Chapter 303
Victor finally gave a contented nod.
Once Sophie had accepted the invitation, she offered the old man her thanks and hurried off with Adrian at her side. Their plans demanded haste, for they still had to pack and race to Nabia before the auction closed on its final day.
Just before they departed, Victor asked if she had a card to leave behind. “So you are a designer. I keep some rough emeralds tucked away. Perhaps you might find them useful someday,” he said.
The pair wasted no time, gathering their belongings, checking out, and managing to catch the last flight bound for Nabia.
Even as the plane lifted into the sky, Sophie struggled to steady the rush of excitement that clung to her. “What an unbelievable day. Meeting the legend of gemstone hunting in person! Writing about this would give my feature so much life!” she beamed.
Adrian already sensed her thoughts. “Then why not write it? He would make a brilliant subject.”
But Sophie lowered her voice and shook her head. “Victor stepped away from fame long ago. Dragging him into the spotlight again would only disturb the peace he clearly cherishes.”
The moment her words faded, another thought sparked in her mind. “He’s hidden himself from the spotlight for decades. He would never risk cutting open a stone before an audience again… However, I can’t help but wonder—”
A quiet sigh slipped from Sophie. “It’s possible he may not show his face in the Binya Bazaar for a long while.”
With a lifted brow and a trace of humor, Adrian said, “So you’re worrying about him now? He involved you in his mess, and the jeers were partly his doing. Let him deal with it.”
A playful glare shot from Sophie’s eyes. “That is not the point.” She waved the invitation proudly. “Besides, he handed me this! Without it, I would never have had the chance to witness such a magnificent event.”
Calm as ever, Adrian responded, “If all you wanted was to attend the auction, you only needed to tell me.”
Sophie’s gaze flicked toward him in surprise. “You mean you could arrange it?”
“For matters like this, a bit of generosity in the right places can open plenty of doors.”
Her lips pressed together as Sophie muttered, “Always throwing money around.”
Her eyes softened as she looked at the invitation. “Even so, this feels deserved. Maybe everything unfolded as it should.”
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