My mother-in-law showed up at my restaurant with 38 friends and announced, “Order the most expensive things. I’m treating everyone today,” even though she knew she had no intention of paying. Instead of throwing them out, I looked at the manager and said, “Serve them everything.” Three hours later, when she saw the $23,289 bill and the folder I placed on the table, she stopped smiling.

 

“Yes, there was someone else,” Lucas confessed miserably. “Part of the money went toward luxury hotel rooms, expensive gifts, and trips.”

A loud murmur of shock rippled through the gathered crowd. Beatrice seemed utterly incapable of processing that her own son was dismantling her entire fake empire in less than five minutes.

“You lied to me, Lucas,” she whispered in disbelief.

“I needed you to pressure Camilla into giving me control of the business! I thought if I gained legal access, I could use the restaurant’srevenue to fix my debts!”

 

One of the prominent socialites stood up from her chair.

“Beatrice, you explicitly told all of us that your son was the sole owner of this venue!”

“I was only repeating what he explained to me!” Beatrice shouted back defensively.

“You also promised that you were paying for this entire banquet!” another woman added angrily, picking up the massive bill. “Who is going to pay for all this expensive food and wine now?”