The room went silent at the mention of Rowena. She was a big deal, the top investor on the planet. Anything she touched turned to gold. Her wealth was legendary, making even the richest tycoon look like small fry.

The buzz was that Rowena would be there, and everyone there was tripping over themselves for a chance to impress her.

My little guy wrapped his arms around my neck, his voice soft and defiant as he said, "He's my dad. My dad. And you're the meanie."

Henry was not buying it. He lunged forward, trying to take my son. 'If I can buddy up with Rowena, the sky will be the limit,' he thought.

He was so blinded by greed that his face twisted with it. "Hand him over, Jayden. If you're pulling a kidnapping stunt, you won't see a dime, and you'll be behind bars before you know it!"

The crowd started to close in, reaching for my son. He burst into tears, and I held him closer, ready to bolt from that mess. "He's my son. Back off. We're out of here."

However, Henry was in our face, his voice sharp as he said, "Your son? What? Is Rowena your wife? Take a look in the mirror!

"If you want to spin a tale, at least make it a good one. You think I won't call the cops on you?"

I was not scared of his threats. "Go ahead, call them."

"Rowena is my wife. Go on, call the cops. I'll wait right here to see who they'll arrest."

The moment I said that, everyone looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"Your dad's a billionaire, and Rowena's your wife? Jayden, you've lost it!

"Just you wait. I'm calling the cops now. Let's hear what you'll say then."

Henry whipped out his phone, ready to dial the number.

However, Clara stepped in, snatching the phone from his hand, her gaze filled with mixed emotions as she addressed me.

"Let's not, Jayden. We've had our time, and I don't want to go overboard.

"Get out of here before things get worse. I'll give you money. How much do you want?"

Clara thought I was after her cash.

When my dad was at the top of the list of the wealthy, I kept my real identity under wraps to enjoy a quiet life at school.

Once I realized Clara was only faking being poor, I did not give her a second thought.

Her family's flashy new money could not hold a candle to ours, yet she hid who she was, scared I was after her dough.

It was downright ridiculous.

Henry, green with envy over Clara's defense of me, could not help but throw in a jab.

"Yeah, Clara, give him some cash. He ditched you for money in the first place and ran off with some rich foreigner the moment he had the chance.

"He must've been dumped and didn't even get the payout. You're the only one still hung up on old feelings, not turning your back on him."

Clara's grip on the phone turned to stone.

The subtext of Henry's words was crystal clear: anyone who gave me money was only a big, easy mark.

I never saw it coming. After I left the country, wild rumors had started swirling.

However, the rumors never fazed me. I had the real deal: confidence and a love that stood solid as a rock.

Right there, in front of everyone, I laid bare Henry's dirty laundry.

"Henry, you thought you were slick, huh? Living it up with foreigners on their dime while stringing Clara along with your hot-and-cold games. You didn't think anyone would catch on, did you?

"However, I've got to hand it to you. You've got a real knack for fooling women. Clara's been wrapped around your finger for years."

Henry's face flushed with panic as he rushed to deny it. "What are you even saying? That's not true. Clara's the only one I care about.

"Don't even try to mess with us. Clara's already seen through your lies!"

Clara jumped to his defense.

"Jayden, stop it. I won't let you talk about Henry that way. He's not like you. He loves me for who I am.

"He didn't even know who I was when he agreed to take out a loan for $800,000 for me."

I could not help but laugh.

"Oh, Clara, you're so gullible. Henry knew exactly who you were from the start. He was playing you all along.

"Why don't you check out his list of exes? Every single one of them comes from money. You think you're the exception? That's just naive!"

Clara's face turned stormy after my words hit home.

Always one to doubt, she then questioned everything. She turned to Henry with a dark look.

"Is that true? You knew about my family from the beginning?"

Henry looked like a kicked puppy as he pleaded with her.

"Clara, Jayden's making stuff up. Don't you trust me? I knew it was love at first sight when I met you.

"I did everything for you. Have you forgotten all I've done?"

Clara's suspicion wavered but did not fade away. She sent a quick text to her assistant, asking them to dig into Henry's past at college.

Henry was livid, his face red with rage. He charged at me and landed a punch that felt like a hammer. My son was ripped from my arms when I least expected it.

"Daddy! Daddy! Save me!" My son's cries cut through the chaos. I had to keep him calm, so I called out, "Hang in there, buddy. Mommy and Grandpa are on their way. They'll take care of the bad guys. Don't worry."

His tears slowed to sniffles as I kept talking, but it tore me up inside.

Henry, still fuming, slapped me again and again. A total of five stinging slaps. He tried to get his goons to join in, but Clara stepped in. "That's enough. We've got bigger fish to fry today."

She turned to me and said, "Jayden, get out while you can, or even I can't help you."

All I could think about was getting my son back. "Henry, give him to me. If you hurt him, I swear I won't let it slide!"

Henry, bitter about being called out, clutched my son and spat back, "You're the one who won't get away with this. I'm calling the cops!

"Enjoy your life in a cell, Jayden!" he sneered, dialing with a vengeance.

I secretly hoped he would call. A quick glance at the clock told me my father and Rowena would be there at any minute.

However, Henry was not done. Cradling my sobbing son, he boasted to the onlookers, saying, "I'm the hero who saved Rowena's kid. She'll thank me, for sure. Whoever teaches this guy a lesson gets an introduction to her."

The crowd, eager for a slice of Rowena's world, surged toward me.

My clothes were ripped with force, hands clawed at my hair and face, and I was bombarded with punches and kicks.

I fought back desperately, shielding myself where it mattered most, but I could not escape the pain that engulfed my entire body.

Henry was on the sidelines, egging them on. "Come on, hit him harder! Knock him out!"

The ruckus finally caught the event manager's attention.

He was horrified at the sight of my beating, his legs nearly buckled, and he fell over, yelling, "Stop! Everybody, stop! Do you even know who this is?! Mr. Lawrence, are you okay?"

Trailing him were my father, who had finally shown up, and Rowena, who had hurried over straight from the airport.

Henry, caught up in his own thrill, had missed the whole exchange. He gleefully pointed at me and told my enraged father, "Mr. Lawrence, this guy was pretending to be your son. I've had someone sort him out for you."

He then carefully presented my still sobbing son to Rowena.

"Ms. Smith, your son was nearly snatched by this man, but thank goodness I caught on and saved him."

His eyes sparkled as he awaited the praise he was sure would come, and he humbly said, "Just doing my duty!"