The entire audience stood up, applauding thunderously.
Elis wore a brand new suit and nodded with a smile in response.
Callie, on the other hand, wore a snow-white ancient-style long dress that accentuated her slender figure and long hair cascading down her back. She lightly tied it up with a pink silk ribbon.
Her long neck was as smooth as winter snow, and her beauty was unparalleled. With every smile or frown she made while walking towards them, she revealed her pearly white teeth like the moonlight shining through clouds of smoke.
Callie had recovered from her illness; gone were the days of waxen pallor. Dressed in an ancient-style gown, she looked like a shy girl stepping out of a painting – stunningly beautiful yet unapproachable.
Flynn saw Callie’s appearance and nodded before folding paper cranes.
“Wishing Miss Pearce speedy recovery!” Guests presented their gifts to Callie one by one; they were all valuable items that soon piled up into small mountains around them.
Callie smiled gratefully but kept scanning the crowd as if searching for someone specific – looking expectant yet nervous at the same time.
“Miss Pearce is looking for someone! Mr. Swanson – I’m sure she’s waiting for you!” A guest beside them exclaimed suddenly.
“Isn’t this Braiden Swanson? He seems interested in Miss Pearce! Is he going to confess his love to her?” another guest whispered excitedly.
“Mr. Swanson is so charming; paired with Miss Pearce’s beauty and intelligence, there’s no way she’ll refuse him!”
“I envy Miss Pearce having such an outstanding suitor! If only I had someone like him pursuing me!”
All eyes turned towards Braiden and wore envious expressions on their faces when Ismael spoke, “Mr. Swanson, it’s time to make your grand entrance! Show us what gift you’ve brought for everyone!”
Braiden smirked confidently before adjusting his suit jacket slightly then pulling out an enormous diamond from his pocket, “I present Heaven’s Heart Diamond to Miss Pearce – worth 5 million dollars!” he announced proudly before striding towards the stage amidst thunderous applause from guests around him.
As everyone watched in awe at Braiden holding such an expensive diamond known as Bliapea Blood Diamond which was once worn by Empress Dowager over 100 years ago now appeared in his hand today – its red color pure transparency making it even more valuable than ever before!
“This is something from the royal family, the biggest diamond on the crown! It’s what countless girls dream of! Miss Pearce is so lucky!”
“I’ve been to countless jewelry shows, and I’ve only seen a diamond this size once before. It was a Haralu white diamond that was one level lower than this red one, but it was already shocking enough.”
“I never thought I’d see a red diamond rarer than a white one at Fish Dragon Villa!”
Madeline and Scarlet were also deeply impressed after seeing it.
Especially Madeline, looking at that sparkling red diamond with envy in her eyes. She couldn’t help but sigh, “5 million dollars! The Kaur family would spend nearly two years’ profits on just one gift. The Swanson family really has deep pockets!”
“Callie is so lucky to have such a suitor!”
“If only my man liked me like this, it would be so romantic!”
She thought of Flynn and gave him a disdainful look.
Flynn heard everyone praising Braiden but just sneered.
Three years ago, the O’neal family in Eahta gave him a century-old colored diamond.
It was as big as an egg and three times more expensive than Braiden’s red diamond in his hand.
Flynn played with it for three days before giving it to Nate Black’s daughter.
They were shocked by just an ordinary red diamond? They really hadn’t seen anything yet!
The thunderous discussion continued throughout the room.
Rose sat still without even turning her head or showing any emotion on her face.
“Ms. Sharp may seem calm on the surface, but she must regret it inside.”
Ismael sneered, “Mr. Swanson expressed interest in dating Ms. Sharp ten years ago.”
“But Ms. Sharp refused without hesitation. If she had agreed back then, maybe she would be the owner of this red gemstone now.”
“The Sharp family wouldn’t have fallen into such dire straits either!”
Rose coldly laughed when she heard Ismael’s words, “You got things mixed up, didn’t you? Braiden is nothing more than an indecisive playboy. What could I possibly regret?”
“I’m glad I didn’t say yes back then!”
“The man I want to marry doesn’t need to be rich. I can support him myself.”
“He just needs to be there for me when I’m tired or helpless.”
“Can Braiden do that? He’s nothing more than an ambitious villain!”
“You’re just sour grapes because you can’t have them! But if you’re happy with your life choices, then good for you,” Ismael chuckled and ignored Rose’s comments thereafter.
Braiden’s face lit up with pride as he heard the flattery from the crowd. He handed over the red diamond and said with a smile, “Miss Pearce, happy recovery!”
“Miss Pearce, you had been ill for these past few years, and I have been thinking of you in Pelens. I’ve had many things to say…”
Callie knew what Braiden meant and interrupted politely, “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Swanson, but this gift is too valuable for me to accept.”
The whole room was stunned into silence.
The son of the Swanson family had just been rejected by Callie! It was direct and without hesitation!
Braiden’s smile froze instantly. His hand that was reaching out suddenly stopped mid-air before slowly retracting back as he awkwardly said, “Oh… perhaps I was too hasty. Let’s talk about it again later after some time has passed? Shall we cut the cake together?”
Callie didn’t say anything but simply smiled back at him before scanning the room once more while ignoring Braiden.
Braiden felt completely embarrassed as he walked off stage amidst murmurs from the crowd.
Flynn saw this scene unfold and sneered, “Mr. Swanson got snubbed so hard that his face turned cold! It’s hilarious!”
“Just moments ago, he looked so confident while everyone congratulated him on his proposal. Now everyone is speechless.”
Ismael immediately became angry upon hearing Flynn speak, “Miss Pearce just found it too sudden. She needs some time to consider.”
“After some thought, she will definitely agree to marry Mr. Swanson!”
“You’re nothing but Rose’s lapdog. What right do you have to mock Mr. Swanson?”
“Some thought?” Flynn laughed sarcastically, “Miss Pearce may have been ill before but she isn’t blind.”
“How could such an elegant lady agree to marry a scumbag like him?”
Ismael almost choked on his words in anger, “Even if he is a scumbag, at least he has capital worth being called one! Do you even have that ability? You’re nothing more than trash who can’t even earn your wife’s respect!”
“Mr. Swanson has already given his gift. Now it’s your turn! Let’s see if you can still laugh after this!”
Flynn stood up slowly and pushed ten folded paper cranes towards Ismael with a smirk, “I hope you’re ready with one million dollars!”
“I’m not preparing anything!” Ismael threw the paper cranes onto the ground furiously while gritting his teeth, “Just wait until I burn one million dollars in front of you!”
Flynn gave a cold laugh before walking towards the stage.