DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 241-250
Chapter 241
Paula caught the flicker of family reunion in Mila’s sharp eyes.
1s something up? Do you two know each other?”
“We’ve crossed paths before, and there was a minor misunderstanding” Mila, having regained her composure after the initial shock, shot Vivienne a genuine smile. “I apologize for my behavior last time, Vivienne. I hope you didn’t mind.”
With that said, she quickly filled Paula in on the incident at the concert.
Being a smart woman, she knew Vivienne was Scott’s daughter. To marry Scott, she couldn’t afford to have a conflict with Vivienne. It was better to apologize first
“I don’t mind “Vivienne curved her lips into a smirk. “After all, we’re not close.”
Mila’s smile froze, her face barely maintaining its usual composure.
Paula, enraged, rebuked her. “Vivienne! This is your elder. Given the relationship between the Brooks and Clark families, you should respect her. What kind
of attitude is this?”
Vivienne’s brow twitched in irritation.
God, this woman was annoying!
“Scott, aren’t you going to do anything about your daughter? If you hadn’t prematurely left her concert in Havenwood and made her too embarrassed to return to us, she wouldn’t have been in such a rush to get to the next city. She wouldn’t have had that accident and hurt her hand, making her have to cancel the rest of her tour!” Paula spat out these accusations viciously at Scott
Hearing this. Judith and Scott felt a surge of guilt. They had indeed embarrassed Mila that day, but it was because of her outrageous behavior.
Given the long–standing relationship between the Brooks and Clark families and Mila’s regular visits to the Brooks Mansion, they should have saved her
some dignity
“Huh?” Vivienne interjected with her hands in her pockets and her eyes full of mischief. “Ms. Mila, are you too poor to afford a hotel?”
Mila was taken aback, and she frowned at Vivienne. “What do you mean?”
Vivienne lazily brushed a strand of hair off her face. You had the option of staying at a hotel, but chose to rush off and ended up having an accident And now you’re blaming the Brooks?”
The previously guilty Judith and Scott suddenly realized their mistake.
Indeed, even if she was too embarrassed to stay with them, nobody forced her to rush to the next city that very day. Her accident had nothing to do with.
them.
Faced with this, Mila’s face turned ashen, and a burning anger flashed in her eyes.
Vivienne was even more troublesome than Arabella.
Her accident was a lie. She did this because the incident at her Havenwood concert had spread widely. Many people posted videos online
if Vivienne weren’t Percival’s fiancée, she might have hired a PR team to slander her. But with Percival’s protection and knowing that Percival was Mr Percy, she knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare smear Vivienne’s name.
Therefore, she accepted her agent’s suggestion to cancel the tour under the pretense of an accident to avoid any potential backlash from the Havenwood incident that could affect future concerts
Paula, seeing Vivienne turn the tables on Mila in just a few sentences, glared at Vivienne in fury
“It’s okay, Paula. This is my problem, so we can’t blame Scott.” Mila quickly intervened, but she still felt a burning hatred for Vivienne in her heart.
Just wait!
Time will tell!
Once she became the matriarch of the Brooks family. Vivienne would see hell
With that she sat next to Paula, attempting to change the topic
Calista followed her mother and took a seat
Both Carl and Eddy were eager to strike up a conversation with Calista, but her attention was focused on Percival. With a subtle smile, she said, “Mi Ellington, we meet again”
Percival looked up as his deep eyes briefly scanned her face before quickly looking away. There was an apparent distaste in ha expression. “And you
are?
Tm Calista from the TIC Research Institute” Calista struggled to maintain her composure She didn’t expect i val to fail to recognize her yet again
“Oh Percival remembered as his frown deepened “Apologies I’m face blind when it comes to women. “
It wasn’t that To be frank, she was too ugly
So ugly that it hurt his eyes.
He needed to look at Vivienne to cleanse his eyes
Vivienne lifted her head and met Percival’s deep, affectionate gaze After seeing the distaste in his eyes, she couldn’t help but smile Her radiant smile took Scott’s breath away This was the first time he had seen Vivenne smile since he met her
She was stunning. At that moment, she bore a striking resemblance to Karen.
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Chapter 241
Seeing Vivienne looking at him, Percival gently took her hand and spoke with utmost sincerity, “You’re the prettiest, Vivienne.”
Vivienne was speechless.
She understood why he was doing this. She was not exactly thrilled about people drooling over him in front of her, either.
But couldn’t he at least save her some dignity?
Percival glanced up at her. From his gaze, she could tell that he wasn’t trying to neglect her feelings, but he truly thought that there was no one as beautiful as her on this planet.
Vivienne had no response
Calista struggled to maintain her composed facade. Her fingers instinctively clenched, and the resentment in her eyes could not be concealed.
After a while, she averted her gaze, hiding the hostility in her eyes. She then asked with a light smile, ‘Mr Ellington, about that research.”
She was about to bring up the research project that Percival had handed over to her to steer the conversation back on track
But then Percival’s phone buzzed.
It was his mother, Cecilia
Percival glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and then looked up a Vivienne
Vivienne was perplexed
After a brief pause, Vivienne suddenly recalled something and asked, “Did you forget Cecilia and Isolde in Havenwood?”
“Cough” Percival coughed lightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed. 1 didn’t mean to
Was he serious?
As soon as he answered the phone, Cecilia’s furious voice came through.
“You rotten kid! You actually ditched me and your sister and came back to Rivenwood all by yourself?! Do I not exist in your eyes anymore? if you want to leave, just leave, but why did you have to whisk Vivienne away too? She was supposed to help me make a dress!”
Isoldes aggrieved voice also came from the other end of the line “Brother, do you and Vivienne not like me anymore? Why did you leave me behind and run back to Rivenwood by yourselves?”
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Percival rubbed his temples with annoyance, feeling somewhat helpless.
“You need to come pick us up right now! No substitutes! Or we will never forgive you!” Cecilia commanded.
Isolde chimed in. “Right, we will never forgive you!”
“Vivienne, I need to head to the airport to pick up my mom and Isolde” Percival stood up. “I’ll be back later”
He glanced at the Brooks family and asked Vivienne, Do you want to come with me?”
He wanted her to avoid dealing with these troublesome people
Vivienne lounged in her chair. Till pass. I’ll visit Cecilia later”
“Alright.” Percival didn’t say anything else. If his girl wanted to stay and deal with the trash, let her.
Percival apologized to Judith and Scott before heading out.
After a few steps, he stopped by Calista “Calista, unless it’s important, don’t talk to me.”
He was talking to Calista, but his gaze was on Vivienne. It seemed like he was pleading for praise. “I am a gentleman.”
With that, he walked away without giving anyone else a glance.
Ashley, who was drinking water, sprayed it directly onto Carl’s face.
“Damn!” Carl jumped up from the sofa. “Ashley, are you crazy?!”
“Sorry, sorry” Ashley apologized while giving Percival a peculiar look.
Did she just hear that right?
Percival said he was a gentleman?
