Chapter 498: Ignorant

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Song Fan’s words left everyone staring at Song Yi in disbelief.

The chairman’s reputation as a devoted husband was well-known in the company, so it seemed unlikely that he wouldn’t be aware of what Song Fan had uncovered.

“No, that’s not it!” Meng Xia quickly countered. “You said sometimes designs are just references. Maybe I saw your mom’s ring before and remembered its design.”

“You saw my mom?” Song Fan smirked. “If I recall correctly, you never visited the Song residence before I was sent away.”

Everyone in the meeting room knew about Song Fan’s history. Meng Xia had only been recognized as a foster daughter this year. Even if she were a relative, she wasn’t related to Yu Wan, so how could she have seen her ring?

Li Na pressed on, “Even if you did see it, which designer works without a design sketch? Even a draft?”

“I just had the idea and asked someone to make it, no design sketches needed!” Meng Xia stubbornly held her ground, refusing to admit the truth.

Li Na scoffed, “You may not have sketches, but President Song does. This ring was created by a master. It’s not something you could come up with.”

When the ring appeared, many managers in the marketing department were skeptical. The craftsmanship and design were beyond Meng Xia’s capabilities. They assumed someone from the Song Family or the Brown family might have helped her, so they didn’t voice their doubts.

Now that Li Na had exposed the truth, Meng Xia’s face turned pale. She hastily put the ring away. “If you all reject my design, I won’t present it anymore!”

She thought raising her voice would intimidate the others, but Song Fan’s next words struck fear into her heart.

“Grand theft involving significant value or other severe circumstances can result in a sentence of over ten years or even life imprisonment,” Song Fan said coldly. “This ring is worth over ten million, and Chairman Song mentioned it was buried with my mother. Grave robbing is a serious crime, isn’t it?”

Meng Xia was speechless. She knew Yu Wan’s rings were valuable but hadn’t expected Song Fan to accuse her of theft.

“You’re lying! This ring was never buried with her!” Meng Xia instinctively tried to defend herself.

Song Yi slammed the table. “Silence! You stole something that wasn’t yours and still dare to argue? Can you prove this ring isn’t Yu Wan’s?”

Song Yi’s words seemed like a question but also gave Meng Xia a hint.

She quickly latched onto his point. “Even if the ring isn’t my design, how can you prove it’s your mother’s ring? You said designs can be similar. Maybe it just has similar elements!”

Meng Xia realized that debating the design wouldn’t work; everyone already doubted her. It was better to admit it and avoid being accused of theft.

Song Fan glanced at her righteous father and then at Meng Xia. “My mother’s ring has a unique mechanism.”

She walked over, took the ring box from Meng Xia, who tried to grab it back but recoiled at Song Fan’s icy stare.

Song Fan gently caressed the ring as if it were her mother, then twisted the ring’s face to reveal a small piece of jade hidden inside.

Meng Xia had no idea about this design, and even Song Yi, who had owned the ring for years, stood up in surprise.

But Meng Xia still refused to admit defeat. “Designers often customize rings with engravings. This is just a pattern. How do you know it’s not the designer’s signature?”

“So ignorant,” Li Na said mockingly. “The engraving is in seal script, and it spells out ‘Wan,’ President Song’s mother’s name.”

Hearing this, Meng Xia collapsed into her chair, unable to comprehend how these intricate lines formed the character ‘Wan.’

Several managers crowded around to inspect the ring, and upon seeing the engraving, they understood the truth.

Song Fan raised the ring and asked, “So, you admit to stealing it? Did you really rob a grave?”

Meng Xia was cornered. She had thought she could bluff her way through, but Song Fan had thoroughly exposed her. The room was silent, everyone waiting for her response.

Unable to maintain her composure, Meng Xia broke down, “I didn’t steal it! I… I just found it in the safe!”

Song Fan kept her gaze on her, unwavering. “Found it in the safe? Then how did it end up in your possession?”

Meng Xia stammered, “I… I… it was given to me…”

“By whom?” Song Fan pressed.

Meng Xia’s eyes darted around, looking for a way out. “I don’t remember! It was a mistake! I thought it was just an old ring!”

Song Fan turned to her father, “Dad, this ring is my mother’s, and it should have stayed with her. How did it end up with your foster daughter?”

Song Yi’s face was pale, and he stammered, “I… I didn’t know. It must have been a mistake.”

The tension in the room was palpable. Everyone realized that the chairman’s reputation as a loving husband and father was at stake.

Song Fan held up the ring, her voice steady, “This ring is my mother’s belonging. It was never meant to be anyone else’s. Meng Xia, you’ve committed a grave offense, and you’ll have to face the consequences.”

Meng Xia’s defiance crumbled. She knew she had lost and that her actions had serious repercussions. The room was silent, everyone absorbing the gravity of the situation.

Song Yi finally spoke, his voice trembling, “We’ll handle this matter internally. Meng Xia, you’re dismissed from your position effective immediately. And you will return everything you’ve taken.”

Meng Xia’s expression changed as she realized the full extent of her defeat. Song Fan’s determination and clarity had exposed her, and there was no escaping the consequences of her actions.