?Chapter 490:


    “How about twelve million?”


    “Eight million,” Dani countered without missing a beat. Katrina’s heart skipped.


    “Why drop the price, Dani?” She clutched the pearl more tightly.


    “Twelve million is already under the market rate.”


    “Six million.”


    A knot formed in Katrina’s stomach.


    “This isn’t fair…”


    “Five million.”


    Katrina’s eyes widened in dismay.


    Dani shed her a chilling, dismissive smile, shattering Katrina’s hopes in an instant.


    Dani’s voice was icy, herposure unshaken.


    “Katrina, you’re hardly in a position to negotiate. Frankly, I’m not interested in that pearl. But what about Joyce’s predicament? Didn’t she set your deadline for tonight toe up with the funds? Imagine what will happen if you don’t deliver by tomorrow. Soon enough, the whole town will buzz with tales of your daughter and her never-ending scandals.”


    Katrina was well aware that presenting the item at an auction would entail a long wait, hoping against hope for the right purchaser toe along.


    Such a process could span several agonizing weeks.


    Yet Joyce couldn’t afford to dy.


    Updates always at galnoνe??s


    Both Dani and Katrina recognized the urgency.


    As Josie handed Dani a te brimming with fresh fruit, Dani epted it, then dered with cold firmness, “Four million. Say another word, and I won’t give it a second thought.”


    Without waiting for a response, Dani rose and made her way upstairs.


    Watching Dani’s retreating back, Katrina’s frustration bubbled over, and she bit her lip hard, her gaze burning with indignation. Cornered and out of options, she conceded, her voice strained.


    “Fine! Four million!”


    At Katrina’s capittion, Dani halted her ascent, pausing on the stairs above to cast a sweeping nce downward.


    For a flicker of a moment, Katrina suspected Dani remembered the pearl. It seemed Dani always knew it was meant to be the gift from her mother.


    Before Katrina could fully grasp the moment, Cedric took the pearl from her.


    “I’ve transferred the four million to you.”


    Katrina’s eyes darted to her phone, confirming the transaction wasplete.


    “Wasn’t Dani supposed to handle the payment?” she asked Cedric.


    “She doesn’t need to concern herself with paying for something so minor. I’ve taken care of it.” With that, Cedric turned and ascended the stairs, pearl in hand. Left alone, Katrina clutched her phone, her fingers white from the grip.


    A surge of humiliation washed through her—she had sacrificed her pride for the sake of money, only to be yed by Dani’s maniptive games.


    Cedric, seemingly oblivious to the weight of his gesture, nonchntly paid as though the amount was a mere four dors.


    Katrina was seething with resentment.


    She couldn’t help but wonder why her own daughter hadn’t married someone as influential as Cedric. What qualities did Dani possess that Joyce seemed tock?


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