True Tycoon Her Empire, Her Rules

Chapter 154

The first time, it was Winnie who asked Mae, while they were examining the so-called “ruby bracelet” during the live broadcast, if that was the only one.

Mae had insisted it was the sole piece.

The second time, Winnie noticed the dark aura thickening between Mae’s brows and questioned where she had been. Mae played dumb, feigning ignorance.

Now, it was the third time.

Seeing the confused expressions on everyone's faces, Winnie didn’t beat around the bush anymore. Right in front of the live streaming camera, she blurted out, “Yesterday, Mae, the bag you found didn’t just have one ‘ruby bracelet.’ It contained a pair.”

Her tone was so certain that it left little room for doubt.

The moment the words left her mouth, the guests and the crew, including Bagot, all turned to Mae with shock written all over their faces.

Even the audience in front of their screens were stunned. “What? A pair of ruby bracelets? Is it what | think it is?”

“| remember now. Yesterday, Winnie did ask her if there was only one. Mae said there was just that one, so what's going on now? Did she lie? Did she hide one for herself?”

“No, why? What's so bad about finding a pair that she couldn't share?”

Viewers were perplexed, and soon enough, some savvy netizen commented,

“Why else? Obviously, she showed off one and kept the other for herself.”

“That’s impossible. Mae isn’t lacking in funds, and why would she hide a measly bracelet?”

“| own a jewelry store, and judging by the craftsmanship and weight, that bracelet is worth at least fifty grand.”

“Fifty thousand? Mae earns millions just from endorsements. Fifty grand is like a bottle of her skincare product. How could she care about that kind of money?”

Ever heard the saying ‘the richer you are, the stingier you get’? Why else do you think there are so many tax-evading celebs? “Just because Winnie says so, you believe her? Mae is not that kind of person.” “Look at your idol now. That guilty expression could fill my entire screen.”

“If Winnie hadn't pointed out the issue with the bracelet yesterday. Mae would have finished the show with everyone envying her luck, and no one would have known she had hidden the otherContent rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

4/4 12:4

one.

“| don’t believe it. Mae isn’t strapped for cash.”

The chat was a cacophony of arguments, but on Mae’s end, after being called out by Winnie. her face momentarily betrayed her embarrassment and anger, quickly followed by resentment towards Winnie.

“Why did she have to say this on live TV? Was she trying to ruin my reputation?” Mae thought 1. SO.

Mae bit her lip in secret frustration, summoning the best acting performance of her life, looking at Winnie with an expression of hurt,

“Winnie, | don’t know why you're saying this, but | really only found one bracelet.”

Mervin said nothing. He could sense the faint malevolent aura surrounding the bracelet on the nightstand, but he couldn't tell if it was the other one.

Despite his uncertainty, his gut told him to trust Winnie. Candace did just that, without a shadow of a doubt, and without needing confirmation, she confronted Mae.

“Mae. Winnie told you yesterday that the thing was cursed and dangerous. How could you dare to keep one hidden? We shared a room with you last night.”

Candace was so incensed that she even forgot her usual sweet and innoce

act.

Kane, Gentry, and Mervin, like the others, chose silence, but after the first episode, they were more inclined to believe Winnie. After all, identifying Naylor as a serial killer and uncovering the buried skeletons wasn’t something an ordinary person could do. Mae, confronted by Candace, was a mix of red and white in the face, still stubbornly denying it.

“Candace, | know you're closer to Winnie than to me, but you can’t wrong me like this. That thing isn’t some rare treasure, so why would | bother hiding one for myself?”

Her argument was solid, not only to the audience but even the crew on-site found it hard to believe that a woman earning millions annually would tarnish her reputation over a bracelet worth a few thousand.

Seeing Mae’s determined denial, Winnie wasn’t too surprised, just giving her a glance.

“Oh, | forgot to mention yesterday. Mae. When that bracelet pair was taken, what bound to the new owner wasn't life or luck, but your looks. You must've noticed, your face, it aged five years. overnight.”

Fear flashed across Mae's face.

Winnie paid her no more attention, continuing, “Even though you took an Exorcism Charm from 12:47

Mervin yesterday, trying to deal with the hidden bracelet by yourself, it’s clear you failed. That bracelet will keep coming back to you, no matter how many times you throw it away until it has drained all the youth from your face.”

Mae’s pupils shrank, and at that moment, she was no longer concerned about her image but was consumed by terror. For a female artist, what could be more important than her face?

She covered her face, unwilling to accept this reality, her voice cracking with desperation,

“How can this be? | did everything just like you did yesterday.”

At her admission, the fans who were vehemently defending their idol online suddenly fell silent.

The chat paused for a moment.

Those crew members who had doubted Winnie’s words now wore expressions that said more than words ever could.

With that statement, Mae had indirectly admitted to hiding the other bracelet.

Everyone, including Mae’s fans, was baffled.

If it were an ordinary

wouldn't be temptee worker who had done such a thing, it wouldn’t be surprising—who wouldn't be tempted by a windfall found on the street? But this was Mae.

Had she lost her mind?

At that moment, Mae’s agent, who had been watching the live broadcast, truly felt like going. insane. She wished she could rush to the B&B and drag Mae away.

How could Mae be so foolish? The agency didn’t skimp on paying her, and why would she compromise her reputation over a bracelet?

The agent could already picture the online mockery unfolding in real-time. Although heartbroken, she wasn’t ready to give up on Mae, her own protege, her little starlet. After some thought, she decided to make a call to Bagot.

“Look, no matter what, we need someone to handle the bracelet situation for Mae. I’m counting. on you. | owe you big time for this one.”

At the end of the day, it was just a lapse in judgment, nothing that struck at the core of who Mae was.

Sure, they'd be a storm of mockery now, but as long as Mae’s charm and talent remained intact, people would soon forget. After all, the internet had a short memory.

And when it came to her fans, most of them were blindly loyal. To put it bluntly, as long as they. could gaze upon Mae’s face, they'd likely turn a blind eye to anything she did, be it a scandalous abortion, a DUI, or even if she were to swindle them.

Chapter 154 Her agent was convinced this wasn’t a career—ending scandal.

How could it be? This was just a bump in the road.