Chapter 2 You're Not Framing Me Again

Julian and Jonathan stepped closer to Madeline to take a look at the ring. Quinn's name was engraved on the ring. It was irrefutable evidence. Margaret was furious. "Honey, it looks like we've raised an ungrateful snake. She's even started stealing. Someone open her bag. Check everything in there." Jonathan didn't want things to blow up, so he tried to stop her. Before he could, Quinn suddenly threw herself into Julian's arms and started bawling. "Julian, this is the ring you had Max design just for me. It's one of a kind. Without it, the engagement party won't be perfect. Maybe Madeline can't let go of you and doesn't want us to get married." Julian's gaze locked onto Madeline. Compared to Quinn, Madeline outclassed her in both looks and figure. But she was far too cold. She lacked the warmth and polish of a future society wife. Now that her background had been exposed, she could never be worthy of entering the Larsen family. He wrapped an arm around Quinn and sneered. "You're pathetic, Madeline. Did you steal Quinn's ring just because you found out you're not a rich lady? Did you think that having it would make me marry you? Keep dreaming!" Madeline ignored his taunts. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ring. Quinn thought Madeline was jealous. A surge of superiority bubbled inside her as she lifted her hand to show off the oversized diamond. A ring like that was far beyond Madeline's reach in a lifetime. Light refracted off the diamond's facets, flickering across Madeline's eyes. Her lips curved upward as she spoke. "Max would never use a flawed diamond for a wedding ring." Quinn froze. "There's a crack in the upper-left corner. The halo setting is also a knockoff. Max's real design allows the petals to shine perfectly through the diamond's cut. Yours doesn't." Quinn immediately looked down. Margaret leaned in as well. Sure enough, there was a faint crack in the diamond, and no floral bloom was visible through it. Julian's face darkened as he snapped, "You're just bitter that Quinn stole your fiance. Stop lying. My dad hired the designer himself. There's no way it's fake." Quinn snapped back to her senses. Max was an elusive designer. Not even Margaret had ever met him. There was no way someone like Madeline could know anything about him. She lifted her chin and feigned generosity. "Julian, she's just frustrated. Don't be angry with her." Julian adored how understanding Quinn was. "Does she really think she deserves me?" he replied with a sneer. The disgust and disdain in his gaze toward Madeline deepened. Madeline found it absurd. Her gaze turned icy. "Julian, do you remember your 18th birthday? You swore you'd marry no one but me, and it was recorded. Should I play it back for your fiancee? "There's nothing shameful about admitting that you're trying to climb the social ladder. If all you want is to marry the Jillard family heiress, then don't parade it as love. It's disgusting." Julian flushed crimson. Quinn was seething inside. But then a thought crossed her mind. So what if Julian had once liked Madeline? Everything the Jillard family had was now hers. Julian was hers too. She immediately put on a soft, pitiful voice. "I know it's hard to accept being poor. I don't expect you to bless my wedding with Julian, but you shouldn't have stolen my ring." She handed over the bracelet again with a disappointed yet kind look. "Take the bracelet and leave. Make sure you have a good life from now on." The housekeepers around them pointed and whispered with disdain. They praised Quinn as if she were an angel from heaven. Madeline snickered. Quinn persisted in accusing her of stealing, determined to brand Madeline a thief. "You're not going to frame me again," she thought. Without saying a word, Madeline took out her phone and turned the screen toward them. The surveillance footage clearly showed Quinn sneaking around and stuffing the ring into Madeline's suitcase ahead of time. She even stood there with her hands on her hips as she spat, "Let's see how you get out of this, bitch!" Her gentle, fragile image collapsed instantly. In the blink of an eye, the entire living room went silent. One could hear a pin drop. The housekeepers stared in shock and disbelief. Quinn wasn't a kind-hearted beauty after all. She was toxic. "There's… There's no way you have cameras in your room," Quinn stammered as panic flooded her. Madeline raised an eyebrow. "I installed high-definition cameras the moment you kept framing me after the Jillards took you in. They catch everything—even the blemishes on your face." Quinn instinctively covered her face. At this point, no amount of flawless makeup could hide how ugly she was on the inside. After a brief moment of stunned silence, she suddenly covered her mouth and burst into tears, looking pitiful. "Madeline, I didn't think you'd go to such lengths just to frame me. You even used AI and prepared this footage in advance. You planted the ring in your suitcase and let it fall out when I handed you the bracelet. You're way too manipulative!" Margaret knew very little about AI, but she had heard of it. She immediately believed Quinn. "Honey, this is vicious. She must be punished!" Madeline remained completely unfazed. "The police can verify if it's AI," she said. "Do you dare to test the theory, Quinn?" Julian suddenly roared, "That's enough, Madeline! I won't let you ruin Quinn's reputation. I won't allow you to slander the Jillards or the Larsens either. I'm ordering you to delete that video right now." Julian was used to acting like a big shot who owned the place. Madeline was about to teach him a lesson when the butler rushed into the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Jillard, security just called. There's a beat-up car here to pick up Ms. Madeline. They've stopped it at the entrance and are asking if it should be let through."