The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 23

Crash!!!

Reeling from Lexi's punch, Walter smashed directly into a massive display cabinet behind him.

The deafening shatter of glass instantly drowned out the restaurant's chatter. Expensive whiskey, premium wine, and imported liquors crashed to the floor, the dark amber liquid mixing with dangerous shards of glass.

The entire restaurant fell dead silent for three seconds.

Then, total chaos erupted. "A fight! He smashed the cabinet!"

"Call the cops, hurry!"

Walter's friends rushed to help him up. His jaw was already swelling, and when his fingers came away with blood, his eyes went wild. "You bitch! You just wait, I'm suing you for assault! And all this liquor—you're paying for every last drop! You're dead!"

The restaurant manager ran over, completely drained of color. He stared at the shattered display of premium reserves, trembling all over. "These... these were our top-shelf imports... the damages are easily, easily thirty thousand dollars..."

Lexi stood in place, panting heavily.

Only then did she realize she might have escalated things a bit too far.

Sloane stepped forward calmly, gently tugging Lexi's arm to pull her back. Then, she positioned herself between her best friend and the furiously raving man.

"Mr. Wallace, is it?" Sloane spoke up. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was remarkably clear, slicing effortlessly through the surrounding panic.

Walter finally took a good look at her. The woman before him wore no makeup, yet she carried herself with an undeniable, intimidating elegance. Her dark eyes were terrifyingly composed, making a sudden, inexplicable wave of guilt wash over him.

"We will pay your medical bills, down to the last penny," Sloane stated evenly. "We will also cover the restaurant's damages."

Walter and the manager both froze in shock.

Before they could react, Sloane raised her phone, the screen facing Walter. "I just recorded everything. Your harassment of your employee, you shoving my friend, and her acting in self-defense. The video is crystal clear. Your face, your exact words, and your little 'jokes' with your staff are all captured perfectly."

Walter's face instantly went deathly pale.

"We'll pay the bills. But if you insist on calling the cops and suing my friend for assault," Sloane paused, her voice dropping a few degrees colder, "then this video, along with your company details, will be posted online. I already have the headline: Middle Manager Sexually Harasses Subordinate, Plays Victim When Confronted. How many views do you think that'll get?"

"You... you wouldn't dare!" Walter stammered, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. For a man in his corporate position, a scandal like this was a death sentence.

"Try me."