When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 21

Henrietta was stunned for a moment.

“No way, for real? Let me see!” Charlotte exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.

She snatched the box and her eyes went wide. “Holy shit! Is this the ten-billion-dollar ‘Stargaze’? Yosef is absolutely loaded! No wonder they say he controls a third of the world’s wealth. God, I want him.”

Henrietta was speechless. So was Winona.

Hazarding a look herself, Henrietta was also taken aback. The necklace lived up to its name. It was breathtakingly beautiful, a sight that struck you right in the heart.

The ‘Stargaze’ commanded such a high price not just for the jewels themselves, but for its considerable historical value. It was a piece of royal jewelry from the European Renaissance, worn by queens and princesses alike. After passing through generations, it fell into private hands with the decline of the monarchy. It had since been auctioned several times, passing through the collections of numerous celebrities and tycoons.

The royal family had once considered reacquiring it but ultimately decided against it, feeling its association with their downfall was a bad omen. They let it remain a treasure among the people.

Its most recent owner had been the third-richest person on the Forbes list, but he had apparently gone bankrupt, which was why the necklace had appeared at auction again. So Yosef was the one who bought it?

But even with its intrinsic and historical value, it wasn't actually worth that staggering amount. The auction house simply had a rule that allowed a buyer to bypass the live bidding by purchasing an item directly for its ceiling price. Just recently, international news had reported that the ‘Stargaze’ had been bought by a mysterious billionaire for a jaw-dropping ten billion.

Winona had even complained to her friends about it at the time, wondering what kind of sucker would just pay the top price without even bidding. “What a complete idiot,” she had said.

They never imagined…

The three of them fell into a stunned silence for several seconds.

She held the necklace against Henrietta’s neck. The gems shimmered, enriched by the passage of time, seeming to hold a liquid, iridescent light that was breathtakingly beautiful. In an instant, it outshone the millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry Henrietta was already wearing, making them look like cheap baubles.

Jewelry from that era was often ornate and complex, leaning towards an extravagant luxury that could seem a bit gaudy. But when compared to modern pieces, the difference in artistry and craftsmanship was night and day. And as a multi-colored gemstone necklace, its color combination was, in a word, perfect.

Charlotte gushed about how incredible it looked and suggested Henrietta wear it right away. At the party, she would completely steal the show. After all, it was her birthday, so the occasion was perfect. Yosef had given it to her, so wearing it would be a nice gesture.

And besides… wouldn’t that scumbag Matteo just die of jealousy on the spot? The girlfriend he’d cast aside was receiving ten-billion-dollar birthday gifts.

The thought was incredibly satisfying!