A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Striking a Deal (Part 2)

”So, everything you just said was to play me! You just wanted to know the secret of the Jade Bracelet!” Simon’s expression soured, not just because he’d been deceived by Seraphina Sterling, but for a more important reason: if he couldn’t obtain the Jade Bracelet on this trip, then once he returned, he would be completely out of options.

”Simon, that’s not the point. The point is twenty million US dollars!” Seraphina Sterling said with a faint smile. ”I bid twenty million US dollars for it back then. Who knows how many times higher its value is now!”

’If that’s not the point, then what is?’ Simon scoffed inwardly, then a sudden realization struck him. ”The Jade Bracelet is still in your possession!” he said, staring at her in shock. He felt like a man dying of thirst who had just been handed a bottle of pure water; a powerful wave of hope surged through him.

Seraphina Sterling said nothing, only smiling faintly as she nodded.

This time, Simon was more cautious. ”Didn’t you just say your house caught fire and burned until nothing was left? Why do you still have the Jade Bracelet? You’re not trying to trick me again, are you?”

’He’s certainly cautious,’ Seraphina Sterling thought, a warm, radiant smile on her face. ”You’re a smart man. Can’t you guess? If you were me, holding something everyone desires, and your opponents would stop at nothing to get it, what would you do?”

”You set that fire yourself?” Simon grew even more shocked.

’To make everyone think the Jade Bracelet had either been stolen or destroyed in the blaze, she actually set her own house on fire—and even her neighbor’s! In doing so, she went from being the owner of the Jade Bracelet to a tragic victim of its curse. She instantly shifted herself from an extremely perilous position to the safest one possible. No one would ever suspect the Jade Bracelet was still with her.’

’A single fire completely turned the tables, ensuring her personal safety and securing the Jade Bracelet.’

’To be capable of such a scheme at her age! To be so ruthless, even toward herself! It was truly unbelievable. Beyond his shock, Simon found himself admiring Seraphina Sterling’s cunning and foresight. These were qualities that anyone destined for greatness had to possess.’

”I think we can cooperate,” Simon said, changing his initial plan. ’Having an ally like her,’ he thought, ’would be a tremendous asset.’

”Cooperation?” Seraphina Sterling raised an eyebrow. ”I like that word.”

The others could only see that the pair was conversing pleasantly, but they had no idea what was being said. Genevieve Churchill tried to approach them several times, but the advisor from Country M always blocked her path.

The Marshal and Logan Grant were also curious, but after seeing the Country M advisor’s actions, they didn’t press forward either. In their eyes, the most important thing was for the exchange to continue without a hitch.

”You give me the Jade Bracelet, and in exchange, I will give you my full support whenever you face any trouble in the future.” This was the most advantageous form of cooperation Simon could think of at the moment.

”Alright,” Seraphina Sterling agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

Now it was Simon’s turn to be baffled. ”Aren’t you worried I’ll go back on my word after I get the Jade Bracelet?”

Seraphina Sterling’s brilliant eyes twinkled, and her smile grew even brighter, making the dimples on her cheeks seem all the more charming. ”Of course I’m worried. That’s why I want ten percent of your shares in the Villet Group. Until you fulfill your promise, I’ll hold those shares for safekeeping. As for the dividends, just consider them my interest payment.”

Simon’s eyes flew wide. ’Talk about an outrageous demand! Ten percent of the Villet Group’s shares was the majority of his net worth! Wait a minute... how did Seraphina Sterling know he owned shares in the Villet Group? Did she know his identity from the very beginning? How could she? There was very little public information about him. Only members of Country M’s powerful financial conglomerates would have even a vague idea of who he was. But Seraphina Sterling...’