The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 149

The laughter in the room died instantly.

The smug grin slid right off Cassidy's face. She glared at Nora, screeching.

"What the hell are you talking about? That is top-tier Imperial Emerald Jadeite! The auction house experts authenticated it themselves. Just because you're too broke to afford it doesn't mean you get to stand there and lie like a psycho!"

Nora didn't even look at her. Instead, she pointed a finger at the massive screen overhead.

"Would the auctioneer please zoom in on the high-definition side profile of the cut?"

Nora made the request with absolute, methodical calm.

The auctioneer blinked, then signaled the tech crew to comply.

The image on the screen zoomed in closely.

Nora stood her ground and began to break it down, her tone level and professional.

"Look closely at the texture around the edges of the window. The green is certainly vivid, but it's nothing more than a superficial layer. On the lower left of the cut, there are microscopic black streaks. In the trade, we call this a 'dead rot.' It tracks along hairline fractures on the surface and bleeds straight into the core of the stone."

Several veteran jewelry appraisers and heavy-hitting buyers immediately grabbed their glasses, squinting at the blown-up details on the screen.

Nora continued her analysis.

"Based on the grain of the crust and the way the natural patterns run, the crystalline structure of this rock is incredibly porous. The black rot has eaten inward through those fractures. It doesn't just destroy the integrity of the jadeite—it completely chokes off the green you see on the surface. We call this an 'illusion shell.'"

Nora turned her head, finally looking at Cassidy, whose face was already draining of color.

"Aside from that paper-thin layer of green right at the cut—which is barely half an inch deep—the entire inside of that stone is fractured, rot-infested garbage. You wouldn't be able to salvage enough clean material for a single ring, let alone a bangle. Its actual value isn't even a tenth of the starting bid."

Now, the cash was gone, replaced by a worthless rock. If her father found out, he would literally break her legs.

Cassidy's breathing turned ragged.

She stared at Nora, who stood there looking so flawlessly composed, and her mind completely snapped.

"You bitch! You set me up!"

Consumed by humiliation and rage, Cassidy shrieked and lunged at Nora. She raised her arm high, aiming a vicious slap right at Nora's face.

The surrounding guests gasped. A few tried to step in, but Cassidy moved too fast.

Nora stayed planted, watching the descending palm with absolute calm as she prepared to sidestep the blow.