What the hell?
Carl glared at Ashley before rushing upstairs to change clothes.
Calista’s smile was frozen on her face. Percival was very clear. If she still tried to get close to him, wouldn’t everyone see her intentions?
She looked at Vivienne resentfully, only to see Vivienne’s disdainful gaze in return. It seemed that all of her schemes were transparent under Vivienne’s
gaze.
She lowered her eyes in frustration as her hands crumpled up her pants.
Mila stretched out her hand, subtly patting Calista’s hand to comfort her, signaling her not to be too hasty.
The atmosphere in the living room changed visibly after Percival left.
Paula’s suppressed arrogance seemed to grow stronger, and her gaze towards Vivienne was predatory.
Meanwhile, Mila and Calista occasionally showed contempt for Vivienne as well
At that moment, Cassie announced that dinner was ready
Melissa quickly stood up and invited everyone to the table.
“Vivienne, sit next to Grandma‘ Judith took Vivienne’s hand and led her to the head of the table, where Baron usually sat
Vivienne didn’t refuse, and she was about to sit down when
“Such a lack of manners.” Paula sneered. “Your grandma tells you to sit, and you choose that seat?! Do you know what that seat signifies?”
1 don’t Vivienne sat down at the head of the table without any hesitation.
That’s a seat only your grandfather can sit in! Paula’s voice grew sharp “Look at yourself and see if you’re worthy!”
Scott’s face darkened. He was ready to fight back, but Judith was quicker. “Enought I told Vivienne to sit there. If you have a problem, take it up with mel
Paula’s face turned red with anger. She wanted to argue, but Melissa pulled her back. She didn’t dare argue with Judith directly, so she swallowed her anger and shut up
Scott took a seat next to Judith Paula had intended to have Mila sit next to Scott, but Scott pulled Timothy to sit down next to him instead.
Paula had no choice but to let Mila and Calista sit next to her.
Once Carl changed clothes and came down, he joined the table.
Judith asked Melissa. “Where’s Darren?”
The Darren she referred to was Melissa’s son and Ashley’s brother, Darren Edwards.
Melissa frowned slightly I’m not sure. He told me he was flying into Rivenwood at nine this morning Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”
She nudged Ashley “Call your brother”
“I did earlier. He didn’t answer” Ashley shook her head
“Maybe his flight was delayed or he is stuck in traffic. Scott suggested. Let’s not wait for him and start eating”
“Alright.” Judith patted Vivienne’s hand. “Your auntie’s son, Darren, doesn’t have a regular job. He ran off last year to join some talent show. Ever since he got into the entertainment industry, he’s hardly ever been home. This time, he rushed back from a film set because he heard you were found. He’s not
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intentionally late.”
She continued, “This is your first meal back home, so we prepared a family feast. In a few days, your father will arrange a family reunion banquet for you”
Judith was relieved that Arabella’s banquet was held in Havenwood. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for the Brooks family to have two family reunion banquets in Rivenwood in a row.
Vivienne didn’t comment.
Judith then presented a velvet box to Vivienne. “Vivienne, this is a welcome gift from me
Vivienne opened the box to find a high–grade bracelet, known as Peach Blossom
It was rare to find a Peach Blossom bracelet of such high quality. It was full–colored and had a strong purple hue, which looked particularly good against
Vivienne’s fair skin.
Such a high–quality bracelet would be worth millions on the market. It was a pity there was only one. If there were a pair, the value would be even higher
“Here, let me put it on for you” Judith said, reaching for the Peach Blossom bracelet. She carefully fastened it around Vivienne’s wrist, then held it up for inspection. This shade of lavender really is perfect for a young lady of your age
“Mom!” Paula’s voice was as sharp as a knife. Her eyes were fixed on the bracelet glittering on Vivienne’s wrist. “When I was getting married, I asked for this bracelet. Do you remember what you told me?
You said there was only one bracelet. If you gave it to me, there wouldn’t be any left for anyone else. You didn’t want to show favoritism, so you said you wouldn’t give it to either of us. But now you’re giving it to this girl?”
Vivienne was just a country bumpkin. What right did she have to wear such an expensive bracelet?
Was she really worthy?
A mocking smile adorned Vivienne’s lips. The Peach Blossom bracelet was indeed rare, but she didn’t feel like she absolutely had to have it.
However, seeing Paula’s obvious distress made her change her mind. Now that she was wearing the bracelet, it was hers.
“Did I lie?” Judith’s brows furrowed in displeasure. 1 didn’t give the bracelet to you or your sister, so I’m giving it to my granddaughter. Vivienne is my granddaughter. What’s wrong with me giving this bracelet to her?”
“But you have more than one granddaughter!” Paula’s words were laced with emy. She shot Vivienne a venomous glance before pointing at Timothy and Cheryl “Did you forget about Kala? She’s your granddaughter, too!”
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Timothy and Cheryl were taken aback. Kala Brooks was their second born, a blossoming actress who had already won an Academy Award despite her young age. Her popularity was skyrocketing, which meant her filming schedule was quite hectic. Even with the news of Scott finding his biological daughter, she couldn’t find the time to
come home
“Call Kala” Judith instructed with her voice strained
Cheryl glanced at her husband. She was uncertain of Judith’s intentions, but she still complied. She dialed Kala’s number for a FaceTime call, assuming it would unanswered due to the time difference and Kala’s busy schedule abroad.
To her surprise, Kala answered immediately “Mom, do you miss me?”
“Actually, your grandma misses you” Cheryl replied with a small smile and passed the phone to Judith.
“Kala” Judith greeted her with a now softer voice.
go
On the other end of the call, Kala was in the middle of a makeup touch up. Half her false lashes had fallen off, and she was squinting as a makeup artist worked to fix them.
“Grandma!” She greeted her back.
“Do you remember grandma’s Peach Blossom bracelet?” Judith asked gently.
“Of course! The one Aunt Paula always fusses over, right?” Kala sounded a bit muffled since she was reapplying her lipstick.
Upon hearing this, Paula’s expression flickered.
“Do you want it? I can give it to you.” Judith offered with a faint smile.
Timothy and Cheryl exchanged worried glances, silently hoping Kala would decline. The last thing they wanted was to upset Judith over a bracelet.
“No thanks.” Kala responded while making a face. “Why would I want to wear jade? It’s so old–fashioned!”
Vivienne, who was wearing a jade bracelet, could only smile awkwardly.
“Then I will give it to your cousin Vivienne.” Judith said, chuckling. She knew her eldest granddaughter was not one for flattery.
Kala shrugged indifferently. “Sure, go ahead.”
Suddenly noticing Vivienne next to Judith, Kala leaned closer to the screen. “Wow, this cousin is so pretty! Much prettier than the last one. I like her at first sight. The last one, I just wanted to slap her face!”
Everyone at the table exchanged awkward glances.
“Kala, you need to mind your manners.” Her assistant warned her.
“Ugh, everyone always tells me what to do.” Kala pouted.
