Ex Husband Returns: The Martial Arts Godmaster

Chapter 8: The False Gift

The cruel laughter echoing through the ballroom seemed to fuel Amelia's vicious momentum as she stepped closer to Logan, her diamond jewelry catching the light with each movement.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Amelia announced with theatrical malice, "let me tell you the truth about this pathetic creature. He didn't save anyone—he probably made the whole story up!"

"Amelia, that's enough," Samantha said sharply, but she was completely ignored.

"This cockroach is a compulsive liar!" Amelia continued, her voice rising. "He used to tell me he was going to make it big someday, that he had plans and dreams. But look at him! Still crawling around in the same cheap clothes, still living like a parasite!"

“ If lying was a crime, he would be on a death row! Simple shameless and worthless!”

Darien nodded sagely, adjusting his expensive cufflinks. "Poor Samantha has been deceived by this maggot's lies. He's probably feeding her fantasies about being some kind of hero when the truth is he can barely afford his next meal."

"That's right!" Amelia's eyes glittered with malicious joy. "This pathetic insect has been filling your head with stories, making you believe he's something more than the disease-carrying pest he really is!"

The young crowd murmured in agreement, their earlier mockery now seeming almost kind compared to Amelia's brutal assault.

"I knew something was wrong," Carlos said, his confidence surging back as he saw his opportunity. "Samantha, surely you can see now that you've been taken in by this con artist."

"He's nothing but a bottom-feeding leech," added one of Carlos's friends. "The kind of vermin that crawls out of sewers to prey on good people!"

Carlos stepped forward, straightening his designer tie with renewed arrogance. "Samantha, darling, I hope this opens your eyes. You deserve someone of quality, someone from your own social circle."

"Someone who isn't a penniless maggot living off scraps," Darien added helpfully.

"Exactly!" Carlos's voice grew more confident. "I'm the heir to a multi-billion dollar empire. I can give you everything you deserve—luxury, status, respect. Not like this... this termite who probably stole whatever pathetic story he told you."

Samantha's face was flushing red with anger as she listened to the continued assault on Logan. "All of you need to stop this right now!"

She didn’t care about whatever they were saying but Logan’s image - it was fixed in her mind; the good one and she wouldn’t allow them ruin it!

"But sweetheart," Carlos pressed on, "surely you can see the difference between us? I'm offering you a real future, not the delusions of some deranged pest!"

He wore a smug look, knowing Logan was nothing compared to him.

"Carlos is absolutely right," Amelia chimed in. "This cockroach has been living in fantasy land for years, thinking he's worth something when he's nothing but garbage in human form!"

"If any of you cannot accept Logan as my special guest," Samantha said, her voice trembling with fury, "then you are all free to leave my birthday party right now!"

The ballroom fell silent at her declaration. Several guests exchanged uncomfortable glances, but no one moved toward the exit.

Who would?

They were all here to gain more connection and leaving would totally mean their hard work was nothing.

Amelia's eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at Logan, who had remained silent throughout the entire verbal assault. His calm demeanor only seemed to infuriate her more.

The last time she was expecting in this banquet was to see him again!

"Look at him," she snarled. "Standing there like he belongs here, when everyone knows he's just a disease-carrying parasite pretending to be human!"

Carlos, sensing that Samantha was still defending Logan despite the revelations, decided to press his advantage further.

"You know what, Samantha?" Carlos said with a cruel smile. "If this insect is truly your special guest, then surely he brought you an appropriate gift for your birthday?"

The crowd perked up with interest, sensing another opportunity for entertainment.

"Yes!" laughed a young woman in pearls. "Let's see what kind of present a pest like him could afford!"

"Probably picked some weeds from the roadside," suggested another guest.

"Or maybe he found something shiny in the garbage!" added a third voice.

Carlos's smile grew wider as he addressed Logan directly. "Come on, delivery boy. Show us what magnificent gift you brought for the congresswoman's birthday."

"Carlos, that's not necessary—" Samantha began, but Logan raised a hand to stop her.

"It's alright," Logan said quietly. "I did bring something."

The crowd leaned forward with anticipation as Logan reached into his jacket pocket. When he withdrew his hand, gasps echoed through the ballroom.

It can’t be!

Nestled in his palm was a bracelet that seemed to capture and amplify every light in the room. The ruby centerpiece was the size of a small apple, surrounded by diamonds that sparkled like captured starlight. Even from across the room, its brilliance was almost blinding.

For a moment, the ballroom fell completely silent as everyone stared at the magnificent piece of jewelry.

"Oh my God," someone whispered. "Is that real?"

"It's beautiful," Samantha breathed, her eyes wide with wonder.

At this moment, her good perspective of Logan increased, feeling something warm in her chest.

But Amelia's reaction was immediate and vicious.

"Ha!" she barked out a harsh laugh. "You've got to be kidding me! That cheap piece of costume jewelry fooled you all?"

The crowd's amazement began to waver as they looked between Amelia and the bracelet.

"What do you mean?" asked a confused guest.

"I mean it's obviously fake!" Amelia declared triumphantly. "I've seen the real version of that bracelet in the most exclusive jewelry stores in Europe. The authentic piece costs ten million dollars! Where the hell would this cockroach get that kind of money?"

Murmurs of agreement began rippling through the crowd.

"She's right," Carlos said, his relief obvious. "There's no way a delivery boy could afford anything like that."

"It's probably worth ten dollars at most," laughed another guest.

"He probably bought it from a street vendor," suggested someone else.

"Or found it in a cereal box!" added another voice, causing the crowd to erupt in laughter.

Amelia's eyes blazed with vindictive satisfaction. "This is exactly the kind of pathetic trick this parasite would pull! Bringing fake jewelry to try and impress people above his station!"

"Like a cockroach trying to wear a crown," Darien added with amusement.

"Samantha, please don't tell me you're actually impressed by this cheap knockoff," Carlos pleaded. "A man of real worth would bring real gifts."

"I don't care if it's real or not," Samantha said firmly, reaching for the bracelet. "The thought behind it is what matters to me."

But before she could take it, Amelia stepped forward with sudden violence.

"No!" she snarled. "I won't let this lying maggot continue to deceive everyone!"

With a swift motion, she snatched the bracelet from Logan's hand and hurled it to the marble floor with all her strength.

Pah!

The sound of the impact echoed through the ballroom like a gunshot.

"There!" Amelia shouted triumphantly. "Let's see how your precious fake jewelry holds up!"

To the horror of several guests, she lifted her expensive heel and brought it down hard on the bracelet, grinding it against the marble.

Crack!

Crack!

"Amelia, stop!" Samantha cried out, her body trembling with fury!

However, Amelia was beyond reason.

"This is what I think of gifts from worthless insects!" she screamed, spitting directly onto the crushed jewelry. "Fake garbage from a fake man pretending to be something he's not!"

The crowd watched in stunned silence as Amelia continued her assault on the bracelet, her face twisted with rage and satisfaction.

"That's what happens when parasites try to fly with eagles!" she declared, finally stepping back to admire her handiwork.

The once-beautiful bracelet lay shattered on the marble floor, its pieces scattered like fallen stars, while Amelia stood over it………