Wren patted his hand affectionately, her smile warm. “You’re always such a charmer, Aaron. You’ve got this old lady all flustered.”
Freya, noticing Aaron’s arrival, approached him with a faint blush on her cheeks. “Hi, Aaron,” she greeted softly.
Aaron barely glanced at her, his attention drawn elsewhere. “Did none of you notice the real treasure around Elizabeth’s neck?” he asked, his tone laced with mischief.
It was impolite to stare, so while many had noticed Elizabeth’s presence, no one had focused on her necklace until Aaron’s comment.
Now, all eyes turned toward the pendant resting elegantly against Elizabeth’s neck.
Aaron smirked, clearly enjoying the attention he had garnered. “That necklace,” he continued, “is a pink diamond that was auctioned off at the Estu Gala a few days ago for $10.73 million. It’s the largest internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever sold at a public auction.”
Aaron had gone to great lengths to secure the piece—ensuring that while Wren’s gift was grand, Elizabeth’s necklace would be a statement of unparalleled rarity.
Though the necklace’s price was slightly lower, its uniqueness made it truly exceptional.
He turned to Elizabeth with a grin, clearly expecting praise. “Elizabeth, I personally flew to the Estu Gala to get this for you. Don’t you think I deserve some credit for the effort?”
Elizabeth gave him a polite but distant smile. “Thank you, Aaron. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime,” she replied smoothly.
The crowd gasped once more.
Elizabeth’s necklace, worn casually for the birthday banquet, was worth a fortune.
Freya’s resentment bubbled beneath the surface as she stared at Elizabeth. Why was everyone so focused on her? Even Aaron, whom Freya admired deeply, seemed to be acting like her errand boy.
Unable to hold back, Freya stepped forward, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “Elizabeth, we’ve heard about everyone else’s gifts, but you still haven’t answered my question. Didn’t you prepare a gift for Wren?”
Elijah’s expression darkened as he responded coldly. “Any gift I give is also from Elizabeth.”
Wren’s face softened, and she nodded quickly. “Elijah and Elizabeth are a couple. One gift from both of them is perfectly fine. There’s no need for separate gifts.”
Freya, unwilling to miss this opportunity to humiliate Elizabeth, pressed on with a saccharine tone laced with venom. “Wren, I’m only concerned for you. You’ve been so good to Elizabeth, yet she didn’t seem to make any effort for your birthday. Isn’t that a bit inconsiderate?”
Elizabeth’s faint smile remained steady as she met Freya’s gaze. “And how do you know I didn’t make an effort?”
