“If you know what’s good for you,” I said coldly, “take down everything you posted online—before my mother finds out. Otherwise, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.”
Jordyn burst out laughing, doubled over as if I’d just told the funniest joke in the world.
“Wayne, do you even hear yourself?” she sneered. “Look at your pathetic self. I was the only one who didn’t mind slumming it with you, and now you’re dreaming of having a woman like that as your mother? Please. Even if you stripped naked and offered yourself to her, she wouldn’t spare you a glance.”
“And if I remember right, that woman is the most elusive billionaire in the capital—more myth than reality.”
At that point, I saw no reason to keep hiding it.
“You remembered correctly,” I said. “She is my mother.”
Her smile froze on her face.
One of her bodyguards gasped and whispered, “Miss Ortiz, maybe... Maybe this is all a misunderstanding. That porcelain piece... it really does look authentic.”
Jordyn’s face turned ashen. Still trying to keep control, she whipped out her phone and started recording a video of the porcelain vase before sending it to Garrett.
“Garrett, doesn’t your brother work at Sotheby’s? Ask him if this blue-and-white vase is the centerpiece item from that auction—the one that made headlines.”
“Oh, and bring the top lawyer I hired. We’re at Wayne’s house. I don’t care what it takes—today, I’ll make him admit he leeched off me. I refuse to believe I can’t break this lapdog!”
If she was begging to be humiliated, I was more than happy to oblige.
Ten minutes later, Garrett arrived with the lawyer in tow.
“Jordyn,” he said with forced solemnity, “my brother looked into it. That vase was really bought at the Sotheby’s auction—by the richest woman in the capital. Apparently, it was a birthday gift for her son. She said he could just… use it as a flower vase.”
“Oh, and my brother also said her son has his own private museum. It’s full of priceless antiques and rare treasures.”
Jordyn’s face twisted into a cold smile, as if she’d just caught me in a lie.
Turning to me with a mocking sneer, she said, “Don’t tell me this place is supposed to be that private museum.”
I nodded seriously.
Every single artifact in the display cases around us was fitted with a state-of-the-art security system my mother had personally installed.
Well—except for the vase on the table.
Before I could explain, Garrett suddenly picked up the porcelain vase and started examining it with exaggerated care.
A wave of unease washed over me.
I rushed forward to stop him—but he fumbled it on purpose.
Crash!
The sharp, brittle sound echoed through the room as the one hundred twenty million dollar vase shattered into dozens of glittering shards across the floor.
My pupils dilated. My chest tightened like a fist was crushing my heart.
That vase was a once-in-a-lifetime artifact—something my mother had won at auction just to celebrate my birthday.
The only one of its kind in the world.
“Are you hurt, Garrett?!”
Jordyn didn’t care about the priceless vase.
She rushed straight to him, eyes filled with concern, because a sliver of ceramic had grazed his leg, leaving a paper-thin scratch.
Garrett’s eyes turned red with tears as he played the victim.
“I’m okay, Jordyn... I just couldn’t stand him lying like this. Pretending to be the billionaire’s son—he’s still trying to trick you.”
Jordyn hugged him and glared at me.
“Apologize to Garrett! Your cheap knockoff injured him. If you don’t, I’ll report you for intentional assault!”
Rage erupted in my chest.
I raised my hand and slapped Garrett across the face—hard.
“You smashed my property and dared to slander me? You want to see what a real assault looks like?”
Jordyn lost it.
She kicked me hard, knocking me to the ground.
Shards of porcelain tore open my palm, but I didn’t even flinch.
She glanced at Garrett’s swollen cheek, still furious, and turned to start destroying the rest of my collection.
But the moment she touched one of the genuine antiques, the security system activated.
A surge of electricity crackled through her body—zapping her so hard she collapsed to the floor in spasms.
She stared at me, wide-eyed and breathless.
“Wayne... Are you insane?! Using a high-end security system... on a bunch of fake junk?!”
