Chapter 184
Chapter 184:
Roger’s face darkened instantly, his confidence fracturing under the weight of her insult. “What did you just say?” he snapped, his voice raising in both volume and disbelief. “Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? If you’re so sure of yourself, why don’t we settle this with a competition p>
His anger burned brightly, his humiliation bubbling to the surface.
With so many eyes on him, he couldn’t afford to back down.
Sonya, equally incensed, stepped forward in defense of Roger. “Yelena, what do you even know about raw gemstones? Before today, you probably didn’t even know what they were! How dare you insult Roger? He’s an expert in this field, while you’re just an ignorant amateur making a fool of yourself p>
“Damn, Yelena! Insufferable wretch! Nothing good ever came from her presence! How dare she act so high and mighty? A girl from some remote, backward place spouting nonsense as if she knew anything about this world? Ridiculous!” Sonya thought.
Her indignation was as theatrical as it was venomous. She couldn’t wait to see Roger put Yelena in her place.
Yelena met Sonya’s glare with a dry, sardonic smile. “An expert? Him?” she repeated, her tone laced with mock surprise. “Oh, absolutely. An expert at picking the worst stones. That must be what you mean p>
The crowd burst into laughter, the sound rippling through the room.
Yelena’s retort landed with precision, cutting through Sonya’s defense like a blade.
“Fine!” Roger barked, his voice trembling with frustration.
“If you’re so sure of yourself, why don’t we have a little competition p>
Yelena tilted her head slightly, her calm demeanor as unshakable as ever. “Sure,” she said, her voice even. “What’s the wager p>
“Whoever loses has to apologize to the other in front of everyone and bark like a dog while doing it. What do you say p>
𝖥𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖈𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇 g𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝗌⨳𝖈𝗈𝗆
He wasn’t just after a win; he wanted to humiliate Yelena, to bring her down in front of the gathered crowd.
Roger’s eyes gleamed with malice, his lips curling into a cruel smile. But to his surprise, Yelena’s expression didn’t waver.
Her gaze was steady, her voice calm as she replied, “Alright p>
The tension in the room spiked instantly. This wasn’t going to be just a casual bet.
The crowd quickly gathered around, eager to witness the drama unfold. Betting on gemstones was a popular thrill in the underground market, and such spectacles were always a hit. But this time, the stakes were higher than anyone anticipated.
Roger cast a quick glance at Yelena as she accepted the challenge. Her audacity caught him off guard. But that was all it was—surprise. He was confident he would wipe the floor with her. He was itching to put her in her place.
Sonya’s smug grin reflected the excitement in her eyes. She hadn’t expected such a show today. She couldn’t wait to see the moment Yelena would fall, kneeling in defeat. Yelena was practically begging for it.
Roger took his time scanning the display, searching for the perfect stone to seal his victory. Finally, he spotted one that looked promising—a large stone with a misty gray-green sheen, almost as if it were hiding a secret. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands, inspecting every angle before making his choice.
“How much for this one?” Roger asked, his voice smooth with confidence.
“Ah, excellent eye, sir!” The shopkeeper beamed, clearly impressed. “This is one of our premium pieces—just arrived today. It’s going for two hundred thousand dollars p>
Roger couldn’t believe his luck. After a dry morning of failed sales, he was finally looking at a serious buyer. His mouth had gone dry from talking all day, and no one had taken the bait. But with this young woman’s arrival, the crowd had gathered. He could feel the buzz. If the sale went through, word would spread like wildfire, and with that, business would follow.