Chapter 22

Ivana couldn't believe Isabella had the nerve to bid five million dollars. Even Cassie was shaken, instinctively stepping back. She tugged Ivana's sleeve and whispered, "Five million dollars? It's not worth it, Ivana. Maybe we should just leave it at that."

Ivana's grip on her handbag tightened, her knuckles turning white. She wouldn't lose to Isabella. Lifting her head, she locked eyes with Isabella, fierce determination blazing. She raised the bid without hesitation: "$6 million!"

Ivana was certain Isabella had reached her limit; she couldn't possibly have the money to continue. Six million dollars would win her the bracelet.

The crowd was shocked. No one expected Ivana to raise the stakes. Their gazes shifted to her, filled with admiration and even awe. Her extravagant display astounded them.

Murmurs of admiration reached Ivana's ears: "Ms. Stout is really something!" "Yeah, the Stout family is a powerful dynasty. What's this kind of money to them?"

Ivana gazed at Isabella with an air of superiority. But Isabella simply smiled, withdrawing her hand from the 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. She wore the smile of someone who had won. Ivana's smug face froze. It suddenly dawned on her that something was wrong. She had acted too impulsively. Isabella never had the money; the $5 million bid was a tactic to provoke her. In the heat of the moment, Ivana hadn't realized this—she was too focused on not being outdone. Now, she saw she'd walked into Isabella's trap.

New whispers filtered into her ears: "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."

Ivana felt her composure slipping. Her fists clenched, the sharp pain of her nails digging into her palms a constant reminder to keep herself together. But she was furious. She'd wanted to humiliate Isabella, yet now she was the one being ridiculed.

Meanwhile, Cassie, oblivious to the judgment, gleefully clung to Ivana's arm, her face full of admiration. "Wow, Ivana, you're amazing!"

Ivana shot a disdainful glare at Isabella. "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?"

Ivana was furious, thinking Cassie was an idiot for bringing this up. But Isabella, stepping forward with a smile, graciously admitted, "You're right, I don't have $6 million. I couldn't afford it."

Isabella explained that she'd initially liked the bracelet but had noticed a flaw in the emerald. She planned to return it when Ivana and Cassie appeared; the escalation wasn't her fault.

Ivana wanted to slap Isabella, but in public, she maintained her composure. 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!"

Sales assistants at nearby counters perked up, their eyes lighting up as they practically jumped forward. Ivana seethed. "Isabella!"

With a smile, Isabella patted Ivana's 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. She wanted to destroy her. Ivana trembled with anger. She'd blown $6 million, and if Hudson or Molly found out, she'd be in trouble.

The sales assistant, oblivious, rushed over eagerly, bowing slightly. "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 gritted her teeth and paid. The moment the transaction went through, it felt like her heart was bleeding.

The beaming sales assistant brought out more expensive jewelry. "These are some of our finest emerald pieces. Please take your pick."

Ivana barely glanced at them. None appealed to her; 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 wanted to punch Cassie. If it weren't for Cassie, she wouldn't have spent all this money on things she didn't want.

Ivana swallowed her anger and forced a nonchalant attitude. "It's no big deal." Her nonchalance only deepened Cassie's admiration.

Isabella had happily moved on, her eyes lighting up as she discovered a collection of high-quality gemstones. She pointed to several, saying with anticipation, "Could you please bring out these gems for me to take a closer look?"

The sales assistant was happy to oblige. Isabella carefully examined the gems. A thought crossed her mind: why not buy loose gems and have them custom-made? This idea lifted her spirits. After about twenty minutes, she selected several top-tier gemstones. The sales assistant was thrilled, having witnessed Isabella purchase such expensive items.

Initially, she thought Isabella didn't have any money, but now it was clear that wasn't the case. Isabella had an eye for quality; the gems she selected were far more valuable than the emerald bracelet.

With a smooth 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. "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 that day.

That night, Isabella returned to Riverside Villa. In her room, the white sheer curtains fluttered softly in the breeze. From the bathroom, the faint sound of running water could be heard. Isabella hummed as she relaxed in the bathtub.

After a while, she turned off the water, reached for a towel, and wrapped it around herself before stepping to the mirror. Her complexion was glowing, and she couldn't resist poking her cheek. 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, 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.

The passage ends abruptly. There is no concluding paragraph.