Chapter 342
“Wow, Aspen truly lives up to her name as the Bridgefields Stevens family’s golden girl. She’s got more guts and precision than most men here,” someone remarked.
“She’s in a league of her own—no one in Jayrodale could match her confidence and skill.”
Aspen’s boldness and undeniable charm captivated everyone. Some men gazed at her longingly, almost ready to prostrate themselves. She scanned the area sharply, but Andrew was nowhere to be seen. A smirk played on her lips. “Looks like someone finally realized they’re out of their depth,” she mumbled. “He must’ve decided to hide rather than embarrass himself.”
The master gem cutter began working on the third gemstone. Years of experience guided his hand as he carefully shaved away the outer layers, avoiding bold cuts. Two-thirds of the stone was removed, yet nothing remarkable appeared. A tense silence fell over the crowd. Could Aspen actually fail? Her calm, confident expression, however, never wavered.
The cutter pressed on, and finally, the stone split open, revealing a small, dazzling ruby—a deep crimson that glowed in the sunlight. Gasps echoed through the crowd.
“Unbelievable! It’s a blood ruby, and one of the finest I’ve ever seen!”
“It might be small, but its value easily exceeds three million dollars.”
“This woman’s skills are unreal! She’s not gambling—she’s practically seeing through the stone!”
With all three gemstones yielding exceptional treasures, Aspen’s reputation soared. The crowd roared its approval, hailing her as a legend.
The gem cutter wiped the sweat from his brow. “Ms. Stevens,” he said with a respectful smile, “the combined value of these stones exceeds ten million dollars. Congratulations! In all my years, I’ve never worked with someone as extraordinary as you.”
Praise poured in, but Aspen’s smile remained composed. This was simply another demonstration of her abilities.
Christina’s eyes sparkled. “Aspen, you’re absolutely incredible.”
Aspen smiled faintly. “Christie, you’ll need to pick this up too. With your intelligence, it won’t take you long to master.”
Her gaze swept over the crowd. “As for Andrew, I wonder if he’s hiding in shame or has already run off, too embarrassed to show his face.”
Christina smirked. “He probably doesn’t have the guts to come back. Aspen, you’ve got the whole crowd on your side now. If Andrew dared to show up, he’d only make a fool of himself.”
Aspen chuckled coldly. “I warned him—I’d crush his arrogance. It seems he finally realized he’s no match for me and took the coward’s way out.”
Christina nodded. “There’s no point even mentioning him. Andrew’s previous win was just luck. When it comes to real talent, he’s not even in the same league as you, Aspen.”
Aspen’s dominance was undeniable; no one dared challenge her, especially not Andrew. Christina found the situation almost laughable. Earlier, Andrew had strutted about, forcing others to bow to him with his smug attitude. Now, the once-bold Andrew had vanished, avoiding Aspen’s presence, his tail between his legs.