This setup greatly eased Hilary’s financial stress. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. He was aware that Ryanna had stretched herself to provide the 3 billion dollars. Although Ryanna held the title of princess, her wealth was largely tied up in jewels, high fashion, and art—not readily accessible cash. She had given what she could.
Hilary hid his emotions and simply responded, “Alright.”
Ryanna then faced Katelyn and bowed deeply, her regret noticeable. “Miss Bailey, I am truly sorry for the false accusations we charged against you.”
Ashlyn sensed something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint what it was as she observed Katelyn.
Katelyn looked toward Fiona, who still sprawled on the floor, and spoke in an even tone, “This issue never concerned Count Crane, so I will not accept the remaining compensation from him. However, I will take the 3 billion dollars from Princess Ryanna.”
Her declaration left everyone around her in shock. Why would she turn down such an amount? She was declining 4 billion dollars from Hilary while accepting Ryanna’s compensation… The entire scenario seemed quite unusual.
Ryanna felt humiliated. Was Katelyn intentionally going after her? Even Vincent stared at Katelyn, surprised by her unexpected decision, uncertain of her motives.
Hilary was taken aback. Refusing 4 billion dollars was not something insignificant. Her generosity was nothing short of remarkable. Observing her, Hilary saw echoes of someone from his past in her demeanor. Yet, he quickly suppressed these brief thoughts.
Taking a serious tone, Hilary asked, “Are you certain you don’t want the rest?”
Katelyn offered a slight smile and shook her head. “I hadn’t planned on accepting any money today, but I couldn’t ignore Princess Ryanna’s kindness. Since you played no direct role, it doesn’t seem right to accept your share.”
Despite Hilary being Ryanna’s uncle, throughout the situation, he hadn’t actively complicated matters. This fairness left a positive impression on Katelyn. Thus, she chose not to press him for the money.
Ashlyn held back any judgment regarding Katelyn’s decision, respecting her choice. Instead, she turned her attention to Fiona and pointedly said, “And her? She has been causing trouble from the beginning. If not for her, things wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Ashlyn had maintained from the start that she and Katelyn were innocent. However, Fiona had persistently escalated the issue. Hilary’s gaze sharpened like a razor as he directed his anger toward Fiona, commanding, “Apologize to Miss Bailey right now!”
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Fiona understood there was no escaping this situation. Reluctantly, she knelt, her voice strained as she apologized, “I’m sorry, Miss Bailey. I was mistaken. I will never wrongly accuse you again.”
The small room couldn’t accommodate everyone, but those outside could grasp the dynamics from the snippets of conversation they overheard, leading to derisive comments.
“She’s been targeting Katelyn from the start, probably harboring some personal grudge. Demanding billions when she doesn’t have a dime to her name, the audacity!”
Another added, “She’s just a fool who abuses her proximity to power. Thinking she can look down on others because she’s close to Princess Ryanna. She needs a reality check.”
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