Chapter 247
Stanley hadn’t expected Emmett to react this way. “There must be some misunderstanding. How could Una possibly want to harm you?”
Judging by Stanley’s expression, it seemed he truly didn’t know. The Vaughan Group and the Woodward family had been fierce rivals in recent years. The Woodward family had risen rapidly, swallowing up several jewelry companies along the way. Many in the industry praised Stanley as a young and capable leader, but in reality, Una was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Stanley was nothing more than a figurehead. It wasn’t surprising that he had no clue what was going on.
Emmett sneered. “Remy almost died. Do you really think this is a misunderstanding? Ask Una yourself—wasn’t she the one who kept pushing me to buy that cursed ring?”
“She went on and on about how it was an ancient jade piece with great benefits and insisted that I should wear it often. Remy liked it, so I gave it to him. Who would have thought it would nearly cost him his life?”
His fury reignited as he spoke. “You call that beneficial? That’s deadly! If the Woodward family wants to dominate the jewelry industry, then compete with us openly! Using such underhanded and despicable tricks—shameless!”
“From now on, my family won’t acknowledge you people as relatives. I’m making it clear right now; our two families are done. We’re cutting ties—don’t ever come looking for us again.”
Stanley was stunned. ‘Is this really happening?’ He turned to Una, who was looking utterly disheveled from the beating she had just taken. “Una, what’s going on?”
Una clutched her swollen face, dodging another slap from Giselle, while desperately trying to explain. “I had no idea the ring was problematic! A dient sold it to our auction house and told me it was highly beneficial. When Giselle brought Emmett to the auction, I thought she had always treated me well, so I recommended the ring to Emmett.”
“If Emmett and Giselle hadn’t told me just now, I wouldn’t have even known there was something wrong with it! I was just trying to help—I never expected this to happen.”
Giselle, however, merely scoffed. “You really think we’d believe that? You have more tricks up your sleeve than a con artist, and yet you didn’t know the ring was dangerous? If it were really so beneficial, you would’ve kept it for yourself!”
With that, she resumed slapping Una, making her scream in pain. It wasn’t until airport security heard the commotion and rushed over to intervene that Giselle finally let go.
She glared at Una and spat, “You wretched woman! From now on, you and I are sworn enemies. Just wait and see.” Now that their relationship was completely severed, Giselle had no reason to hold back. Once they returned from the gem auction, she planned to spread the word in their social circles about what Una had done—how she had tried to harm Emmett and Kerry. From this point on, the Vaughan family would never associate with the Woodward family again. This was now a blood feud. Una’s face was red and swollen, with several scratch marks from Giselle’s nails. Her once perfectly styled hair was now a tangled mess. She looked utterly wretched. But no one present showed much sympathy. The executives and stone gamblers from the Woodward Group who had accompanied her were all stunned. None of them had expected Una to be involved in something like this. If Una were innocent, Giselle wouldn’t have publicly humiliated her like this, completely disregarding her own social standing. The two women had once been close—almost like sisters. Back when the Woodward Group was still up and coming, the Vaughan family had helped them significantly.
Chapter 247
Now, after seeing this fallout, these executives didn’t even know what to say. If Una really had done this, then from the perspective of the Woodward Group, her actions were untenable; they couldn’t openly condemn her. Una quickly realized that Emmett and Giselle wanted to make a public spectacle out of this. After today, there was no going back to how things used to be. The couple would remain on guard against her and might even find an opportunity to retaliate.
Steeling herself, Una calmly adjusted her hair and straightened her clothes. She looked at Giselle and said, “Believe me or don’t—I know I didn’t do this. I was deceived too, but I suppose you won’t believe that since you’re unwilling to listen. I have nothing more to say.”
Then she let out a cold laugh. “I’m innocent. I did nothing wrong. But fine, I’ll remember this—you humiliating me like this today?”
Giselle smirked. “Then go ahead and remember it. What’s the worst you’ll do? Try more underhanded tricks to harm us? You think we’re afraid of you?”
Una’s face darkened. “Fine. Then from now on, let’s not have anything to do with each other. At the public auction, the Vaughan Group and the Woodward Group will compete fair and square.”
She paused, then added with a sneer, “I was actually considering helping you get a few top-quality emeralds out of respect for our past friendship. But now, I see there’s no need.” Of course, she had never actually intended to help the Vaughan Group. She had only said that to plant a seed of resentment among Emmett’s people. Emmett had brought high-ranking Vaughan Group executives and expert stone gamblers with him. If, during the auction, Una managed to unearth some rare, top-tier emeralds while the Vaughan Group got nothing, her words from today would linger in their minds. They might start resenting Emmett and Giselle for cutting off an opportunity that could have benefited them.
But Emmett immediately saw through Una’s little game. His tone remained calm. “You tried to harm someone who had always looked out for your family, and now you expect us to believe you were going to help us? Do you take us for fools? If you were so generous and sentimental, then why didn’t you sell us any of those premium emeralds you mined a few months ago?”
“Instead, you hired top-tier jewelers to turn them into statement pieces—then flaunted them at jewelry exhibitions, stealing the spotlight from us?” Giselle hadn’t known about this before, but upon hearing it now, her anger flared up again.
“Oh, of course! And now you expect us to believe your nonsense?” She shot Una a look of pure disdain. “You sure talk big. The auction hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already certain you’ll be the one to unearth all the top-tier emeralds! If you end up with nothing, let’s see how you’ll save face then.”
Back when they were still on good terms, Una had always clung to Giselle, showering her with flattery. She had never missed an opportunity to send birthday wishes or thoughtful gifts. Over time, Giselle had come to see her as a close friend. Both her family and Emmett’s had helped Una and the Woodward Group numerous times. But in the end, it turned out she had been harboring a wolf in her home. Una had been hiding her true nature all along—manipulative, cunning, and downright ruthless. Now that their relationship was beyond repair, she didn’t even bother keeping up the act.
Una tidied her hair once more and said coldly, “Fine. Let’s just wait and see. I only hope you won’t regret it later.” She was determined to make sure that at the upcoming auction, Giselle and Emmett personally witnessed her acquiring a fortune in premium emeralds. She wanted them to seethe with jealousy and helplessness. Only then would she be able to swallow this humiliation.
Giselle raised an eyebrow. “Alright then, let’s wait and see. And don’t call me your cousin anymore—I sure as hell don’t want to be related to you. I admit, I was blind before, but I won’t make that mistake again.” Giselle was someone who either loved or hated openly—there was no in-between. And Una had crossed her bottom line completely. She could tell that Una wouldn’t let this go. But that was fine—because she had no intention of letting Una go either.