All Chapters of Smashing Treasures, Sealing Her Fate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

A sharp, heart-wrenching crash echoed through the empty, silent exhibit hall.That priceless national treasure, the culmination of countless hours of dedication, was shattered into pieces right before my eyes. The serene musician figurine was reduced to a pile of cold shards, its centuries-old melody silenced forever.My heartbeat nearly stopped. The world fell into dead silence.I stared blankly at the fragments, feeling as if all the blood had drained from my body. My limbs went cold instantly.My ex-girlfriend, Cynthia Wyatt, strolled over with a frown, looking down at me with superior disdain and cold mockery in her eyes. "Come on! It's just a dumb clay doll. No need to look like you're about to keel over."Diego burst out laughing, doubling over, and he stepped on a larger shard, grinding it under his foot. "Cynthia, look at his face, like the sky's falling. He's really selling it. It's just a clay doll, for crying out loud."The artifact endured secondary damage, and I gasp

Chapter 2

The disdain on Cynthia's and Diego's faces froze, turning into a flicker of confusion.Then they exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing."You're calling the police?" Diego let out an exaggerated snort and swatted my phone out of my hand.It hit the ground with a crack, its screen shattering instantly. He scoffed, "A cheap clay doll, and you're calling it a Class-One artifact? You got delusions or something? As if a broke nobody like you could handle real national treasures?"Not only did he show zero remorse, but he doubled down, as if determined to expose my "act" with even more reckless behavior. He spun toward a nearby display case, where we'd just arranged a set of Revolutionary War-era silver goblets.The security system wasn't fully activated yet; the glass cover was just loosely shut. Before I could react, he yanked it open and swept his arm across the shelves.A cascade of shattering sounds followed, denser and more piercing than the figurine's crash. The goblets, sh

Chapter 3

The crisp, resounding slap echoed through the vast exhibit hall. The whole world seemed to go still.Five clear finger marks bloomed across Cynthia's face.She clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. She probably never dreamed that the guy, who'd once followed her every whim and wouldn't even raise his voice, would hit her.Without pausing, I turned to the equally shocked Diego and delivered a backhanded slap just as forceful. He yelped, staggering back and crashing into the display case behind him.I shook my numb hand, the pent-up frustration in my chest finally finding release. Pointing at them, I roared with all my strength, "You two don't deserve to be citizens of this country!"My rebellion, like those two stinging slaps, didn't just strike their faces—it shredded the last veneer of Cynthia's composure.After a brief shock, rage boiled over them."Henry Pratt!" Cynthia growled, her eyes venomous as if ready to tear me apart. "You dare hit me? You're finished in t

Chapter 4

The stern shouts thundered like a bolt from the blue. A dozen uniformed officers, armed and alert, surged in like a wave, their gun barrels instantly trained on everyone in the hall.The lead officer's gaze was piercing. His presence was commanding, and his voice carried unyielding authority.Silence enveloped the room once more. The police's abrupt arrival extinguished Cynthia's and Diego's arrogance like a deluge of ice water.Diego's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the madness fading from his face, replaced by sheer terror.But Cynthia hadn't yet comprehended the severity. She merely frowned slightly, quickly regaining her composure after a brief panic.She even adjusted her disheveled collar, resuming her habitual heiress haughtiness, and addressed the lead officer. "Sir, it's all a misunderstanding. My friend was just messing around with this guy and accidentally broke some things. We'll compensate for the damages—double, no, tenfold."She still thought this was a minor

Chapter 5

Under Carmelo's gaze, as tangible as a storm, Cynthia felt an unprecedented pressure, but she still tried to play it cool. "Mr. Henson, don't take his word for it. T-This was just an accident. I admit, Diego got a bit carried away, but we'll take full responsibility. Aren't there artifact restorers these days? We'll hire the best and cover all costs—no matter how much."She persisted with her money-solves-everything mindset.Carmelo let out a cold laugh. "Restore it? With what?"He turned to the curator. "Go fetch Mr. Collins."Soon, our museum's most esteemed expert, a septuagenarian artifact appraiser named Thierry Collins, arrived.The elderly professor entered the hall, took one look at the devastation, and staggered, only steadied by the curator at his side.He shuffled to the shards and crouched down, his eyes behind his bifocals misting with tears. His voice choked, barely forming words. "What a travesty! What a travesty!"He pointed shakily at the fragments. "T-This Vict

Chapter 6

Cynthia's poise shattered as she witnessed Diego in cuffs. Her boasted family prestige, her invincible wealth—none of it held sway now."You can't take him! Let him go!" She lunged forward but was firmly restrained by two sturdy officers.Commotion erupted outside the hall just then."Step aside! Move!" Cynthia's mother and the chairman of the Wyatt Group, Joyce Wyatt, stormed in with an imposing team of lawyers, exuding authority.Unaware of the full situation, she barked at the blocking officers. "What are you idiots doing? On what basis are you arresting people? Do you know who I am? Bring your superior here!"Her tone was domineering and entitled. But when her gaze landed on Carmelo, standing there impassively with a stern expression, her bluster froze.She recognized this high-ranking federal official; she'd glimpsed him distantly at a major government-business summit.Clutching at her last straw, Cynthia scrambled over. "Mom, save me! Save Diego!"She pointed at me, playi

Chapter 7

"Mrs. Wyatt, does everything in your world carry a price tag?" I cut her off. "Do you think what we protect is mere merchandise for sale? Let me enlighten you: this is our nation's memory, the roots bequeathed by our ancestors to future generations. Its value lies in heritage; its dignity is not for barter!"My words landed like an invisible slap, rendering her speechless, her face alternating between pallor and flush.Carmelo regarded her with disappointment and disdain. "Don't you get it? This isn't about money."He paused, pointing at Cynthia, who was still trying to argue, and gave Orlando his second order. "This person not only failed to halt the crime but insulted and threatened the victim, then tried to bribe her way out. Charges include accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice. Detain her as well for a thorough investigation!""Yes, sir!" Officers advanced, snapping cold handcuffs onto Cynthia this time.Joyce panicked, trying to lung over, but was blocked solid

Chapter 8

The final verdict brought profound satisfaction.Diego, convicted of deliberately destroying a Class-One national artifact, with incontrovertible evidence and extreme severity, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.In court, he wept bitterly; his youth would wither behind bars. Cynthia received three years for accessory and obstruction, penalties compounded.Under multi-agency probes, the Wyatt Group was exposed for tax evasion, corruption, and more, culminating in bankruptcy and liquidation. Joyce, post-stroke, endured partial paralysis; her once-mighty domain vanished overnight.That shattered Victorian-era porcelain musician figurine, after months of round-the-clock work by the nation's top restoration experts, was meticulously reassembled. Though not pristine, it stood reborn in the display case.Each fracture received a special gold inlay, gleaming under lights, as if silently narrating its ordeal and affirming our heritage's indomitable resilience.The American Heritage

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