The billionaire stared at the girl as if the air had been ripped from his lungs.

“What did you say?” he asked.

Tears filled the girl’s eyes.

“My mother worked here fifteen years ago,” she whispered. “She told me that necklace was a gift from the man who promised he would come back for us.”

A wave of murmurs spread through the hall.

The rich woman suddenly screamed, “She’s lying!”

But the billionaire never looked at her.

He stepped closer to the girl, his hands shaking, and said quietly,

“Your mother’s name… was Elena?”

The girl froze.

“Yes.”

At that moment, the billionaire closed his eyes in horror.

Because Elena had not stolen the necklace.

She had been his secret lover.

And the woman who had just humiliated the girl in front of everyone… was the same woman who had paid to make Elena disappear.

The billionaire slowly turned toward her as the guests watched in total shock.

Then he said the words that destroyed her forever:

“She isn’t the thief. She’s my daughter.”