I was genuinely surprised by Ashton’s attitude today. Was he really changing? Was he finally not going to protect Genevieve?
Whether she liked it or not, they took her prints.
It didn’t take long for the results to come back. There were no traces of my fingerprints on the ruby—but Genevieve’s were all over it.
‘It seems it was you all along, Miss,’ the assistant said, a hard edge to his voice. He clearly didn’t appreciate being used.
Mr Howard glared at Genevieve. ‘Thank goodness Mr Laurent had the presence of mind to suggest this. Otherwise, we might all have been fooled. You stole the ruby and tried to frame Mrs Laurent.’
‘I... I didn’t! This is a setup! I don’t know how my prints got on there—maybe she planted them! You’ve got it all wrong!’ Her excuses sounded weak and desperate. No one was buying it.
‘Still making up stories? Pathetic,’ Naomi said with a satisfied smirk.
‘Mirabelle, I knew you wouldn’t do something ,’ Rhys said, stepping closer with a tender look.
‘Mrs Laurent, I sincerely apologise,’ Mr Howard addressed me formally in front of everyone.
‘It’s alright. It was just a misunderstanding.’ I was offended by the accusation, sure, but it wasn’t his fault, and there was no need to make a scene.
‘Is there any form of compensation that would be acceptable to you?’ The man seemed intent on making amends.
‘That won’t be necessary.’
‘That’s very gracious of you, Mrs Laurent.’ He turned to Ashton. ‘When I first heard you were married, I wondered what kind of woman could possibly be worthy. Now I see—she’s truly exceptional.’ He was really laying it on thick.
‘Mr Laurent, what can we do to make it up to Mrs Laurent?’ Howard asked earnestly.
‘Sell me the ruby,’ Ashton said. ‘She has an appreciation for fine jewellery.’
I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
‘That’s really not necessary,’ I said quickly. Pieces like that were usually family heirlooms, not something you just sold off.
‘Who knew he could be so sweet underneath all that ice?’ Naomi whispered in my ear.
‘Mr Howard, I’ll offer one and a half billion for that ruby,’ Rhys said quickly, stepping forward as soon as Ashton had spoken.
Howard glanced at him. ‘And why would you want to buy it?’
‘To give to the woman I love. I want to make her the happiest woman in the world.’ Rhys looked pointedly in my direction.
I couldn’t believe he’d say something like that in front of everyone—and with that look in his eyes. There was no mistaking who he meant.
Where would he even get that kind of money? Was he just trying to rile up Ashton?
Around us, the party guests began to murmur.
‘I didn’t see that coming.’
‘Who is this Mirabelle? What does she have that makes men like Rhys and Ashton throw around billions just because she likes jewellery?’
‘All that money, just to impress a woman.’
Ashton’s expression darkened. He shot Rhys a cold glare, but Rhys held his head high, seemingly unbothered.
‘Let’s go,’ I said quietly to Naomi.
The whole situation was unbearably awkward, and I just wanted to escape.
Naomi refused to budge. ‘Don’t rush off. I’m sure Ashton can handle this.’
I sighed at her obvious delight in the spectacle. ‘You’re impossible.’ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ⓝovelFire.net
‘Just wait. You won’t regret staying. Ashton won’t let you down.’
‘Mr Howard, you promised compensation. I expect you to keep your word,’ Ashton said.
‘Of course. It seems I must part with it, then,’ Howard conceded.
‘Selling it to me would still compensate Mirabelle—after all, I’m giving it to her,’ Rhys insisted, throwing another lingering look my way. ‘And I’m offering half a billion more. Don’t turn down that kind of money, Mr Howard.’
Howard visibly winced. Half a billion was nothing to sneeze at.
But a promise was a promise.
In the end, he turned to Ashton. ‘Mr Laurent, the ruby is yours. I look forward to the possibility of working together in the future.’
‘I’m sure we will have that opportunity,’ Ashton said, a faint smile touching his lips as he shook Howard’s hand.
Howard nodded to his assistant, who placed the ruby into an elegant case and handed it to Ashton.
The room erupted in chatter.
‘My god, that’s insane.’
‘I’ve seen people with money be flashy, but this is something else.’
‘Unbelievably extravagant.’
‘His wife is so lucky. Ashton must adore her to spend that much just because she liked it.’
‘Mr Howard, what should we do about this woman?’ the assistant asked, gesturing toward Genevieve.
‘Ashton, this has nothing to do with me—there must have been some mistake,’ Genevieve said frantically, stepping closer to him.
‘Are you questioning the professionalism of the team I brought in?’ Ashton didn’t even look at her.
‘What are you going to do, then? Let them call the police and have me arrested?’
‘You will apologise to my wife first.’
Genevieve bit her lip and shot me a venomous glare. I could feel the hatred radiating from her.
‘You stole the ruby and tried to frame me. Don’t you think you owe me an apology?’ I said coldly.
‘Ashton,’ Genevieve pleaded, turning back to him with desperation in her eyes.
‘Apologise,’ he said, unmoved.
She stared at him, furious and heartbroken, tears welling in her eyes.
I watched her put on that pitiful act, but Ashton’s expression didn’t soften.
‘Cassian,’ she tried, turning to him next.