Mrs. Winston's lips curled into a sneer.
Her gaze dripped with contempt as she looked at Sophia Sullivan.
"Ten years ago, you were just some orphaned brat. Don't tell me you already had three billion to buy this mountain back then?"
She refused to believe Sophia could have pulled off such a feat.
Neither did the onlookers.
Technology had advanced rapidly over the decade, and prices had skyrocketed.
Countless real estate developers had eyed Deer Spring Mountain as prime property.
Even with Frederick Blanchet's testimony, they couldn't fathom Sophia being the true owner.
"Uncle Fred, this woman doesn't look wealthy at all. Don't let her fool you!"
Darren Crosier's face twisted with resentment.
His pudgy fingers fumbled as he tried to calculate just how much three billion was.
Even as a rich heir, he'd never seen that kind of cash!
Seeing Frederick's lingering anger, Darren only grew more frustrated.
"Uncle, why are you suddenly defending her? Don't tell me you've fallen for her looks too?"
Though his cheek still burned from the earlier slap, the pain only emboldened him.
Spoiled rotten by his parents, he'd never endured such humiliation—even from his intimidating uncle.
"She's pretty, sure, but family comes first. If you like her type, I can find you ten more just like—"
SMACK!
Another sharp slap cut him off mid-sentence.
Darren yelped, nearly toppling over.
Frederick's icy glare pinned him down before a kick sent him sprawling.
"Shut your mouth! How did I end up with such an idiot for a nephew?"
Fallen for Sophia?
A chilling aura radiated from Frederick, freezing the air around them.
"I was building my empire while you were still in diapers!"
Though furious, his gaze softened with reverence when it landed on Sophia.
"Listen carefully. Miss Sullivan saved my life when I was young. She's my most respected benefactor. I won't tolerate your disrespect."
Looming over Darren, his voice turned lethal.
"One more word against her, and don't expect mercy just because we're family."
Everyone knew Frederick's ruthless reputation.
Terrified into silence, Darren didn't dare utter another syllable.
Isabella Robinson leaned closer to Sophia, whispering, "Sweetheart, your connections never cease to amaze me."
She never pried into Sophia's past.
But she couldn't be prouder.
Sophia replied evenly, "But none of them matter as much as you."
"Obviously." Isabella flipped her hair with effortless grace.
Chloe Evans' face darkened.
She refused to buy Frederick's story.
Why would a titan of industry bow to a woman unless there was something shady going on?
Some "life-saving" excuse—what a joke!
"So Mr. Blanchet owes Miss Sullivan his life? How curious she's never mentioned it before."
Chloe met Frederick's glacial stare with feigned innocence.
"Don't misunderstand. I just recall you were already prominent ten years ago. Wouldn't sharing this story earlier have cleared things up?"
Frederick's smirk sent chills down spines.
"Are you accusing me of lying?"
"Of course not."
Chloe wouldn't dare admit it.
The man's oppressive aura made her skin crawl.
She batted her lashes. "I'm just wondering—if Sophia owns Deer Spring Mountain, shouldn't she have the Black Jade Ring? It is the owner's symbol, after all."
Murmurs spread among the more knowledgeable crowd.
"Wealthy buyers always commission rings from the mountain's rarest jade."
"They engrave ownership codes into them."
"Only the ring bearer is the true owner!"
Frederick stated flatly, "Miss Sullivan does possess the Black Jade Ring."
He'd mined the jade himself years ago.
Chloe's voice turned saccharine. "Then why not show it to everyone? Wouldn't that settle this?"
Sophia lifted a bored gaze. "I don't have it on me."
The ring meant little to her.
She'd left it on the mountain.
Chloe smirked inwardly.
Just as I thought—she's bluffing!
"What a coincidence, Sophia. The one time you need to prove ownership, the ring's nowhere to be found."
Her wide eyes brimmed with faux concern.
"Don't you think that's suspicious?"