After the Divorce, I Married the Richest Man Alive

Elliot put the artifact back in its box and shot me a warning look.

"This thing's been lost for centuries. How would a servant end up with it? It's obviously a fake!"

"She's right. Something this precious, and even the Farleys couldn't track it down? But somehow she found it?"

The crowd murmured in agreement. No one believed someone of my station could possibly have gotten her hands on the Bloodstone Qilin.

"This woman made a counterfeit, and I'm going to teach her a lesson she won't forget!" Gladys pulled out her phone and dialed. "I'm sending you straight to the police!"

Within minutes, the wail of a patrol car cut through the air. Elliot grabbed my arm without ceremony and dragged me toward the front entrance.

"Imogen, if you beg me right now, I can make this go away."

I didn't even look at him. Beg? He could keep dreaming.

I hadn't broken any laws. Why would I beg anyone for anything?

Least of all this worthless excuse for a man.

The front doors loomed ahead, officers already waiting on the other side. Elliot panicked. He seized my shoulders and forced me to stop.

"Do you really have to be this stubborn? Just swallow your pride for once! Whether this is a fake or something that actually belongs to the Farleys, blowing this up won't end well for anyone!"

I gave him a sidelong glance, my eyes full of contempt.

"I don't bow to dogs."

"You—!"

His face went scarlet.

"Fine! Then don't blame me for washing my hands of you. I'd love to see how you explain yourself to the police!"

Gladys and I, the accuser and the accused, were taken to the station. Elliot followed close behind.

Gladys watched me the whole ride. When I said nothing, she mistook my silence for fear, and the look she gave me turned even more scornful.

"Officers, look!" She held up the box the moment we walked in. "This is the Farleys' legendary Bloodstone Qilin! And it was found on a servant. If she didn't steal it, how else would she have gotten it? On top of that, this woman has a criminal record! Lock her up!"

The officer on duty listened to Gladys, then looked me up and down in my servant's uniform. Disdain settled over his face immediately.

"All right. Start talking. How'd you get this?"

"I bought it. Give it back."

He didn't believe a word. In his eyes, a servant couldn't possibly afford the Bloodstone Qilin.

"If the Farleys find out about this, you're done for. So you'd better come clean now. Cooperate and maybe you'll get a lighter sentence. Unless you're eager to go back to prison?"

Gladys's shrill voice cut in from beside me. I ignored her completely.

I turned to the officer and asked if I could make a phone call. He nodded. I pulled out my phone and dialed Dudley's number.

The call connected.

And in that same instant, the phone was slapped out of my hand. It hit the concrete floor with a sickening crack.