Charlene had actually managed to win the diamond.


    Even though Moran had braced himself for the possibility, hearing the final result still left him in a daze.


    It wasn''t until the auction officially ended, and Charlene left with Maisie to handle


    the paperwork, that he snapped out of it. He quickly messaged Thorne: *Charlene just spent 1.8 billion and took the diamond...*


    Thorne replied: *Yeah.*


    Moran stared at his phone, speechless.


    Something this shocking, and all he got in return was a casual “yeah”?


    And another thing-


    *What was with that random period you sent me earlier?*


    Thorne must have been busy, because it took a while for him to respond: *It meant stop gossiping.*


    Moran was left even more exasperated.


    Wasn''t it normal to be shocked by this?


    After all, maybe to prove she hadn''t married Thorne for money, Charlene had always dressed modestly in the years since their wedding. She never showed off, never unted her wealth.


    Maureen and Laverne were just as stunned by Charlene''s bold move. For a long moment, neither of them could find their voices.


    It wasn''t until Dalton stood to leave and came over to say goodbye that Maureen finally snapped back to the present.


    Just then, as if a thought had struck her, Laverne spoke up, "That diamond... Charlene must have bought it for her, right?"


    She didn''t say the name aloud, but Maureen immediately knew she meant Sybil.


    They all knew Sybil adored diamonds, and years ago, she''d owned a particrly valuable one herself.


    But that diamond... Well, thinking of old memories, Maureen lowered her gaze.


    Once Charlene and Maisie finished the paperwork, they prepared to leave.


    After Charlene''s extravagant disy, plenty of people were eager to introduce themselves. Besides Moran, Dalton, and Maureen, there


    were others in the room who


    her. And while Charlene was


    knew


    handling the paperwork, rumors


    about her background had already


    started circting.


    People now knew her family was fairly ordinary, and that she was currently dating Stewart.


    Stewart''s family was already


    well-off, and with PrimeStar''s rapid growth, he''d be one of the


    most sought-after young heirs met


    their social circle-a favorite among ambitious mothers-inw


    everywhere.


    Once it was clear Charlene had bought the diamond thanks to Stewart''s support,


    quite a few people who''d been eager to befriend her suddenly lost interest.


    Still, those who had worked with PrimeStar before, or wanted to cozy up to


    Stewart, didn''t hesitate to introduce themselves.


    Charlene saw through everyone''s intentions. After a few polite words, she found an excuse to slip away.


    Back at the Spencer and Hawkins


    households, there was plenty of


    the diamond auction.


    interest in th


    Many of them had wanted to see the


    gem with their own eyes, but with


    only one invitation avable, they''d


    had to stay behind.


    When Laverne and Maureen returned, Leah immediately asked, "Auntie, who won the diamond? What was the final price?"


    As Leah spoke, Vesta and Georgina nced expectantly at Maureen. Clearly,


    they were dying to hear the answer too.


    Maureen paused, then replied, "The diamond sold for 1.8 billion. And the person who bought it... was Charlene."


    "W-what?"


    Leah froze, convinced she''d misheard.


    Georgina and Katie Hawkins reacted much the same way.


    Georgina''s face darkened. "Her? How could it be her?"


    Leah quickly chimed in, "Exactly! There''s no way she could afford that. Where would she get that kind of money?"


    Vesta, hearing the final price and the buyer''s name, was stunned for a moment too. But after a second, she just lowered her head and stared silently into her teacup.