“Of course. Don’t worry about it.”Martin lifted the piece of jewelry right up in front of his face, making sure it was clearly visible to everyone around him—including the elderly man whose identity remained a mystery.“Take a good look,” he said.“You can see it, can’t you? The sparkle isn’t a crisp, pure white. There’s a faint rainbow sheen instead. That alone should already be a red flag—one I don’t even need to explain to you, right?”Martin extended the necklace toward him, a gesture inviting the old man to take it and examine it himself.“Hey, kid, what nonsense are you spouting? How dare you talk to him like that?”One of the bodyguards snapped, clearly irritated. No one had ever spoken so casually—let alone so confidently—about gemstones in front of their boss.“Enough.”The old man’s irritation, surprisingly, wasn’t directed at Martin—but at his own bodyguard.“Don’t say or do anything unless I tell you to. I need some peace here.”His expression grew tight with unease as he

Bang!The violent clang of metal slamming against marble burst into a sharp echo that filled the entire room.Even though the diamonds on the necklace didn’t shatter, the impact alone was enough to make everyone’s eyes widen—stunned and completely unable to believe what they had just witnessed.“Good heavens! W–what… what did he just do?!”Mouths were left hanging open.Those were the only thoughts running through their minds.“Has he lost his mind, throwing such an expensive piece like that?!”Among everyone present, Quinn’s expression was the darkest.“Martin…”Her lower lip trembled violently.“W–what… what are you doing?”She couldn’t hold back the anxiety that had been building in her chest. Her hands grabbed Martin’s shoulders, shaking him hard.“What exactly are you trying to prove?!”Her voice cracked—desperate.She truly had no idea what was going through her husband’s mind.In the three years they had lived together, she had never seen him do anything this reckless.This was

“Sir, whoever you are, please… I’m begging you, let him go.”Just like Jack, the woman with glasses also pleaded on Ethan’s behalf at that moment.If Jack defended Ethan so desperately, everyone already knew his motive—he wanted to curry favor with Richard for a future promotion.Meanwhile, the woman looked as though she was genuinely standing up for Ethan out of empathy for Quinn. But in truth, her intentions were no different.She had a daughter in her final year at Havenport University.By defending Ethan, she hoped to earn something she could brag about later—perhaps a favor she could use when asking the director for help.“That young man is from the Downey family. I hope you’ll reconsider your actions.”After saying that, she bowed repeatedly.She thought revealing Ethan’s identity would instantly change the situation.But she couldn’t have been more wrong.“What nonsense are you spouting now?” the old man replied calmly.“I don’t know them. And whoever they are, it means nothing

Everyone remained bent at the waist, not daring to lift their heads, let alone say a word.Even without knowing the old man’s identity, his cold and imposing demeanor alone was enough to make them feel small. Now that his identity had been confirmed, it felt as though they were standing before someone whose words carried absolute weight.“That won’t be necessary.”Only that single, icy sentence escaped Cassian’s lips.Having devoted decades of his life to the study of jewelry, nothing pleased him more than discovering a unique piece.And seeing something fake, like the one before him now, naturally disturbed his peace of mind.Instead of returning their courtesy, he immediately thrust the Éclat in his hand toward Malcolm’s face.“What is this? Can you explain it?”“Th-this…”Malcolm quickly took the necklace into his hands.“This is the Éclat, sir. Our newest collection. Didn’t… didn’t you personally recommend this to the flagship manager, asking that one of the entry-level series dis

“Quinn, let me take you home.”Martin quickened his pace as he exited the boutique, spotting his wife just a few meters ahead.People who had just stepped out of the store turned to look at him, silent, their faces mixed with awe, confusion, and disbelief.Some even stepped back subconsciously, clearing a path for him.After what he’d done—declaring with absolute certainty that the Éclat was fake—not a single person dared to speak to him.Let alone speak rudely.But instead of replying, Quinn only walked faster.“Quinn, please. Listen to me.”This time, she stopped. Her chest rose and fell before she turned around.“I told you I don’t want to talk to you anymore. What now?”Her face was tight with irritation, but she didn’t move away.“Alright, we don’t have to talk. Come on—let’s go home.”Martin caught up to her, ready to walk beside her.“Wait.”Quinn lowered her head, took a deep breath, then lifted it again with her arms crossed firmly over her chest.“How did you know that neckl