Chapter 2

Rita's smug smile instantly disappeared, her expression turning even uglier.

"Ms. Pearson, we always verify a customer's identity before allowing any charges on their card!

"And the woman claiming to be your mother even showed us photos of the two of you together. She swore up and down that she was your mother, so naturally we agreed to--"

Ms. Waltz's tone was already dripping with impatience.

However, instead of backing down, I stared right back at her.

"Photos?

"What era are we living in now? You think a photo proves anything?

"Do you believe I could generate ten thousand photos of us together with AI right now?

"Then what? Should I take those photos to a bank, claim I'm your mother, and withdraw all the money from your account?

"I'm not asking your store to operate with the same level of security as a bank, but if you're spending money from my card, the bare minimum should be notifying me first!"

I pointed casually at the transaction records displayed on the register.

"I prepaid a hundred thousand into this membership card because I trusted your store.

"You were the ones managing the funds for me. Now the money's gone, and somehow this is my fault?

"Honestly, I'm shocked. Your store charges luxury prices, yet your standards are this sloppy?"

My voice remained steady, but the faint smile on my face was full of mockery.

And somehow, those few sentences completely stirred up the other customers in the room.

A middle-aged woman wearing a mink coat slammed her hand against the table.

"The young lady's right!

"This is how your store handles things? Fake photos are everywhere these days. What can they possibly prove?

"Isn't this obviously the result of your own poor management?

"I'm telling you right now, I still have six hundred thousand stored in my card!

"No way. I want to check my balance immediately! Who knows if you people secretly emptied my account too?"

The voices in the store grew louder and louder.

Every employee behind the counter had gone red in the face, stumbling over their words without being able to explain anything.

Ignoring them completely, I held my hand out toward the security guard.

"Now. Give me my phone back immediately.

"Otherwise, once I call the police, this won't just be about unauthorized charges anymore."

Rita's face turned livid with rage. She shot me a vicious glare before slapping my hand away.

"Ms. Pearson, stop making baseless accusations!

"Everything you've said is purely your own speculation, and it's seriously damaging our store's reputation!

"We have every right to sue you for defamation!

"Let me tell you something. I have an elite legal team behind me!

"Today, you will provide a written and public apology to our store, then compensate us two million for reputational damages. Otherwise, don't even think about leaving!"

I looked at her with a faint smile that was not really a smile at all.

At the same time, I quietly touched the voice recorder in my pocket, the one I had accidentally brought from the office. Only then did I finally relax a little.

"Sure. As long as you let me call the police, you can say whatever you want.

"But remember what you just said. Your store will probably be adding unlawful detention to the list of charges too."

Just as the standoff between Ms. Waltz and me reached its peak, the mink coat lady who had supported me earlier suddenly stood up and thrust a phone covered in rhinestones toward me.

"Here, use my phone!

"I've seriously never seen a store act this outrageously before!

"Young lady, call the police! Let them come investigate this place properly!"

I smiled and thanked her before taking the phone and dialing 911 again.

This time, Ms. Waltz stared at both of us for a long while, her face flushed an ugly purple-blue color, yet she did not dare say another word.