Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Mr. Grant Examines His Heart
They were the only two people in the lounge. The air pulsed with a suffocating tension, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Seraphina Sterling looked at this arrogant young master who never played by the rules. ’What kind of fit is he throwing now?’
"You have a partnership with that Gallagher fellow. How come I didn’t know?"
The thought of seeing Seraphina in a bind and immediately going downstairs to help, only for her to accept a favor from Felix Gallagher rather than his assistance, stung. Then, remembering that the hosting rights for this Stone Vending Gala were the "thank you gift" she’d mentioned, Terrence Grant’s mood soured even further. ’Does she really want to draw such a clear line between us?’
Seraphina Sterling, oblivious to the storm of thoughts in his head, could only roll her eyes in exasperation. "This is between Mr. Gallagher and me. It’s perfectly normal for you not to know about it!"
Terrence Grant froze, startled by the realization that he cared far too much about Seraphina Sterling. ’This is not a good sign. Mr. Grant of Aethelgard doesn’t need emotions!’
"Stone gambling is riskier than the stock market. For businessmen, profit is paramount. All goodwill is built on the foundation of potential gain. Don’t be so quick to trust Felix Gallagher; he’s not as simple as you think! The ’debt’ he owes you isn’t nearly enough to make him sacrifice his own interests. Keep your wits about you. Don’t be the fool who gets sold and then helps count the cash!"
Terrence Grant was nagging, completely out of character, like a mother hen. Seraphina Sterling paused, taken aback. ’This kind of awkward concern really is a specialty of this supremely arrogant master.’ A warm smile graced her lips, and her eyes shone with a captivating light. Her voice was soft, enough to make one’s heart flutter. "Thank you for the reminder, Teacher."
This was the first time since they’d met that Seraphina Sterling had spoken to Terrence Grant without her usual mask. ’He’s genuinely worried about me,’ she could feel it.
Terrence Grant was still lost in the memory of her warm, bright smile long after Seraphina Sterling had left. He’d never imagined her genuine smile could be so captivating. Without that thick mask, it was truly heart-warming.
"Seraphina, Mr. Grant didn’t give you a hard time, did he?" Felix Gallagher asked anxiously. Everyone knew Terrence Grant was the Grant Family’s Demon King of Chaos; no one could control him.
"Mr. Grant is my teacher. Why would he give me a hard time?" Seraphina Sterling said with a warm smile. "Mr. Gallagher, thank you for intervening for me just now."
"Intervening? Please. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, I wouldn’t have gotten this melon-rind green jade! I’m not going to take advantage of you. Ian Faulkner offered sixty thousand, so I’ll give you sixty thousand as well. However, it’s not safe for someone your age to carry so much cash. I had someone open a bank account for you and I’ve already deposited the sixty thousand. If you manage to cut any more good jade, you can sell it to me! I promise I won’t let you get a bad deal on the price!"
Felix Gallagher’s smile was kind, like that of a benevolent elder.
"I still have to thank you, Mr. Gallagher. This was just a stroke of luck; I might not be so fortunate next time." Seraphina Sterling’s demeanor was poised—neither fawning nor arrogant. She didn’t act like other merchants, who would have immediately started flattering him to latch onto a powerful patron like Felix Gallagher. Instead, she treated him as an equal and didn’t immediately accept his standing offer, thus leaving herself an escape route.
’Felix Gallagher, a man who built an empire from nothing to become the nation’s top jeweler, is definitely no simpleton. If Jade Pavilion weren’t in desperate need of jadeite, he would never be so accommodating toward a young girl still in school. While my plans do require the Gallagher Family’s assistance, accumulating capital is my top priority right now.’
"Mr. Gallagher, I’ll be heading home now. If I cut any more jade, I’ll be sure to sell it to you—as long as you offer a good price!" Seraphina Sterling said, taking the bank card and heading downstairs.
Felix Gallagher watched her leave, his dark eyes deep and inscrutable. After dominating the business world for so many years, he could see at a glance what set Seraphina Sterling apart. ’I made my offer quite clear, but she didn’t try to use me as a powerful backer. She even indirectly refused to sell me her stones, making it all about the price!’
Felix Gallagher had a gut feeling that Seraphina Sterling possessed a unique gift for business. ’Her future accomplishments will be anything but small. If only someone with such talent were part of the Gallagher family!’
Seraphina Sterling left the Stone Vending Gala immediately. As she passed the stout stall owner, he shot her a vicious glare. He’d already heard the news: the rough stone he’d sold her for three hundred had yielded melon-rind green jade and sold for over sixty thousand. If he’d known, he never would have let it go for a paltry three hundred.
Seraphina Sterling understood that feeling all too well. In her past life, while learning to gamble on stones, she had tasted that same bitterness more than once. That was the nature of stone gambling—you never knew what the next moment would bring.
The single word "gamble" contained infinite possibilities.
Some people become rich overnight.
Some people lose their entire fortune.
And yet, countless others still rushed in, one after another. Such was the magic of stone gambling.
Seraphina Sterling already had her own bank account. Having prepared so thoroughly for the Stone Vending Gala, how could she have overlooked something as crucial as opening an account? She immediately transferred all the money into her own account, stockpiling resources for the future.
’Ian Faulkner’s appearance here was already beyond my expectations. Things are already starting to change. I must be prepared for anything. More surprises are probably lying in wait.’
As it turned out, Seraphina Sterling’s instincts were spot-on. On the second day of the Stone Vending Gala, she ran into trouble.
