Freya's POV
The following day, in accordance with the agreed-upon time with the buyer, I carried the necklace to that secondhand boutique that specialized in luxury items.
The proprietor led into a private room where there emitted a fragrant aroma, reminiscent of a blend of pine with a touch of sage—a delicate scent that exuded tranquility.
Intrigued by the fragrance, I turned my head and inquired, "Sir, what kind of incense is used here?"
The proprietor replied, "This incense is a gift from a dear friend who crafted it personally. Do you find it quite pleasing?"
"Yes, it has a delightful scent," I replied.
While engaged in conversation, another customer came in, prompting the proprietor to excuse himself and attend to the newcomer.
Before long, the door swung open, and a heavily wrapped woman in dark glasses entered.
"Are you the one selling the necklace?" she asked, her voice thin and tinged with surprise, a momentary recognition sparking a visceral discomfort within me.
I raised my gaze and cast her a faint glance. "Tracy, it has been quite some time."
The proprietor, who had returned by then, was taken aback. "You two know each other?"
Tracy adjusted her coat, smiled, and gracefully took a seat opposite me. "More than just knowing each other; we are intimately acquainted."
Sensing the tense atmosphere between Tracy and myself, the proprietor appeared somewhat uneasy.
I maintained a composed demeanor and slid the case toward the proprietor. "Please inspect the merchandise first."
The proprietor received the item and commenced the examination.
"You have quite a nerve, selling Kingsley's possessions without a hint of shame!" Tracy said sharply.
"I am merely dealing with unwanted belongings. Why should I feel shame? Then following your logic, those who want unwanted items from the others should be more overwhelmed with shame and driven to suicide," I chuckled softly. "But it seems that you're still living well, aren't you?"
Tracy's face darkened immediately.
After approximately twenty minutes, the proprietor completed the testing process, confirming the authenticity of the necklace. He then inquired about the price I had in mind.
"Five million," I stated calmly, and the proprietor was stunned.
It was Tracy who reacted first. She sprang to her feet, exclaiming, "Five million? Are you insane? You expect me to pay five million for a three million dollar necklace? Do you think I'm a fool?"
Maintaining a composed expression, I responded evenly, "Tracy, this necklace is truly one-of-a-kind. Its value should be evident to someone like you, shouldn't it?"
Tracy shot back, "This necklace must have been a gift from Kingsley. Kingsley must have no idea that you were reselling it for profit. It appears that you are indeed as greedy as he claimed!"
My hand involuntarily clenched, and my gaze turned icy. "Tracy, Kingsley is my lawful mate. And as something he bestowed upon me, it is my prerogative to decide its fate. There is no need for you to dictate my actions. If you desire this necklace, the price is five million dollars. If you cannot afford it, then let us not waste any more time. I have important matters to attend to."
"Who do you think cannot afford it?" Tracy seethed with anger. "The value of this necklace is merely three million, yet you demand five million. That is nothing short of robbery!"
I chuckled, "Tracy, it seems you fail to grasp the concept. The valuation serves only as a reference for prospective buyers. As the owner, I have the freedom to determine its price. If you find it unreasonable, feel free to decline the offer."
"You..." Tracy's face turned an envious shade of green, and she found herself at a loss for words.
After a brief pause, she sneered, "So, you deliberately inflated the price just to refuse to sell to me once you realized I was the buyer, didn't you?"
I remained silent, meeting her gaze with a cold stare.
My lack of response only solidified Tracy's suspicions, and she smirked, "What good does it do to hold onto something that isn't truly yours?"
She believed her words would provoke me.
But I just looked at her coldly, saying, "Tracy, if that's what you truly believe, then so be it. What's your decision? Will you buy it?"
Tracy's smile disappeared.
I knew what she was thinking. Despite feeling that five million dollars was an exorbitant price for the necklace, Tracy didn't want me to underestimate her. I was certain she would go ahead with the purchase.
With feigned nonchalance, I pretended to return the necklace to its box. Just as I was about to close the lid, Tracy called out, "I'll buy it!"
I raised my gaze to meet hers. "Payment in full," I stated.
Tracy clenched her teeth and retorted, "Don't worry, you won't lose a single penny!"
In the presence of the proprietor, we struck a deal, and Tracy promptly transferred the five million into my account.
As Tracy signed the paperwork, her wrist emerged from beneath her sleeve, drawing my attention to a familiar diamond bracelet adorning it.
The style and craftsmanship were strikingly similar to the one I had previously given back to Kingsley.
Upon finishing her signature, Tracy noticed my gaze and lifted her wrist, smiling proudly. "This bracelet was a gift from Kingsley when I made my debut. Weren't all the pieces he gave you made of diamonds? Do you know why?"
A shiver ran down my spine, and my fingers curled gradually.
Somehow, I had no desire to hear the explanation behind it, and an impulse to flee washed over me.
Tracy didn't afford me the chance, speaking derisively, "Because I like diamonds the most."
My fingernails dug into my palm, and suddenly, I felt like a mere joke.
"Kingsley doesn't truly love you. If it hadn't been for his grandmother's opposition, do you honestly think you would have had the opportunity to become his Luna? But times have changed. His grandmother is growing older, and sooner or later, Kingsley will totally control the whole Shadowmoon Pack. What do you think will happen to you then?"
Tracy raised the corner of her lips and spoke, her voice dripping with a hint of mockery, "If I were you, it would be wiser to depart on your own accord rather than face the humiliation of being forced out in the end. That would be quite degrading, wouldn't it?"
"Kingsley and I already accepted each other when you made your debut, correct?"
"What?" Tracy was momentarily taken aback when I unexpectedly uttered this sentence.
"In that case, wouldn't every penny he spent on you be our shared property? Legally speaking, I am entitled to claim it back."
Tracy scoffed in disbelief, "Are you out of your mind? I'm telling you that Kingsley doesn't love you. Now that I have his child, you still audaciously occupy the position of his Luna. Don't you think you're shameless?"
I chuckled softly, "Tracy, you're a renowned star. When you uttered those words to me, did you consider the repercussions if I were to share them on the internet? Do you want your hard-earned image to be tarnished in an instant?"
Tracy remained unfazed by my words and smirked triumphantly, "I've been in this industry for years. What haven't I experienced? Remember the last stampede scandal? The entire city was in an uproar, but in the end, it blew over. Why do you think I always get away with it? It is all because of Kingsley. It was true that I lost exposure for a month due to the scandal, but Kingsley still helped me secure a role in The Legend."
A chill crept down my spine as I heard Tracy's words.
"What did you just say?" I asked in disbelief.
"The Legend, a promotional movie for a game," Tracy responded, puzzled.
My hands began to tremble, and anger surged within me.
No wonder Kingsley appeared at Sky Games that day!
No wonder Derek suddenly changed his mind about signing the contract with me!
It turned out that Kingsley stole the chance from me just to please Tracy!
"Kingsley, have you ever shown me any respect?" I thought in despair.
I gritted my teeth, struggling to contain the fury welling up inside me, while Tracy continued to prattle on, "To be honest, Grace already knew about my pregnancy. She promised me that if I give birth to a boy, Kingsley will accept me as his Luna."
My eyes turned scarlet, and my entire body trembled. I stared at Tracy and uttered coldly, " Get out of my face now!"
Tracy had achieved her objective and didn't linger. After uttering a couple of sarcastic words, she took the necklace and departed.