Chapter 244


    The atmosphere suddenly became a bit tense.


    At this point, Eddy looked at Calista and asked, "Calista, you''re interested in gemstones too?"


    "A bit." Calista replied modestly with a smile. "My grandfather loved it, so I used to apany him to


    various gemstone markets and private auctions. I often watched him bid on precious gemstones."


    "I''m also very interested." Eddy finally found amon topic with Calista, and heughed heartily. "I


    once went to the Mirelia Continent mine to buy raw gemstones with someone and watched how the


    workers picked and washed the stones."


    "Why don''t we apany Aunt Pa to check it out this afternoon?" Calista suggested. "My friend''s


    private auction not only has raw stones with windows open but also ones without windows, for guests


    who are interested in trying their luck."


    "Sounds great." Eddy agreed enthusiastically.


    "I''d like to go too, Calista. You wouldn''t mind bringing me along, right?" Carl chimed in.


    "I''m going too; I''m going too." Ashley added, stealing a nce at the Peach Blossom bracelet on


    Vivienne''s wrist.


    Wasn''t Grandma always saying she wasn''t biased?


    Then she would go to the gemstone auction and pick a good raw material herself, have someone make


    a bracelet out of it, and let Judith pay for it. That wouldn''t be too much, would it?


    So she turned to Judith with a smile. "Grandma, you haven''t given me a graduation gift yet. If I run out


    of pocket money and find something I like, can you reimburse me?"


    "Ashley!" Melissa frowned. "If you want something, your parents will buy it for you."


    "Alright, I''ll reimburse you." Judith saw through Ashley''s little scheme, but in order to maintain harmony


    among the younger generation, she couldn''t y favorites.


    Ashley was someone she watched grow up, and she believed Ashley wouldn''t intentionally pick


    something overly expensive just to overshadow Vivienne.


    "Thank you, Grandma." Ashley immediately broke into a happy smile.


    One by one, everyone said they wanted to go.


    "Vivienne, why don''t youe with us?" Calista took the opportunity to invite Vivienne. "You''ve


    probably never been to a gemstone market or private auction before, so why not broaden your


    horizons? You might find something you like. Your grandma will certainly gift it to you."


    This was a clear slight at Vivienne''sck of experience and taste.


    Vivienne leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms while sizing up Calista. Then, the corners of her


    lips turned up slightly, and her eyes twinkled. "Sure, let''s go."


    She had been thinking about buying some gemstones recently anyway.


    But now that someone was stirring the pot, she decided to tag along and see what was up. Just as


    well, she felt like asserting herself again.


    "Vivienne, Calista''s right. If you see something you like, just buy it. Grandma will reimburse you." Judith


    caught the undertone of what Calista said and quickly backed Vivienne up.


    "Dad will reimburse you too." Scott added. He pulled out a share transfer agreement. "This is my gift to


    you. I''m transferring 10% of my shares in the Brooks Group to you. You can buy whatever you want."


    Everyone at the table, except for Judith, gasped. Ten percent of the Brooks Group was worth billions.


    The annual dividends alone were beyond what most people could earn in ten years.


    "Big brother is really generous!" Pa''s eyes were filled with envy. Every time she thought about her


    missing daughter, she couldn''t bear to see Scott''s daughter receiving such a wonderful gift.


    However, the shares were Scott''s to give, and even though Pa was green with envy, she couldn''t


    say a word.


    Only M''s expression faltered slightly. Her gaze was icy-cold as she nced at Vivienne.


    Vivienne casually epted the agreement. Though ten percent of the Brooks Group was only a drop in


    the bucketpared to her own assets, she took it without hesitation. After all, this was what Scott


    owed her and her mother.


    She nced up, catching M''s chilly gaze before it quickly shifted away, as if it were just a figment of


    her imagination.


    In the end, all the younger members of the Brooks family decided to go to the gemstone auction in


    River Vige. The older generation wasn''t interested; only Pa and M decided to go.


    Ronald, the eldest of the younger generation, wasn''t initially interested in the auction. But because


    Pa harbored ill feelings towards Vivienne, he decided to go along to ensure Vivienne wouldn''t be at


    a disadvantage.


    Just as everyone was about to leave, a young man with silver hair, wearing oversized sunsses, and


    dressed mboyantly like a peacock, strolled into the Brooks Mansion with a suitcase while humming a


    tune. "I''m back!"


    As he took off his sunsses, ready to charm everyone, Melissa rushed over and grabbed his ear.


    "Didn''t you say your flight wasnding at nine? Why are you only back now? Where did you gallivant


    off to?"


    "Mom, mom, let go!" Darren grimaced in pain as he tilted his head and bent over. "I''m a super popr


    star now. Fans recognize me everywhere. Where could I possibly go?"


    Cassie, watching from the side, couldn''t help butugh while also instructing someone to take Darren''s


    luggage upstairs.


    Melissa and Pa, despite being married, were still close to the Brooks family and often came back to


    stay. Their children also had their own rooms in the Brooks Mansion.


    "Who would recognize you?" Melissa scolded him a few times before letting go and pointing at


    Vivienne, who was standing next to Ronald. "This is your cousin Vivienne."


    Darren was about to sh what he considered a charming grin at Vivienne, but his eyes widened in


    shock as he got a good look at her face. He pointed at her, stammering, "Vi..."


    Vivienne cast him a nce. Her expression was a mix of amusement and indifference.


    Darren, feeling a rush of adrenaline, called out in a high-pitched voice, "What are you doing here?"


    His voice was so sharp that it almost broke.


    Melissa threw him a puzzled look. "You know each other?"


    Darren was about to respond when he caught Vivienne''s gaze. It was the same strange look from


    years ago that sent a shiver down his spine.


    "No, we don''t!"


    Melissa, feeling slightly annoyed, pped him lightly. "If you don''t know her, why are you so worked


    up? Go say hello now!"


    Darren’s voice suddenly took a turn. "Nice to see you, my little cousin."


    "Just ''cousin'' is fine! Why add ''little''?" Melissa scolded him while giving him a light punch. "Don''t use


    your flippant attitude on your cousin!"


    "How am I flippant?!" Darren defended himself. He was starting to feel like he was being bullied. "I just


    got back, and you''re already nagging and picking on me. Maybe I shouldn''t havee back at all."


    "Perfect! Your cousins are going to a gemstone auction held by one of Calista’s friends. You should


    apany them and take care of your cousin Vivienne since she is new here." Melissa instructed


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