Chapter 5

The crowd began pointing and muttering insults at me.

Just then, the loud screech of tires sounded from the driveway.

A sleek black Maybach pulled up to the entrance, and my three brothers stepped out.

Seeing them arrive, Jefferson immediately clutched his cheek and ran over to Ethan, crying.

"Uncle Ethan! You have to help me! She tried to seduce Dad right in front of us, and when I stopped her, she slapped me!"

"She made Mom cry too!"

Hearing this, the three brothers' faces darkened instantly.

The moment Ethan’s eyes landed on me, he froze. "Victoria?"

But within a second, his expression turned freezing cold and accusing.

"It’s been twenty years, and the moment you step foot back in this country, you start targeting Dorothy again?"

"Oh, so you’re the trashy, ex-con aunt everyone talks about," Jefferson sneered, looking at me with pure disgust. "You really are a piece of work."

Dorothy put on her most pitiful face and clutched Ethan’s sleeve.

"Ethan, please don't yell at Victoria. It’s my fault. It has nothing to do with her."

"You haven't shown your face in twenty years, and the moment you do, you bring drama to Dorothy," Ryan snapped at me.

"And look at you, covered in blood. Who are you trying to guilt-trip? Are you trying to embarrass the Johnson family in front of everyone?"

Before Ethan could even speak, Ryan had already finished judging me.

Dorothy, playing the saint, stepped forward and tried to grab my hand.

"Victoria, I know you must have suffered a lot while you were away, and it’s natural for you to hate me."

"But Jefferson is Mario’s and my son. He’s your nephew. How could you lay a hand on him?"

"He’s just a kid."

"If you're angry, take it out on me. Just hit me instead."

She grabbed my hand, trying to force me to slap her face. But Mario quickly stepped in and pulled her back.

"Victoria, enough is enough!" Mario yelled. "You claim you don't care about the past, yet you stalked us all the way to this gala!"

"You're making life miserable for Dorothy and me just because I married her instead of you!"

"Let me make this clear: I love Dorothy. No matter what kind of sick games you play, I will never love you. Get over it!"

Mario held Dorothy tightly, delivering his grand, dramatic declaration of love.

I stood there, completely numb, watching this circus.

"Who said I stalked you here?" I asked, massaging my temples.

"Do you people have no shame?"

"I’m here to meet with Mrs. Brown for a business partnership."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Lucas let out a loud, mocking laugh.

"You? Partnering with Mrs. Brown?" Lucas sneered. "Has living abroad made you completely insane? Do you even know who she is?"

"Mrs. Brown is not someone a person like you can just casually chat with."

Dorothy sighed, looking at me with pity. "Victoria, please stop lying."

"Mr. Brown is one of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles. The Morgan family has a massive legacy. They aren't people we can easily reach."

"I get that you want to impress our brothers, but you shouldn't make up such ridiculous lies."

Her words instantly turned me into the laughingstock of the night.

The crowd whispered and snickered.

"She really is delusional, trying to use the Morgan family's name to look good."

"Where does she get the confidence? Claiming she knows Mrs. Brown... how embarrassing."

"Look at her. She looks like a mess. How could she possibly know Mrs. Brown?"

I didn't bother explaining.

Seeing that it was almost time for our meeting, I decided to ignore my broken phone and just head inside to find Mrs. Brown in person.

I pulled some tissues from my bag, looked in the compact mirror, and wiped the blood from my forehead.

I packed my things, turned around, and walked toward the entrance, but Dorothy grabbed my arm yet again.

"Wait, Victoria, where are you going?"

"To see Mrs. Brown."

A wave of snickers burst out around us.

"Still lying even now."

"Let's see what she does when Mrs. Brown actually gets here."

Just then, someone in the crowd gasped. "Oh my god, Mrs. Brown is actually coming this way!"

Everyone turned toward the grand entrance.

Draped in a stunning custom gown and wearing a flawless emerald necklace, Mrs. Brown was walking gracefully toward the lobby.

Dorothy’s face lit up, and she immediately stepped forward. "Mrs. Brown—"

The others watched with bated breath.

"Of course Dorothy is the one who actually knows Mrs. Brown."

"Exactly. Victoria's little lie is about to blow up in her face."

They all smirked, waiting to watch me fall.

But Mrs. Brown walked right past Dorothy, completely ignoring her, and stopped directly in front of me.

"You must be Ms. Samuels! I’ve been waiting for you. Please, come right in."

The entire room went dead silent.