Chapter 1

Just as I was done speaking, a grimace appeared on Sophia Damer's face, contorting it for a second.

She was the mother of my boyfriend, Jayson Simpson.

However, the grimace lasted for only a split second. After all, she was a seasoned pioneer in the business world, and she quickly regained her haughty composure after a while.

She looked disdainfully at the black card on the table and chortled.

"Ten million dollars? Young lady, don't you know that you can't lie about things like these? Did you really think that you could just throw out a random card and pretend you were some rich heiress in a drama?

"I'm sure that a black card like that is very easily obtainable from the roadside credit card sign-up kiosks. Your empty threats and intimidation will never work on me!"

Behind her stood my half-sister, Crystal Richmond. She and I shared the same father but had different mothers.

Crystal held Sophia's hand and said shakily, "Sophia, please don't blame it on this lady here… I think… I think it's because she's been suffering overseas for a while, which is why she turned out so nasty and boastful once she returned.

"But it's all my fault. If I never came back, Jay would never have noticed me, and this lady wouldn't have hated me like this…"

She was so good at putting on a frail, weak act, seemingly very generous and understanding of the situation. All it took was just a few lines from her to paint me as a poor, penniless drifter with a psychological problem who'd just returned from abroad.

Also, she subtly pointed out her close relationship with Jayson, implying that I was only behaving like this because of jealousy.

As expected, Sophia fell for her innocent tricks, hook, line, and sinker. She felt pity for Crystal, patting the back of her hand before turning to me with icy-cold eyes.

"Heard that? Crystal here is a very kind and understanding person. She's still defending you, even though you're the one bullying her now!

"She is so much better compared to a twisted witch like you!"

She paused for a while and continued, the disdain in her eyes intensifying, "I'm warning you. Jayson is my only son, and the Simpson family does not welcome shameless, pathological liars like you. Take the five million dollars and get out of our lives forever!"

I scoffed when I saw how Sophia and Crystal kept up with their performances in front of me. Just as I was about to speak, the cafe door was suddenly pushed open, and a familiar yet distant silhouette rushed in at once.

It was Jayson.

He hurried up to our table and looked at Crystal, who was still crying in her seat, then at Sophia, who was obviously glaring at me. Finally, his gaze landed on me. There was a huge frown on his face.

"Are you done making a fuss, Cheryl Richmond?"

His accusatory question sounded even more laughable than the five million dollars Sophia slapped in my face earlier.

Before I could respond, Crystal had already broken free from Sophia's hold and rushed into Jayson's arms. She continued sobbing loudly and said, "Jay, please don't pin the blame on her… She didn't do it on purpose… We just… We just had a little misunderstanding…"

Jayson held on to Crystal's shoulder and softened his tone at once.

"You're too kind, Crystal. You don't have to defend her."

After he was done comforting her, he turned to me again, his face filled with detachment and disgust.

"My mom has a heart condition, and Crystal has a frail body. You should have directed all your anger toward me instead of them! Why did you have to purposely make things hard for them?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my seat, looking at him coldly.