Laughter erupted from Judith and her companions. Timothy and Cheryl shared a helpless look, knowing their daughter was notorious for her lack of a filter.
Just then, someone off–screen called for Kala. She leaned in to fill the screen. “My little cousin, I’ll bring you a gift when I come home. What do you like? There are so many blonde, blue–eyed hunks here; do you want one? I can wrap a few up for you.”
Cheryl quickly ended the call, blushing slightly. “Don’t mind your cousin; she’s always been a bit… eccentric.” She was relieved that Percival wasn’t present. Vivienne’s eyes lit up. What woman wouldn’t want more hunks around? The more, the merrier!
“You wouldn’t dare!” It was like Vivienne could hear Percival’s voice in her head.
If he could flirt, why couldn’t she find some hunks?
But when did Percival ever flirt with someone else?
“Ashley, do you want this bracelet?” Judith asked, turning to Ashley.
The bracelet was rare, and Ashley would love to have it. However, she could only suppress her jealousy of Vivienne and politely decline. “The bracelet suits Vivienne best.” Judith nodded in satisfaction and turned to Paula. “Everyone is okay with me giving the bracelet to Vivienne. Do you have anything else to say?”
Paula scowled at the bracelet on Vivienne’s wrist. Her appetite was gone. She threw her forks down in a huff, earning a stern reprimand from Judith.
Calista, who had been quietly observing, spoke up then, offering to take Paula to a private gemstone auction later in the afternoon.
Hearing this, Paula’s mood lifted slightly, and she thanked Calista for her generosity.
With the tension diffused, the family continued their meal, each with their thoughts preoccupied with the events of the day.
Paula surveyed the younger generation of the Brooks family gathered around the table, and then her gaze finally settled on Vivienne. “I must say,” she declared, ‘none of our kids can hold a candle to our little gem, Calista”
Vivienne continued eating her meal, her face an unreadable mask
Calista and her mother sent smug glances her way, seemingly trying to gloat.
She found it quietly amusing
What were they trying to show off to her?
Some kind of female rivalry?
She was not interested in the least.
Judith, smiling and nodding in agreement, was about to add a compliment or two about Calista when Paula’s next comment made her shut her mouth.
Upon seeing Judith’s expression fade, Mila silently cursed Paula for her tactlessness
No matter how good someone else’s child was, who would ever enjoy hearing their own child belittled?
“On the contrary Mila quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over 1 think Ronald is doing fantastic. He’s a real whiz in the business world. Everyone sings his praises.” This seemed to alleviate Judith’s mood sightly.
Each individual had then own talents.
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At this point, Eddy looked at Calista and asked “Calista, you’re interested in gemstones too?”
“A bit Calista replied modestly with a smile. “My grandfather loved it, so I used to accompany him to various gemstone markets and private auctions. I often watched him bid on precious gemstones.”
“I’m also very interested” Eddy finally found a common topic with Calista, and he laughed heartily “I once went to the Mirelia Continent mine to buy raw gemstones with someone and watched how the workers picked and washed the stones.”
“Why don’t we accompany Aunt Paula to check it out this afternoon? Calista suggested “My friend’s private auction not only has raw stones with windows open but also ones without windows, for guests who are interested in trying their luck”
“Sounds great Eddy agreed enthusiastically
To like to go too Calista You wouldn’t mind bringing me along, right?” Carl chimed in.
Tm going too. I’m going too.” Ashley added, stealing a glance at the Peach Blossom bracelet on Vivienne’s wrist.
Wasnt Grandma always saying she wasn’t biased?
Then she would go to the gemstone auction and pick a good raw material herself, have someone make a bracelet out of it, and let Judith pay for it. That wouldn’t be too
much would it?
So she turned to Judith with a smile. “Grandma, you haven’t given me a graduation gift yet. If I run out of pocket money and find something I like, can you reimburse me?”
“Ashley Melissa frowned. “If you want something, your parents will buy it for you.”
“Alright, I’ll reimburse you” Judith saw through Ashley’s little scheme, but in order to maintain harmony among the younger generation, she couldn’t play favorites.
Ashley was someone she watched grow up, and she believed Ashley wouldn’t intentionally pick something overly expensive just to overshadow Vivienne.
“Thank you Grandma Ashley immediately broke into a happy smile.
One by one, everyone said they wanted to go
“Vivienne, why don’t you come with us?” Calista took the opportunity to invite Vivienne. “You’ve probably never been to a gemstone market or private auction before, so why not broaden your horizons? You might find something you like. Your grandma will certainly gift it to you.”
This was a clear slight at Vivienne’s lack of experience and taste.
Vivienne leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms while sizing up Calista. Then, the corners of her lips turned up slightly, and her eyes twinkled. “Sure, let’s go.” She had been thinking about buying some gemstones recently anyway.
But now that someone was stirring the pot, she decided to tag along and see what was up. Just as well, she felt like asserting herself again.
“Vivienne, Calista’s right. If you see something you like, just buy it. Grandma will reimburse you.” Judith caught the undertone of what Calista said and quickly backed
Vienne up
“Dad will reimburse you too” Scott added. He pulled out a share transfer agreement. “This is my gift to you. I’m transferring 10% of my shares in the Brooks Group to you. You can buy whatever you want.”
Everyone at the table, except for Judith, gasped. Ten percent of the Brooks Group was worth billions. The annual dividends alone were beyond what most people could earn in ten years
“Big brother is really generous! Paula’s eyes were filled with envy Every time she thought about her missing daughter, she couldn’t bear to see Scott’s daughter receiving such a wonderful gift
over the shares were Scott’s to give, and even though Paula was green with envy, she couldn’t say a word.
Mila’s expression faltered slightly Her gaze was icy–cold as she glanced at Vivienne.
casually accepted the agreement. Though ten percent of the Brooks Group was only a drop in the bucket compared to her own assets, she took it without
ther at this was what Scott owed her and her mother.
catching Mila’s chilly gaze before it quickly shifted away, as if it were just a figment of her imagination.
in the and at the younger members of the Brooks family decided to go to the gemstone auction in River Village. The older generation wasn’t interested only Paula and Mila decided to go
younger generation wasn’t initially interested in the auction But because Paula harbored ill feelings towards Vivienne, he decided to go along to beat a disadvantage
was about to leave, a young man with silver hair wearing oversized sunglasses, and dressed flamboyantly like a peacock, strolled into the Brooks Quitcase atie tumming a tune Tm back!”
off his sunglassen, ready to chem everyone. Melissa ruched over and grabbed his ear. “Didn’t you say your flight was landing at nine? Why are you only back
* head and bent over Im a super popular star now Fans recognize me everywhere. Where could possibly go dule miso instructing someone to take Darreris kigge upstars.
vane being manied, was close to the books family and often came back to stay. The chuldren at had their own ropes in the Brooks
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Gd painting #t
s standing next to Ronald This is your cousin Vive
i yon at Vimmune, but his wynn werdened to shock, de he got a good look at her face. He pointed at her, stam
Darren was about to respond when he caught Vivienne’s gaze. It was the same strange look from years ago that sent a shiver down his spine.
