My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 8

In the glittering night, under the shimmering lights, a crowd of elite and influential figures gathered at Eden Heights Estates for the grand gem betting event.

In the center of the banquet hall, hundreds of jadeite rough shipped from Suncrest and Solara were displayed under custom-made glass domes. Each stone varied in size and shape, indistinguishable to the untrained eye from mere ordinary rocks to potentially invaluable gemstones.

Sponsor MJ Group's chairman, Tyson, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests from the stage, while Timothy, seated in the VIP area, flashed a confident smile at a young man across the room whose aloof demeanor betrayed his noble status.

He had invested a fortune to bring a renowned jadeite expert from Solara, convinced he would cut the finest jade of the evening, securing his position as the unchallenged head of the Lockwood Group.

Cedric, unwittingly concerned, noticed an unfamiliar face among the opposing appraisal team.

The appraisal crews on both sides were professionals selected through formal institute, approved by Lucian. However, right now Timothy had brought someone they didn’t know, which could potentially influence the outcome of the competition.

"Boss, look!"

Cedric suddenly raised his voice, but the composed man in the VIP seat barely blinked an acknowledgment, “Noticed.”

"You’ve noticed?" Cedric was somewhat surprised, "Ms. Nightshade just walked in, and you noticed?"

Just then, the previously detached man sharply turned his head.

He was right; the boss couldn’t ignore Ms. Nightshade.

At the entrance, three extraordinary figures walked in. The young woman in the center wore a simple white dress with ruffled edges, her slender figure accentuated by a minimalistic belt, and her wavy blonde hair fluttered in the breeze, highlighting her radiant face and elegant collarbones.

Despite her plain attire, she stole the show upon her arrival.

"Wow, is that the Nightshade siblings? Truly a sight to behold!"

"The Nightshade family genes are really something else! I've met the brothers before and they were stunning, but the young lady’s even more dazzling, even outshining those actresses present."

"So beautiful, heard she just turned eighteen this year."

Xanthea entered the room, and before she had time to appreciate the splendor of this gem betting event, her attention was immediately drawn to a man sitting in the VIP area.

She couldn’t avert her gaze at Orion for he was remarkably extraordinary among the crowd.

The man was seated under the most dazzling lights, legs crossed; he didn’t say a word, yet his particularly elegant demeanor and prominent countenance rendered him an aura of someone from an illustrious family.

She waved at him excitedly, only to see him pause and look away instantly as if caught for doing something unspeakable.

“Pretending you don’t know me, huh?” She thought.