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Linda's"expert"was Ryan's cousin,Victor Hayes,who ran an antique and jewelry shop in the city.
In deed an expert,but he didn't get along with them.
She groveled to get him there.
He walked in and slapped her.
"Got the nerve to call me?Planning to repay my loan in the afterlife?"
Desperate,she winced but sweet-talked,"Victor,we agreed you'd wait till Ryan's married.Look at this feast—eat,then check this out..."
She pushed the broken bracelet and appraisal to him.
He didn't glance at it."It's got an official stamp.You think I'm more aprofessional than that?"
"Didn't know you could still play innocent at your age!"
Linda's face darkened,but she forced a smile."City folks are crooked—I'm scared of being scammed!Victor,we're family.I trust you!"
He wasn't moved,sneering,"Family now?You borrowed$20,000 for Ryan to go to college and never paid back.Family my ass!"
"Scam you?You've got no money or power—what's to scam,your pickle jar?"
I couldn't hold it,laughing out loud.
Linda glared at me,then nearly knelt to Victor.
He relented,examining the bracelet with a UV lamp and magnifier.
"Yeah,there's something wrong..."
Linda jumped,ecstatic,slamming her fist at the table.
"You city tramp,claiming$60,000 to ruin us?I'll sue you for slander and fraud!Pay us,or this isn't over!"
"Hold your horses,"Victor interrupted calmly."I meant,whoever said it’s worth only $60,000 doesn’t know what he’s doing!Top-grade jade like this, made at least a hundred years ago—I'd start at$80,000."
Linda's grin vanished.
Tom,skeptical,grabbed the bracelet."This junk's$80,000?You and that girl scamming us?"
Victor smirked."You’re hopeless, go to a mental hospital now. Even cured,you'd drool."
Ryan joined in,cursing,"You shady crook!You're after my ex,huh?Helping her now,then hooking up later?"
Victor laughed harder."You inherited well—half a brain,no cerebellum,only thinking with your dick.Why not chop off the top half?"
Ryan and Tom,silenced and humiliated,shut down.
Victor ignored them,asking for my contact."If you've got more treasures like this,let's do business."
I grinned,face stiff from laughing."Sure!And you're so sharp,I'll hire you to argue for me next time!"
While I chatted,Ryan's family panicked like cats on hot bricks.
$60,000 crushed them.
They blamed each other—Tom blamed Ryan's poor taste,Ryan blamed Tom's uselessness.
Linda,dazed,suddenly grabbed the bracelet from Tom,smashed it to bits,and stomped on it.
"Us paying up? Pay up my ass!Let's see you try!It's broken—what can you do?"
She stood proud,thinking she'd outsmarted me.
But this was a Michelin restaurant.
The cameras recorded what she did clearlt, and with audio.
"Lady,that's basically a confession,"Victor chuckled.
Ryan and Tom were speechless.
"Mom,forget Emma—let's run!What can she do?"
They tried to drag her out,but I stayed calm.
They hadn't paid for their feast.
The restaurant wouldn't let them leave.
Sure enough,security stopped them.
Desperate,Ryan pulled out his card.
"Emma,think I can only leech off you?"
He saw the bill and froze.
Who would spend $8,000 on a meal?
"Got...any coupons?"
Security cracked their knuckles."You serious?"
Out of options,he groveled to me.
"Emma,I'm sorry,okay?I can't pay now,but I'm young,with a bright future ahead of me.How about I marry into your family to settle the debt?"
I was floored.
He redefined"shameless."
Seeing no response,he whined,trying to trap me with guilt—his mom was old,a bit senile,and I was heartless for holding a grudge.
"We can't afford it.If you want money,you're killing me!"
"Ryan,I never said you had to pay."
"Great!I'll give you anything but money!"
I smirked,dialing the police under his horrified gaze.
Money?I had plenty.
I wanted the woman who defiled my mom's memory to pay.
