When the GF9 Test Subject Became His Obsession novel Chapter 136

"There's a black core in it. Dammit!"

Almost a third of the rough was clouded with carbonized veins, and the rest was laced with so many fractures it might as well be gravel. Forget cutting anything sizable — even getting a few beads out of it would be a stretch.

Sure, someone could try carving it into an art piece to recoup a bit of value. But that would take a master-level artist, and the cost of the labor would far outweigh what the stone's worth now.

Total loss.

Kelly's face turned to stone — pale, stiff, unreadable.

"Half a million dollars, thanks."

Serena picked up Quinton's bank card and slipped it into her pocket.

Ouch.

She made a quick round, sweeping everyone else's cards too — especially Craig's — which was the only thing that gave Quinton a shred of satisfaction.

Everyone at the table had taken a loss.

Except Serena.

She walked out of there with a small fortune.

"If you ever need someone for a round like this again," she said cheerfully, holding her two winning specimens, "you know where to find me."

She turned to leave while everyone else sat there looking like they'd just chugged dish soap.

Quinton blocked her path, gritting his teeth.

"If you're into this kind of stuff, why don’t we swap numbers?"

His voice was deceptively light, but the tension underneath it was thick enough to cut.

Serena gave him a look. "No thanks. Pretty sure you're trying to hit on me."

The hell—!?

Okay, fine. Thirty minutes ago? He was trying to. But now?

Now he just wanted to slam her face into a wall. Maybe twice.

"And just so you know," she added matter-of-factly, "even if you were into me, I still wouldn't give your money back."

Goddammit.

Quinton’s jaw flexed, fists clenched so hard his knuckles popped.

He took a slow, painful breath. "You got it wrong. I just wanted to ask about your gem-picking process."

Sure. Play the long game. Reel the fox in nice and slow.

"I charge for that," she replied. "Two grand per message."

Oh. So the thousand she quoted earlier really was the friends-and-family discount.

"You could go for a monthly plan, too. Five hundred grand."

You’ve gotta be shitting me.

Even high rollers don’t bleed money like this.

But then she looked up at him with those wide, innocent eyes, and somehow his chest tightened like someone had jammed a crowbar into it.

This guy’s dangerous. That was his first instinct.

These Evervale City rich kids are so soft, she thought.

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