“No, we don’t!”
Melissa, feeling slightly annoyed, slapped him lightly “If you don’t know her, why are you so worked up? Go say hello now!”
Darren’s voice suddenly took a turn. “Nice to see you, my little cousin.”
“Just ‘cousin‘ is fine! Why add ‘little‘?” Melissa scolded him while giving him a light punch. “Don’t use your flippant attitude on your cousin!”
“How am I flippant?” Darren defended himself. He was starting to feel like he was being bullied. “I just got back, and you’re already nagging and picking on me. Maybe I shouldn’t have come back at all.”
“Perfect! Your cousins are going to a gemstone auction held by one of Calista’s friends. You should accompany them and take care of your cousin Vivienne since she is new here” Melissa instructed Darren.
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Darren quickly took a step back, maintaining a distance of roughly eight yards from Vivienne, as if he were avoiding the plague.
After noticing everyone’s puzzled looks, he coughed awkwardly. “It’s just.. Mom, I’m a big star now. There are going to be so many people at the gemstone auction. What if someone recognizes me?”
He glanced at Vivienne. “Besides, she doesn’t need me to look after her. If anything, she should be looking after me”
He had barely made it out of that hellhole, swearing to himself that he would never get close to Vivienne again if they ever met. He swore to himself to keep at least a ten yard distance between himself and her
But damn it! His long lost cousin was none other than Vivienne This wasn’t a happy reunion, it was a death sentence!
“A big star my ass!” Melissa retorted “Your older cousin, Kala, is an award winning actress, and she still walks around town every day. How come she doesn’t have as many issues as you do?”
“That’s because she’s chased by fans all day” Darren rolled his eyes. “Remember when she got trapped in a men’s restroom by a bunch of fans and had to be rescued by the police? That even made the news”
“So, are you going or not?” Melissa questioned him, not wanting to waste time arguing with him.
“Can not?” Darren looked at Vivienne fearfully
“If you don’t want to go, then don’t” Vivienne’s tone was indifferent. It was actually a bit kind.
Darren shivered and quickly changed his attitude. “No, I’ll go. I like gemstones too.”
Melissa and Ashley exchanged a puzzled glance, not quite understanding Darren’s odd behavior, but they didn’t push further.
Ashley was happy to have her brother come along. He could help carry her bags..
However, they had two cars for the nine of them. Mila, Calista, Paula, and her son were in one car, then Carl insisted on squeezing into their car to act as their driver.
That left Vivienne, Darren, Ronald, and Ashley in Ronald’s car. When Darren saw Ronald’s new car, he was eager to drive it.
The drive from the Brooks Mansion to the River Village was about two hours.
They had been on the road for less than half an hour when Ashley turned pale from Darren’s terrible driving skills. She felt like she was about to vomit.
“Darren, stop the car I feel sick.” Ashley cried out.
But Darren, who loved to show off despite his lack of skill, was infuriated when the other driver, Carl, overtook them and gave him a disdainful look. He hit the gas pedal hard, chasing after Carl recklessly. The car almost spun out of control when he took a sharp turn.
Even Vivienne couldn’t stand it any longer. Feeling nauseous, she snapped. “Stop the car and get out. I’ll drive!”
“No way!” Darren was hell–bent on catching up with Carl.
“Are you getting out or not?” Vivienne’s voice was menacing. She spoke like she was ready to kill.
Darren felt a chill run down his spine, and his voice softened into a whimper. “Okay.”
Once he pulled over, Ashley was the first one to jump out. She breathed in the fresh air before glaring hatefully at Darren. “I swear I’ll never get in a car with you behind the wheel again!”
Feeling guilty, Darren scratched his nose
Vivienne had already pulled open the driver’s door, yanking him out and shoving him into the back seat before taking the wheel herself.
“Vivienne Darren glanced at Ronald, who also looked rather pale, and whined to Vivienne. “You have to catch up with them!”
He and Carl were the same age, so they had been competing with each other since childhood.
Vivienne threw him a cold glance, buckled her seat belt, and stayed silent.
She said. “Ashley buckle up”
Just as Ashley fastened her seat belt, Vivienne floored the gas pedal.
Ashley shrieked and grabbed the handle above the door. But she soon realized that even though Vivienne drove faster than Darren, the ride was much smoother. Even when taking sharp turns at high speed, Ashley didn’t feel sick
Meanwhile, Carl who was leading the way, was playing the song “Party in the USA on full blast, adding rhythm to his driving
“We can’t lose to him! Darren exclaimed from the back seat. He connected his phone to the car’s Bluetooth and started playing the song “Nervous”
This made Vivienne, Ashley and Ronald cringe. Ashley reached to turn the music off, but Darren turned the volume up even higher
Cart, who was driving Paula’s car was a street racing enthusiast with excellent driving skills Outrunning Darren, who had always been keen on challenging him, was easy
Suddenly he saw Darren’s car, which had initially been out of sight, catching up to him at a high speed, blasting the song “Nervous”
“Damn” Before he had a chance to glance at Calista who was frowning at his choice of music, he stepped on the gas and sped up again.
Meanwhile, on the same road Percival had just picked up Cecilia and Isolde and was driving to the Ellington family’s mansion on South Mountain.
Suddenly he heard loud music from behind him. Two luxury cars, apart from his own, appeared racing each other
A car was blasting Party on the USA, while another was playing “Nervous They were engaged in a neck and neck race, with one chasing the other.
Been a while since ve teren back to Riverwood is this a new trend or something? Cecilia asked, clearly puzzled
Percival furrowed his brows, and then through tas rear view mirror, he saw the car blaning ‘Nervous‘ accelerate, swiftly overtaking the one playing ‘Party in the USA” and wzning past him
When he spotted Vixenesity expression inside the driver’s seat, he nearly mistook the accelerator for the brake
Vast on Earth was going on?
How did Viviennes musical taste become so peculiar just in the two hours he was gone?
He wanted to catch up but he couldn’t drive too fast with Cecilia and Isolde in his car
He could only watch helplessly as the two luxury cars disappeared in the distance at the fork in the road, still blaring their weird songs.
After some thought, he pulled out his phone and sent Vivienne a voice message. “Where are you off to?”
It took a while, but he finally received a reply from Vivienne
River Village. We’re going to a private gemstone auction.”
Percival was taken aback. Since when was she interested in gemstones?
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As Vivienne zoomed past Carl, Darren hollered in excitement. “Holy moly! Our little cousin just gave Carl a run for his money!”
“Are you for real?” Ashley retorted while rolling her eyes at her brother “Carl’s defeat is Vivienne’s victory, not yours”
“And…” She pointed at the music player. “How on earth did you manage to make it through American Idol with this kind of taste in music?”
“What do you know?” Darren ran his fingers through his silver hair. “I made it thanks to my personal charm.”
