Chapter 1

My voice was icy cold, every word sharp and clear.

Several guests lounging in the salon lobby immediately fell silent and turned to look at me. The moment they heard the words 'unauthorized card charges,' even the elegantly dressed socialites nearby stiffened, their expressions darkening.

The receptionist's look of disdain froze on her face. She stood there completely dumbfounded.

"N-no, Ms. Pearson, that's not... not what happened..."

I stood where I was, phone in hand, not even sparing her a glance as I calmly continued speaking to the police officer on the other end of the call.

Just as I was about to give the salon's address, a large hand suddenly reached out from behind me and snatched my phone away.

Frowning sharply, I turned around.

A woman in a professional skirt suit stood there with a security guard beside her. My phone was already in the guard's hand, casually being tossed around like a toy.

"Ms. Pearson, I'm Rita Waltz, the manager of Sensilk Beauty Salon. Whatever the issue is, we can talk it out properly. It's such a small matter, there's really no need to involve the police."

A polite smile rested on her lips, but the contempt in her eyes was impossible to miss.

The whole scene nearly made me laugh from anger.

I held out my hand and said loudly, "No matter what you want to discuss, return my phone first."

"That phone is my personal property. What kind of business are you running here? A customer's belongings can just be taken without permission?

"How is that any different from theft?"

Ms. Waltz's expression instantly turned cold. Not only did she make no move to return my phone, she actually stepped sideways to block the security guard behind her.

"Theft? Ms. Pearson, even if you are one of our customers, you can't just throw around accusations like that.

"And besides, your phone...? We're not that desperate.

"We simply noticed you were emotionally unstable and wanted to prevent you from doing anything irrational, so we're temporarily holding it for you."

The implication in her tone made the veins in my forehead throb.

Before I could respond, Rita slowly walked over to the counter and pretended to glance through the receipt records at the register. Then she turned back to me with an expression that practically screamed unreasonable troublemaker.

"Ms. Pearson, we've already pulled up the billing records. Every transaction is clearly listed. What exactly are you still making a fuss about?

"Instead of trying to extort money from us here, maybe you should go home and ask your mother what happened.

"I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding.

"It would be quite embarrassing if the police arrived and discovered this was just a family matter, only to mistakenly arrest your father as a thief."

There was a faint smile hidden in Rita's voice.

Every sentence painted me as hysterical and unreasonable, with just enough threat underneath to make the meaning clear.

The guests watching from the lobby visibly relaxed after hearing her explanation.

Soon, whispers and comments spread through the room.

"Young lady, if it was your own family spending the money, you can't blame the salon for it."

"Exactly. I've been coming to Sensilk for years and I've never had my card stolen."

"If you ask me, she probably staged this whole thing just to scam compensation out of the store."

The overlapping chatter of dozens of women crashed against my ears.

My anger exploded instantly.

My mother?

My mother had died from illness ten years ago. What mother did I supposedly have running around beauty salons spending my money?

I forced myself to calm down and looked coldly at Rita.

"Ms. Waltz.

"First of all, my mother passed away ten years ago.

"I don't know where you got the idea that the person using my card was my mother, but that is absolutely impossible.

"What you should be doing right now is reflecting on whether your staff actually verified the customer's identity properly.

"Or is your salon the kind of place where anyone can walk in, tell a half-believable lie, and enjoy free services?"

I held Rita's stiff expression in my gaze and continued.

"Second, unless I'm mistaken, this membership card was opened under my name. I also left my phone number during registration.

"So why was there not a single notification call when large amounts were being charged to my card?"

The moment I finished speaking, the receptionist behind the counter also began to look visibly panicked.