Chapter 3The Counterfeit Mom

Principal Vance clearly didn't want the spectacle to escalate any further.

She shot a sharp look at the security guards.

Two massive guards immediately stepped toward me and my mom, preparing to physically drag us away.

The crowd surged forward, pushing my mom backward. Her thin stiletto heel caught on the pavement, and she nearly fell hard onto the concrete.

I caught her, supporting her weight. My expression turned to absolute, freezing ice.

But Vanessa still wasn't satisfied.

Holding the little boy, she screamed at the top of her lungs: "Why are you just making them step back?! Drag these psychotic bitches off the property!"

"Do you know what kind of institution Oakmont Academy is?! Are you seriously going to let absolute trash scream and throw tantrums at our gates?!"

Principal Vance frowned deeply.

"If you two have questions regarding the child's identity, you are welcome to submit a formal inquiry through the proper legal channels at a later date."

"This is an active dismissal zone. You need to leave immediately and stop disrupting the other families."

I looked at her. "How long does the formal inquiry process take?"

Principal Vance avoided making eye contact. "The standard processing time is fifteen business days."

I let out a harsh, incredulous laugh.

"My brother's identity has been stolen, he is completely missing, I have no idea where he is, and you are telling me to wait fifteen days?"

Her expression faltered slightly, but she quickly masked it with cold professionalism. "Ms. Sterling, I suggest you watch your tone. Oakmont Academy has never, in its entire history, had an issue with identity theft or enrollment fraud."

"Then open the database and prove it."

"I already told you. You do not have the security clearance."

"Yes, I do."

I reached into my designer bag, pulled out a sleek, matte black RFID card embossed with the Sterling Family Foundation crest, and held it directly in front of her face.

Oakmont Elite Academy is fully owned and operated by the Sterling Corporate Education Division.

This specific black card grants immediate, unrestricted access to all Board of Directors-level administrative files.

Principal Vance merely glanced at it, her tone remaining completely arrogant and dismissive.

"Ms. Sterling, the technology for fabricating credentials is very advanced these days. I am not going to violate student privacy protocols and expose our database just because you produced a random, unverified plastic card."

Vanessa burst into loud, mocking laughter.

"Did you hear that? She actually thinks she's the heiress to the Sterling empire!"

She turned to the crowd of wealthy parents, intentionally projecting her voice.

"I want everyone to be honest. Have you ever, in your entire life, seen a legitimate billionaire heiress fighting in the street over a child? Her mother is a shameless whore, and the daughter is just playing along with the grift."

A few muffled, condescending chuckles echoed through the crowd.

"I knew it. Real old money doesn't act like this."

"Mrs. Sterling literally drives a custom Cullinan to pick up her son. The Principal personally escorts them to the car. How could she possibly be a fake?"

"These two are psychotic. Trying to scam their way into high society by literally kidnapping a kid."

My mom's eyes were bloodshot red with fury.

She was a woman who rarely ever raised her voice, let alone used a harsh word. But in that moment, she suddenly raised her hand.

Smack.

She slapped Vanessa across the face.

It wasn't a hard slap.

In fact, because her hands were shaking so violently, it didn't even make a very loud sound.

But the entire plaza instantly went dead silent.

My mom looked shocked by her own action, tears spilling over her lashes. But she stubbornly, fiercely planted her feet and stood directly in front of me, shielding me.

"You can insult me all you want."

"But you do not ever insult my daughter."

It felt like a physical blow against my ribs.

This was exactly who my mom was.

Spoiled, soft, fragile, demanding constant reassurance and affection.

But the absolute second someone threatened us, she would stand up and fight for us, even if she was terrified and shaking like a leaf.

Vanessa finally recovered from the shock, and absolutely lost her mind.

"You cheap, psychotic bitch, you hit me again?!"

She lunged forward, extending her manicured nails, aiming directly for my mom's hair.

I grabbed her wrist mid-air, twisted it brutally, and violently threw her backward.

Vanessa stumbled backward in her heels, nearly crashing into the crowd of parents.

Ms. Davis immediately began shrieking: "They're becoming violent! Security! Call 911!"

"Do it." I said, my voice dropping to a lethal calm.

Principal Vance, realizing the situation was spiraling entirely out of control, quickly blocked Ms. Davis and turned to Vanessa.

"Mrs. Sterling, please, let's just calm down. I will contact Mr. Sterling immediately and have him personally verify the situation."

Vanessa looked as if she had been waiting for that exact sentence. She immediately lifted her chin, radiating arrogant confidence.

She pulled out her phone and clicked on a FaceTime contact saved under the name: Hubby.

The phone rang for over ten seconds.

The screen finally lit up.

On the screen was a face I knew better than my own.

Ethan Sterling.

My father.

He appeared to be sitting in the back of a luxury vehicle. The lighting behind him was dim. His suit collar was flawless and pristine.

The surrounding crowd went completely silent.

Vanessa's eyes instantly filled with tears, her voice shifting into a sickly-sweet, whining pout.

"Baby! You have to look at this! That insane woman who's obsessed with you showed up at the school and attacked me!"

"She brought her daughter, and they physically assaulted me! They're trying to claim our Leo is her son!"

The "Ethan Sterling" on the screen frowned deeply. He looked at my mom with an expression of intense, absolute disgust.

"I have no idea who that woman is."

In a single instant, every drop of blood violently drained from my mom's face.

She whispered, her voice shattering: "Ethan..."

The man on the screen spoke with freezing, robotic hostility.

"Do not address me like that."

"Vanessa is my only wife."

Then, his eyes shifted to look directly at me.

"As for this so-called 'heiress,' I have never seen her before in my life."

"Take your mother and leave immediately. Stop harassing my family."

The moment that final sentence dropped, the entire crowd outside the school completely erupted.

Someone let out a dramatic, exaggerated gasp.

"Oh my god! Mr. Sterling literally said he has no idea who they are!"

"Is there even a debate anymore? The actual husband is right there!"

"Being a mistress is disgusting enough, but dragging your daughter into your psychotic delusions to scam people? That is pure evil."

Ms. Davis immediately puffed her chest out, full of righteous authority.

"I demand that you apologize to Mrs. Sterling right now, and then immediately vacate the premises!"

Principal Vance's face darkened with severe reprimand.

"If you two refuse to cease this harassment, we will be forced to have the police physically remove you."

My mom's hands were as cold as ice.

She stared at the face on the screen, massive tears dropping from her chin, her entire body swaying as if she were about to collapse.

I gripped her hand tightly, staring intently at the video feed for exactly three seconds.

And then, I laughed.

"Are you all completely, clinically blind?"

I raised my eyes, staring directly at the cold, detached face of 'Ethan Sterling' on the screen.

"That video is a deepfake."