“No wonder you immediately switched to acting, even though you got your break through a singing competition” Ashley snorted “You must have realized early on that you lacked the talent.”
“You.” Darren gritted his teeth. “I won’t stoop to your level!”
While the siblings were bickering, Vivienne had already driven into River Village.
The private gemstone auction, held by MT Corporation, was an annual event, and this wasn’t Vivienne’s first time attending.
She parked the car in front of the auction house like a pro and waited for Carl to arrive.
“Were you driving just now?” Carl asked Darren with a stern look as soon as he got out of the car. He was not able to see the driver because of Vivienne’s speed just now.
“Yeah, I was. Got a problem with that?” Darren replied with a smug look.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow, while Ashley and Ronald rolled their eyes. They couldn’t believe how shameless Darren could be.
Carl was skeptical, but after observing Vivienne and the others, he didn’t say anything more, as he knew that Ronald was always cautious when driving and would never pull a stunt like that. Ashley, on the other hand, was notorious for her awful driving skills. She had already wrecked the gate of the Brooks Mansion four times. As for Vivienne, he completely overlooked her.
“Let’s go in.” Calista beckoned everyone to follow her into the auction house while holding Mila’s hand.
Paula and Eddy walked beside them, while the others followed.
Vivienne walked next to Ronald, trailing behind the others.
“If you see anything you like, let me know. I’ll get it for you.” Ronald whispered to Vivienne. “I didn’t have time to prepare a gift for you since Scott brought you back so suddenly.”
He glanced at Ashley and chuckled. “But don’t let Ashley know. She’ll bleed my wallet dry. I’m a bit short on cash these days.”
Vivienne smiled faintly. She had a good impression of Ronald.
As they entered the auction house, they noticed two pieces of gemstone, which were obviously cut from the same stone, placed at the entrance. They were both of the ice type, each weighing around seven to eight hundred kilograms.
The corridor near the entrance was filled with these sorts of low–quality gemstones.
Vivienne and the others didn’t pay them any attention and headed straight for the high–quality gemstones.
Since Calista was an invited guest, unlike the other buyers who paid to attend, Barret from MT Corporation personally came to greet them.
“Calista, our CEO specifically instructed me to take good care of you today. Feel free to choose anything you like.” He said with a smile.
Calista pointed to Vivienne and Ashley. “I’m here just to browse around, but my two friends are not familiar with gemstones. Could you arrange for someone to assist
them?”
“Of course Barret instructed his assistant to help Calista’s party.
Soon, two staff members came over to assist Vivienne and Ashley. They were given powerful flashlights to inspect the quality of the gemstones.
Ronald and the others were familiar with jade and didn’t need any assistance. They grabbed flashlights and began looking around.
Ashley initially intended to find a jade bracelet similar to the one Judith had gifted Vivienne. However, such pieces were hard to come by. After searching for a while and finding nothing satisfactory, she finally purchased a cut piece of sky–blue gemstone for half million dollars. She planned to make a pair of bracelets from it and use the leftover material for smaller pieces of jewelry. It seemed like a good deal.
Mila and Paula also purchased some gemstones to be made into jewelry.
Vivienne had intended to pick a few top–quality gemstones, but the staff member named Jacob who was assigned to her was constantly making irrelevant comments. He tried to dissuade her from buying good pieces and coax her into buying inferior ones. She couldn’t help but wonder if he thought she was a fool.
in contrast, the staff member assisting Ashley was much more professional.
Curious, Vivienne glanced over at Calista, who was being fawned over by Eddy and Carl
Jacob was still jabbering away, pointing at a piece of green gemstone on the table
Ms. Brooks, this piece is excellent. It hardly has any cracks. If you purchase the whole piece, you could make over a dozen bracelets” He explained. “The bidding price is just 10 million dollars, and it’s guaranteed to appreciate in value”
Vivienne barely glanced at the piece. Even without a flashlight, she could tell from its surface that, aside from the open winrlow, the rest of the piece was of inferior quality. It might yield two bracelets at best.
Jacob was trying to sell her a piece worth only a few thousand dollars for 10 million. Did she look like a sucker?
She decided to wait and see what Calista was planning by having such a person assist her
With a look of disinterest, she shoved her flashlight back into her pocket “I’m not really into this stuff. Don’t you have anything better?”
Seeing this, Jacob’s eyes lit up, and he was about to say something when Eddy, not far from them, spoke up first. These common gems are boring. Didn’t you mention something about uncut, raw gemstones that we could have a look at?”
exchanging a glance, Calista and Barret burst into laughter
course, we do Leading the group through a back door, Barret revealed another part of the venue.
Only then did the group realize that there was more to this venue than initially met the eye
rough setup in the front, this area was far more exquisite
The table that displayed the raw gemstones was draped with a dark red velvet cloth. Dozens of uncut gemstones were neatly arranged on it, each labeled with a number, the gemstone’s weight, and its starting bid
Inside the venue, servers were carrying around various drinks, and there was a self–serve snack bar, making the place feel more like a cozy lounge.
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The private room was typically off–limits to the public. It was only reserved for esteemed guests.
Rest assured. The raw gemstones in here were all hand picked by us.” Barret said with a grin. “Feel free to take a look and note down the number of any stone that catches your eye. The highest bidder takes it during the auction”
Eddy was immediately intrigued and walked over, using a high–beam flashlight to examine the raw gemstones.
He turned to Calista “I’ll make sure to select a top grade gemstone for you and have it made into a beautiful jewelry set.‘
Til also pick a fine one for you, Calista Carl said, not wanting to be left behind.
“Thank you.” Calista replied with a smile before subtly glancing at Jacob.
Jacob understood her cue and then went to Vivienne. “Miss Brooks, let’s go take a look as well. You mentioned wanting something better, right? These raw stones were mined from the Mirelia Continent by our company. They’re the cream of the crop and are exclusively for our VIP clients. Ordinary folks won’t even get a glimpse of them” Vivienne gave him a half–smile and a half–smirk, then followed him over to a black–barked raw stone marked with the number 198. It weighed sixteen kilograms and had a starting bid of 10 million.
After a brief look. Vivienne had already formed an opinion about the store.
Jacob was still enthusiastically introducing the stone. “Have you ever heard the saying, ‘If you’re bidding on stones, always go for the black ones‘? You see, this stone shows almost no color under the light, which means it has a thick layer of fog inside. It’s a high–risk, high–reward bet. I can assure you that once this stone is cut open, it will reveal emeralds of the finest quality.”
He lowered his voice as if he were sharing a secret. “Just imagine it. A stone this big can yield dozens of bracelets. If you think about the value of those emeralds, it’s almost like hitting the jackpot. You must bid for it later.”
“And if it’s such a treasure, why doesn’t your boss have it cut and sell it directly?” Vivienne asked, feigning indifference.
“Well it’s a company rule. We can’t gamble on our own stones.” Jacob replied as his smile faltered slightly.
“What a pity. You guys missed such a golden opportunity.” Vivienne’s tone was flat, portraying her lack of interest.
