Chapter 22
Ivana couldn’t believe Isabella had the nerve to throw out such a number.
Even Cassie was shaken, instinctively stepping back. She tugged at Ivana’s sleeve and whispered, “Five million dollars? It’s nc worth it, Ivana. Maybe we should just leave it at that?”
Ivana’s grip on her handbag tightened so much that her knuckles turned white. There was no way she would allow herself to lose to Isabella.
Lifting her head, Ivana locked eyes with Isabella, à fierce determination blazing within her. She raised the bid without hesitation, “$6 million!”
Ivana was certain Isabella had reached her limit–there was no way she had the money to continue. $6 million would definitely win her the bracelet.
The crowd was shocked. No one had expected Ivana to raise the stakes again. Their gazes toward her shifted, filled with admiration. Some even looked at her with awe. They were all astounded by her extravagant display.
“Ms. Stout is really something!”
“Yeah, the Stout family is a powerful dynasty. What’s this kind of money to them?”
These murmurs of admiration reached Ivana’s ears, and she gazed at Isabella with an air of superiority.
But Isabella simply smiled, withdrawing her hand from the glass counter. With a resigned tone, she said, “Alright, you’re richer than me. It’s yours.”
Yet, there was no sign of defeat in her expression. Instead, she wore the smile of someone who had won.
In that moment, Ivana’s smug face froze.
It suddenly dawned on her that something was wrong. She had acted too impulsively.
Isabella never had the money to begin with. That $5 million bid had been nothing more than a tactic to provoke her.
But in the heat of the moment, Ivana hadn’t realized this–she was too focused on not being outdone by Isabella. Now, she could see that she had walked right into Isabella’s trap.
“Spending $6 million on a bracelet? No matter how rich you are, you shouldn’t be throwing money away like that.”
“Exactly. What kind of wealthy person is a sucker like that? Real rich people are smart with their money. Even if they spend big, it’s on things that actually matter.”
These new whispers filtered into her ears, and Ivana could feel her composure slipping.
Her fists clenched tightly, the sharp pain of her nails digging into her palms a constant reminder not to fall apart.
But she was furious. All she had wanted was to humiliate Isabella, yet now she was the one being ridiculed as a fool.
Meanwhile, Cassie, oblivious to the judgment of others, was gleefully clinging to Ivana’s arm, her face full of admiration. “Wow, Ivana, you’re amazing!
Ivana shot a disdainful glare at Isabella, who had lost the bidding war. “See? I told you, Isabella’s got no money. She’s nothing and still dares to compete with you. Who does she think she is?
Ivarta was furious, thinking that Cassie was an uliot for even bringing this up now.
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Chapter 22
But Isabella, stepping forward with a smile, graciously admitted, “You’re right, I don’t have $6 million. I couldn’t afford it.”
At first, Isabella had thought the bracelet was lovely, but after looking at it more closely, she noticed a flaw in the emerald. She had planned to return it to the counter when these two appeared, and now it wasn’t her fault things escalated.
Ivana was about to lose it–she wanted to sla
Isabella across the face. But in public, she had to maintain her composure.
+5
Isabella breezed past Ivana and cheerfully invited, “I’m heading to another boutique. Care to join me? If you’re still up for a game, we could try bidding again?”
The sales assistants at nearby counters perked up instantly, their eyes lighting up as they practically jumped forward.
Ivana seethed through gritted teeth. “Isabella!”
With a smile still playing on her lips, Isabella patted Ivana on the shoulder. “Don’t forget to check out, Ivana. You’re Ms. Stout, after all, Everyone knows who you are now. If you don’t make the purchase, Dad might be embarrassed.”
“You!” Ivana was fuming. She cursed Isabella under her breath. Whether Isabella was Queenie or not, Ivana wanted to destroy her.
Ivana trembled with anger. She had just blown $6 million, and if Hudson or Molly found out, she’d definitely be in serious trouble.
The sales assistant, oblivious to all this, rushed over eagerly, bowing slightly with a beaming smile. “Ms. Stout, if you could kindly complete the payment here. And feel free to take a look at any other items you may want.”
Ivana was on the verge of exploding. With so many people watching, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and pay. The moment the transaction went through, it felt like her heart was bleeding.
Beaming, the sales assistant brought out several more pieces of expensive jewelry and respectfully offered, “These are some of our finest emerald pieces. Please take your pick.”
Ivana barely glanced at the items. None of them appealed to her; in fact, the more she looked, the more irritated she became.
Cassie, however, was wide–eyed with excitement. These were pieces far beyond her reach, and she gazed at Ivana with envy. “Wow, these are stunning! Only you, Ivana, could buy so many jewels so effortlessly.”
Her fawning only made Ivana more frustrated. She all this money on things she didn’t even
want.
wanted to punch Cassie. If it weren’t for Cassie, she wouldn’t have spent
Still, Ivana swallowed her anger and forced a nonchalan
Her nonchalance only deepened Cassie
tude. “It’s no big deal.”
admiration, making her look at Ivana with even more awe.
By now, Isabella had happily moved on to the next counter, her eyes lighting up as she discovered a collection of high- quality gemstones.
Immediately, she raised her hand and pointed to for me to take a closer look?”
saying with anticipation, “Could you please bring out these
gems
The sales assistant was more than happy to oblige, while Isabella carefully examined the gems. A thought crossed her mind: since none of the ready inade jewelry had truly caught her eye, why not buy some loose gems and have those custom-
made?
This idea lifted her spirits even more. After about twenty minutes, she had selected several top–tier gemstones. The sales assistant was over the moon with excitement, having just witnessed Isabella purchase such expensive items.
Initially, she had thought Isabella really didn’t have any money, especially after the bidding earlier. But now it w
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Chapter 22
wasn’t the case.
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Besides, Isabella had an eye for quality. The gems she selected were far more valuable than the emerald bracelet at the other
counter.
With a smooth and effortless swipe of her card, Isabella completed the transaction with a flair that made her seem anything but broke.
The sales assistant carefully packed the gemstones and handed them over with a respectful smile. “Here you are, Ma’am.”
Isabella gave a small nod and, in high spirits, took her purchase and headed home. She felt like she had truly scored big today.
At night, Isabella returned to Riverside Villa. In her room, the white sheer curtains fluttered softly in the breeze, creating a serene and cozy atmosphere.
From the bathroom, the faint sound of running water could be heard. Isabella hummed a little tune as she relaxed in the bathtub, savoring the peaceful moment.
After a while, she turned off the water, reached for a towel from the rack, and wrapped it around herself before stepping over to the mirror.
Her complexion was glowing, and she couldn’t resist poking her cheek gently, noting how smooth and elastic her skin felt.
With a smile, she started applying her skincare products. It was only after she was done that she realized she had forgotten to bring her pajamas into the bathroom.
Mentally scolding herself for her forgetfulness, Isabella continued applying face cream as she pushed open the bathroom door and walked toward her bedroom.
But the moment she stepped out, she froze in shock, her heart skipping a beat.
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