Chapter 173 Anna's Dark Turn
Amelia paused, blinking, her eyes full of quiet confusion.
"Anna may be the CEO of The Williams Group now, but her shares are limited. The liquid assets she can actually use are barely a fraction of that… nowhere near one hundred million dollars."
"I don't know exactly how much she paid for that piece, but the things she said in the banquet hall earlier… clearly not all of them were true. I imagine you saw that too."
Vaughn understood perfectly. He had gone out there tonight for one purpose—to shield Anna.
Amelia lifted her gaze. "But you still covered for her, didn't you?"
"Ah," Vaughn sighed, the sound heavy. "Anna has always been competitive, ever since she was a child. She has to be first in everything. But now that she's grown, she's become… more vain than she used to be."
"But no matter what, she's still my only granddaughter. If there is something lacking in her character, then it's because I, as her grandfather, have not done enough."
Amelia shook her head quickly. "Don't say that. You shouldn't blame yourself."
"No matter what," Vaughn said, patting Amelia's hand gently, "Amelia, thank you for your gift."
"I appreciate the thought behind it, but that piece is far too valuable. After the banquet ends, I want you to take it back."
"I know you are capable, but such a treasure should remain with you."
"And besides… you saved my life before, and the Spring Encounter Pill you gave me made me feel years younger. I haven't even properly thanked you for that yet. That was already the greatest gift."
"That's not how it works," Amelia protested immediately. "You can't return a gift once it's been given. Don't worry—I can afford it."
"Too expensive!" Vaughn said firmly. "Be reasonable. Take that treasure back. I have already prepared a gift for you, and tonight is the perfect time to give it."
He stood, walked to his desk, and brought back a polished rosewood box.
When he opened it, the light caught on an icy jade bracelet of exceptional clarity—its value obvious even at a glance.
"This bracelet… I had it found especially for you before you even came to River City."
"The color and shape suit you perfectly."
"Here, let me put it on for you so we can see how it looks."
Vaughn didn't give her a chance to refuse. With practiced ease, he slid the bracelet onto Amelia's slender wrist.
The cool jade seemed to make her skin even more delicate, her hand more graceful. Vaughn smiled with deep satisfaction. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
"I hope this bracelet will protect you… that your life will always be smooth and safe."
"By the way, the day after tomorrow I'm leaving on a cruise to the holiday island. I'll be spending two weeks there."
"The island is rich in colored gemstones. If I find any beautiful ones, I'll bring them back for you."
Outside the door, Anna stood frozen, her fingers tightening around the porcelain bowl of ginseng soup she had been carrying. Through the narrow gap, she could see Vaughn fastening the bracelet on Amelia's wrist.
Her chest rose and fell sharply, her eyes reddening with a heat that had nothing to do with tears.
Listen to them. Listen to the way he talks to her—warm, personal—more affectionate than he had ever been with his own granddaughter.
And that bracelet… even from this distance, Anna could tell the quality of the jade was extraordinary. It was easily worth seven figures.
Vaughn had never given her anything that expensive.
Anna's teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached. Her hands trembled.
She had come here with the soup to thank Vaughn for defending her in the banquet hall and to apologize for accidentally buying a counterfeit.
But what she saw instead was Vaughn treating Amelia—an outsider—like family. Talking about her vanity behind her back. Saying that four out of five things she said tonight were untrue. Calling her boast about spending one hundred million on an Ivan original a lie.
Vaughn thought she had embarrassed herself tonight. But did he ever stop to think? If she had truly had that kind of money, would she have bought a fake just to save face? Did he really believe she wouldn't have wanted to give him something genuine?
He knew as well as anyone that her money and her shares in The Williams Group were limited.
A year ago, Anna had returned from studying abroad and taken over as CEO of The Williams Group.
She looked glamorous in interviews, always composed in front of the media, but in truth, she held no real control over the company.
The real power remained firmly in Vaughn's hands.
Vaughn had only one son and one daughter. His son had died young, leaving behind Quentin—his only grandson.
Vaughn had always felt a deep sense of guilt toward Quentin, and from the boy's earliest days, he had showered him with care and indulgence.
When Anna returned, Vaughn entrusted her with the management of the family business but gave her little in the way of shares or authority.
To Anna, it was nothing but blatant favoritism.
She believed Vaughn was simply waiting for Quentin to come of age so he could hand over all his shares and the entire group to him—making him the heir to The Williams Group.
Anna resented it deeply.
She was far more capable than Quentin, who wasted his life in indulgence and had no idea how to run a company.
But because she was a woman—because she would one day marry into another family—no matter how hard she worked, Vaughn had never intended to give her more equity.
Her resentment had always been there, hidden beneath a polite surface.
Two months before Vaughn's birthday, she had gone abroad to find another master sculptor—one almost as skilled as Ivan—and bought a replica from him for one million dollars.
When she brought it back, she had it examined by professionals. Every one of them swore it was genuine. No one could see it was fake.
She had planned to present it at the party with two intentions.
First, everyone knew how rare and priceless Ivan's originals were. Bringing out such a piece would earn her praise for both filial piety and capability.
Second, she hoped such a gesture would touch Vaughn enough to make him consider transferring her more shares after the party.
But Amelia's unexpected appearance had shattered everything.
Her carefully laid scheme had collapsed completely. That million dollars might as well have been thrown into the ocean… and she herself had become the most conspicuous, most ridiculous joke of the night.
And now, Amelia was in there with Vaughn, talking about her as if she were beneath them.
Vaughn's laughter drifted out from the study, warm and easy, as if the two were enjoying themselves immensely.
Anna's grip on the bowl tightened until the veins stood out on the back of her hand.
If Vaughn could be unjust to her, then she could be unjust to him.
She stepped back, then forward, and in a burst of temper, tossed the entire bowl of ginseng soup—bowl and all—into the trash.
Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number.
"Mr. Johnson," she said, her voice cold as steel. "The matter you mentioned last time… I've decided. I accept your offer."