Chapter 524
Chapter 524:
Rosanna’s nails carved crescents into her palms. This couldn’t be happening.
Why? Why did Maia constantly overshadow her existence? First, Vince, now Claudius. Maia had already stolen seventeen years of the privileged life that rightfully belonged to her. Wasn’t that theft enough?
Rosanna longed to confront her immediately, though she knew even that confrontation couldn’t possibly contain her rage. She wanted to reduce Maia to nothing but scattered fragments!
Biting her lip until she tasted copper, Rosanna’s gaze darted toward the entrance. Where was Mariana? Had Mariana not insisted on inviting Maia, this birthday celebration would have proceeded flawlessly, sparing Rosanna this public mortification!
Why wasn’t Mariana here yet?
Richard and Sandra stood motionless, exchanging looks of stunned confusion.
As they reflected on their earlier treatment of Maia, shame crept through them like a slow poison.
Rosanna had assured them emphatically that Claudius had accepted her invitation and that his attendance honored her alone. How had events unraveled so dramatically against expectation?
The coveted connection with Cooper Group hadn’t manifested through Rosanna, but through Maia? Richard and Sandra stood transfixed, disbelief etched across their features.
They regarded Maia with newfound reverence, tinged with shame for their earlier behavior.
At this moment, Claudius slowly opened the gift box in his hand. “I heard that you love jewelry, Ms. Watson. This ‘Crimson Heart,’ a century-old treasure from Radiant Jewels, is something only you are worthy of possessing p>
He lifted Maia’s delicate hand and placed a ruby the size of a quail egg onto her palm. “This natural gemstone represents the rarest of finds, appearing perhaps once in a hundred years. I hope it brings you joy p>
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A sharp-eyed spectator let out a gasp, as though thunder had cracked overhead, and exclaimed, “Isn’t that the ‘Crimson Heart’? The legendary gem that shines like a royal diadem in Radiant Jewels’ display — but never once marked for sale p>
“So that’s what it was! No wonder it struck a familiar chord. I once heard someone offered a billion for it, and still, Radiant Jewels clutched it like a dragon hoarding treasure! I can’t believe Claudius just handed such a priceless gem to Maia p>
“So it wasn’t Rosanna he came for all along — it was Maia, right from the beginning p>
All at once, the crowd’s glances shifted, turning toward Rosanna with a newfound sneer, their earlier admiration unraveling into contempt. In the midst of this storm of attention, Maia responded with a gentle, composed smile.
Though Claudius had indeed orchestrated a series of surprises for her, she had always held firm to the belief that rewards should follow effort — not chance.
To her, there was no great feat she had accomplished to deserve such grand gestures from Claudius. Their relationship, at best, was a passing encounter written by coincidence.
With quiet grace, she declined, “Mr. Cooper, your gift is too extravagant for me to accept p>
But Claudius was not so ready to yield.
In his heart, he knew that what Maia truly adored was the piece known as “Angel’s Tear.” Yet the elusive buyer who had snatched it away last time was nowhere to be found. Now, all he could do was bring forth the “Crimson Heart,” as a gesture to make amends, to patch the hole left by missed expectations.
He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could say a word, Maia gently interrupted, “Your kindness means a lot. Thank you p>
Jarrod and Vince stood frozen, as if thunderstruck. Vince especially felt as though the world had tilted beneath his feet. Claudius had come for Maia — it was a truth hard to swallow. But her refusal of Claudius gave him a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, her heart hadn’t yet closed its doors on him.