HER CONTRACT HUSBAND IS THE COMMANDER KING

Chapter 5:

The grand ballroom of the Benedetti mansion sparkled with crystal chandeliers and gold accents as family members gathered around Nonna Elisabetta, who sat regally in an ornate chair like a queen holding court.

At ninety, she commanded respect through sharp eyes that missed nothing and a tongue that could cut deeper than any blade.

"Now then," Elisabetta announced, her voice still strong despite her age, "it's time for the gift presentations. Who would like to go first?"

A young cousin stepped forward eagerly, holding an elegant jewelry box. "Nonna, I present to you this vintage Cartier necklace, worth three hundred thousand dollars. May it bring you as much joy as your wisdom brings our family."

The crowd murmured appreciative comments as Elisabetta examined the glittering diamonds with practiced eyes.

"Beautiful, Carlo," she nodded approvingly. "Next?"

Another relative approached with a painting wrapped in silk cloth. "Nonna, this is an original Monet, valued at half a million. Like your guidance, it grows more precious with time."

The praise continued as each gift was presented with increasingly flowery speeches and astronomical price tags. Vincent watched the display with quiet disdain, recognizing the competition for what it was—a vulgar show of wealth designed to curry favor with the family matriarch.

Gianna shifted uncomfortably beside him, clutching a small wrapped box containing the rose she'd purchased that morning. What had seemed like a thoughtful gift now felt pathetically inadequate next to the parade of luxury items.

"Gianna, dear," Elisabetta called out, "surely you have something for your old Nonna?"

All eyes turned to them as Gianna stepped forward reluctantly. "Of course, Nonna. I... I brought you this."

She unwrapped the rose—a beautiful specimen, but clearly modest compared to the extravagant gifts that had preceded it. The silence that followed was deafening.

"A rose?" Isabella's voice cut through the quiet like a whip. "That's it? Just a simple flower?"

"It's a rare variety," Gianna said defensively. "Worth about twenty thousand—"

"Twenty thousand?" Rocco laughed harshly. "My cousin Antonio spent more than that on champagne for tonight!"

The crowd erupted in cruel laughter, their earlier politeness evaporating in the face of an easy target.

"How embarrassing," someone whispered loudly. "I spent more than that on my shoes."

"Leave it to Gianna to bring the cheapest gift," another voice added mockingly.

Elisabetta accepted the rose with diplomatic grace, but Vincent could see the disappointment in her eyes.

"Well," Rocco stepped forward with theatrical flair, "I suppose it's time for a real gift."

He gestured grandly, and two servants carried forward an ornate jade sculpture, its intricate carvings glowing under the chandelier lights.

"Nonna, I present to you this ancient Chinese imperial jade sculpture, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It's worth over eight hundred thousand dollars and once belonged to Emperor Wanli himself."

The crowd gasped in genuine amazement as Rocco basked in their admiration.

"Rocco, you've outdone yourself," Elisabetta breathed, clearly impressed.

"Only the best for our beloved Nonna," Rocco replied smugly. "This piece represents the pinnacle of Chinese artistic achievement."

"How did you even find something so rare?" someone asked in awe.

"When you have the right connections and unlimited resources, anything is possible," Rocco boasted. "This sculpture has been authenticated by the world's leading experts."

"Rocco is truly the future of our family," Isabella gushed. "Such generosity, such taste!"

"Unlike some people," Rocco's eyes found Vincent in the crowd. "Not everyone understands the importance of showing proper respect to their elders."

The barb was clearly aimed at Vincent, and the crowd turned expectantly to see his reaction.

"Eight hundred thousand," Vincent said quietly, his voice cutting through the chatter. "That's quite expensive for a fake."

The ballroom fell dead silent. Rocco's face turned purple with rage.

"What did you just say?" Rocco snarled.

"I said it's a fake," Vincent repeated calmly. "A rather good one, admittedly, but still a reproduction."

"You ignorant fool!" Rocco exploded. "This sculpture has been authenticated by experts! Who are you to question it?"

Vincent stepped closer to examine the piece, his trained eye cataloging the subtle flaws that marked it as a reproduction. "The jade quality is wrong for the period. Ming Dynasty imperial pieces used hetian jade exclusively, but this is clearly jadeite. The carving technique is also inconsistent with 16th-century methods."

"You're talking nonsense!" Rocco shouted. "What could a nobody like you possibly know about Chinese antiquities?"

"More than you might think," Vincent replied. "The dragon motif is particularly telling. Imperial sculptors during the Wanli period always included thirteen scales on the dragon's neck as a tribute to the emperor's birth month. This piece has fifteen."

The crowd began murmuring uncertainly as Vincent's detailed knowledge became apparent.

"You're lying!" Rocco screamed. "Making up facts to embarrass me!"

"The authentication certificate is probably fake too," Vincent continued mercilessly. "Let me guess—purchased from a dealer in Hong Kong who guaranteed its authenticity but can't be reached for verification?"

Rocco's face went white, confirming Vincent's suspicions.

"How dare you humiliate me like this!" Rocco lunged forward, his uninjured hand aimed at Vincent's throat.

Vincent moved with fluid grace, his military training taking over. He caught Rocco's wrist, twisted it with surgical precision, and used his momentum to send him crashing into a nearby table. The sound of breaking crystal filled the air as Rocco hit the floor hard.

"My arm!" Rocco gasped, clutching his wrist. "You've dislocated my wrist!"

"Should have thought of that before attacking someone," Vincent said calmly, not even breathing hard.

The crowd stared in shock as Rocco writhed on the floor among the broken glass and scattered flowers. His previously broken finger throbbed in sympathy with his new injury.

"You psychopath!" Rocco screamed. "Someone call the police! This maniac assaulted me!"

"You attacked him first," Elisabetta's voice cut through the chaos like a sword. "Everyone saw it."

"But Nonna, he ruined your gift! He called it a fake!"

Elisabetta's sharp eyes examined the jade sculpture more carefully, and Vincent could see the exact moment she spotted the flaws he'd mentioned.

"Vincent," she said quietly, "where exactly did you learn so much about Chinese antiquities?"

"I've had occasion to study them during my travels," Vincent replied diplomatically. "Sometimes work takes you to interesting places."

"What kind of work?" Elisabetta pressed.

"Security consulting," Vincent answered, which was technically true if one considered protecting world leaders and securing ancient artifacts as security work.

Rocco struggled to his feet, his face a mask of pain and humiliation. "This isn't over, you freak! Nobody makes a fool of me!"

"You seem to do that quite well on your own," Vincent observed, which earned a few poorly suppressed chuckles from the crowd.

The tension in the ballroom was palpable as family members whispered among themselves, their earlier certainty about Vincent's status beginning to crack.

Who was this mysterious man who could spot fake antiquities and disable trained fighters with equal ease?