His Poor Ex-wife Returns As A BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 12. The Manipulation

~Ivy

Just as expected, Cameil denied taking the pendant from Lysander, claiming that she knew nothing about it.

"If there is anyone to suspect in this situation, it should be Ivy, not me!" she said, pointing a finger at me.

I couldn't believe Cameil still had the courage to point fingers at me when she was the one at fault.

Well, I would make the task easier for myself.

"I have enough evidence to prove that Cameil actually stole the pendant," I told Lysander confidently.

Cameil didn't seem bothered by my proclamation. Instead, she folded her arms and looked at me defiantly.

"Then provide the evidence," she challenged. "I'm more than ready to defend myself against whatever accusation you have."

It didn't take long for her to regret those words.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the number of Mr. Vale, the manager of Moore's Accessories Mall. If the pendant had truly been sold to his mall, he would tell the truth.

"What are you doing?" Cameil asked nervously. "Who are you calling?"

"Just like they say, a guilty conscience fears every accusation," I replied almost immediately. "Since you believe I'm the liar here, why don't you wait for my evidence?"

Cameil opened her mouth to retaliate, but before she could say anything, Lysander grabbed her fist.

"Hold on, Cam. Let her call whoever she intends to call. I believe you, and that's what matters here."

Cameil stared at Lysander with mixed emotions.

She was clearly happy that he was siding with her, but I could see the fear in her eyes. Her heart was pounding rapidly, and she was desperately trying to hide it.

"Hello..."

Mr. Vale finally answered the call.

The moment I heard his voice, Cameil's expression changed.

She suddenly dashed toward me with an enraged look, her heart pounding even faster.

"I am Ivy Moore. I just have a few questions for you, sir," I said before getting straight to the point. "The Steel Family's Generational Pendant. Was it sold to your mall?"

Silence.

It took several seconds before Mr. Vale responded.

I wondered if he was checking the records or simply trying to remember what had happened.

"Hello?" I said again when he still didn't respond.

This was when Cameil stepped forward, seemingly determined to prove herself innocent.

She snatched the phone from my hand and raised it toward Lysander.

"See? She has no evidence to prove that I'm the thief!"

I immediately reached for the phone, but before I could take it back, Mr. Vale finally spoke.

"The system reveals that the Steel Family's Generational Pendant was sold to us by a woman!"

I looked up at Cameil.

She froze.

"By a woman?" I asked.

"Yeah," Mr. Vale hummed. "A woman sold it to us a couple of days ago."

"And her name?"

My eyes remained fixed on Lysander's face.

"The system reveals that she goes by the name Cameil Steel. She's tall, with short black hair..."

"Thank you, Mr. Vale!"

I hung up immediately.

Then I looked at Cameil with a smile.

Her secret was finally out in the open.

There was no way she could deny it anymore.

She stood there trembling intensely, her eyes fixed on the floor as though she were hoping it would somehow swallow her whole.

Lysander slowly looked at me.

"You may leave. I will handle this situation."

His voice was cold and frightening.

I still wore a confident smile as I slipped my phone back into my bag and stared at both of them.

"I'll leave, Lysander Steel. But I won't tolerate it the next time you accuse me of something I know nothing about."

I paused and glanced at Cameil.

"And you should also learn to control your finances. She's a professional thief!"

I delivered the last words mockingly before turning around and walking away.

This was only the first step in my plan to destroy their relationship.

My action today had created a crack in their relationship, and their trust in each other would continue to decrease.

Slowly but steadily, I would crush their relationship until nothing remained.

And when everything finally fell apart, the only thing left in their hearts for each other would be absolute hatred.

I would make sure of it.

This was a promise that could never be broken.

---

CAMEIL

"You're blaming me for what that woman said to you, Lysander?"

My voice echoed through the house.

"Excuse me, but I am your wife! We've lived together for more than five years now, and you're going to blame me for something Ivy planned?"

I yelled at Lysander, who had refused to let the matter rest ever since we arrived home.

He had been portraying me as the bad person, blaming me for the reason Ivy had bought Old Mrs. Sylvie's pendant.

"I ought to be mad at you, Cam, because that pendant is the only thing I have left to remember my Grandma by. The manager revealed that you..."

"Excuse me, Lysander!"

I cut him off immediately.

"You're quite aware that I am not the only Cameil in the whole world. I didn't steal Old Mrs. Sylvie's pendant, and I will never do such a thing!"

I stepped closer to him.

"One thing we should always ensure in this relationship is trust, Xander. Don't allow an evil woman like Ivy to interfere in our love life."

Lysander stared at me for a while.

Then, finally, he seemed to believe me.

He pulled me into a tight hug.

"I believe you, Cam. I believe everything you've said, and I'll believe anything you tell me in the future."

I hugged him back, but deep inside, I was terrified.

He must never find out that I sold that pendant for my selfish motives.

If he did, I would surely be eliminated from his life.

Right now, my goal was to keep Lysander as close to me as possible and get married to him as soon as possible, especially now that Ivy was back.

I couldn't allow her to take Lysander away from me.

Never!

"I'll get going, Cam. Once I freshen up, I'll have some crispy chicken for dinner."

He walked away with a cute smile on his face.

The moment he disappeared from sight, my phone rang.

I immediately picked it up and checked the caller.

"Mom?"

I stared at the screen in confusion, wondering why Lysander's mother was calling at this time of night.

I answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Cam. The Couples Dinner 2024 edition will be held tomorrow. I'd love you and Lysander to be there, my dear!"

A smile immediately spread across my face.

"Of course, Mom."

I hung up.

I'll attend the event alongside Lysander so the entire world will know that I am his WOMAN!

But before that, I wanted one thing.

I wanted to see Ivy at the Couples Dinner.

I wanted to see the jealousy written all over her face when she saw Lysander and me standing together as the Couple of the Year.

That would be priceless.