“Anyway, you must bid for this stone later.” Jacob insisted.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
Just then, Eddy walked over and examined the stone under the light. Jacob was visibly relieved when Eddy, who didn’t quite get along with Vivienne, didn’t say a word to her. Jacob continued to emphasize the value of the stone numbered 198, urging Vivienne to bid for it before leading her to another stone marked with the number 213. This stone, weighing fifteen kilograms, had a starting bid of 5 million.
“Although the color isn’t as good as the previous one, the texture is definitely top–grade. Miss Brooks, you must bid for this one too.” Jacob urged.
Vivienne nodded absentmindedly, indicating that he should continue.”
For the rest of the stones, Jacob didn’t have much to say. He only emphasized the stones numbered 198 and 213 again. He insisted that Vivienne must bid for them while sharing stories about people striking it rich with stone gambling.
Vivienne found it amusing. Why would this man, whom she just met today, assume that she had so much money to spend?
Once all the guests had looked over the raw stones and noted down the numbers of their preferred ones, the auction began.
Since it was a small–scale auction, the process was simple. The auctioneer simply went to the long table filled with raw stones, and the bidding started one by one according to their numbers
After a few stones had been auctioned off, Carl was the first to win a bid for his preferred gemstone, weighing fourteen kilograms, for six million.
Next up was stone number 213, which Jacob had claimed would definitely be top–grade. Jacob immediately encouraged Vivienne. “Miss Brooks, this stone is sure to multiply in value. You must bid for it.”
Vivienne gave him a light glance and said, “Sure,”
The current bid was at 7 million, and she raised her paddle. “8 million.”
The Brooks family members all shot her a puzzled look, with Eddy and Carl expressing disdain.
Vivienne’s bid for the stone at such a high price was surprising
Ashley, who didn’t understand gemstone, felt like Vivienne was being reckless. But considering the ten percent of the Brooks Group shares that Scott had transferred to Vivience, Ashley was also feeling somewhat envious
Roald who wasn’t as knowledgeable about gemstone as his younger brothers, felt that Vivienne was being imprudent.
However, when Carl suddenly placed a bid of 9 million, Ronald was taken aback.
Was plone number 213 really that valuable?
th the bad reaching such a high price, the others stopped participating and began whispering among themselves instead.
Brooks even your pour is bidding for it. it must be a good stone. You should raise your bid‘ Jacob said, trying to persuade Vivienne after receiving a glance from
Cad a hall side
Cart provocatively nest on yw at her, showcasing a tent of malice in his eyes
Theets sal alang bm padme once again.
odigal plan was to make
one suffer is intle loss, but now he felt like he was the one being played.
hty? And she thought she could play the high–stakes geme of gemstone auctioning? Her opening bid was a whopping 10
grew on lees?
the noget
let hér Meguarding the Brooks family fortune later. This co
Chapter 247
12 million Carl shouted and raised his paddle. He looked smugly at Vivienne and farsed an eyebrow in a challenging manner, encouraging her to outbid him.
“Miss Brooks, you should raise the bid, or else your cousin will snatch it away! Jacob added anxiously
“Well, if my cousin likes it so much, he can have it Vivienne didn’t raise her paddle again and calmly sipped on the coffee the staff had brought her.
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After Vivienne had stopped raising the bid, Carl snagged the gernstone numbered 213 for a staggering 12 million dollars
“Vienne, you tricked me Carl’s face turned sour in an instant.
“Weren’t you the one who wanted it so badly that you started a bidding war with me? Vivienne raised an eyebrow “I let you have it, and now I’m the one at fault?”
She originally intended to play those who were deliberately bidding against her
Cart, on his own accord, decided to oppose her. And now he was blaming her?
“Your Carl was seething with rage
“Carl Ronald was now aware that his younger brother was intentionally bidding against Vivienne. He was hoping to trap Vivienne, but ended up trapping himself instead Knowing his guilt, Carl glared at Vivienne and stomped off. Even when the auction staff handed him his winning bidder’s tag, he didn’t want to accept it
He had spent 12 million dollars on a gemstone full of black moss. He would be lucky if he could even make a bracelet out of it. He had lost a lot of money
He had already spent 8 million dollars, and now he had to spend another 12 million dollars His allowance for the next three years was gone. He felt utterly dejected. Cabsta squinted, suspecting she might have underestimated Vivienne This young woman might seem impulsive, but she had her wits about her.
She exchanged a look with Jacob, who asked Vivienne tentatively, “Miss Brooks, that stone could multiply in value once cut open. Are you sure you want to hand it over to your cousin?”
“My cousin seems to want it so badly, so I’m happy to let him have it” Vivienne pointed to a dispirited Carl standing in the corner and smiled. “Just look how thrilled he is.” He was so thrilled that he nearly ground his teeth to dust
Jacob was apprehensive. He signaled the plants in the audience that the next time Vivienne bid, they should not drive up the price maliciously. If Vivienne backed off again, their scheme would have been for naught.
In the next auction, Eddy secured a stone weighing 18 kilograms for 10 million dollars.
“Calista, my eye for gems is infallible. This stone will certainly reveal a verdant green jadeite with minimal flaws. You’ll definitely love the finished product.” He cheerfully told Calista
Calista smiled, but her interest in Eddy’s words was negligible. Her eyes were fixed on Vivienne, who was about to bid for the stone numbered 198.
She was eagerly anticipating that Vivienne would make a hefty purchase, hoping that she wouldn’t disappoint her.
She wanted to show the Brooks family and Percival how wasteful and stupid Vivienne was. By spending millions on gemstone gambling, she was practically throwing away the Brooks Group shares she had just acquired.
People who suddenly came into wealth often spent money recklessly and were most annoying
“This stone, numbered 198, starts at 10 million dollars.”
It was now the turn of stone number 198 to be auctioned. Jacob immediately began urging Vivienne to buy. “Miss Brooks, this time, you must secure this stone. It’s a great opportunity to make a fortune.”
“12 million. Vivienne, following Jacob’s suggestion, raised her paddle.
Calista’s eyes sparkled with amusement. She had specifically prepared this black stone for Vivienne. It had almost no obvious qualities, so who knew what was within it? However, black stones were notorious for their high risk. Although the plants Calista arranged in advance dared not bid against Vivienne maliciously, there were still many guests thinking that MT Corporation wouldn’t put a stone of poor quality up for auction with a starting price of 10 million dollars. So, a few people raised their paddles as
well
The price of stone number 198 had nearly doubled to 28 million dollars.
Calista’s heart pounded as she watched Vivienne closely. Only when Vivienne raised her paddle to call a price of 30 million dollars did she let out a silent cheer. Vivienne was about to become the laughingstock of Rivenwood’s high society.
Even if she had only a rudimentary understanding of gemstones, she could tell that stone number 198 had numerous flaws just from looking at its surface. The quality and color of the stone were unknown, but considering its flaws alone, it was not worth 30 million dollars.
