, the restaurant’s grand doors swung wide, and a man in a sleek black suit strode in, his presence a storm cloud rolling across the polished floor. “Stop right there!” he commanded, his voice a deep, resonant thunder that stilled the room.
The waiter’s face blanched, his bravado crumbling. “Manager?” he stammered, scurrying forward to meet him, his voice a thread of panic.
Before he could utter another word, a sharp crack split the air—a resounding slap that sent the waiter reeling, clutching his stinging cheek in stunned silence. The manager didn’t spare him a glance, his focus locking onto Valeria and Diego with an intensity that seemed to anchor the chaos. He stepped forward, bowing deeply, his posture radiating reverence.
“Welcome, Mr. Navarro,” he said, his voice steady and rich with respect, a quiet proclamation that shifted the room’s gravity.