“Everything,” Ryan’s voice echoed from the speakerphone. Flat. Ice-cold.
Vanessa’s mask of arrogance shattered instantly. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale and trembling.
“Ryan! Baby, wait!” she choked out, frantically leaning toward the phone. “It’s a misunderstanding! She threatened me! I was just—”
“Save it,” Ryan interrupted. “The penthouse locks are already changed. Your credit cards are frozen. The wedding is off.”
Cornered and panicking, Vanessa’s desperation morphed back into raw, ugly rage. She sneered at Catherine, her hands fiercely clutching the massive diamond pendant around her own neck.
“Fine!” Vanessa hissed. “But I’m keeping the engagement ring and this necklace! They’re worth two million dollars. You can’t stop me from selling them!”
Catherine just smiled. That same, infuriatingly calm smile.
She took a slow step forward, her heels clicking sharply against the pristine white marble floor of the high-end boutique.
“About those diamonds,” Ryan said through the phone. “Tell her, Mother.”
Catherine reached out and lightly tapped the giant pendant resting on Vanessa’s chest. It made a hollow, cheap *clink*.
“I built a billion-dollar empire from nothing, Vanessa,” Catherine whispered, her gaze piercing right through the younger woman. “Did you really think I don’t run background checks? Or that I don’t secretly own this very jewelry brand?”
Vanessa froze, her breath catching in her throat as her fingers traced the stone.
“Cubic zirconia,” Catherine stated coldly. “The ring is, too. We’ve known exactly who you were for months. We just needed you to confess your little scheme on a recorded line to legally void your settlement payout.”
Catherine slipped the black smartphone back into her perfectly tailored white suit and turned away.
“You’re not just dumped, my dear. You leave with absolutely nothing. Security will show you out.”