Chapter 2

I said, "Jayson Simpson. When did you ever see me making things hard for them? From the start, it was your mother who slapped a check in my face and told me to leave, while your precious little Crystal only kept fanning the flames.

"You rushed in and immediately began accusing me without even bothering to get the full story. Is this what you meant when you pursued me overseas? When you promised that you would always believe me and take my side no matter what?"

Jayson's face froze. He looked at a loss for words to say.

When Sophia saw this, she immediately took a step forward and shielded Jayson behind her as well.

"And you still have the nerve to bring that up? If it weren't for you using some hypnotizing spell to seduce him while he was overseas, he would never have fallen for a woman like you!

"I'm telling you that I'm here today to kick you out for good! Apologize to Crystal at once! Otherwise, don't blame me for getting ruthless with you!"

"Apologize?"

I laughed. "You're telling me to apologize to a woman who slapped my face with a check and another woman who stole my boyfriend from me?"

"You!" Sophia raised her hand in the air to cuff me.

"Mom!" Jayson exclaimed, hurriedly stopping her. He then inhaled deeply and pleaded, "Cheryl, take it as me asking you for a favor. Just apologize to them, and we'll call it quits, okay?

"Mom just lost her temper and didn't mean what she said. As for Crystal… She's still young and doesn't know any better. Don't make things hard for them."

I glared at Jayson.

I finally realized now that the guy standing before me was a very stupid and weak man after all.

I slowly got up, retrieved the black card on the table, and walked up to him.

He looked at me in surprise. Then, I raised my hand in the air and smacked the card hard against his cheek. I gave him another tight slap.

"Jayson Simpson, you, your mother, and that woman standing there, are all perfectly made for each other.

"This slap is to wake you up. Also, we are through!"

My attitude made Sophia fly into a rage. She looked at the red handprint on Jayson's face and rushed up to me, grabbing my purse and screaming at the top of her lungs, "My brooch! My sapphire brooch is missing! You must have stolen it!"

Her piercing shriek was even more explosive than everything that was said earlier.

Everyone in the cafe focused their attention on us at once.

Sophia began sobbing loudly in public.

"Everyone! Look at this woman! She failed in trying to seduce my son, so she resorted to stealing my things!

"That sapphire brooch was a gift that my husband gave me as a wedding anniversary gift! It's worth more than two million dollars!"

Crystal immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, looking shocked at the revelation, though I could detect a hint of smugness in her eyes when she did that.

"Cheryl! How could you… Sophia loved that brooch very much… Could it be that you went through a lot while you were overseas?

"You should've told me about it! I could have helped you… Why did you have to resort to doing something like this?"

Her words were full of implications, painting me as a poor and jealous thief.

Jayson looked at me, the angry look on his face gradually turning into one of disdain and disappointment.

"Cheryl Richmond. I used to be so blind in the past. I always thought you were just willful and arrogant, but I never imagined that you would turn into a thief. Where is my mother's brooch? Return it at once!"

I looked at the three people in front of me, a so-called "happy family" who perfectly banded together to twist the truth, and felt the last bit of warmth die out in my chest.

I opened my mouth and slowly asked, "Are you sure that I stole the brooch?"

"Who else could have stolen it, if not you?" Sophia screamed, still yanking hard at my purse. "You're the only one who's the most suspicious here!"

We made such a huge commotion that a security guard soon arrived with another middle-aged man in a formal suit. The name tag on his chest introduced him as Jeff Curran, the general manager.

When Sophia saw him, she immediately pointed at me and demanded, "Mr. Curran! There's a thief in your premises! Arrest her at once and bring her to the VIP lounge! I want to search her myself!"

The guard then "escorted" me into the VIP lounge.

Sophia had a smug, victorious air to her as she sat on the main couch, leisurely sipping on some hot tea that her personal assistant had handed her.

Meanwhile, Crystal huddled up against Jayson like a frightened little bird by the side, occasionally looking at me with a timid yet slightly smug expression.