Claire stared at the piece of jewelry on the screen, sorrow clouding her eyes. It was the Sleeping Beauty set, an exquisite collection made from violet jade, rose quartz, and diamonds.
Legend had it that this set had been passed down through generations of the Clark family. It had been part of Gina's dowry when she married. Since it arrived at the Smith household, the family business had entered a golden era that lasted three decades.
Now, as the Smith legacy crumbled, the heirloom was being sold off, its auction marking the end of an empire.
In the audience, Kelly's face turned dark the moment she saw the piece. Her voice rose in disbelief. "Jeffrey, didn't you say you were going to give that to me? Why is it on the auction list?"
She had married the aging patriarch only because of the whispers surrounding the Smiths' vast treasures. Yet here she was, empty-handed and bitter.
