Chapter 220
Allegra's body stiffened. She opened her mouth but couldn't get a single word out.
The whispers around her felt like slap after slap, landing hard across her face.
She shook her head frantically. "That's impossible… There must be some mistake!"
She turned to Marshall in a panic, her voice frantic. "Marshall, you have to believe me! I really don't know what's going on. Last time they only told me I couldn't purchase from the jewelry section. I thought it was just an issue with that one brand. I never knew the entire mall had restricted my spending."
Marshall's frown deepened.
Just moments ago, he'd been willing to believe her. But now, with the facts laid bare—the entire backend showing transaction restrictions—this was far beyond something that could be explained away as a misunderstanding.
"Allegra." His voice dropped. "How many more things are you hiding from me?"
Allegra's heart lurched. She hurried to explain. "Nothing! Really, nothing! I don't know why this happened either!"
The murmurs around them grew louder. Eyes bore into her from every direction, making her wish she could disappear into the floor.
Just then, a calm voice broke through the noise.
"The necklace."
Lucinda stood off to the side, her tone indifferent. "Since you can't purchase it, you should take it off."
That single sentence reminded everyone.
Allegra's head snapped down. The priceless royal jewel was still hanging around her neck.
Her expression grew even worse. She just wanted to take it off as quickly as possible and escape.
But in her panic, her movements lost all composure.
"Hurry… get it off…"
She fumbled with the clasp, but the more frantic she became, the harder it was to open.
"Allegra, slow down." Marshall was about to help when, the next second, a faint but unmistakable snapping sound rang out.
The entire exhibition hall fell silent.
The necklace's connection point had been forcibly torn apart. The large center diamond dislodged from its setting, struck the glass counter hard, and rolled off.
"Oh my God!"
The staff's expressions changed instantly. Several of them rushed over at once.
One, wearing white gloves, carefully picked up the jewel and examined it closely.
The longer they looked, the paler they became.
A few minutes later, the manager slowly looked up.
"Ms. Wipere, I regret to inform you that this royal collection-grade jewel has sustained irreparable structural damage. According to gallery regulations, deliberate damage to precious exhibits requires compensation based on the listed price."
The manager flipped open a document and read out each word clearly. "Compensation amount: fifty-one million dollars."
Allegra's mind went blank.
"Fifty… fifty-one million dollars?"
Her voice trembled. "That's impossible. I didn't do it on purpose. Can't you just repair it?"
The manager shook his head gently. "This is a one-of-a-kind piece. Its collectible value far exceeds its wearable value. Any repair would compromise its integrity. Therefore, it cannot be treated as a repair case—only as compensation per regulations."
Allegra's legs went weak.
Fifty-one million dollars.
Where could she possibly get that kind of money?
Almost instinctively, she grabbed Marshall's arm. "Marshall… what do we do?"
Marshall's expression was equally grim.
Over fifty million dollars.
Even for the Grayson family, that wasn't a sum of cash they could casually produce.
Especially not just to compensate for a necklace.
Just as the entire antiques hall fell into a tense standoff, an anxious voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Quick, check over there. Someone said Ms. L is in the antiques section today. We absolutely cannot miss her."
The voice drew closer. A moment later, a man and a woman hurried into the hall—Preston and Gemma.
The two walked briskly, constantly scanning the room.
"Where exactly is Ms. L? I heard she came to pick out antiques herself today. We have to meet her no matter what."
Gemma's face was full of anticipation. "Ms. L hasn't worked with us in years, and the company's been struggling more and more. If we can renegotiate a partnership this time, all our current problems will be solved."
Preston nodded earnestly. "If it weren't for Ms. L investing in several of our projects back then, the Wipere family wouldn't have developed so quickly. She's our greatest benefactor."
At the mention of the mysterious "Ms. L," both their eyes carried undisguised reverence.
Gemma suddenly snorted lightly. "Before, Lucinda used to say that without her, the Wipere family wouldn't be where it is today. What a joke. A little girl—what does she know about business?"
Preston waved dismissively. "Young people love to brag. The Wipere family got to where it is today through our step-by-step management. What does she have to do with it?"
"As for Ms. L, she invested because she saw the strength of our company. As long as we can bring Ms. L back, the Wipere family will definitely rise even higher."
The more they talked, the more confident they became, as if they could already see the Wipere family soaring again.
They continued searching through the crowd as they spoke, but after a long while, they still couldn't identify anyone who matched the rumors about Ms. L.
Just as they were puzzled, a tearful voice suddenly came from up ahead.
"Marshall, I really didn't mean to… I can't afford to pay…"
Preston and Gemma's expressions changed simultaneously.
"Allegra?"
They followed the voice and quickly walked toward the center of the crowd.
They reached their daughter. Their eyes first landed on the broken necklace in her hands, then on her swollen, reddened cheeks. Their faces darkened instantly.
Gemma grabbed Allegra's hand. "Allegra! Who hit you? Who bullied you? I'm here! Tell me!"
Allegra looked up, her eyes blurred with tears. She glanced at her mother, then timidly shot a look in Lucinda's direction.
That one glance was enough to tell everyone what she wanted to say.
Gemma followed her gaze and turned her head. The moment she saw Lucinda, her entire face darkened. "You again!"
She released Allegra's hand abruptly and stormed over to Lucinda in a few strides. "You bitch! Haven't you done enough damage to our family? Now you dare hit my daughter? Who the hell do you think you are?"
She grew more agitated as she spoke, spittle flying. "Let me tell you—Allegra is about to marry into the Grayson family! She's the fiancée of the Grayson family heir! Touching her is the same as touching the Grayson family! Can you handle the consequences?"
Lucinda stood in place, the coldness in her eyes deepening.
Gemma pointed at Lucinda, her voice growing louder. "We never should have taken you in all those years ago! Raised you for twenty years and ended up with an ungrateful wolf! Now that you're grown, you turn around and bite us?"
Allegra stood behind her, letting out a perfectly timed sob. "Mom… stop… She's probably just in a bad mood… I don't blame her…"
Gemma turned back to look at her daughter. Her eyes reddened with heartache. She whipped back around to glare at Lucinda.
She suddenly raised her hand. "Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget, you shameless—"