Chapter 66

The hall had turned electric again. Laughter buzzed like static, and a hundred stares locked onto Jaden as if he were the villain in some grand drama.

Stanwell's smile had twisted into something darker now — less polished, more primal. He took a step closer to Jaden, towering.

"How dare you call my present worth fifty million fake?" Stanwell asked again, voice sharp and cold.

Jaden didn't even blink. "Because it is."

A collective gasp ran through the guests like a wave. Wine glasses paused mid- air. Someone whispered, "Did he just say fake?"

"This guy got some guts, not only did he brought a worthless gift wrapped in a rag, he's calling a gift worth fifty million fake?"

"where did Hannah even met him?"

Stanwell's eyes flared. "Watch your mouth."

Jaden tilted his head slightly, still calm. "I'm watching it just fine. You're the one selling illusions."

"You better have proof," Stanwell growled. "Or I swear-"

"Enough!" Hannah's voice cut in, firm but anxious. She stepped between them, her brows furrowed. "Jaden, I get it - whatever you're trying to do. But this isn't the time. Please, don't cause another scene."

Jaden looked at her for a moment, then said quietly, "I'm not trying to cause anything. I just don't like fakes. Especially when the person is such a bragant."

The crowd murmured louder. Julie folded her arms across the room, whispering something to a group of girls who broke into hushed laughter. She knew her brother was about to humiliate Stanwell, he's never wrong.

Donald stood at the far end, watching closely but not interfering.

Stanwell scoffed, waving dramatically to the crowd. "This guy brought a rock wrapped in napkin cloth and suddenly he's an expert on value?"

More laughter.

Jaden let the noise settle before he spoke again - softly but clearly. "I can prove your gift is fake. Right here. Right now."

The room froze.

Stanwell leaned forward. "I dare you."

Jaden smiled.

"Alright."

f

He turned to one of the nearby waiters and pointed at the small velvet box that had once held Stanwell's lavish necklace - the supposed rare Moonlit Tear, a gem he claimed was mined froman ancient royal vault and bought in an exclusive foreign auction?

"May I?"

The waiter hesitated, then nodded and handed it to him.

Jaden opened the box and held it in the light. The necklace shimmered — dazzling and cold—the kind of sparkle that hypnotized crowds.

"Moonlit Tear, right?" Jaden asked, lifting the chain. "Let's see what the moon says."

He fished

his

small, round lens from

―

bet

no one even saw

where it came from. It looked

jeweler's Toupe, old but clean

like

Jaden raised the necklace to his eye and examined it under the lens. The hall was silent.

Then, he flipped the lens around — and slid open a hidden panel on the side.

From the lens emerged a thin blue light, like a scanner beam.

The crowd leaned in.

The beam ran slowly across the gem, casting faint sparks... until the necklace flickered. For a split

second, the light refracted light real, telifele

unnaturally- a small, telltale shimmer.

Jaden looked up.

"Glass core. Synthetic coating. Manufactured sparkle.” His voice was calm, but carried like thunder. "It's a fake."

Silence. Then-

"What?!"

"No way..."

"Impossible."

Stanwell's face twisted. "That's a lie-!"

Jaden raised a brow. "Want to use my loupe and check for yourself? Or should we

call in an actual appraiser?"

People began murmuring again, some backing away to take a closer look.

Jaden set the loupe down on the table gently, then turned his eyes toward Stanwell one last time.

"Like I said,” he said with a small shrug, "you talk too much."