Chapter 454

Chapter 454:

“What has touched the crown?” Isabella asked with a frown.

“That staff member,” Madisyn replied.

“Staff member?”

Everyone was at a loss for words. Isabella was even more irritated. “Are you out of your mind? Do you really think the staff member replaced your crown? Madisyn, even if you’re trying to shift the blame, you can’t target the innocent staff member.”

“What? Can’t a staff member do something like that?” Madisyn retorted.

In the corner, the staff member watched this unfold, her fingers trembling slightly.

Jada interjected, “Enough, Isabella. Don’t concern yourself with this anymore. I apologize on Madisyn’s behalf. That’s it.”

Wesley couldn’t help but complain, “If someone has to apologize on your behalf for your mistakes…” He believed Madisyn could never measure up to Jada.

Madisyn cast a disappointed look at her. “Why are you doing this? Jada, it’s one thing if others doubt me, but do you not believe me either?”

“Madisyn, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but the evidence… I understand you’re upset. Let me take you out for dinner when we get back. Don’t be too downhearted,” Jada said with a comforting tone, projecting an image of kindness and grace that won many present over. In their eyes, Jada, being one of the most renowned ladies, lived up to her reputation.

Madisyn looked down. “Jada, the item I provided is authentic. Now it’s been replaced with a fake. As my friend, you should be on my side… I’m truly disappointed.” Jada’s heart skipped a beat at this reaction. Would Madisyn distance herself from her after today? It had been a challenge to be close friends with Madisyn in the first place.

gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s․cøm fuels your imagination

“Madisyn, I’m saying this for your own good. Let’s investigate who swapped your crown later. What do you think?” Jada’s tone was gentle and slightly ingratiating.

Madisyn kept her gaze lowered and remained silent. Wesley, unable to tolerate it any longer, spoke up. “Don’t push it, Madisyn. You presented a fake item, and Jada defended you. How can you treat her this way?”

Andrew cast a chilling glance at him, making the entire hall feel as though it had plunged into winter. Dane shot Wesley a glare, and the combined gazes made Wesley shiver involuntarily.

Madisyn declared, “It’s straightforward to determine if the staff member swapped my item. Just investigate her movements here today.”

The host immediately sent someone to investigate. The crowd remained puzzled. Why was Madisyn so adamant? Could her crown truly have been swapped? It wasn’t long before the surveillance footage was retrieved.

The video showed that after the staff member took Madisyn’s auction item from the storage room, she headed backstage and stored it there. Then Susan approached her, chatted with her briefly, and handed her a box. After Susan left, the staff member glanced at the contents of the box and passed it to someone tasked with placing auction items on stage.

When the process was revealed, the staff member looked overwhelmed. “I’m so sorry, Miss Johns,” she stammered. “I never imagined this wasn’t your request. When Miss Riggs gave me the box, she said she wanted to swap it for the real crown and even offered me money. I assumed you wanted to use a replica because the original was far too valuable.” Her confession flipped the situation entirely.

Was this all orchestrated by Susan? Had she set Madisyn up? All eyes turned toward Susan.

Susan was shocked, her face growing dark. “What are you saying? Your colleague asked me to deliver the box! I was just helping out—I didn’t even know what was inside.”

“Susan, you’re always so careful. How could you hand over a box without checking what was inside?” Jada remarked with disappointment. “Madisyn is your friend. How could you betray her like this? If the truth hadn’t come out, she would’ve been blamed by everyone. How could you live with that?”

“Oh my God, they’re friends!”

“How awful! I knew Miss Johns wouldn’t do something like this.”

“This is unbelievable! Why would Susan do such a thing?”

“It’s obvious, it must be…”

Susan, pale and shaken by the disgusted stares, turned to Madisyn. “I didn’t do this, Madisyn. I swear I didn’t!” Susan didn’t care about the others’ judgment—she only worried that Madisyn wouldn’t believe her.

Jada interjected, “Madisyn, now that it’s clear Susan was behind it, let’s handle it later. We should let the auction resume for now.”

If the situation ended here, everyone would remember Susan’s misdeed. Jada would never let Susan lead an easy life. Plus, this would drive a huge wedge between Susan and Madisyn. Jada felt she’d hit two birds with one stone—her plan had worked perfectly.

“That’s not everything. Something still feels off,” Madisyn mused, glancing between the staff member and Susan.

Jada quickly interrupted, not wanting Madisyn to dwell on it. “Right! We can’t keep so many people waiting…”

.

.

.