Chapter 970

Amid the clamor of the crowd, Helen and Kendrick made their way from the outer perimeter to the main area. On the preparation platform, all the raw stones were lined up, awaiting their turn to be cut and polished. Helen easily located her five stones, which appeared quite modest compared to Freddie's impressive collection. "Well, it looks like their gossip is endless," she teased, observing the crowd's lively buzz. Brimming with excitement, Kendrick rubbed his hands together. Despite his vast experience with gemstone auctions, he had never witnessed a spectacle quite like this. Amid the bustling crowd, Helen spotted Otto and Laura arriving. Flanked by security, they made their way through the crowd with a steady, deliberate stride. Just as Otto's gaze was about to meet hers, she looked away. Soon, the staff in charge of cutting the stones made their entrance, drawing cheers from the crowd as if they were competing in a beauty pageant. The raw stones were assigned to different c