Chapter 550
Night fell.
The jewelry exhibition banquet hosted by the Sterling Group had already gathered half the socialites, industry tycoons, and senior appraisers in the Capital.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled, casting a glamorous glow over the well-dressed crowd.
Sienna Sloan and Thea Stanton walked into the venue side by side.
Sienna wore a minimalist black velvet slip dress, understated and elegant, perfectly highlighting her slender figure.
Unlike the other women in the room who flaunted their jewels with extravagant flair, she was different.
She carried an air of aloof clarity, exuding an independent, cool elegance amidst the extreme luxury.
Without trying to compete, her effortless sophistication easily overshadowed everyone else.
Thea wore a crisp white skirt suit, looking sharp and professional, completely at odds with the pretentious atmosphere of the circle.
They moved at a leisurely pace, unhurriedly navigating through the mingling celebrities and guests.
As their eyes swept over the main exhibition stage in the center, both paused.
Under the spotlight, dozens of climate-controlled, dust-proof glass cabinets were lined up in a row.
The dazzling array of jewels was almost blinding.
Helena Sterling had truly poured her heart—and her fortune—into this.
All the unique pieces she usually kept locked in her private safe, treating them like her own lifeblood.
Today, she had brought them all out, displaying them neatly in the cabinets.
The jewelry in her two cabinets alone outshone the luxury of all the other displays combined.
Helena was in high spirits today, the absolute center of attention.
Standing in the middle of the stage, she wore a custom-made champagne-gold silk gown with a sweeping train, tailored from top-tier matte silk.
As she walked, the hem flowed like rippling water, radiating the composed aura of a woman who had reigned over high society for years.
Around her neck hung the Royal Windsor Sapphire—the unique piece she had recently traded several heirloom treasures for—looking peerlessly magnificent at first glance.
Surrounded by a crowd like stars around the moon, Helena calmly accepted everyone’s envious praise.
The smugness and flaunting at the corners of her mouth never faded, securing her position at the pinnacle of the Capital’s elite.
Celeste Carlyle remained closely by her side.
Celeste wore an off-the-shoulder creamy white tulle gown, sticking to her usual fragile and innocent persona.
She sat quietly in her wheelchair as Helena introduced her to the wealthy socialites.
“What an eye-opener p>
Thea’s cold gaze landed on the cabinets full of exquisite treasures, her face full of sarcasm.
“Other people collect jewelry; she gets controlled by it, hoisted up by vanity, completely clueless p>
Sienna looked at the rare treasures and couldn’t help but marvel at Helena’s financial power.
No wonder she had been targeted.
Watching the two women losing themselves in triumph, Thea scoffed If they can keep those until smiles until the end of the banquet I’ll be genuinely impressed p>
Sienna offered a faint smile and asked, “Is he here p>
“Silas Draken went to pick him up,”: Thea replied. “It’s not convenient för him to enter a banquet hosted by the Sterlings, but he arranged everything beautifully p>
Sienna nodded. “Let’s go find a place to sit and watch the show p>
With that, she walked toward a nearby sofa.
Helena stood slowly in front of the main exhibition stage, unable to hide the superiority in her eyes.
She raised a hand to gently touch the sapphire necklace around her neck, smiling as she spoke to the fawning socialites.
“This is a repatriated unique piece from European royalty that I acquired not long ago. It’s the only one of its kind on the market with no replicas and no substitutes.
Never mind domestically; even in the global collectors’ circle, it is a top-tier treasure p>
A chorus of flattery and gasps of amazement instantly erupted around her.
“Your taste is truly unmatched, Helena. A piece in such condition is a rare sight indeed p>
“Worthy of being the Capital’s top collector. The Sterlings’ foundation is truly beyond compare p>