His Fake Death, My Financial Ruin for Him

Chapter 4

Anthony wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Charlotte, look at the fine son you've raised. Now that it's turned into such a mess, it's Steven's reputation on the line—and the Clark family's reputation that's been lost.

"If you know what's good for you, get Steven to acknowledge us as his parents. There's still room to talk today. Otherwise, his reputation as a rising star in investment banking will be completely ruined, and he'll never rise another inch in this industry."

As he spoke, he walked up to me and spat in my face. "You still have a chance to beg for mercy. Otherwise, when the Clark family elders arrive, they'll prove that this Clark family is mine. Then I'll charge you with forging a death certificate and embezzling Clark family property, and you'll rot in prison for the rest of your life."

Hearing his words, I let out a cold scoff. The next moment, I reached up and pulled off half a jade pendant from my neck. "This jade was a gift I gave Steven when he was one month old. It was split in two—one half hangs from his neck, and the other is here with me, symbolizing the bond between mother and son.

"I didn't want to argue in public, but someone green with envy couldn't stand that my son received a top-tier offer right after coming of age, and wants to paint him as disloyal and ungrateful—a son who disowns his own parents."

Evelyn's eyes widened the moment she saw the jade in my hand, and she cried, "You're lying. This jade is mine. I tied it around his neck myself."

She lunged at Steven like a madwoman, pressing her half of the jade fiercely against the jade on Steven's neck. A soft click rang out. The two pieces fit together seamlessly. "Everyone, look. The jade pieces match. He is my child. This woman wants to steal my son and slander us."

The onlooking crowd stirred once more. Eyes flicked toward us with fresh suspicion.

Anthony grew even more arrogant and said, "Steven, why are you still standing by that woman? I can still cover this up for you today. If you continue to be stubborn, you'll never live down the shame of disowning your own parents."

I looked at the joined pendant, a cold smile touching my lips. I raised my hand and held my half of the pendant next to Steven's neck. "Take a good look."

My half touched his, and with the same click, it snapped into place. But the joined surface was carved with a clear magnolia pattern. Evelyn's half, though it physically fit, had a pattern that didn't match at all. One side had half a flower, and the other half a leaf. I looked up and saw the two of them frozen in shock.

When he first hung that pendant on Steven's neck, I knew this day would come. So I had switched them out long ago for a custom magnolia pendant.

I held the pendant up for the surrounding crowd to see and said, "My son's pendant and mine have the magnolia pattern, symbolizing a life of grace, integrity, and peace. They came prepared to pass him off as their own, yet they didn't even know the design of our pendants."

Evelyn cried out in disbelief, "Impossible. The pendant I gave Steven back then clearly had a Buddha motif. You must have switched it, you bitch."

Steven stepped forward and said coldly, "The pendant around my neck has had a magnolia carved on it for as long as I can remember, unchanged for ten years. If you insult my mother one more time, I'll knock your teeth out."

Looking at their dumbfounded expressions, I commanded, "What are you all standing around for? Drag them out."

The security guards stepped forward at my command, their batons already raised. But just then, a sharp shout cut through the air. "Stop."

Several elders of the Clark family pushed through the crowd and entered. Leading them was Anthony's uncle, Andrew Clark.

His face turned grim and he said, "Since when is it the place of an outsider—a woman who isn't a Clark—to meddle in Clark family affairs, let alone lay hands on a Clark family member?"

He walked to Anthony's side and patted his shoulder and said, "Anthony is the eldest son of the Clark family. The Clark family rightfully belongs to him, and the child is Clark blood. Since when does an outsider get to call the shots?"

With the Clark elders at his back, Anthony's arrogance surged. He slapped me hard across the face and said, "b***h. You still dare to keep me out of the Clark family? Don't forget, this family belongs to the Clarks."

Then he kicked Steven hard and said, "And you, you little bastard, you dare disown your own parents?"

Steven stumbled back two steps. He wanted to hit back, but Andrew's glare pinned him in place.

Andrew looked at me with a grim expression and said, "Charlotte, if you know what's good for you, hand over control of the Clark family to Anthony and step down as Mrs. Clark. Otherwise, we'll take legal action and charge you with forging a death certificate and embezzling Clark family property."

I scoffed, swallowing the metallic taste of blood. "And what if I refuse?"

Anthony rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face again. "You still dare to refuse? Uncle Andrew, let's call the police right now. Charge her with forging my death certificate and embezzling Clark family assets, and get her locked up."

My cheek burned. Looking at Anthony's despicable face, I took an envelope from the butler and said, "Take legal action? Andrew, you'd better think twice about whether you can bear the consequences."

I opened the envelope, pulled out a sheet of paper, and held it out to Andrew.

Andrew looked down. His face instantly turned deathly pale. He swayed, nearly collapsing to the ground.