Chapter 8 - The Fake Heirloom
Olivia was desperate to secure any kind of financial lifeline to save her crumbling lifestyle.
She remembered that Liam had left a vintage diamond necklace in her condo before he broke the engagement.
She packed the glittering jewels into her purse and rushed to the most exclusive pawn broker in the city.
She walked in with her head held high, demanding to see the owner immediately for a private appraisal.
The old jeweler carefully placed the necklace under his bright magnifying lamp and studied it in silence.
Olivia tapped her foot impatiently, mentally planning how she would spend the fifty thousand dollars she expected to receive.
The jeweler finally looked up, letting out a heavy, disappointed sigh.
"Miss Vance, I am afraid these stones are incredibly high-quality cubic zirconia," he explained politely.
Olivia gasped loudly, her hand flying to her chest in absolute shock and horror.
"That is impossible! My fiancé comes from a long line of wealthy corporate lawyers!" she screamed.
The jeweler handed the necklace back to her with a look of profound pity.
"It seems your former fiancé was fully aware of your father's impending financial ruin," the jeweler suggested quietly.
Liam had never actually planned on giving Olivia real diamonds because he knew her family was a complete sham.
He was using her for social connections, and when the connections vanished, so did his fake generosity.
Olivia stumbled out of the pawn shop, clutching the worthless piece of cheap glass in her shaking hands.
She realized that every single relationship in her life was built entirely on lies and money.
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Without her trust fund, she had absolutely no friends, no lover, and no future.
She sat on the dirty city curb and finally wept for the hollow, empty life she had led.
