Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Rejecting Justin Hale
"It’s green! It’s green! Look, we’ve struck green!" After his initial shock, the stone-cutting master shrieked, once again drawing everyone’s attention.
"Heavens! Am I seeing things? This is... this is actually the Golden Thread Variety!"
"To think they actually cut into a Golden Thread Variety!"
"And it’s such a huge piece! A Golden Thread Variety! That’s a once-in-a-lifetime find!"
...
The color drained from Franklin Sutton’s face. He had noticed that stone earlier but had dismissed it as worthless. To think it would actually produce a Golden Thread Variety!
He had just been mocking and belittling her. Not fifteen minutes later, he was met with a resounding slap in the face.
"I bid five million!"
"I bid six million!"
"Young lady, I’ll bid six and a half million!"
...
The sight of the Golden Thread Variety made it impossible for even the presidents of major corporations to stay composed.
Yet Seraphina Sterling remained as calm as still water, seemingly oblivious to the frenzied bidding. As she took the jadeite, she said, "Master, please grind this other half the same way."
The crowd grew even more agitated.
Seraphina Sterling’s words echoed in their minds. ’Does she mean there’s jade in the other half, too?’
The stone Seraphina Sterling had bought was cut in two. One half had yielded a Golden Thread Variety; by all logic, the other half should be barren. And yet...
The onlookers forgot everything else, their eyes glued to the stone cutter. Even the cutter himself felt as if he were in a fantasy; he had never encountered anything like this.
"It’s... it’s green!"
"My God, a Golden Thread Variety! Another Golden Thread Variety!"
"Damn! When did the priceless Golden Thread Variety become a dime a dozen? Two from a single stone!"
...
All eyes were riveted on Seraphina Sterling’s hands. The sight of her fair skin cradling two priceless pieces of jadeite was almost blinding.
"I’ll bid ten million!" Franklin Sutton knew it was shameless, but faced with a Golden Thread Variety, he chose to ignore his earlier remarks. Every jewelry company needed a show-stopping gem to anchor its collection, and this was it!
"Fifteen million!" Felix Gallagher’s eyes shone like stars. ’A Golden Thread Variety! Perfect! With these two pieces, the pressure on Jade Pavilion will ease considerably!’
"Mr. Gallagher, the usual arrangement," Seraphina Sterling said with a warm, bright smile. As long as Felix Gallagher offered a fair price, she would sell the jadeite to him; it was her way of repaying a favor.
Felix Gallagher roared with laughter. ’He knew he hadn’t misjudged her!’ "Don’t worry, the funds will be transferred immediately!"
Franklin Sutton’s face darkened. ’This is the Golden Thread Variety, far superior to the Water-Green jade he cut yesterday! And it’s much more sought-after on the market! That Felix Gallagher is really something else, finding someone with an eye this good!’
"Wait." Justin Hale stopped Felix Gallagher from making the transfer, a gentle smile on his face. "Miss Sterling, I’ll offer twenty million."
Felix Gallagher’s heart seized. ’Twenty million! That’s far more than these two pieces of Golden Thread Variety are worth! The Hale Family really isn’t here to play nice. No wonder I saw the Faulkner Family’s young lady here. Ian Faulkner must be one of Justin’s people. The Hales have really produced a formidable figure!’
Seraphina Sterling met Justin Hale’s gentle gaze, suppressing the hatred in her heart. "I’m sorry, but I’ve already promised to sell them to Mr. Gallagher."
A flicker of shock crossed Justin Hale’s eyes. ’She isn’t swayed by such a huge sum?’ "Why? My price is a full five million higher than President Gallagher’s! I’m sure I don’t need to remind you what one can do with five million. Give me a reason!"
"Because I want to." The corners of Seraphina Sterling’s mouth tilted up, revealing faint dimples. Her soft voice carried words capable of driving a person mad with anger.
Justin Hale: ...
The crowd: ...
Felix Gallagher was the most delighted of all. "Hahaha! Seraphina, the money is in your account!"
The smile vanished from Justin Hale’s face. ’He had never met a girl who dared speak to him in such a tone!’
The sale of two Golden Thread Variety jades right at the start electrified the atmosphere on the second floor. As the crowd praised Felix Gallagher for his good eye, they also didn’t dare to underestimate Seraphina Sterling. Despite her youth, her skill in stone gambling was on par with that of a seasoned expert.
Justin Hale and Franklin Sutton had failed to snatch the Golden Thread Variety, and they lacked the skill to find their own. So, the two clever men devised another plan.
