Chapter 212 She Confessed the Gem Was Missing

"When did you lose it?" Dennis tried to keep his voice steady.

Claire sighed, "The day I got back to the States. I had it around my neck, but then it just vanished." Her voice had a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Are you sure it was that day? Could it have gone missing on the plane or at the airport?" he pressed.

Claire shook her head, trying to piece together the chaotic day. "I don't know. I was in such a rush, and by the time I noticed, it was already gone." Her brow furrowed as she struggled to remember more.

Dennis's eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at Claire, trying to read her expression.

According to Qiana, the second person to wear the family heirloom should be his future wife.

But now... the gem was lost.

Claire looked up, meeting Dennis's gaze. "I'll find a way to get it back, but it might take some time."

"I don't have that much time," Dennis's voice turned cold. "Either you return it now, or

you stay my servant for a year, and maybe I'll consider forgiving you."

Claire was stunned. She hadn't expected Dennis to push her like this.

She didn't want to keep playing this game with Dennis.

She stood up, intending to leave.

"Do you think you can just walk away?" Dennis's voice came from behind her.

Claire's steps halted. She turned around and looked into Dennis's eyes.

She didn't want to stay here any longer, so she took a deep breath and walked out of the café.

Dennis watched her leave, a sense of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He knew that what he was doing might make Claire hate him even more, but he had

no choice. The gem was too important to him; he couldn't take any risks.

Dennis sat in the café, watching Claire's figure disappear into the Thomas Group building through the glass.

His eyes were thoughtful.

What they didn't know was that their conversation had been overheard by Ivy, who was hiding nearby.

A sinister glint flashed in Ivy's eyes. She took out her phone and dialed a number. "Grandma? I have some shocking news..."

Qiana was shopping when she received the news, her face changing dramatically. "What? The family heirloom is missing? And it was lost by Claire?"

"Yes, Grandma. Don't get too upset. I'll be home soon to explain." Ivy hung up, a smug smile playing on her lips.

As a few phone rings pulled him back to reality, the person on the other end delivered some news, and his expression turned serious.

Back at the mansion, Dennis had just sat down when a bodyguard walked in. "Mr. Gonzalez, we've issued the reward notice as you instructed and have people watching the second-hand markets."

"Good. Inform me immediately if there's any news," Dennis frowned. "And don't tell Grandma for now."

"Understood," the bodyguard replied before turning to leave.

Qiana rushed back, her face full of anger. She looked at Dennis and demanded, "Dennis, is the family heirloom lost? Did Claire lose it?"

"Grandma, let me explain..."

Dennis had just started to speak when Qiana interrupted him. "I don't want to hear it. Just tell me the truth."

"Grandma, I lost the heirloom myself. It has nothing to do with Claire," Dennis took a deep breath. "I'll find a way to get it back."

"You..." Qiana was trembling with anger. "How could you be so careless? That gem is a Gonzalez family heirloom!"

"Grandma, I'm sorry. It's all my fault," Dennis lowered his head. "But please trust me, I'll get it back."

"Get it back? Easier said than done!" Qiana glared at him. "Do you even understand what that heirloom means to the Gonzalez family?"

Qiana sneered. "I think you've been bewitched by Claire!"

"Grandma!" Dennis's face darkened. "Please don't talk about Claire like that. She's a good person."

"A good person? Hmph! I doubt it!" Qiana snorted. "In any case, you must find the heirloom quickly and stay away from Claire!"

Dennis wanted to argue, but Qiana cut him off. "Enough! I'm tired!" She stood up and left.

Dennis watched her leave, a mix of helplessness and determination in his eyes.

He turned and walked out of the room, speaking to the bodyguard at the door. "Find out who leaked the information today."

The bodyguard was startled and quickly nodded. "Yes, sir!" He hurried away. Dennis's expression was terrifyingly grim.

It didn't take long for Dennis to find out that Ivy had been the one to inform on them.

The bodyguards initially tried to cover for Ivy, but Dennis's piercing gaze made them confess everything. "It was... Ms. Price who overheard and told Mrs. Gonzalez, but we thought she was your person, so we didn't guard against her..."

Dennis's face was dark. "Where is she now?"

The bodyguards trembled. "In... in your bedroom."

Dennis strode over and pushed open the bedroom door, finding Ivy sitting on his bed, holding his phone, looking at something.

"Who gave you permission to enter my room?!" Ivy jumped, dropping the phone. "Dennis, you're back..."

"Who gave you permission to enter my room?"

Ivy instinctively shrank back. "I... I..."

"Grandma?"

Ivy: "No, I came in on my own."

Dennis stepped forward, grabbing her chin. "If you dare lie again, I'll strangle you."

Ivy's face turned pale. "I... I didn't."

Dennis sneered. "You wanted to snoop through my phone and then tell Grandma, right?"

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Tears welled up in Ivy's eyes. "Dennis, it's all because of that bitch that I've become like this!"

She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth.

Dennis's voice was icy. "It seems I've been too lenient with you. I turned a blind eye when you hurt Claire, but now you're getting bolder!"

Ivy's heart trembled at his shout. "I didn't..."

"Enough!" Dennis cut her off. "Enough. From now on, you are not allowed in my room without my permission."

"And don't even think about slandering Claire. I know what kind of person she is better than you do."

"All you're doing is making me dislike you more!" Ivy's face was pale as she stared at

him.

Dennis grabbed Ivy and dragged her out of his room, then turned and left.

Ivy sat on the cold floor by the door, watching his resolute back, a look of hatred in her

eyes.

She took out her phone and dialed a number. "Claire, I won't let you get away with this!"

Claire received the call, hearing Ivy's curses and threats, her emotions were complicated.

If she hadn't been in such a hurry and jumped into Dennis's car, none of this would

have happened. Just then, her phone rang again. She looked down to see it was Melinda calling.

She quickly answered, "Claire, we need to leave."

"Okay, I'll be right there." Claire composed herself, hung up, and walked out.

Larry's burial was scheduled for the next morning.

The sky was overcast, and a fine, continuous drizzle fell.

Melinda, dressed in a black suit, held a black umbrella, looking at Larry's picture on the

tombstone, her expression sorrowful.

Raymond stood beside the tombstone, also in a black suit, his demeanor solemn.