Looking at the pink diamond on the white cloth, Hazel Sinclair asked the system, puzzled, "If we buy this diamond, it won’t lose its value, will it?"
She’d seen videos before saying that diamonds are most expensive when you first buy them, and their value plummets when you try to sell them secondhand.
Of course, she’d never owned a diamond, let alone sold one, so she had no idea if this was true.
"[This thing is practically one of a kind. Its value will only go up, not down,]" the system reminded her.
A question mark slowly formed in Hazel’s mind. ’Diamonds can be discontinued?’
The system could only continue its explanation, but the bidding started right then.
"Three million."
"Three million two hundred thousand."
"Three million five hundred thousand."
Bids came in one after another, but the price wasn’t climbing very high.
’A one-of-a-kind pink diamond! I want it!’
Hazel Sinclair reached out and tugged on Evelyn Kendrick’s hand. She leaned in close and whispered, "Evelyn, I want this diamond."
"It suits my style."
Hearing this, Evelyn Kendrick raised her paddle and called out, "Four million."
Hazel sat there, hands clenched into fists on her lap. Her heart pounded as she listened to the numbers being called out.
’So many zeros... If they just gave me the money directly, I wouldn’t even have to do this mission.’
Just then, someone nearby called out, "Four million two hundred thousand."
Evelyn Kendrick sat leaning back in her chair, exuding a lazy yet commanding presence that was impossible to ignore.
"Five million," she said languidly, raising her paddle.
The other bidder considered raising the price but was stopped by their companion.
The auctioneer tapped the gavel on the block and shouted, "Five million, going once—"
"Five million, going twice—"
"Five million, for the third time—"
With a final rap of the gavel on the block, the item was sold to Evelyn Kendrick.
"System, is this thing really worth five million?" Hazel still felt uneasy about spending so much money on a diamond.
"[It’s worth it. Its value is going to multiply several times over,]" the system said earnestly.
Only after receiving the system’s repeated assurances did Hazel finally breathe a sigh of relief.
’At least Evelyn will be able to make her money back.’
"Is there anything else you particularly want?" Evelyn Kendrick asked, tossing her paddle aside and fixing her gaze on Hazel.
"Not right now," Hazel shook her head.
’A single bid costs millions. It made Hazel’s heart ache.’
’Even though it wasn’t her money, it’s not like the other person’s money grew on trees.’
"Evelyn, I’ll pay you back for this later," Hazel whispered, leaning close to her ear.
"Hah, you’ll pay me back?" Evelyn sounded like she’d just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. She turned her head to meet Hazel’s gaze. "You’re completely broke. How exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Caught off guard by the question, Hazel was stunned for a moment before replying, "Leon Sterling can make money."
Evelyn: ...
"And here I thought you were going to work hard to earn the money and pay me back yourself."
"That’s impossible," Hazel said, immediately shaking her head.
"I have a job interview tomorrow," Hazel continued, "but that small salary won’t be enough to pay back your five million."
"You’re going to get a job?" Evelyn frowned.
"Yeah," Hazel nodded. "I don’t know what else I would do if I didn’t get a job."
"All that music I studied is completely useless," Hazel said with a bitter smile. In reality, she couldn’t play the piano or the violin.
’She’d never had the chance to learn those things in her past life.’
Seeing the woman who once shone so brightly on stage now reduced to working for someone else, Evelyn pressed her red lips into a thin line, a flicker of pity in her dark eyes.
"Hazel Sinclair, divorce him. I’ll support you," Luke Lancaster said with utmost seriousness after hearing their exchange.
"No, divorce him and marry me." Luke felt the three words "I’ll support you" didn’t fully express his feelings. He grabbed her wrist and said with extreme earnestness,
"I’ll give you a life of luxury. If you want to continue your studies, I’ll support you in that too."
"You belong on a stage, shining brightly, not working for someone else."
As Luke Lancaster spoke, his gaze was fixed on her face, exceptionally earnest.
Before Hazel could even answer, Evelyn snatched her hand back and glared at him. "Does she need you to take care of her? As if I can’t do it myself."
"Don’t you hate her more than anyone?" Luke asked, looking at her in confusion.
Everyone in their circle knew about the incident between them a few years ago. Evelyn had even slapped Hazel back then, and the things she’d screamed at her were particularly nasty.
Perhaps it was that day’s screaming match and their vow to never see each other again that cemented the fact that the two were enemies.
"Hating her is one thing, but that doesn’t stop me from taking care of her," Evelyn retorted.
Hazel didn’t say another word about the remaining auction items. She didn’t have the aesthetic sense for it and couldn’t see what was so special about them.
"You really don’t want anything else?" Luke asked, looking at her, not ready to give up.
He had the money all ready to go, but now he couldn’t spend it.
"No," Hazel shook her head. "I don’t like any of them."
Luke sighed. "Alright then."
He then glanced at Evelyn, who was swiping a black card to pay, and his eyes filled with envy.
As Hazel looked from one to the other, she realized something very important.
’The original owner seems to have been doted on by everyone.’
’Her sworn enemy helps her when she’s broke, her admirer is fighting to spend money on her, and her husband, while not rich himself, works hard to earn money for her to spend.’
’Whatever the original owner wanted, Leon Sterling would move heaven and earth to get it for her.’
’The Sinclairs were dying to take the original owner back home and pamper her, terrified she might suffer the slightest wrong.’
"System, for the original owner to have so many people wrapped around her finger, she must have had a great personality, right? She wouldn’t do things like being materialistic, or sucking up to the powerful while kicking down the weak, right?" Hazel asked the system again.
But when she asked this, the system’s mechanical voice started to stammer.
"[This... uh... Let’s just focus on completing the mission. You don’t need to get hung up on minor details like this.]"
Hearing that, Hazel felt that something was definitely fishy.
’The system was definitely hiding something from her, or maybe there were things she wasn’t supposed to know.’
When the event ended, Hazel left with the others, carrying the box with the diamond and wearing her purse.
"Let’s go. I’ll give you a ride," Evelyn said, pulling her car keys from a pocket in her gown and pressing a button on the fob.
’Hazel stared at the red dress Evelyn was wearing. It was completely form-fitting. How on earth did she hide car keys in there?’
"I brought her here, so I’ll be the one to take her home," Luke quickly interjected, stepping in front of them.
"Get lost," Evelyn shouted, shoving his shoulder.
"You’re a man taking her home alone. If something were to happen, could you take responsibility?" Evelyn questioned, staring him down.
"A man and a woman, all alone... If you tried to do something to her, she wouldn’t even be able to fight back."
Evelyn added with clear disdain, "When something happens, all she does is cry."
Hazel stood to the side, a strained smile plastered on her face, not daring to say a single word.