Hilary, not one for subtlety, stepped forward, his gaze cold as ice.

“It was pried open. Seal off the area and find out who’s made off with what’s mine!”

The item worth billions was gone, and such a loss could never be allowed to slip by unnoticed.

The hotel’s security, which was world-renowned for its impenetrability, immediately went into overdrive.

Vincent knew firsthand that the Crane family owned this hotel, and many of his most valuable jewels were kept here because of the fortress-like security. There was no way just anyone could have stolen something from here. Getting into the glass case alone would require not just time, but a degree of skill few possessed.

He studied it further. The case wasn’t just locked—it had fingerprint protection, thermal sensors, and other advanced security measures that would trigger alarms at even the slightest movement.

Yet, the crown had been taken right under their noses, in broad daylight! This was no amateur act.

Ryanna, her face pale with panic, let out a shaky breath.

“That crown— it cost a fortune. We can’t afford to lose it!”

Without missing a beat, she barked orders to her subordinates.

“Check the surveillance footage! I want to see who was here!”

Meanwhile, Fiona, having heard the news, rushed in with her friends. She raised an eyebrow, noticing the staff frantically scurrying about.

“What happened to the crown? Katelyn was just here…”

Her voice faltered abruptly, as though she had realized she’d just spilled more than she intended.

Katelyn?! Vincent’s brow furrowed in deep thought. This was beginning to look far more complicated than it seemed.

Fiona’s friends didn’t waste a moment to add fuel to the fire.

“That’s right! Katelyn was the only one who came in a minute ago. Could it be her?”

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“Of course it’s her!” another girl chimed in.

“She was the only one around. And with that friend of hers? Who knows what they might have done?”

The whispers and accusations mounted, each one more insistent than the last. Katelyn was quickly becoming the prime suspect.

Vincent’s voice was low and sharp as he interjected, “Don’t go making accusations without proof!”

There was no way Katelyn would steal anything from here.

Ryanna turned her gaze back to him, her eyes filled with tears as she struggled to hold herself together.

“I know she’s the one you care about, Vincent, but this is my prized possession, too! We’ll get to the truth once we check the footage.”

Hilary’s eyes never left Vincent as he silently weighed the situation. He’d heard the rumors about Vincent and Katelyn but never put much stock in them. After all, all the rich men had a fling or two. It was supposed to be just fun and games, never reaching the point of introductions. But now, Hilary thought he should take Katelyn seriously. Perhaps there was more to Vincent’s relationship with Katelyn than Hilary had initially assumed.

His gaze turned frosty, and he directed a cold, pointed look at Vincent.

“You’d better give me a satisfactory answer, or no one will be able to protect her.”

An air of palpable danger filled the room, and everyone felt the weight of it. Hilary’s reputation for cruelty was well-known. No one doubted that he would follow through on his threats if necessary.

The only reason Vincent still stood there alive was because he still had his uses. But if he didn’t deliver… that could change.

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