18:42 Thu, Oct 9
The Heiress They Couldn’t Break
Chapter 77 Amelia Turns the Tide
43
༢༣)
Finished
Gianna knew Ursula liked religion and the church, so this gift was calculated to please her.
She’d been planning it for a long time–wanted one dazzling moment at the banquet to win Grandma’s favor.
Sure enough, a wave of admiration rippled through the guests.
“Wow, that Virgin Mary is a real masterpiece–look at that color, must be worth a fortune.”
“Yeah, it’s gotta be at least seven figures. Hard to believe Ms. Gianna is just an adopted daughter, but so filial.”
“Right? No wonder Mrs. Ursula dotes on her–practically more than her blood granddaughters!”
Everyone was whispering, gossiping away.
Gianna heard all this and felt smug as hell, but she feigned a humble expression as she said, “As long as Grandma likes it, money’s no object.”
Anyway, her brothers had paid for it.
Ursula took the statue, inspected it carefully, then nodded with satisfaction. “Gianna, how thoughtful. I love it.”
Gianna’s smile widened; she shot Amelia a smug, provocative look–see? I’m the favorite.
Amelia stayed cool, deliberately ignoring her.
People like Gianna didn’t even merit a glance.
Amelia stood quietly at the edge of the room, a faint, unreadable smile on her lips.
Then, Gianna suddenly piped up, “Amelia, what did you get Grandma?”
Amelia could tell from Gianna’s gleeful face that she was waiting for a flop.
Of course, she wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
Amelia smiled, produced a plain, long wooden box, and held it out with both hands. “Grandma, wishing you long life and health. I brought a small gift–hope you like it.”
The box looked humble, even worn–an obvious contrast with Gianna’s glossy cedarwood case.
The guests all looked puzzled.
18:42 Thu, Oct 9
Chapter 77 Amelia Turns the Tide
43
Finished
Gianna snorted and muttered under her breath, “Such a plain box–what could it hold?”
She couldn’t wait to watch Amelia fail.
Everyone settled in to see the spectacle.
After all, Amelia was Ursula’s blood granddaughter; if her gift was a dud, it would be humiliating for the family.
With a neutral expression on her face, Ursula took the box, opened it slowly-
And the room went quiet.
Ursula’s brow twitched.
Inside the box lay something that looked like a dried root–almost a joke.
Gianna couldn’t help it; she burst out laughing. “Seriously, Amelia? Did you get that at the farmer’s market?”
Hilarious—no money for a decent present, so you bring this embarrassment?
A few stifled chuckles ran through the crowd.
No one expected a gift like this.
7
After Gianna’s extravagant offering, Amelia’s simple box seemed ridiculously plain by comparison.
They said that comparison was the thief of joy.
But Amelia remained calm. “Grandma, this is wild saffron–century–old, excellent for longevity.”
“Wild saffron?” An elderly doctor among the guests pushed forward, excited, squinting close. “The grain, the rootlets, the scent–my word.”
With trembling hands, he slid on his glasses, then cried out, “My goodness! This is at least 200 years old wild saffron! You don’t find specimens like this on the market!”
People unfamiliar with saffron laughed because wild roots can look like a big, ugly carrot.
That’s the joke–until you know the difference.
The room exploded into murmurs.
18:43 Thu, Oct 9
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