Oliver's smile snapped into a scowl. "What's that supposed to mean? You think I need to marry you? Let me tell you something. Everything I've achieved, I earned. I built my business from the ground up. And the thing I can't stand most? Manipulative women like you—pretty on the outside, rotten on the inside—mooching off decent men like parasites."

He jabbed his finger in my direction.

"Your name's already in the gutter. Who else would even consider you? If it weren't for our families' old agreement, I wouldn't be wasting a single second more."

Still calm, I walked over to the Italian vase on the side shelf, picked it up gently, and turned it over in my hands so the bottom faced him.

"Take a good look," I said evenly. "That's Sotheby's official authentication code. One of a kind. Final sale price? $12 million."

I met his eyes without flinching as I continued, "You think I care about your lousy $500,000? I was willing to let this whole thing go, out of respect for our family. But honestly, I could've gifted you that money just to keep things quiet. But you know what I don't tolerate?"

I tilted my head, my tone becoming sharply pointed as I said, "Spineless, freeloading men who want to get something for nothing."

Then I took a step forward.

"Here's the deal. As long as you and your entourage walk out of my house right now and never come back, I won't press defamation charges or harassment. That's me being generous."

Oliver froze mid-scowl.

The bodyguard looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Sir, maybe there was a misunderstanding? And that vase… it might actually be real."

Oliver's hands were trembling now as he snatched the vase back, turning it over again and again. I watched the smug confidence drain from his face like someone pulled the plug.

Panic finally broke through.

He grabbed his phone and barked into it. "Kiara, doesn't your brother work at Sotheby's? Get him on the phone. I need him to check the winner of that final auction piece, the one with the highest bid!"

Oliver didn't even wait for her response before snapping again. "And get that damn lawyer I hired over here. We're settling this now. I want her to admit she used my card! If I let her into my life, she'd be riding my neck and shitting on my head!"

If he was that desperate to humiliate himself, I was more than happy to watch.

Ten minutes later, Kiara showed up with the news and a lawyer following behind.