Chapter 105: Unyielding in His Decision Not to Sell

Hayley’s POV:

Benjamin studied the uncut rock and instructed, “Have him start from the lower right corner, but make sure to take it slow.” I conveyed his directions, and the rock cutter promptly adjusted his technique, beginning from the specified area. As soon as the blade touched the surface, flashes of green burst forth from the rock. The spectators’ faces lit up with excitement. “I see green! It has to be an emerald!”

All eyes were glued to the rock, and whispers of hope spread among the crowd. “This looks promising; it could yield a valuable emerald.” The buzz around me made my stomach knot as I focused on the rock. Gradually, the green patches spread, revealing a rich hue that far surpassed that of typical emeralds.

“It’s a Viridian emerald!” someone exclaimed from the audience, instantly sparking a wave of enthusiasm. I’ve worked in this industry for years, and I’ve never seen a Viridian emerald come from this street. It’s unbelievable to witness one today!

“Wait a minute; it’s only revealed an inch of green so far. We don’t know how large it could be. If it’s just a tiny emerald, it won’t hold much value.”

As I absorbed their conversations, my gaze remained fixed on the rock. Here was an unassuming piece that had disclosed a Viridian emerald. It’s common knowledge that gold holds its value, but emeralds are truly priceless. If this rock indeed turned out to be a Viridian emerald, we could be on the verge of a significant windfall.

“Excuse me, miss, is this rock yours?” asked an older gentleman from France. I quickly shook my head and replied, “This rock isn’t mine; it belongs to my boss.” He then shifted his focus to Benjamin, speaking in fluent English, “Sir, would you be willing to sell this rock? I’m prepared to pay ten times what you paid.”

I was stunned. Ten times the price?! I recalled that this rock cost 75,000 dollars. Selling it could net us 750,000! However, Benjamin replied firmly, “I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of selling this rock.”

The man pressed on, “But, Sir, you’ve only uncovered an inch of emerald. You don’t know what else lies within. If you sell it to me now, you won’t regret it. If the emerald stops here, the rock will be worthless, and the emerald won’t hold any value.”

Benjamin stood resolute, unyielding in his decision not to sell. Seeing Benjamin’s refusal, the middle-aged man persisted, “Young man, sometimes it’s wise to cut your losses. This Viridian emerald is rare; you’ve simply gotten lucky with this small green patch. With rocks like this, you’d be lucky to get anything more. In the end, it could just become a worthless rock.”

His words sparked my irritation. I shot back, “If you think it’s worthless, why are you trying to buy it? You’re clearly aware it’s a bad investment, yet you’re still willing to pay for it. Wouldn’t that be a stupid move?”

The man’s face turned crimson at my response, and he glared at me angrily before storming away. I realized that the boldness of that low-ranking Beta was possible only because Benjamin and I were concealing our Alpha identities on this trip. But I pushed the thought aside.

Unexpectedly, Benjamin cast me a knowing glance and remarked, “I didn’t expect you to be so sharp-tongued, Ms. Selena.”

“I’m just stating the facts. His attempt to take advantage of us was painfully obvious. Does he really think we’re as naive as he is?”

With that, I returned my focus to the rock. “Do you believe this rock will yield more emerald?”

Benjamin didn’t respond. We both watched intently as the cutting progressed, the green gradually multiplying, which elicited cheers from the crowd. For the first time, I felt the adrenaline of rock betting; my heart raced with anticipation, and I was afraid to blink, my eyes glued to the rock.

When the cutting finished, a stunningly colored Viridian emerald was revealed. The rock cutter, staring at the vivid green gem in his hands, appeared utterly amazed. He exclaimed that in all his years, this was the finest Viridian emerald he had ever come across.

“Sir, would you consider selling this rock to me?” another eager individual approached. This time, Benjamin dropped his aloof demeanor and asked, “What price are you offering?”

The buyer paused to think, then replied, “Five million dollars!”

I was completely astonished. A rock that cost 75 thousand was now worth five million! Yet Benjamin merely shook his head. “That price doesn’t align with my expectations. I’m sorry.”

The buyer, clearly surprised, raised his offer. “Eight million—this is my final proposal.” Benjamin still appeared unmoved.

At that moment, the rock cutter approached me again, “Miss, the emerald on this side looks promising, but I worry the depth might not meet expectations. If you sold it now, you could still turn a profit. If it turns out there’s no more emerald inside, this rock won’t be worth much.”

I turned to Benjamin and asked, “Mr. Benjamin, do you plan to sell this rock now?”

After a moment of thought, he responded, “I believe I have good luck on my side, so I don’t intend to sell it for the moment.”

I relayed his decision to the rock cutter. He had approached us with good intentions, but seeing Benjamin’s determination, he didn’t push the issue any further. Returning to his station, he continued polishing the rock beneath the machine.

As our side attracted more attention, a larger crowd gathered, eager to see if the emerald would increase in size. With each movement from the rock cutter, we all held our breath, completely focused on the rock before us.