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 co I didn’t know?"
The thought of seeing Seraphina in a bind and imdiately going downstairs to help, only for her to accept a favor from Felix Gallagher rather than his assistance, stung. Then, rembering that the hosting rights for this Stone Vending Gala were the "thank you gift" she’d ntioned, 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 . 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 businessn, 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 suprely 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 ti since they’d t that Seraphina Sterling had spoken to Terrence Grant without her usual mask. ’He’s genuinely worried about ,’ she could feel it.
Terrence Grant was still lost in the mory 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 ti, 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 a hard ti?" Seraphina Sterling said with a warm smile. "Mr. Gallagher, thank you for intervening for just now."
"Intervening? Please. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, I wouldn’t have gotten this lon-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 soone your age to carry so much cash. I had soone 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 ! 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 ti." Seraphina Sterling’s deanor was poised—neither fawning nor arrogant. She didn’t act like other rchants, who would have imdiately started flattering him to latch onto a powerful patron like Felix Gallagher. Instead, she treated him as an equal and didn’t imdiately accept his standing offer, thus leaving herself an escape route.
’Felix Gallagher, a man who built an empire from nothing to beco 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 ho 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 as a powerful backer. She even indirectly refused to sell 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 accomplishnts will be anything but small. If only soone with such talent were part of the Gallagher family!’
Seraphina Sterling left the Stone Vending Gala imdiately. 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 lon-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 sa bitterness more than once. That was the nature of stone gambling—you never knew what the next mont would bring.
The single word "gamble" contained infinite possibilities.
So people beco rich overnight.
So 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 sothing as crucial as opening an account? She imdiately 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.
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