Chapter 3: The Sister He Never Mentioned

Jessica's confident smile slowly faded.

Dennis stood frozen in the middle of the restaurant lobby, his eyes fixed on the heavy steel door leading to the storage room.

For several long seconds, nobody spoke.

The atmosphere that had been filled with gossip and smug satisfaction only moments ago suddenly became unbearably tense.

"Honey?" Jessica stepped closer, gently touching Dennis's arm. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Dennis slowly turned toward her.

His usually warm expression had completely disappeared.

"Answer my question," he said quietly.

"Who did you lock inside that room?"

Jessica forced an awkward smile.

"Just that woman pretending to be your sister."

"She refused to pay fifty thousand dollars for lunch and kept insisting she was Theresa White."

"She even claimed she helped build this restaurant."

Jessica laughed nervously.

"Can you believe how ridiculous that sounds?"

Nobody laughed with her.

Dennis's breathing became heavier.

"Open... the door."

"Right now."

Jessica frowned.

"Dennis, don't worry. I've already called security. The police should be here any minute."

"OPEN THE DOOR!"

His roar echoed throughout the restaurant.

Every employee jumped.

Even the guests who had remained seated instinctively looked away.

Jessica had never heard Dennis raise his voice like that.

Her confident posture finally cracked.

"I... I'll get the key."

Her trembling hands struggled to unlock the storage room.

The metal door slowly creaked open.

Inside, Theresa calmly stood beside one of the shelves, scrolling through emails on her phone as though she were waiting in an airport lounge instead of being illegally detained.

She looked up.

"Finally," she said with a faint smile.

"Your meeting must have been important."

Dennis rushed inside immediately.

"Theresa!"

"Are you alright?"

"Did they hurt you?"

Without answering, Theresa slowly rolled up the sleeve of her blazer.

Dark purple fingerprints surrounded her wrist where the security guards had grabbed her.

Dennis stared at the bruises.

His face instantly turned pale.

"Who touched you?"

His voice was dangerously calm.

"Dennis..." Jessica quickly interrupted.

"It wasn't like that. She resisted security—"

"I wasn't speaking to you."

Dennis never even looked in her direction.

He gently examined Theresa's wrist.

"Anywhere else?"

"Just my shoulder."

"One of your guards twisted my arm behind my back."

"I see."

His jaw tightened.

Theresa noticed immediately.

"Don't lose your temper," she said quietly.

"Not yet."

"Let's hear everyone's explanation first."

Dennis slowly nodded.

"Fine."

The siblings walked back into the restaurant together.

Every employee stared in disbelief.

Jessica looked from Dennis to Theresa, then back again.

Their identical gray eyes.

The same smile.

Even the small dimple on their left cheek.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"No..." she whispered.

"It can't be..."

Dennis stopped in front of the reception desk.

"Everyone," he announced.

"I'd like to introduce someone."

The restaurant became completely silent.

"This is Theresa White."

"My older sister."

"The woman who invested ten million dollars so this restaurant could even exist."

"Without her..."

"None of us would be standing here today."

Jessica's knees nearly gave out.

"No..."

"No... that's impossible..."

Several employees looked at Jessica with open disbelief.

The young waitress who had tried to warn her lowered her head.

"I told you we should verify her identity..." she whispered.

Jessica barely heard her.

Her entire world was collapsing.

"Dennis..." she stammered.

"Why... why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because," Dennis answered coldly,

"My family values privacy."

"We don't introduce relatives to someone after only a few months of dating."

"Especially when that person hasn't earned our trust."

"Honey, please..."

"Don't call me that."

Jessica froze.

"We're done."

"What?"

"Didn't you hear me?"

"Our relationship is over."

The words landed like a hammer.

"Dennis!"

"You can't break up with me over a misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Theresa finally spoke.

"You falsely accused me of fraud."

"Publicly humiliated me."

"Had security assault me."

"Locked me in a storage room."

"And tried calling the police."

"Tell me..."

"Which part was the misunderstanding?"

Jessica opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Dennis looked toward the two security guards.

"Who grabbed my sister?"

The men nervously stepped forward.

"Mr. White... Manager Jessica ordered us—"

"I didn't ask who gave the order."

"I asked who laid hands on her."

Both men lowered their heads.

"We did, sir."

"Effective immediately, you're suspended pending investigation."

"Turn in your badges before leaving."

"Mr. White! Please! We were only following instructions!"

"You always have a choice," Dennis replied.

"Especially when someone is clearly being mistreated."

He turned toward Jessica.

"As for you..."

"Your employment is terminated immediately."

"Human Resources will contact you regarding the legal consequences."

Jessica's face drained of all color.

"You... you're firing me?"

"Over your sister?"

"No," Dennis corrected.

"I'm firing you because you abused your authority, assaulted a guest, illegally detained someone, fabricated charges, attempted extortion with fake fees, and embarrassed this restaurant in front of dozens of customers."

"The fact that she happens to be my sister only makes your actions even more unforgivable."

Jessica suddenly rushed toward Theresa.

"Please!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I made a mistake!"

"Please tell Dennis not to fire me!"

Theresa quietly stepped aside before Jessica could grab her hand.

"When I politely asked you to verify my identity," Theresa said calmly,

"You laughed."

"When I asked you to call my brother,"

"You mocked me."

"When I tried to explain,"

"You locked me in a storage room."

"Now you want mercy?"

Jessica burst into tears.

"Please... I need this job..."

Theresa looked around the restaurant.

Guests were still recording.

Employees stood frozen.

Some looked ashamed.

Others looked relieved.

Finally, Theresa turned back to Dennis.

"We're not done yet."

"What do you mean?" Dennis asked.

"I still have one very important question."

"Who approved those fake service charges on today's bill?"

Dennis's expression instantly changed.

He slowly picked up the fifty-thousand-dollar invoice from the reception desk.

His eyes moved down the page.

Three thousand dollars for tableware maintenance.

Five thousand dollars for air purification.

Ten thousand dollars for mood-calming services.

His hands began to shake.

"I... never approved any of these fees."

Theresa folded her arms.

"Then someone has been stealing from your customers."

Dennis looked toward his finance director, who had just arrived after hearing the commotion.

"Bring me every invoice issued during the last twelve months."

"Now."

The finance director swallowed nervously.

"Mr. White..."

"There may be... another problem."

"What problem?"

The man hesitated before speaking.

"Those charges... weren't added just today."

"They've been appearing on customer bills... for almost a year."

The entire restaurant fell into stunned silence.