After hearing my words, Nicholas' expression soured.

Suspicious by nature, he began to have doubts. With a darkened face, he questioned Yvonne, "Is what Elizabeth said true? Did you already know who I was back then?"

Yvonne immediately looked wounded, as if she had been deeply wronged. "Nicholas, Elizabeth is lying. Don't you trust me? From the moment I met you, I understood what love at first sight really meant. I fell for you, not your name. Have you forgotten everything I've done for you?"

Nicholas' suspicion wavered, but it didn't vanish. Lowering his head, he sent a message to his assistant, ordering him to look into Yvonne's university history.

Furious, Yvonne lunged at me and slapped me hard across the face. Before I could even react, she snatched Eli from my arms.

Eli struggled, reaching out for me and screaming, "Mommy! Mommy, help me!"

Terrified for him, I tried to stay calm to keep him from panicking. "It's okay, baby. Daddy and Grandpa will be here soon to save us. When they get here, they'll take care of all the bad people. Don't be scared."

With my constant reassurance, his frantic crying gradually faded into quiet sobs. Each sob felt like a knife to my chest.

Seeing how obediently he responded to me only fueled Yvonne's rage. She slapped me five more times in quick succession. She even ordered the staff to start hitting me, but Nicholas stepped in.

He said, "That's enough. This ends here. We have more important matters to attend to today. Elizabeth, be sensible and leave now. Otherwise, even I won't be able to help you."

Panic surged through me. All I wanted was to get Eli back. "Yvonne, give me my son right now. If anything happens to him, I'll make you pay."

Still reeling from the fact that I had exposed her, Yvonne clutched Eli tightly and refused to let go. "You're the one who's going to pay. I'm calling the police right now. Elizabeth, you can spend the rest of your life rotting in prison!"

She quickly dialed the police, reporting that someone had kidnapped Dixon Smith's son and demanding an immediate response.

Honestly, I was hoping she would call them. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I knew Samuel and Dixon were due to arrive any second.

But Yvonne wasn't finished. Holding a sniffling Eli, she boasted to the surrounding crowd, "I'm the one who saved Dixon Smith's son. When he arrives, he'll definitely reward me. If any of you help me teach this woman a lesson, I'll personally introduce you to Dixon."

Most of the people there didn't have the status of the Hunt family, and Yvonne's promise was tempting to resist. They swarmed me.

Someone grabbed and tore at my clothes. Another clawed at my hair and face. Fists and kicks rained down on me. I struggled desperately, shielding my head, but the blows left my entire body throbbing with pain.

Nearby, Yvonne cheered them on. "Hit her harder! Beat her to death if you can!"

The commotion finally drew the venue manager over. The moment he saw the state I was in, his legs nearly buckled. He screamed, "Stop! Stop right now! Do you have any idea who she is?"

Behind him was my father, who had just arrived, and Dixon, who had rushed over straight from the airport.

But Yvonne was too blinded by her own excitement to hear a word the manager said. Overjoyed, she pointed at me and turned to my angry father. "Mr. Storm, this woman was pretending to be your daughter. I've already had her dealt with for you."

Then, she eagerly carried Eli—still crying—over to Dixon. "Mr. Smith, your son was nearly kidnapped by this woman just now. Luckily, I stepped in and rescued him."

Her eyes sparkled as she waited for the praise she had dreamed of. Putting on a modest act, she added, "It was truly the least I could do!"