Chapter 4

I softened my tone, asking sincerely.

"I can help you look for the ring, but first, you need to tell me when and where you last saw it."

Seeing me relent, Chloe's voice immediately became agitated.

"Last night, Damien was meeting a client at the hotel. He got drunk, and I went to pick him up."

"Midway, he went to the restroom and handed me his ring, phone, and stuff. I just put them on the dining table. When we left, I only remembered to grab his phone."

"Later, I asked all the hotel staff, and they all said they didn't see it!"

"Who was the client he was meeting?"

"It was Mr. Miller, Julian Miller."

Chloe's voice paused, then she quickly added, "But it definitely wasn't him! He's Damien's business partner; why would he steal a ring?"

I sneered internally, but on the surface, I pretended to analyze seriously.

"Since you were at the hotel, let's go check the security footage first, to see if anyone else entered the private room when he went to the restroom."

"Also, Damien said the ring was from his 'true love.' Has he met anyone special recently?"

Chloe thought for a moment, her tone uncertain.

"These past few days, besides seeing me, he's only been with Mr. Miller. But they're just talking business!"

I was silent for a moment before saying.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll go to that hotel and check the surveillance videos. If we can't find it, we'll have to resort to searching the trash dump."

The next morning, Chloe and I arrived at the surveillance room.

The footage showed that as Chloe was helping Damien to the restroom, Julian casually picked up the ring.

He compared it repeatedly with the ring on his own ring finger, a smile playing on his lips, then finally slipped the ring into his pocket.

Chloe watched the monitor, her face turning pale in waves.

"He... he has an identical ring?"

"No, it can't be what I'm thinking. They're partners, even if they have matching rings, it's nothing, right?"

I ignored her, continuing to stare at the monitor.

A few minutes later, Chloe returned, helping Damien, and Julian smiled as he watched them leave.

Strangely, Julian didn't leave the private room.

It wasn't until an hour later that he answered a call, toying with the ring.

"The ring's gone? Damien, that was our promise ring. Tell me, how should I punish your little wife?"

"What do I say? I'm afraid you won't want to."

"Then punish her by making her find the ring. If she doesn't, she's not allowed to come home!"

I don't know what the other person said, but Julian's smile grew wider.

"Good. For the next week, I'll be staying at your place, keeping you company."

Hearing this, Chloe looked like she'd been struck by lightning, instantly turning to stone.

A few seconds later, she erupted. She grabbed the monitor, shaking it, her knuckles white and eyes wide, staring at Julian's face.

"True love'? A promise ring? This is fake!"

"No! This is fake! You're all lying! Damien loves me! He said we were going to the Maldives!"

The security guard, alarmed by the outburst, rushed over.

"Ma'am, please calm down. Don't damage the equipment!"

Chloe turned on him, her voice a piercing shriek, her face wet with tears and snot.

"Chloe turned on him, her voice a piercing shriek, her face wet with tears and snot!"

After crying and screaming for ten minutes, she went silent. The despair in her eyes vanished, replaced by a savage, insane ferocity.

She screamed as she stormed out.

"I'll make them pay!"