Chapter 347

Aspen felt a sharp, burning pain on her face. Christina was equally stunned by the sudden turn of events. Aspen had opened such a fine gem; how could she still lose?

"Fine, I'll admit defeat for this round," Aspen said, her voice cold. She couldn't bear the crowd's gaze any longer. "Andrew, do you dare to play another round?"

Andrew waved her off. "There's no need to rush; I'll deal with things first."

Before Aspen and everyone else, Andrew casually gathered Aspen's green tourmaline and his own rare red spinel, handing them to Francesca.

Francesca blushed. "Andrew, I can't possibly carry these."

"It's fine," he replied. "They're ours anyway. Just keep an eye on them. Don't let anyone steal them."

Francesca beamed, nearly overflowing with excitement. These were high-quality gems; even without expertise, she knew their worth was immense. But it wasn't about the money. What mattered was that Aspen, that unpleasant woman, had lost to Andrew—she deserved it!

Elsie interjected, "Mr. Lloyd, don't worry. We have complete surveillance here. Your gems will be safe."

Andrew nodded, glancing at the scowling Aspen. "I'm not worried. I'm just afraid someone might not handle losing well and attempt to steal my winnings."

Aspen fumed, her face reddening with rage. "Andrew, you're becoming far too arrogant. When have I ever failed to accept defeat gracefully? You won; take everything as agreed."

She knew Andrew was intentionally provoking her, and she could barely contain herself. This bastard was deliberately pushing her buttons.

Christina added coldly, "Andrew, winning one round doesn't guarantee continued success."

"Only the one who laughs last is truly victorious, just as you said—getting too happy too soon often leads to tears," she continued.

Andrew smirked. "You're right, but that's simply my nature. When I feel like being arrogant, I can't help myself."

Christina gritted her teeth, unsure how to respond. She disliked Andrew's arrogance, but felt powerless to do anything about it.

Aspen, her face darkened, said, "Andrew, are you going to play again or not? If you're scared, go home and celebrate your victory."

Andrew shrugged. "If you have endless money to burn and want to give it to me, I'm happy to accept it."

Aspen was furious. "You may have won once, but don't assume you'll get a second chance. Remember, what goes around comes around. I won't fall prey to the same mistake twice."

Andrew shook his head. "I already told you, no matter what happens, you'll lose. Your only option is to stay away from me from now on."

Aspen's face grew darker as she selected her second stone. This time, she chose a small but perfectly suitable rough stone, one that perfectly matched her experienced eye. She had to win this round. It was her last chance to recover, to turn the tide.

"Cut it open, please," Aspen instructed the cutter firmly.

The cutter hesitated, glancing nervously at Andrew. Concern was evident in his eyes. He had sided with Aspen earlier but feared the consequences of angering Andrew.