Leah’s casual question hit Georgia like a knife to the heart. Her brow furrowed and her face flushed crimson. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she spluttered. “How could I possibly be jealous?”
Despite her words, Georgia felt exposed, as if Leah had seen right through her.
Leah scratched her head. “I mean, of course you’re not jealous. That idiot Kayden isn’t worth it! People only get jealous when they like someone and see them with another girl. You’re so beautiful, Georgia. How could you possibly fall for someone like Kayden?”
“Though I am surprised Kayden’s attracting attention. The other day, some hottie came by and tried to give him a hotel key card. If I hadn’t snatched it, he might’ve gone off to sleep with that tramp.”
“What?” Georgia felt as if her heart was being ripped out. How could Kayden be so unreliable? To think this had happened before!
She glared at Leah. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Leah shrugged helplessly. “I took the key card, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning. Don’t worry, I’m sure he didn’t go that night!”
Georgia put her hands on her hips, her face livid. “I can’t believe it. I never thought he was that kind of man.”
“Georgia!” Leah looked bewildered. “You’re clearly jealous! You must like Kayden!”
“What does a child like you know about liking someone?” Georgia retorted.
Leah pouted. “I’m eighteen, not a child! I probably know more than you do. All the novels I’ve read say you only feel upset seeing someone with other girls if you like them. You’re usually so even-tempered, but now you’re angry. It’s obvious.”
“Oh, go away!” Georgia flopped onto the sofa, muttering, “Who says I’m upset? I hope he never comes back!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she fell into deep thought. Her mood was awful, feeling hostile towards the whole world. Could she really be jealous?
Why would she be jealous over Kayden? She’d only been fulfilling her grandfather’s wishes all this time. She didn’t actually like Kayden. So why did she feel so upset?
Had she really fallen for Kayden?
No! Impossible, Georgia rejected the thought. It wasn’t that she liked Kayden. They’d just lived together for three years, developing a bond. But it wasn’t love, just a deep friendship.
Besides, she had every right to be angry. She was Kayden’s legal wife, after all. How could he agree to sleep with another woman right in front of her?
So this was just a normal reaction! It was her right.
The Antiques Street was in an old part of town, lined with two- and three-story buildings, none taller than five floors. These old houses, weathered by time, had been renovated with yellow wooden panels to give them an ancient market feel, but their age still showed through.
As Lacey and Kayden walked, they passed old men smoking pipes and playing chess in doorways.
This was indeed an antique street, with its vintage atmosphere and rare goods for sale.
They entered a shop called Dorsey’s Antiques Store. Inside, it was bustling with people excitedly examining and cutting gemstones, their voices raised in triumph or despair as they revealed the stones’ contents.
“Boss! I’m back,” Lacey called out to a bespectacled, rotund man as they entered.
The shop owner was in his sixties, with a mustache and standing about 5’3″, weighing at least 400 pounds. He looked like a human beach ball.
His eyes lit up when he saw Lacey. “I knew you’d be back.”
“Miss, this is a rare item, not found just anywhere,” he said, leading them to another counter and producing a luminous green jade stone.
It was a Dragon and Phoenix Cloud Pattern Jade, about the size of a palm. The outer edge was carved with intricate patterns, while inside were a dragon and a phoenix. Dragons and phoenixes were revered in Seclela culture, with dragons symbolizing their ancestry and phoenixes representing women, who wore phoenix crowns at weddings.
This piece clearly originated from the imperial palace.
“What do you think, Mr. Scott?” Lacey asked, pointing to the jade.
Kayden examined the stone, weighing it in his hand. Lacey commented, “I can tell it’s genuine, but I’m not sure about its age.”
Suddenly, Kayden slammed the jade onto the ground. The shopkeeper’s eyes bulged. “Hey! If you break it, you’ll have to pay!”
But Kayden had protected the stone with his internal energy. It couldn’t possibly break.
As the jade hit the floor, it emitted a humming sound, and then a strange light began to emanate from it.
This display of light shocked both Lacey and the shopkeeper.
Kayden picked up the stone. “To identify something this ancient, it must touch the earth’s essence. This is an artifact from the BC 20th century!”
Hearing this, Lacey knew what to do. “I’ll take it,” she told the shopkeeper decisively. “One million, right?”
The shopkeeper wasn’t a fool. This was a relic from the BC 20th century!
“No, no,” he stammered. “Someone’s already offered five million for it!”
“What?” Lacey frowned. “But I gave you a hundred thousand deposit!”
“I can refund that! But the jade has been sold for five million.” The shopkeeper hurriedly pulled out a wad of cash from a drawer.
“Who bought it?” Lacey demanded, clearly unhappy.
Just then, several cars pulled up outside the shop.