Chapter 3

Marlene raised an eyebrow smugly.

"Jillian, I've already told you that until the two thousand dollars is in my account, you're not going anywhere."

I looked at her coldly. "This is unlawful detention—it's a crime. I suggest you think about the consequences before you act."

Marlene burst into exaggerated laughter, doubling over as she turned to Hugo.

"Hugo, did you hear that? She told me to think about the consequences. Oh, I'm so scared."

Only when she'd had her fill of laughing did she turn back to face me.

"Jillian, what makes a swindling fake socialite like you think you can act so high and mighty in front of me?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm doing the world a favor by making sure you don't go out and prey on other men."

I had completely lost my patience.

"I'll say this one last time—I am not some fake socialite. I bought all of these genuine designer items with my own money. I am the heiress of the Vega family in Richstead, and I strongly advise you to let go of me right now. Otherwise, you will have hell to pay if you cross my family."

Marlene laughed even more wildly.

"You, the heiress of the Vega family? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

She slapped Hugo's arm in an exaggerated manner.

"Hugo, listen to this. She's gone mad! Pretending to be a fake socialite wasn't enough, and now she's passing herself off as a wealthy heiress. Jillian, do you have any idea what the Vega family represents in Richstead?

"They're a true top-tier dynasty at the pinnacle of power in Richstead—the kind of family that can shake the entire city with a single move. And you think you're some noble heiress just because your last name happens to be Vega?"

She folded her arms tightly and put on an imperious look. "If you're the heiress of the Vega family, then I'm the president of Dorseca! You fake socialites really don't know when to quit."

I turned an icy gaze toward Hugo.

"Mr. Crawford, when your family arranged this blind date, did they not tell you who I am?"

Hugo froze for a moment, averting his eyes.

"No. Other than telling me to take the blind date seriously, my grandfather, Willard Crawford, didn't say anything else."

It dawned on me that Grandpa must have kept my identity under wraps as well.

After all, over the years, too many people had tried to get close to me because of my family's power and influence. Without the special status hanging over my head, it would be easier for me to find someone who liked me for who I really was.

Grandpa probably never imagined that having me conceal my identity for a blind date would attract this kind of farce.

When Marlene saw me remain quiet, she assumed it was out of guilt.

"See? Even Mr. Crawford Senior didn't say you were an heiress."

I forced down the rage bubbling inside me and tried to reason with them one final time.

"Hugo, are you sure you want to aid and abet her? Think carefully—would Mr. Crawford Senior do anything to harm you?"

Marlene, once again getting too clever for her own good, piped up, "Hugo, this vile woman must have deceived Mr. Crawford Senior!"

She pointed at the Patek Philippe on my wrist and let out a scornful laugh. "You really don't know when to drop the act, do you? You think I can't tell a real socialite from a fake one?

"That watch on your wrist is obviously a knockoff. There are only a handful of limited-edition Patek Philippe Celestial models in the entire world. Even Dean Strickland next door couldn't get on the waiting list to buy one, so how could someone like you possibly get her hands on one?"

Dean Strickland? I had never even heard that name in the elite circles of Richstead, so it was only natural he couldn't get on the waiting list. After all, how could he compare to my family, a top-tier dynasty?

I gave a cold laugh. "This is real. Even in another ten years, you still won't be able to afford it."

The moment those words left my mouth, Marlene picked up a glass of water and threw its contents straight at my face.

The ice-cold liquid, along with a slice of lemon, drenched me from head to toe.

Marlene arrogantly set the empty glass back on the table.

"All this talk just means you can't afford to pay me the two thousand dollars, right? I'll make you an offer.

"If you take off every last piece of counterfeit junk you're wearing and admit in front of everyone that you're nothing but a gold-digging, wannabe socialite who's only after money, I'll be magnanimous enough to let you leave. You won't even have to pay the two thousand dollars in damages."