Chapter 35

Chapter 35:

How could Madisyn still act so arrogant at a moment like this?

Josie was certain that if her friend was arrested, Madisyn would definitely bear the consequences. She would pay for her defiance.

“If you can’t find the ring on her, is an apology enough?” Madisyn asked coolly.

“What do you want, then?” Josie snapped, her composure faltering slightly.

“If you don’t find the ring on her, you owe my friend a million dollars for emotional distress,” Madisyn replied, her voice calm but resolute.

A million dollars?

Josie’s confidence wavered. She only received tens of thousands as her monthly allowance, yet she couldn’t back down now. “Fine!” she agreed with forced determination. “Let’s start searching her right now!”

After all, Josie had arranged for someone to slip the ring into Susan’s pocket. She was sure it would be found there.

Kristine opened her mouth as if to intervene but merely sighed, casting a disapproving glance at Madisyn.

Madisyn, unphased by the mounting tension, turned to Susan. “Do you trust me?”

Susan, who had been trembling, met Madisyn’s gaze. Being publicly accused and searched was humiliating, guilty or not. But without the search, she couldn’t prove her innocence. With Madisyn by her side, she felt a flicker of hope. She nodded firmly, her voice barely above a whisper, “Okay, I consent.”

The search began, and all eyes were glued to Susan. Josie watched with eager anticipation, waiting for the moment the ring would be discovered.

But then…

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The waitress who performed the search looked up, puzzled. “There’s nothing on her.”

Josie’s smug expression faltered. “That’s impossible! She must have hidden it somewhere else!” she sputtered.

Madisyn stepped in, her voice razor-sharp. “Josie, why are you so sure she has the ring? Did you put it in her pocket yourself?”

Josie’s face drained of color as Madisyn’s words hit her like a hammer. She stammered, “I… I just know she’s the only one who would stoop so low.”

Madisyn’s icy gaze pierced through Josie’s defense. “Do you think wealth gives you the right to falsely accuse others? My friend may not be as rich as you, but she’s honest, hardworking, and has integrity. She’s nothing like you—someone who uses her wealth to cover up her bad manners and baseless accusations.”

Josie’s expression darkened, her pride wounded. “How dare you!”

Madisyn remained unfazed. “Your ring is missing, but anyone here could have taken it.”

Glenn, seeing the growing chaos, suggested calmly, “Let’s check everyone’s bags, just to be sure.”

The guests exchanged uneasy glances but began opening their bags. One by one, they complied, but the ring was nowhere to be found.

“No one else has it,” Josie insisted, her desperation mounting. “Susan must have hidden it. I can’t believe anyone else would take my ring!”

Tears welled up in Susan’s eyes as she cried out, “This is insane! You’re accusing me without any evidence!”

Madisyn, her patience wearing thin, glanced toward Josie’s friends. “There are still some people we haven’t checked,” she said pointedly.

The red-haired woman who had bumped into Susan earlier shifted uncomfortably.

Josie scoffed. “These are my closest friends. They wouldn’t steal from me.”

Kristine, always the tactician, intervened smoothly. “It’s fine, Josie. If Madisyn thinks it’s necessary, let’s check. It’ll clear things up.”

With reluctance, the friends opened their bags, though they shot Madisyn looks of disdain. Josie stood with her arms crossed, confident her friends were beyond suspicion.

Then suddenly…

A glint of light caught everyone’s attention from the red-haired woman’s bag. The distinct sparkle of diamonds was unmistakable. It was Josie’s ring.

The room fell silent, stunned by the unexpected turn.

The red-haired woman’s face went pale, utterly confused. “How did this get here?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Madisyn broke the silence, her tone laced with irony. “It seems that being called a ‘friend’ is a pretty good disguise. We were all nearly deceived.”

Josie’s face turned crimson with shock and disbelief. “No! This can’t be! She wouldn’t steal from me! This must be a setup!”

Madisyn raised an eyebrow. “The proof is right here. Who else could have set her up?”

Josie, now floundering for a defense, stammered, “But it was Susan… She’s the one who would…”

“And yet, you were so certain it was Susan. It makes me wonder if you’re the one who put the ring in Susan’s pocket in the first place,” Madisyn replied coldly.

The guests, who had been so quick to judge Susan, now turned their judgmental gazes toward Josie, who stood frozen, her reputation crumbling before her eyes.

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