?Chapter 114:


    Hearing Vincenzo’s call, Maxwell switched to speaker mode. After absorbing the details, he turned and shot a questioning nce at Chris, silently seeking his verdict on the matter concerning his woman.


    Chris arched an eyebrow, the sharp angle of his jaw tipping slightly in silent consent.


    Catching the message, Maxwell replied, “Tell her you’re the purchaser. Once you have it in hand, give it back to her. That way, you honor your debt.”


    Relieved, Vincenzo expressed his gratitude profusely. “Thank you, Mr. Payne. You’re wee to anything from my collection!”


    “I don’t care for those trinkets,” Maxwell replied bluntly, cutting the call short. He tossed an amused look over his shoulder at Chris and chuckled. “Tsk, tsk. They weren’t kidding when they said men would pay any price for the women they love. Chris, once she finds out you spent 150 million to get her keepsake back, she’ll be overwhelmed.”


    Chris, lounging in a rxed sprawl, his long legs making the spacious car seem cramped, gave off an aura of effortless authority.


    A glint of cold warning shed in his striking eyes as he shot Maxwell a chilling nce — one that screamed enough.


    Maxwell immediately zipped his lips, sensing the unspoken threat, and said nothing more.


    Sliding his phone back into his pocket, Vincenzo turned toward Maia with a casual smile. “No need to be upset, miss. Truth is… I’m actually the one who bought the bracelet online.”


    At his words, Maia’s lips lifted ever so slightly. She tilted her head, disbelief clouding her eyes. “You? Why would you do that?”


    “The instant I spotted the bracelet in the photo, I knew it was special. This isn’t just some old piece of jewelry. It’s a relic from an ancient civilization, more than a thousand years old. Its true worth is beyond imagining.” Vincenzo darted a quick nce at her, a flicker of unease betraying hisposed front. “You know how much I love collecting rare artifacts, so…”


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    Even though Vincenzo barely knew the first thing about wine, he had no equal when it came to antiques.


    “One hundred and fifty million dors was actually a conservative estimate. The true value of this bracelet can’t be measured in money.”


    Back when Maxwell had first asked for an appraisal, Vincenzo had purposefully set the price high. After careful thought, he finally named the 150-million-dor figure, knowing that undervaluing the piece could scare the owner off.


    Hearing this, Maia froze where she sat, unable to hide the shock shing through her eyes.


    Never had she imagined that Vicki’s bracelet carried such staggering worth. The realization hit her hard — Vicki had entrusted her with something priceless, and she had failed to guard it properly.


    Determined not to crumble, Maia straightened and met Vincenzo’s gaze, her voice steady but carrying a quiet plea. “Mr. Casadei, you once told me that if I ever needed anything, you’d help me. Does that promise still stand?”


    A knowing smile tugged at Vincenzo’s mouth as he caught the deeper meaning behind her words. “Of course, miss. That bracelet belongs to you. Once it’s in my hands, I’ll make sure it finds its way back to you, no strings attached. Consider it a gesture of thanks.”


    Atst, Maia let go of the breath she had been holding, and a small smile touched her lips. “Actually, I have a n. There’s a way to get the bracelet back without spending a dime. Would you be willing to hear me out?”


    Blinking in surprise, Vincenzo leaned slightly forward. “Really? What kind of n?”


    Leaning in, Maia whispered a few short sentences into his ear, her voice low and full of mischief.


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