Chapter 298 The Enigmatic Jewelry Susanna Adorns: A Tale of Intrigue
As Aaron popped open the box, everyone’s eyes zeroed in on him. Susanna shot a quick look, but then her jaw practically hit the floor when she saw what was inside.
There it was, a blinged-out crystal tiara. It was old-school for sure, but those gems were still shining like crazy.
The crowd around them let out a collective gasp at the sight of the tiara.
Maud was fuming, almost losing her cool as Aaron revealed the tiara. She’d been banking on getting that piece of jewelry after Maria passed away.
Someone next to her steadied her and whispered, "Is that the legendary crystal tiara? I heard it’s a collector’s item, and the Abbott family snagged it later on."
Hearing that just made Maud even angrier. She knew exactly what that tiara was.
She recognized the box right away. But she never expected Aaron to use it to gift Susanna today, which really infuriated her! That tiara was hers, so why was it going to someone else?
Susanna was just as shocked when she heard the backstory of the tiara. This wasn’t just any piece of bling; it was practically an antique, right?
Elaine, standing nearby, was green with envy and blurted out to Maria, "Grandma, look at Aaron being all reckless. That’s a family heirloom, and he’s just giving it away."
Maud shot a look at Elaine, nodding in agreement. Finally, someone who got it. That tiara was Abbott family property; why was it going to an outsider? Maria stayed chill. "I gave it to Aaron. He can do whatever he wants with it."
Elaine was fuming. "Grandma, that’s so unfair. This is clearly something a girl would want, but you gave it to Aaron-a boy."
Being a heirness from the Abbott family herself, she felt totally sidelined.
All because her dad, Matthew, had passed away, leaving her without strong ties in the Abbott family. Maria looked at her coolly. "Have you been mistreated in the Abbott family all these years?"
Elaine was livid but got pulled back by Jennifer. "Enough, stop making a scene."
Jennifer quickly stepped in to shut Elaine up in front of everyone. They were still living the good life in the Abbott family, thanks to Maria. If they ticked off Aaron now, would they still have a cushy future?
Plus, Susanna wasn’t just some orphan anymore; she was now the heir of the Jones family in Novaria, someone they couldn’t mess with.
Susanna was floored by the tiara’s value; it was way beyond what she expected. She looked up at Aaron. "This gift is way too much; I can’t take it!"
Maud, standing nearby, let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Susanna didn’t want it.
Aaron wasn’t shocked she’d turn it down. She wasn’t the same Susanna who could be easily swayed.
Maria was right. If he’d figured out his feelings sooner and made Susanna happy before her brother found her, things wouldn’t be so complicated now.
After Susanna refused, things got a bit awkward.
Aviana walked over to Susanna and linked arms with her. "Susanna, you made the right call. That gift is way too valuable, but the Jones family appreciates Mr. Abbott’s gesture. Even after parting ways, we can still be cool with each other."
Maud jumped in quick, "Yeah, that's right. Taylor, grab the box. We gotta keep that thing safe."
Thank God Susanna turned it down; otherwise, Maud would've been up all night, fuming.
That tiara was a big deal in the Abbott family; it shouldn't just be handed over to some outsider.
Maria sighed and then said, "Alright, everyone, let's eat."
The vibe shifted back to normal, like nothing awkward had just happened. But you could still hear whispers about the tiara. Seemed like marrying into the Abbott family was the golden ticket to snagging that crown.
A guest buttered up Maud, saying, "I bet that crystal tiara will end up with you. I wonder which lucky girl will get it in the future."
Maud perked up at the compliment. "Aaron's wife has to be from a rich family. Anyone less wouldn't be good enough for him."
She glanced at Susanna, who was nearby. Even though Susanna was now part of the Jones family, Aaron's charm had a line of rich heirs wanting to marry into the Abbott family.
Maud's mind did a 180 as she thought about Aaron remarrying Susanna. The Jones family had been so cocky; she couldn't stand the idea of being bossed around by Susanna in the future.
Someone next to her chimed in, "Then the Jones family heir is perfect."
Maud's face twisted a bit, and she said hesitantly, "The Jones family heir is good, but as a daughter-in-law of the Abbott family, she has to follow our rules."
Susanna caught Maud's hint and smirked. It was clear Maud was talking about her. Too bad, she had zero plans to remarry Aaron.
Aviana, standing next to her, shot Maud a smile, "Maud, thanks for looking after Susanna these past three years. The Jones family really appreciates it!"
Maud's face went a bit pale, and she stammered, "I was strict with Susanna, but it was for her own good."
Someone next to her quickly agreed, "Yeah, being the wife of a wealthy family isn't easy."
Just then, Susanna's six brothers walked over, their faces serious as they stared down Maud and her crew. Their presence was definitely felt; the extra numbers added some serious weight to the situation.
The woman who spoke earlier quickly changed her tune. "But Susanna is amazing. Turning down such a precious gift showed her class and humility."
"Yeah, and that necklace Susanna's wearing must be super valuable too."
Maud looked over but couldn't figure out what was so special about Susanna's necklace.
Another middle-aged woman walked over and said, "I noticed earlier that Susanna's necklace is also a collector's item."
Susanna was surprised and touched her necklace. She knew it wasn't cheap, but she didn't realize it had such a big backstory.
As Maud's eyes lingered on Susanna's stunning necklace, a wave of jealousy hit her. Despite going to similar auctions, she never managed to snag anything that valuable.
She never expected Susanna to casually wear it around her neck, with a history even grander than her own jewelry!
