Jilted Bride 73
Chapter
73
Ophelia asked the security guard to pull up the surveillance footage from that night and handed the matter over
to the shopping center's management.
"If it weren't for this young man, we would have both suffered losses" Ophelia stated seriously before turning to
Eric.
The manager repeatedly thanked Eric after hearing this. After all, if the paint incident had truly occurred, the
mall would not only face large compensation costs but also potential damage to its reputation, possibly risking
his job as well.
Ophelia checked the time, realizing she needed to hurry to Mineroca that afternoon, so she didn't pursue the
matter further. As she returned to the underground parking lot, she finally voiced her lingering question. "Do you
know about the incident when Brock cto my store and committed suicide?"
Eric had his hands in his pockets and nodded, his bangs moving slightly. "Yeah, so | helped you guys take care of
it." His tone was light, as if he were discussing dealing with an animal rather than a person.
Ophelia realized she had wronged Kenneth. She had always thought Kenneth was the one who killed Brock, but it
turned out it was Eric.
Ophelia stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Eric. "You seem to have been around us a lot lately. Are you
planning to keep living in that junk car?" She had noticed signs of life inside the junk car earlier.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Ophelia suggested, "How about coming to be my security guard? You can also be my driver and help Chloe take
care of Wyant. I'll provide food and lodging" Seeing he remained silent, Ophelia didn't push him. "Think it over."
"Is it a good pay?" Eric blinked his crystal-clear eyes, asking in a tone reminiscent of a child querying whether a
toy was expensive.
"It's definitely not more than what you earn now, but it's stable. Since no one knows you and your adoptive
father is gone. why not change your life?"
Eric froze for a moment, his eyes questioning. "How do you know he's gone?" He had never mentioned this, and
they hadn't. lived in the slums for a long time. His adoptive father was skilled at disguise. No one would know
their whereabouts.
"If he were around, could you be this free right now? Besides, | genuinely need someone with your skills as a
helper."
"Freedom..." Eric murmured, thinking. I'm like an elephant in a circus, having learned to 'perform' since
childhood. Even if I'm no longer bound, | don't know how to run.
"I'm heading to Mineroca. Cwith me." Ophelia was tired of talking to Eric and directly commanded him.
“Okay”
Mineroca, also known as Gem City, was a second-tier city near Dellanex, about a three-hour drive away. With
countless mineral veins around, it attracted many tourists and investors, becoming the largest gemstone trading
hub in the country. After getting off the highway, they gradually entered the downtown, where Ophelia began to
appreciate the local culture.
Every street and alley was filled with gemstone shops, with everyone eagerly peering through the glass,
anticipating new rough stones emerging.
Since gemstones were covered in dust when extracted, even experienced buyers found it difficult to determine
the quality of the stones with the naked eye. Only close inspections combined with machines could reveal their
specific quality.
The prices of rough stones varied. Higher-quality stones cat a higher cost. And at gemstone auctions, it was
all about
Chapter 73
luck-you could either tose everything or strike it rich overnight
After parking the car, Ophelia planned to walk around with Eric nearby, as there was still stbefore the
scheduled meeting.
The people from Cameo Charm likely didn't want to make the trip in vain, so they arranged for Ophelia to meet
with those from Fashion Ladies to drive up the price of that batch of goods.
Ophelia thought. "They really know how to do business.
Many stores had glass displays showcasing various uncut rough stones. Sshops even offered live cutting
demonstrations, drawing crowds of onlookers.
With a lollipop in her mouth, Ophelia twirled it between her teeth, curiously glancing inside.
"Not those ones. They're all fake and deceptive, Eric remarked, his hands stuck in his pockets as he casually
glanced, chewing gum.
You know about this?" Ophelia asked.
"I once killed a gemstone dealer," Eric said seriously, not feeling anything inappropriate about his statement.
"Uh...okay" Ophelia checked the address of the store Chloe ordered from, which was nearby and famous for
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmhaving the highest rate of high-quality gemstones in Mineroca.
Ophelia pushed her sunglasses up to her forehead and bit down on her lollipop, the strong green apple flavor
filling her mouth and lifting her spirits. However, just as she raised her head, she saw an unpleasant figure
approaching. Ophelia thought, "The person responsible for purchasing rough stones at Fashion Ladies is actually
Miles. Sometimes, fate works in strange ways.
Miles wore a brown coat, was tall and long-legged, and was followed by a few people. When he spotted Ophelia,
his eyes lit up, eager to greet her, only to realize Ophelia ignored him and walked straight into Cameo Charm.
Inside the bright and spacious hall, glass display cases showcased a stunning array of rough stones in all sorts of
shapes and colors, each priced in the millions of dollars.
In several separate inspection rooms, a group of staff attended to clients. The tables were filled with rough
stones, and
angle. several people examined them with flashlights and magnifying glasses from every
Ophelia and Eric entered one after the other, dressed like high school students, not resembling businesspeople
here to buy. causing the store staff to overlook them. When Miles stepped in, the sharp-eyed staff immediately
stood up to welchim. "Mr. Lewis, welcome. Please wait a moment. I'll get my boss for you." Miles nodded
slightly and glanced at the ignored Ophelia before turning to instruct his assistant and expert to wait while he
headed toward Ophelia. "Elia." Ophelia was admiring the rough stones
the glass display when she heard Miles' voice behind her. In her previous life.
upon hearing Miles gently call her name, she would have been ecstatic. However, now she felt nauseous,
sensing that her nhad been tainted by him. Impatiently, Ophelia turned around, her beautiful eyes
shimmering with coldness
"Elia, | really didn't expect you to get this far for me," Miles