The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 286

Patricia got more fired up the more she talked, her voice rising with frustration. “It’s bad enough they snatched it from me, but they actually thought I was an idiot. They just let me get all happy, didn’t bid at all, and then suddenly dropped five hundred million. I didn’t even have a chance to fight back.”

“Anthony, you have to help me. Get that diamond back,” Patricia demanded, her jaw tight like she was ready to tear the other person apart. “And find out who did it. I want to know who’s so reckless that they’d throw five hundred million at a diamond.”

Turns out, bidder number eight was Patricia. The person who outbid her and almost made her sick from anger… was Anthony.

Charlotte’s eyebrows lifted just a little as she glanced at Anthony, a sly, knowing smile flickering across her face. Anthony looked like he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

He was still trying to figure out how to calm Patricia down when there was a sudden knock at the door.

Hans walked in, clutching the SaKura diamond that had just been auctioned off for five hundred million.

“Anthony, I found this diamond just sitting out. I don’t know how it fell out, and I have no idea how to put it back…” Hans stopped talking as he realized everyone in the room was staring at him. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

What was going on? Why were they all looking at him like that? Anthony and Patricia especially—both of them looked like they could freeze someone solid with a glance.

“Anthony, um…” Hans swallowed nervously, barely managing to get the words out.

“Leave the diamond. Get out,” Anthony said, his voice cold and flat. He loosened his tie a little, but it didn’t make him look any less intimidating.

“Yes, sir.”

Hans felt his heart thudding as he caught Anthony’s frosty eyes. He set the diamond down and hurried toward the door.

“Wait.”

Hans stopped in his tracks and turned back, his voice small. “Yes, Anthony? Do you need anything else?”

Wow. Talk about a twist. The person she’d been so determined to find was right here all along.

Anthony looked at his grandmother, who was practically fuming, and couldn’t help but let a little smile slip onto his lips. There was a glimmer of laughter in his deep eyes. “But why did you want that diamond so much, Grandma?”

She was normally so careful with money. What had made her willing to spend two hundred million on a diamond?

Patricia’s eyes drifted over to Charlotte, who was sitting quietly nearby. Patricia’s face broke into a bright, proud smile. “It was for Charlotte. I wanted to give it to her.”

So the diamond meant for Charlotte was already in her hands. Hearing that, Charlotte’s lashes trembled and she suddenly felt all tangled up inside.

“Well, the whole thing was a mess, but at least it turned out right,” Patricia said warmly, squeezing Charlotte’s hand. She dropped her voice, her tone gentle and full of affection. “Sweetheart, you’re too good for Anthony. