Chapter 1

"Miss, stop wasting everyone’s time. Pay the bill already."

The woman, dressed in the uniform of the art gallery staff, spoke with a sharp tone and a sneer, pointing at the antique vase with a crack.

Curious glances turned to us from all around.

I frowned. I hadn’t even touched the vase. How could it have a crack?

Moreover, I didn’t have that much cash.

This art gallery was a face business of the Taylor family, designed to clean up some underground dealings. I had entrusted it to my brother, Cole Taylor, to manage.

They didn’t know my real identity.

Not wanting to waste more time on this ridiculous matter, I took out my phone and prepared to call Cole.

However, the line was busy. I tried again, but the same thing happened.

It was a workday. What could he be so busy with?

I put my phone away, and fixed my gaze on the aggressive woman in front of me. I repeated, word by word:

“I’ll say this one last time. My name is Sherry Taylor, Cole’s sister. If you can’t get in touch with him, just check his account. My picture and information are linked to his bank account.”

I thought this would be the most direct and effective way.

However, upon hearing my name, the woman couldn’t even be bothered to check. Instead, she burst out laughing, attracting even more curious onlookers.

She suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice so only the two of us could hear:

“Still pretending? I’ve seen your face in my husband Cole’s album! You’re nothing but a shameless woman, secretly seducing my man! Now you dare come here, trying to put the blame for the broken vase on him? How shameless can you be?”

At that moment, I froze.

I glanced at her name tag—Flora Wilson.

Watching this absurd scene, I weakly pressed my forehead. Cole actually arranged his ‘secret lover’ to join the family business.

And of all people, this woman? Cole’s taste was beyond terrible.

I finally understood.

This $50,000 bill wasn’t some misunderstanding.

It was a premeditated trap, meant to humiliate me.

Before I could say another word, she had already lost patience:

“If this lady wants a free meal, we’ll have to keep her here until the police arrive!”

She waved her hand, and two security guards who had been standing by immediately stepped forward.

One covered my mouth with force, and the other twisted my arm behind my back as if I were a criminal.

I struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was overwhelming.

Flora touched the gun on her waist.

I stopped resisting, not wanting to provoke this lunatic.

They ignored my furious glares and the shocked stares from other guests.

Roughly, they dragged me to the basement storage room.

The door slammed shut with a bang, and the light and sound from outside were completely cut off.