Married a Secret Billionaire
Chapter 1382

Lena sneered at Renee, but Arya took the question seriously.

Chris held Lena's hand, ready to depart. As he walked past Arya, he whispered, "Are you really starting to figure things out now? She's obviously settling old and new grudges! Our Lenny doesn't need to suffer any more injustice here!"

Arya halted them both by grabbing their hands and smiling innocently at the group. "Wait, don't go! We don't know how the ring ended up in this bag. Let's just put it on me!"

"What?" Renee was greatly surprised.

Lena was equally shocked and about to defend Arya, but the latter stepped before her.

"Consider it my mistake!" Arya chuckled. "Renee, I'm truly sorry. I found this ring and meant to return it to you, but then I forgot and gave the bag to Lena... It's all a misunderstanding. I hope you can forgive me!"

Renee's eyes widened in shock, finding it hard to believe.

Arya smiled casually, and the other guests, showing respect for her as the Bayer heiress, refrained from commenting.

Even Toph chuckled. "Since it's a misunderstanding, let's just leave it at that. Arya, be more careful next time!"

Cordelia looked at the group of kids and said, "Alright. Now that the ring has been found, you should enjoy yourselves. Don't let this spoil the good mood!" Everyone yelled in unison, "Yes, ma'am!"

"Hey!" Zephyr protested. "That's my line. Switch it up!"

Peals of laughter echoed among the crowd. The birthday party returned to its lively atmosphere as if nothing had happened.

Renee stood still, her face tense and her hands trembling as they gripped her dress's edge. Arya unexpectedly calmed the commotion with just a few words!

"Renee?" Toph wanted to wear the ring back on her finger, but she forcefully pushed his hand away. "Renee... what's wrong?"

"You're asking me what's wrong?" Renee glared at him. "My ring was stolen, and no one stood up for me! Even you..."

"But the ring has been found, hasn't it? Besides, that bag isn't yours. It's Arya's..."

"Toph!" Renee shouted hysterically, attracting the attention of those around them.

Toph stood before her with his head down like an elementary school student who was scolded. The verdant brilliance of the ring seemed to have dimmed considerably as well.

Arya stopped beside Toph and smiled at Renee. "Renee, since it's Aunt Cordelia's birthday today, I think it's better to let things go. The ring has been found, and I believe that nobody would intentionally steal a treasured heirloom of the Hamertons. Unless... it's a thief crying thief!"

"What are you saying?!"

"I'm not saying it's you." Arya was calm, exuding an air of regal composure. She approached Renee, lowering her voice. "Renee, you probably don't know why this limited edition pearl bag is so special, do you?"

Renee glanced at her.

"There's a pearl on the strap of this bag that's actually a surveillance device that monitors everything happening outside and transmits it to the cloud.

"Because wealthy heiresses or princesses in the world are afraid of being kidnapped. With this bag, everything that happens outside can be seen in the cloud. If someone attacks them head-on, the police will have them tied up within five minutes."

Renee turned pale.

"So, do you think everything that happened in the restroom has already been transmitted to the cloud?"

"You..." Renee took a few steps back, her heart pounding in her throat.

Arya added with a smile, "Renee, I believe you'll be grateful that I'm letting things go, won't you?"

Arya had left for quite some time, but Renee remained standing in place, her legs feeling weak. She had to lean on the table to remain steady.

Toph, concerned, tried to support her. However, she rejected him every time he touched her, pushing him away forcefully.

Not far away, Lena and Chris watched silently with mixed emotions.

Chris asked Arya, "Is what you said earlier true?"

"What?"

"About the bag..."

Arya almost spewed out the champagne she was drinking.

"It's not true."

"Huh?"

"How could a perfectly fine bag have some sort of surveillance device?" Arya beamed. "Those were plots from my comics!" Chris and Lena widened their eyes at her.

"I said those things to bluff her!" Arya shrugged. "If she wasn't guilty, why would she show that expression?"

Lena was momentarily stunned before she laughed.

"But... the truth is out now." Arya looked at Lena and asked softly, "Are you going to hold a grudge against Renee?"

Lena saw the worry in her eyes. She was not worried about anyone else, just about Lina. After all, Renee was Lina's cousin. Arya did not want them to fall out over this matter.

The key to this issue was still Lena.

"Lena, I know I shouldn't advise others to be magnanimous..." Arya scratched her head a little embarrassedly. "But I'd still like to ask you to be more generous and not make things difficult for Lina." Arya's innocence made her look like a little daisy with no bad bone in her.

Lena smiled. She thought the same way-not to make things difficult for Lina. Even when she felt deeply wronged by Renee, she was willing to let things go.

She patted Arya's shoulder. "Don't worry."

"Lena..."

"I won't hold it against Renee." Lena said calmly, "Besides, I've already moved out of the Thompsons. I'm not homeless. I won't see her much in the future, so there's no need to dwell on it." Chris perked up as he heard that. He slipped an arm around Lena's waist, his lips uncontrollable.

Arya understood and smiled at them before going away to give them a moment alone.

Chris lowered his head slightly, his forehead brushing against the tip of Lena's nose. He felt the urge to kiss Lena, but her hand pressed against his chest, forcing him to swallow the impulse.

Meanwhile, Renee was still grappling with the recent events when a Hamerton butler approached her politely and smiled, saying, "Ms. Renee, Madam wishes to see you in her flower room. Please follow me."