Chapter 337

Simon glanced at Jonathan and quickly walked away. Jonathan then approached Cynthia.

Cynthia, already full from two bowls of almond pudding and a piece of cake, was approaching with another small cake. She handed it to Jonathan. "You must be hungry. Have some, it's delicious."

Jonathan took the cake. "Let's go. I need to talk to you."

They left the Palace's exhibit hall. Their car navigated the winding traffic on Betrico's elevated highway. Cynthia noticed Jonathan's displeasure. "What do you want to tell me?"

Jonathan's lips pressed together; he looked upset. Cynthia, sensing his mood, teased, "Are you wondering why Shirley's jewelry, which she'd sneaked into my bag, ended up in the toilet?" Jonathan shot her a sharp glance.

Leaning back, Cynthia chuckled. "When she followed me to the restroom, I knew her plan. I deliberately left my bag outside. Pretending to apply makeup, I wrapped the brooch in a wet wipe and tossed it in a nearby trash can. I'd already arranged for the cleaning lady after anticipating Shirley's intentions. As QUEEN's chief jewelry designer, I know everyone there."

A hint of pride touched Cynthia's face. Jonathan found her charming, and his bitterness began to fade, though he maintained a straight face.

"You must have discussed the video with Simon a long time ago, right? You planned to release it at the end of the exhibit to fully expose Shirley's crimes, leaving her no recourse."

Mentioning Shirley made Cynthia's expression grim. "Yes, today's livestream was planned specifically for her. Initially, I thought she wasn't worth it, but bringing Whitney down with her makes it worthwhile."

From the moment Cynthia saw the invitation, she'd been planning. She needed to expose Shirley's crimes and ensure punishment. However, Whitney was behind Shirley, and Cynthia knew Ruben was under Whitney's control. Betrico Multimedia could manipulate public opinion.

But the livestream's impact exceeded Betrico Multimedia's ability to control. Cynthia envisioned Shirley and Whitney exposed together. Even if Whitney extricated herself, her reputation would be ruined. That's why the jewelry exhibition added a new rule: anyone transferring invitation cards had to enter with the original owner.

Of course, many things were unpredictable. She thought Whitney might buy the Queen's Tears, and if Whitney knew Miss Y, she'd be enraged, possibly losing composure and revealing her true self. However, Whitney didn't—Cynthia hadn't expected her to give it to Shirley immediately.

Cynthia knew Whitney intended to humiliate her, but this unexpected outcome worked almost perfectly for Cynthia.

14:14 Sat, Nov 23 Chapter 337 85%

This was a golden opportunity, linking Shirley and Whitney closely. To give away three-billion-dollar jewelry, their relationship must be significant.

Later, Cynthia casually scrolled through ridiculous online rumors, including a claim that Shirley was Whitney's secret daughter. That was a surprise.

Jonathan asked, "How did you get that video?"

"Simon gave it to me. I'd asked him to investigate Luke; he'd placed cameras in Luke's house. They transmitted data in real-time, so even though Shirley burned the house and destroyed evidence, the footage was already saved."

Jonathan's questions were answered, but hearing Cynthia had asked Simon to investigate Luke instead of him sparked an indescribable frustration.

He finally asked, "Cynthia, why didn't you tell me about this?" He thought, She didn't even tell me beforehand!

Cynthia paused. "You're busy, and I didn't want to bother you." She knew how busy he was with the Bennett Group and BJ. He constantly dealt with Whitney's schemes. He was brilliant, but not a superhero. She knew how tiring it was for him, and she didn't want him to worry about things she could handle.

"So you're willing to bother Simon. Do you trust him more than me?" Jonathan's tone was sulky.

Cynthia was shocked. She hadn't expected this. "I just didn't want to tire you. Is that wrong?"

The car exited the highway, approaching a red light. Jonathan slammed on the brakes, turning to look at Cynthia with confusion and innocence. His voice held anger and suppressed jealousy. "Cynthia, look at me. I'm your husband now, not just a pretty boy."

Jonathan was upset, but Cynthia didn't understand why. She felt her dealings with Shirley were her business. If she could handle it, she wouldn't bother anyone. Asking Simon for help was normal; she didn't need to complicate things by explaining to Jonathan.

"Jonathan, I don't understand why you're so upset," Cynthia said. She'd planned tonight's events meticulously and was tired, but Jonathan's upset puzzled her.

"Tell me why you're upset. Is it because I asked Simon instead of you? Your jealousy is ridiculous." Cynthia wasn't entirely unaware of what bothered Jonathan.

Cynthia thought, He's jealous. I understood his jealousy of Preston or Hector, but this is ridiculous. It's because I asked Simon instead of him. She thought it childish.

"I'm not angry, nor am I jealous," Jonathan said, not wanting to argue. He knew she was tired.

Cynthia sighed in relief. "Simon is like family, and he's gay. To me, he's like Naomi—a friend."

Jonathan thought about Simon's rebellious eyes and scoffed, "Only you would think that."