Both Eddy and Carl cast their gazes at Vivienne
Eddy looked at her with contempt. He had already noticed the numerous flaws in stone 198 when he inspected it earlier. Vivienne must be out of her mind to want to gamble 30 million dollars on it.
Carl’s gaze was dark Vivienne was a real profligate. Earlier, she had trapped him into spending 12 million dollars, and now she was spending 30 million dollars on a stone full of flaws.
She had returned to the Brooks family less than half a day ago and had already spent 30 million dollars.
He was definitely going to report this to Scott and his grandmother. He couldn’t possibly let this woman run amok.
Vivienne, have you gone mad? Spending 30 million dollars on this?” Ashley couldn’t understand why Vivienne would do such a thing. It was one thing to want to gamble 10 million on Carl’s stone, but now she was spending 30 million!
She used to think Vivienne was quite smart when they were in Havenwood.
The value of this stone is more than 30 million.” Vivienne responded calmly.
Carista and Jacob shared a look, both struggling to suppress their laughter.
ooks Calista walked over to Vivienne. “It’s only natural for Ashley to worry Gambling on stones is a huge risk. And if you lose, you’re not just losing your mor
of Judith and Scott:
with her arma folded remained silent while watching Calista’s performance quietly
right! You can just squander the money Grandma and Uncle Scott have given your Ashley chimed in.
about 30 million dollars, not just three bucks
Vivienne’s extravagant spend
a wolflower, quickly stepped inwhen,
y to her temperat
ted fo
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Ashley couldn’t hold back any longer. Even though Darren was making faces at her, begging her to let it go, she still threw accusations at Vivienne. “Even if you’ve been wandering around for more than a decade and Grandma and Uncle Scott want to compensate you, you should know your limits!”
Vivienne laughed How could these people think she was using the Brooks family’s money?
Did she look so poor that she couldn’t even afford 30 million dollars?
If the Brooks are reluctant to spend this measly 30 million, I’m not ” A magnetic and deep voice echoed from behind Vivienne.
Percival, who had quietly appeared, walked up, wrapping his arm around Vivienne’s waist. “I’ll cover this 30 million. There’s no need for the Brooks to spend a single dime.”
*Play the generous fool if you want!” Ashley’s face turned pale and green alternately, and she stomped off with a huff.
She just don’t understand.” Darren apologized profusely to Vivienne for Ashley with a sheepish smile. “Don’t be upset. Please.”
After saying this, he quickly went after Ashley to comfort her.
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Calista’s gaze grew heavy as she watched Percival stand next to Vivienne. She had planned to embarrass Vivienne in his absence, but his unexpected arrival had thrown a wrench in her plans.
However, it didn’t matter Vivienne had already purchased the number 198 gemstone anyway, so the 30 million was destined to be spent.
Even if the money didn’t come from the Brooks family, if the Ellingtons found out that Vivienne had persuaded Percival to spend such an enormous amount on a gamble, they would surely be disgruntled, which could potentially harm their engagement.
Percival looked down at Vivienne with eyes full of indulgence. “Buy whatever you want, I’ll foot the bill. If 30 million isn’t enough, I’ll give you a billion!”
30 million was nothing if it made Vivienne happy, he could ship over the raw jade stones from his mines in the Mirelia Continent and let his darling play with a new one every day
“It won’t be a loss Vivienne said casually.
“Miss Brooks is so confident. Why don’t we cut the stone you purchased now?” Calista suggested, hiding her amusement. She wanted Vivienne to be embarrassed in front
of everyone
“Sure “Vivienne agreed
Upon hearing this, Barret immediately arranged for it. After all the stones that had been auctioned off were paid for, they would be cut on the spot.
Not only Vivienne, but also everyone else who had won a bid, agreed to have their stones cut on the spot, much to the delight of the crowd.
Soon, the stones were cut one by one according to the order of the bids. Some were profitable, others were not.
Among them, the stone that Carl had won for 12 million dollars was the biggest loss.
Even though the stone was of high–quality jade and some parts even reached top quality, it was colorless and filled with moss and tiny cracks. It couldn’t be used for bracelets or even ring faces
It was probably not even worth half million.
Carl’s face fell even harder than the stone itself.
“Don’t expect me to reimburse you.” Ronald didn’t say much.
It was Carl who started the malicious bidding war, so he deserved to be trapped.
He patted his brother’s shoulder. “Consider it a costly lesson. Don’t mess with your cousin again.”
Carl glared at Vivienne resentfully, feeling the lesson was too expensive.
Vivienne didn’t pay him any attention. She completely ignored Carl’s resentful gaze.
Calista had indeed chosen a tricky stone to embarrass her, but unfortunately, they had misjudged the other one.
Soon, it was time to cut the stone that Eddy had won. He looked at Vivienne and gestured to her with his chin. “Vivienne, want to make a bet?”
Vivienne raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
“Bet that the value of your stone won’t be higher than mine.” Eddy continued.
“The wager? Vivienne asked calmly.
“If you lose, you’ll kneel and apologize to my mother and me!” Eddy said coldly.
Percival’s face darkened. This fool didn’t know the gravity of his words.
Demanding his Vivienne to kneel was a death wish.
“Alright However, Vivienne just held Percival’s hand and asked Eddy, “And if you lose?”
flose, Fl do a handstand and shit!” Eddy declared confidently. He was sure he wouldn’t lose.
Vivienne and Percival fell silent.
That was very unnecessary
Eddy had full confidence in himself. He trusted his judgment, and he was sure that the stone he had won was bound to be profitable.
In gemstone gambling, the type, color, and cracks were everything
Vivienne’s stone, number 198, had already lost on the aspect of cracks.
Unless it could be cut into an Emperor Green, the 30 million spent on it would inevitably be a loss.
But how could Visenne stumble upon such a rarity as an Emperor Green of high quality?
Therefore, Eddy was sure of his victory
Boor, his eighteen–kilogram stone was cut, and the crowd was stunned
The stone was of high quality and full–color sun green. Furthermore, there were no cracks when inspected under a light.
This could geld nearly twenty full–color sun green bragetets, and the leftover material could be used for many small pieces.
This kind of full–color sun green store was often of collector’s quality 10 million for it was a steal. It was an enormous profit. He could eam dozens of times the original
inmeine in the crowd made an offer. “Erkly would you sell thus stone to me for 20 million?”
ch Erdy scoffed. This store can yield nearly twenty bracelets worth more than 20 million alone, let alone the value of the remaining material. You want to buy it for 20
uniy Dreams
mely shut of foon other people in the crowd became eager to negotiate a price with Eddy.
Um hỏi celing this stone Eddy told the crowd. I’m keeping it for my collection.
brgh–quality stone was valuable and keeping for years could poublens value, making it a good investmen
Jerund his fade, Eady looked at mone friumphantly amid the crowd’s goaps and compliments
Chapter 249
“Why the rush?” Vivienne retorted calmly.
After Eddy’s stone was cut, the next one was number 198.
