Emily yanked the phone from Liam's hand and began to shout, “On October 3rd, Liam took you to Yummy Restaurant for dinner, spending $342. On October 20th, he bought you a bouquet of flowers for $90. And on Christmas, a lipstick for $270…”

Her voice grew shriller with each figure, and I couldn’t help but laugh through my frustration.

I had poured thousands of dollars into our relationship, enduring financial hardship and working multiple jobs to feed his vanity, while he’d given me nothing of real value—gifts that barely reached ten or twenty dollars. My decision to work as a waitress was vindicated. If I hadn’t taken this job, I might have remained oblivious to his true nature. Even if Liam hadn’t been cheating on me or juggling two girlfriends, he was still a scoundrel. And I had Darlene to thank for this revelation.

“The total comes to $13,760.50. Pay up immediately, or I’ll call the police!” Emily declared, having swiftly tallied every cent.

Her calculation was precise, and the total was laid bare. I could only laugh bitterly. “Go ahead, call the police. I’m not great with numbers myself, so I’ll need a professional to audit how much I’ve spent on him.”

Liam’s face turned pale. “Andrea, don’t go too far,” he pleaded.

I glanced pointedly at the Rolex on his wrist. “You’ve married a wealthy Ms. Foster, yet she hasn’t upgraded your watch?”

Liam’s hand twitched as he instinctively tried to hide the watch. Darlene noticed his movement and yanked his arm, “Didn’t you say you bought this watch with your own money?”

She wasn’t entirely naive—she recognized the watch’s value.

“It’s a fake. Why would you believe anything she says?” Liam stammered in a desperate attempt to placate her. “She’s just a waitress earning $300 a shift; how could she afford a real one?”

Despite his lies, I could see the tension in his eyes. “If it’s fake, why are you still wearing it? If it’s so worthless, why not take it off?” I smiled sweetly, deliberately taunting Darlene. “Do you still love me?”

Darlene’s anger flared, and she grabbed Liam’s collar, her voice trembling with rage. “Tell me, do you still love her?”

Liam’s face was a mask of worry, his anxiety almost palpable. “I didn’t!” he insisted desperately.

Seizing the moment, I stepped forward. “Then why don’t you take off the watch and return it to me? It’s worth $300,000, and I won’t let a scoundrel like you keep it.”

The watch was Liam’s sole claim to bragging rights, and his reluctance to part with it was evident. Yet, faced with Darlene’s steely gaze, he had no choice but to comply. With a pained expression, he removed the watch and tossed it to me, his eyes dark with a murderous rage.

As I accepted the watch, Emily was still fuming. Just as she was about to escalate the situation further, Liam intervened. He gave her a meaningful glance and said, “Sister, the time is drawing near. Our relatives and friends are waiting outside. The banquet is important.”

Emily, frustrated but yielding, smoothed her hair and turned away to comfort Darlene. “Darlene, I’m sorry for the embarrassment. It’s Liam’s fault for not seeing your worth sooner.”

Darlene offered a practiced, sympathetic smile. “It’s fine. I understand.”

“You were born into nobility, so you’re naturally more tolerant. Unlike those from backwater villages, who don’t know how to behave.” After saying this, Emily’s gaze shifted to me, full of contempt.

With a sneer, Emily ordered Liam, “Lock her in this room. We don’t want her causing any more trouble. After the wedding announcement, we’ll deal with her properly.”

Liam shot me a look filled with cruelty. “Understood.”

I didn’t respond with anger but rather with a cold, knowing smile. The real show was just about to begin.