Chapter 284:
In one corner, she noticed Aldrich still scolding Fritz.
A faint smirk crossed her lips, but she decided against joining them.
Turning away, Harlee bumped into Karina.
Karina wore a pristine white dress, its skirt adorned with daisies that seemed to flutter with every movement. The moment Aldrich entered the hall, Karinaâs eyes instinctively landed on Harlee, who stood poised beside him.
Something about Harleeâs demeanor unsettled her. Karinaâs instincts told her this woman was no ordinary person.
Recalling the female voice she had heard on the phone yesterday, Karina quickly pieced things together.
Harlee had to be the owner of that voiceâthe one who had orchestrated Conleyâs demise.
Karina approached Harlee and initiated a conversation.
âSorry, I was so engrossed that I didnât see you there.
Are you alright?â she asked, offering a faint smile.
Harlee shook her head lightly, showing no intention of engaging further. The two women passed each other without another word.
Once in a secluded corner, Karina felt her heart race as she realized a small pill had mysteriously appeared in her palm.
As expected, Harlee was no ordinary figure.
Latest novels uploaded gⱯlnÏνâ¯ðsâ¤cøm
Karina slipped into the restroom, her movements calm and precise. With practiced ease, she concealed the pill inside a decorative compartment integrated into her elongated nails.
Acting as if nothing unusual had happened, she made her way back to the exclusive VIP area on the upper floor.
In her mind, Karina was resolute. Ruthlessness was essential when climbing to the pinnacle of power. There would be no mercy when dealing with Benedict later.
After crossing paths with Karina, Harlee rejoined Aldrich.
By this time, Aldrich and Fritz had resolved their earlier issues.
Fritz, hunched over in front of a display case, carefully examined the uncut stones, as though he could intuitively sense which ones might contain green jade.
He paced back and forth for a while before finally returning to where he had started.
Given his limited finances, he could only afford either a 66-centimeter fully or partially prepared stone, or a dull gray rough stone of the same weight. While he leaned toward the fully prepared stone, the allure of the gray stoneâs potential gamble also tempted him.
Fritz wanted to ask Aldrich to purchase both for him, but he hesitated.
Harlee, hands casually tucked into her pockets, leaned nonchalantly against a central column.
As Fritz approached, she finished explaining the exhibition hallâs layout and the brief interaction she had with Karina.
Fritz, still unsure, paced around them. The silence between them grew uncomfortable, and he gestured toward the two uncut stones he had selected.
âWhich one do you prefer?â
.
.
.