Eddy’s gaze was full of malice. He held a grudge against Vivienne for her actions today and was waiting for her to kneel and apologize to him and his mother, Paula.
Calista sneered at Vivienne’s calm expression.
Did Vivienne truly believe Jacob’s nonsense that this jade stone she had randomly chosen could yield an Emperor Green, make a huge profit, and instantly make her rich?
That would be hilarious Was an Emperor Green that easy to come by?
The room wasn’t large, and all the guests in attendance could hear the wager between Vivienne and Eddy. Everyone was eagerly waiting to see the outcome.
After what seemed like an eternity, the machine finally came to a halt.
Two gem–cutters carefully lifted the now–split 198 stone and placed it on the table.
Under the soft glow of the room’s lighting, someone chuckled. “King’s Fracture.”
Vivienne’s stone, now cut open, revealed an array of fractures running through its jade–like flesh, commonly referred to as the King’s Fracture.
Just as Eddy was about to smirk triumphantly, one of the gem cutters shone a high–intensity flashlight onto the jade–colored flesh of the 198 gemstone. Every single person in the room was stunned as their eyes became glued to the brilliant green stone..
The room fell into an eerie silence
“My God, it’s an Emperor Green!” Someone finally exclaimed.
“And it’s a fully colored Emperor Green!”
“I never thought I’d see such a rare gemstone cut open right before my eyes!”
“What kind of luck is this?!”
Unable to restrain their curiosity, the guests began pulling out their own high–intensity flashlights, eager to get a closer look at the rare beauty of an Emperor Green.
Chapter 250
All the members of the Brooks family had their eyes wide open as they watched the Emperor Green emerge from Vivienne s raw stone
“Did Vivienne just hit the jackpot? Asked a shocked Ashley “Is this rock really worth 30 million?”
“Definitely. It s worth way more than that. It’s closer to a billion!” Darren was floored.
Even Carl, who had previously thought of Vivienne as a clueless newbie, was now in disbelief. How had he failed to see the potential in that stone”
Any small piece cut from it would be snatched up by high–end collectors before it could even hit the market, let alone be seen by ordinary people
“You lost” Vivienne said to Eddy
Eddy was too stunned to speak. He hadn’t expected Vivienne to be this lucky as to actually reveal an Emperor Green.
Though his sun green stone could make a number of bracelets, it still fell short in terms of quality and color.
Calista and Jacob, too, were slowly recovering from their disbelief. They hadn’t expected that the stone they casually picked out to trick Vivienne would turn out to be an Emperor Green. Not only was it intact, but it was worth at least thirty times more than what she paid for it.
Their initial plan to make Vivienne lose big time completely backfired
Was it Vivienne’s luck, or did she really know her stone and had been subconsciously playing dumb all this time?
Calista clenched her fists in frustration
Vivienne’s luck was simply too good.
When Jacob said that this black stone could yield an Emperor Green, she thought he was just fooling her, but it actually did
Vivienne didn’t care about what others thought of her. All she said to Eddy was, “Remember the bet
Although she didn’t really want to see it, others might have been interested.
Eddy’s face turned sour at the reminder. What was he thinking when he made that bet?
“Don’t think about skipping out.” Vivienne said with a light smile “Nobody can avoid paying their debts to me.”
Her smile was faint, but it was cold and threatening
“I keep my word!” Eddy shot Vivienne a fierce look, intending to have Barret move his stone onto a truck and leave immediately
But Barret objected, arguing that it was far too dangerous to travel with a gemstone worth millions and a car full of vulnerable women.
After explaining the risks, Eddy had no choice but to call for a security team to escort them back
Vivienne left in Percival’s car.
Seeing that Vivienne had found an Emperor Green, Percival had already arranged for a security escort. They were now moving her stone outside.
“Miss Brooks! Can you cut a piece of this stone to sell to me? A man approached her as she was about to leave.
Just like Eddy’s, Vivienne’s stone was tempting to many, but no one could afford to buy it all on the spot.
“I’m sorry, but I need this piece for myself.” Vivienne turned them all down.
Paula and Mila, who had been in the VIP room for coffee, were just about to come in when they saw Thomas and his team moving Vivienne’s stone outside.
“Oh my God, an Emperor Green!” Paula, who had some knowledge about gemstones, recognized its quality instantly
But when Vivienne and Percival walked past them without even a glance, Paula knew that there was no chance she could buy it.
As they passed by Jacob, Vivienne said with a gentle laugh, “Thank you for letting me pick out this wonderful gemstone.” Jacob turned pale and couldn’t speak.
Paula was furious at being ignored, but instead of creating a scene, she wanted to know who the owner of the stone was. So, she went straight to her son.
“Eddy, who owns that Emperor Green I saw being moved out? I want to buy a piece to make a pendant.”
“It’s Vivienne’s. Eddy replied darkly.
“What?” Paula exclaimed in disbelief.
Mila glanced at her daughter, Calista, and saw her pale face. She immediately knew they had miscalculated.
“How much did she pay for it?‘ Paula insisted.
“30 million.” Eddy replied, his mood darker than ever.
Paula and Mila were shocked to hear this
“30 million? If that gemstone is sold, it could be worth a billion!” Paula exclaimed.
That lucky girl!
“Eddy, let’s go home.” Paula said
Eddy was feeling humiliated and didn’t want to hear any more about the stone worth a billion.
He was afraid he might vomit blood.
When they returned to the Brooks Mansion, it was already getting dark
Judith and Scott, among others, decided to have dinner when they noticed the younger ones were yet to return.
Just as the housekeeper finished clearing the dining table, several cars pulled up
The first to arrive was the vehicle escorting Eddy and Carl’s gemstones, followed by Percival’s car and the vehicle summoned to transport the stones
Ashley was the first to disembark. She had a bright smile on her face as she addressed Judith “Granny, I bought a top–quality gem that can be used to make a pair of bracelets and some jewelry You promised to reimburse me, don’t forget.”
1/2
Chapter 250
Laughing Judith replied “Of course, I won’t forget” She then turned to the others. “It seems like everyone had a good haul today”
Eddy had asked her for the car, saying he had found a great gem. After looking at the several cars that had pulled up, it was clear his find must have been substantial. Edly should have been thrilled with the gem he found However, the thought of Vivienne’s stone, worth a billion, made it impossible for him to crack a smile.
After seeing Eddy’s sullen face, Ronald came to explain what happened to Judith “Our cousin Eddy found a stone worth 300 million, and Vivienne found an emperor green worth a billion. Today’s haul was pretty good”
Judith turned to Vivienne, exclaiming in delight, “A billion? Vivienne, you’re incredible!”
“I should thank Calista for recommending the staff, who zealously suggested this raw stone. I was lucky that it turned out to be of exceptional quality” Vivienne glanced at Calista with a slightly teasing smile spread across her face
Ronald and the others tell silent. This wasn’t just pretty good, it was extraordinary!
Who else could be lucky enough to find an emerald of such worth?