Chapter 564
Helena’s eyes darted around in a panic, and she instinctively glanced sideways at Celeste.
Unable to meet the matriarch’s intense gaze, she stammered out an excuse.
“Mother… I found a top-tier jewelry investment firm.
They offered high-end maintenance, professional storage, and… jewelry rental investments, all for free.
Wealthy socialites rent them to wear… Every month, I’d get a massive return on investment. It was basically a guaranteed profit… like a financial investment.
I figured it was a waste to just let the collection sit there, so… I outsourced all of it p>
The moment the explanation left her lips, the matriarch’s expression darkened once again. Her fury reignited, her face twisting with rage.
“You absolute fool!” the matriarch bellowed.
“The Sterlings have built our wealth over generations! Do you lack food on the table or clothes on your back? For some petty spare change!
You dared to hand over billions of dollars worth of priceless, one-of-a-kind heirlooms to complete strangers with shady backgrounds?
Helena, the older you get, the more brainless you become! Have you completely lost your mind p>
The matriarch pointed a trembling finger at her, utterly exasperated and unable to contain her wrath.
Helena shrank back in terror, rushing to defend herself.
“It wasn’t petty change! For the past six months, I was pulling in a steady ten to twenty million a month.
And their background wasn’t exactly unknown p>
She paused, her eyes drifting toward Celeste again, her confidence dwindling to a whisper.
“The head of the firm… is Celeste’s ex-boyfriend p>
The air in the living room immediately turned to ice.
The matriarch furrowed her brows deeply, her gaze locking onto Celeste in the wheelchair, eyes brimming with suspicion.
Celeste’s breath hitched.
But almost instantly, she lowered her head, her hands gripping the edges of the thin blanket over her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly.
The tears sprang back to her eyes.
Seeing her look so devastated and pathetic, the matriarch’s harsh gaze softened.
“Celeste p>
Her tone lowered as she asked gently, “Who exactly is this man? Did you look into his background before getting involved?
How did you meet him?
Why would you introduce a high-risk connection like that to manage Helena’s life savings? Is he reliable p>
Celeste’s lips quivered. She played the part of a fragile, terrified victim perfectly.
She bit her lower lip gently, her voice breaking into soft, delicate pieces. “Grandma… I, I didn’t think he was a bad person p>
All of my jewelry is with him too. He never lied to me, and he always transferred the profits to me right away p>
Blushing, Celeste lowered her head, the panic in her eyes mimicking a startled rabbit.
“He was so good to me, so attentive. We met at a gala a long time ago.
He was such a gentleman and pursued me for a long time. I saw how sincere he was, so p>
Before Celeste could finish her performance, a maid rushed through the door in a panic.
“Madam, Mrs. Sterling, Ms. Carlyle, Master Lyra has arrived p>
As soon as the words fell, a slender, striking figure stepped into the living room.
“Mrs. Sterling, Madam.” Lyra Beaumont nodded slightly. “Calling me here this late… do you have something good for me to appraise p>
Everyone in the room instinctively looked up.
They had all assumed that the famed Master Lyra—a master appraiser highly respected by Quentin Pierce and heavily sought after by elite circles p>
Would be a seasoned elder with years of wisdom etched into her face.
But the person standing before them was a young woman who barely looked to be in her early twenties.
She was dressed in a minimalist, pale gown. Her features were sharp and, indifferent, projecting a clean, transparent aura that also carried a sense of detached, commanding authority.