Her balance faltered as she stood there, overwhelmed by the revelation.

Quick to Ryanna’s side, Fiona offered support, her voice filled with concern.

“Princess Ryanna, try to remain calm. We will uncover the thieves and retrieve the crown.”

Hilary’s gaze shifted towards Ryanna. His expression grew somber, yet he remained silent.

In the meantime, Katelyn approached the area where the hidden door had been revealed in the video. She tapped gently on the wall, finding it as solid as when Hilary had checked it earlier.

Then, her attention was drawn to a barely noticeable tile at the wall’s base. Stepping on it triggered something unexpected…

A hidden door swung open, proving the wall wasn’t as impenetrable as it seemed.

At that instant, amazement struck everyone as they beheld the opening. The footage was accurate; there indeed was a hidden door.

Fiona’s hand stiffened on Ryanna’s shoulder, her expression turning grim. The depth of Katelyn’s investigation astounded her. Katelyn had uncovered crucial clues… Fiona’s pulse quickened with worry. At that moment, Ryanna’s hold on Fiona’s hand also grew firmer. As the door swung open, Vincent activated his phone’s flashlight and passed it to Katelyn, instructing, “Take this. Let’s explore.”

Acknowledging with a nod, Katelyn accepted the flashlight from Vincent. Together, they stepped into the darkness.

Following quietly, Hilary was intent on uncovering any hidden disgraces within.

Inside, they found themselves in a small, unlit room. At its center, on a pedestal, rested the stolen crown.

The group exchanged puzzled glances upon seeing it. What exactly was happening? Speculations circulated quickly.

Some suspected Ryanna of orchestrating this scenario, while others thought Hilary might be involved.

With no surveillance in the room, Katelyn was unable to discover any further clues. She scanned the room for other possible exits or secrets but found nothing else.

Observing Katelyn’s thorough search, Hilary finally broke the silence.

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“Miss Bailey, we owe you an apology. This misunderstanding was our fault. Regarding the compensation of billions we discussed earlier, I will ensure it is settled based on the crown’s worth.”

Everyone present was from the influential circles of Yata. Despite his personal dislike for Katelyn, influenced by her association with Vincent, failure to uphold his promise could severely damage his reputation among Yata’s elite. Therefore, even at the expense of potentially freezing the Crane family’s assets, he was committed to fulfilling the payout. Hilary’s mind was clouded with brewing tensions.

Fiona felt a surge of bitterness. She shouted, her voice tinged with urgency, “Why should she receive such a sum when we haven’t even caught the true perpetrator?” Fiona’s eyes were tinged with red, a visible sign of her growing envy. Forget about billions of dollars. Even a billion would have thrilled her!

Ashlyn was on the verge of reprimanding Fiona, but before she could utter a word, Hilary’s hand connected with Fiona’s cheek with stunning force.

Fiona’s cry of pain escaped her mouth immediately. The impact sent her tumbling to the floor, highlighting the intensity of Hilary’s strike. Hilary issued a cold warning and said, “Utter another word, and you’ll regret having a tongue!”

It was Fiona who had been incessantly accusing. Had she not insisted on such a large bet, he wouldn’t now be facing the loss of billions. This was no trivial amount!

Fiona’s cheek puffed up, marked by five distinct finger imprints, sending a chill through all onlookers. The bystanders immediately hushed, their own faces tingling with the fear of being next.

Fiona, her head spinning from the blow, clutched desperately at Ryanna’s dress hem, pleading, “Princess Ryanna, I admit my mistake. Please, help me.”

Ryanna’s expression was one of stern disappointment. She clenched and unclenched her fists, her voice grave as she said to Fiona, “You’ve let me down profoundly this time.”

Then, turning to Hilary, she said, “Uncle, I can’t allow you to shoulder this financial burden alone. It’s not just your responsibility; it’s mine as well. I’ll cover 3 billion for you.”

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