Chapter 1230:
If Vanessa hadn’t spoken those words earlier, Elena would never have bothered saving her. Vanessa had been devastatingly naive, allowing others to manipulate her blindly. If she had perished, she would have earned that fate. Following the harrowing ordeal, Vanessa underwent a complete transformation. She absorbed Elena’s wisdom with newfound respect. “Thank you. I vow to completely transform myself!”
Celeste took pride in her elevated status, so how could she endure condescension from someone she looked down upon? Rage coursed through her veins as she launched into her boastful tirade at Elena. “Allow me to enlighten you—this dress draping my body carries a price tag exceeding one hundred thousand, and these shoes? Crafted exclusively for me!” Pausing, she added, “This necklace adorning my throat? Pure ruby! Have your eyes ever witnessed such magnificence? This represents Helena’s newest creation, valued at eighty million. Widen those eyes and feast upon true luxury! You remain nothing but impoverished and uncultured. These treasures exist beyond your reach for eternity. How dare you display such arrogance?”
Celeste had extended the invitation to Elena with calculated precision, determined to parade her wealth and influence while crushing Elena’s spirit beneath her superiority. She hadn’t anticipated Elena’s complete ignorance—Elena failed to recognize the Helena masterpiece gracing her throat. The price announcement became necessary to humble this provincial fool.
Celeste’s chin lifted with practiced arrogance as the ruby caught the sunlight’s rays. She resembled a preening peacock, tail feathers spread wide, desperate for admiration of her costly adornments.
Elena found Celeste’s smugness thoroughly entertaining. Celeste ridiculed Elena’s poverty and lack of refinement. If only she understood that Elena herself had crafted the very necklace she wore, that self-satisfied expression might crumble from her features.
Elena delivered her correction with quiet authority. “Fifty million.”
“Excuse me?” Celeste’s composure shattered completely.
Elena gestured toward the ruby necklace encircling Celeste’s throat. “That piece commands fifty million. You exaggerated.”
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Celeste’s thoughts scattered as her jaw dropped in stunned silence. How had Elena discovered the authentic price?
The Helena ruby necklace truly carried a fifty-million valuation, but Celeste had inflated the figure to eighty million for maximum impact. Yoswye housed no Helena boutique, forcing jewelry enthusiasts to travel abroad for purchases. Celeste had felt confident that local residents remained ignorant of the precise price.
Pricing, making her exaggeration seem safe. She never dreamed this backwater nobody, Elena, would possess such knowledge.
The surrounding crowd shifted their attention to Celeste.
“Your Royal Highness, didn’t you claim your necklace commanded eighty million?”
“Why does she insist it’s fifty million? Surely you received documentation when you purchased it? Present the receipt and silence her fabrications.”
“Absolutely, Your Royal Highness. Where’s your proof of purchase?”
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