The noise in the hall stilled.
Every gaze fixed on her.
“Before it disappeared,” Vivian said,
“only Mrs. Li had touched this ring.
If we find anyone else’s fingerprints on it—
that person is the true thief.”
She held the ring steady, wrapped in tissue.
“That’s why I didn’t touch it barehanded—
there are no fingerprints of mine on it.”
Her eyes turned, sharp as blades,
locking on Summer Wen.
“Isn’t that right, Summer?”
Summer’s face went chalk white.
She lunged to grab the ring,
but Vivian sidestepped easily.
“What’s wrong?” Vivian asked lightly.
“Feeling guilty?”
“I—I’m not guilty of anything!”
Summer’s voice shook.
“You’re just trying to twist things around!”
But the guests were no longer certain.
Vivian’s logic made sense.
If she were guilty,
would she really demand a police investigation?
Even Mrs. Li’s expression softened.
“Then let’s call the police,” she said.
“They’ll sort it out properly.”

Summer’s breath hitched.
Police?
No—if they checked the fingerprints, she was finished.
Not only would she lose her career,
she might go to jail.
Panic twisted her features.
Suddenly she lunged forward,
grabbing Vivian around the waist and shoving her to the ground.
The ring slipped from Vivian’s grasp,
clattering across the floor and rolling several meters away.
Summer scrambled up, rushing toward it—
she had to wipe the prints, now!
But just as she reached out,
a polished leather shoe came down, pinning the ring in place.
Summer froze.
Slowly, she looked up—
into Victor Wen’s eyes.
His usual warmth was gone, replaced by chilling authority.
“Mr… Mr. Wen,” she stammered, trembling,
“I—I—”
He gave her one cold glance.
Then he lifted his hand,
and his assistant stepped forward with a small black box.
Using metal tongs, the assistant picked up the ring
and sealed it inside.
Victor straightened, addressing the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
this is Huasheng Entertainment’s celebration banquet.
We invited you all here to share our success—
not to witness a disgraceful scene like this.”
His voice was calm, yet it carried a quiet, lethal power.
“If we call the police,
it will draw media attention and harm everyone’s reputation.
So I’ll give whoever took the ring one last chance:
confess now, and I’ll refrain from pressing charges.
But if you stay silent,
this ring goes to the authorities—
and whoever’s responsible will face full consequences.”
The silence was absolute.
Summer clenched her fists, trembling uncontrollably.
“I’ll count to three,” Victor said,
twisting the jade ring on his thumb,
his tone almost casual.
“After that, we call the police.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three—”
“It was me!”
Summer’s voice cracked as she collapsed to the floor,face pale as wax.
“It was me… I took it…”
A collective gasp swept the hall.
“Unbelievable.”
“She accused the other girl!”
“Despicable—stealing at a Huasheng gala!”
Vivian stepped closer, looking down at her.
“Evil deeds catch up eventually,” she said quietly.
“Didn’t Helen Zhao ever teach you that?
Oh—wait. I suppose she wouldn’t know either.”
Summer glared up through a blur of tears, hatred blazing in her eyes.

Victor Wen walked over, stopping beside Vivian.
“So you’re the new artist, Molly Wen?” he said coldly.
“Your actions have brought shame to Huasheng Entertainment
and violated your contract.
I won’t press charges—
but as of now, you’re terminated.”
“No, Mr. Wen, please!” Summer crawled forward, clutching at his trouser leg.
“I was wrong! Please, just one more chance!”
He shook her off without hesitation.
“Take her out,” he ordered.
The assistant stepped forward.
Summer turned desperately to Vivian.
“Sister, I didn’t mean it! I was just joking!
Please forgive me—please!”
“Sister?”
The crowd’s murmur swelled again—eyes wide, whispers buzzing.
Sister?
The thief and the newcomer—related?
Every head turned toward Vivian Wen.
And she, standing calm in the spotlight,
felt every gaze sharpen around her—the truth of her tangled family ties about to unravel in public for the first time.