Chapter 16

16 Shot Himself in the Foot
16 Shot Himself in the Foot
Alice glanced at William, who was drenched in sweat, and let out a soft chuckle.
“What’s the matter? Having second thoughts?”
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William swallowed hard , offering a sheepish smile. “Not at all. Here at Serafine Atelier, we stand by our word.”
“Good to know.”
Alice let her gaze wander around the room, which was filled with displays of rare treasures.. She couldn’t help but feel a flicker of awe.
Serafine Atelier truly lived up to its reputation as the largest jewelry house in Mapleford.
Among the pieces, one caught her eye–the “Wings of Light,” a brooch once worn by the former queen of Heswil.
It had been sold for 800 million when the queen stepped down.
Most thought it lost to history, never to be seen again. Yet here it was, quietly displayed under glass.
“I want that one.”
She pointed to the jewelry. The listed price was a billion dollars, but with the promised 50% discount, it only cost her half a billion.
For Alice, that was a price worth paying–this was something her mentor had longed for. If it could bring a smile to her face, no amount was too high.
Beads of sweat slid down William’s forehead.
Just that one piece alone would put them 300 million in the red.
If his boss found out, he’d be dead meat.
Eric, seated calmly in his wheelchair, tapped the armrest gently. “Just one?”
Alice raised an eyebrow, smiling with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
“Oh?”
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Eric calmly gestured toward an entire row of luxury items–paintings, vintage jewelry , rare artifacts – each one more valuable than the next.
William felt his chest tighten and nearly passed away on the spot.
That was casily over two billion in total. With the discount, they’d still lose over a billion.
“Mr. William,” Alice said casually, “wrap them all up.”
She hadn’t expected Eric to be so generous. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was genuinely buying them for her–or trying to drown her in favors.
Still, it would be a shame to let these treasures go to waste.
William’s voice trembled, “A – All of them?”
Just then, Sandy stepped into the room.
Her eyes landed on the priceless items placed on the table; jealousy surged through her like wildfire.
It had almost driven her mad.
When she finally spoke, all pretense of grace was gone.
“Eric, what are you doing?” She snapped.
Sure, the Nolans were wealthy, but with Oscar and Eric both having been seriously ill, things weren’t what they used to be.
These items cost over a billion–enough to fund an entire company.
They looked like reckless spenders at this point.
Eric’s face turned cold. His razor–sharp gaze pierced through Sandy.
Alice gave a short laugh.
“Looks like your brother’s life isn’t worth it in your eyes.”
Sandy clenched her teeth. She rebuked, “Sure, Eric woke up after you married him–but who’s to say you have anything to do with him waking up?”
She glanced over at William.
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16 Shot Himself in the Foot
He shot her a sharp, warning glare.
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The message was clear: if those items walked out the door, the losses would fall squarely on Sandy’s shoulders.
Sandy’s heart clenched when she grasped the message.
She quickly added. “Even if Eric spoils you, you should still show some understanding. Our money doesn’t grow on trees!”
Alice burst out laughing.
“You’re right. It doesn’t grow on trees. But it sure vanishes like it’s been blown away by a
storm.
Sandy’s face turned pale.
After Eric fell into a coma, his shares had been handed over to Ruby.
Over the years, all the dividends…
Sandra suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
“W–Well
Eric turned to William and urged, “Have everything delivered to my house. Send the bill to Mrs. Nolan.”
Sandy was shocked.
Have her mother pay for it?
They might as well bury her now.
“Eric, you can’t-”
Eric cut her off coldly.
“If you have nothing else to say, don’t waste our time; we would like to get on with shopping.”
Sandy stood frozen.
She’d been treated like a princess her whole life.
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16 Shot Himself in the Foot
Even if Eric didn’t care for Ruby, he’d always been civil toward her.
But today–he humiliated her in front of everyone.
“Eric!” she began, her voice breaking, tears forming in her eyes.
But Eric looked right past her, staring at William with icy indifference.
“What are you standing there for?”
William felt like he might collapse from a heart attack.
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Earlier, when Sandy made her suggestion, he had assumed Alice was just some country bumpkin with little money.
Even if she bought a few things, it wouldn’t set him back more than a few grand.
He hadn’t expected this.
It felt like he’d just handed her the hammer to crush his own foot.
Trying his best to smile through the pain, he ordered the staff to start packing while he followed behind Eric and Alice like a shadow–terrified they’d catch another wave of enthusiasm and buy even more .
Finally, after seeing them off, William let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Only then did he notice his entire shirt was soaked with sweat.
He turned to Sandy, his expression dark.
“Ms. Nolan, I’ll personally deliver everything to your house. When I do, I hope you’ll be there to be my witness.”
Sandy’s face went completely white. “Mr. William, we…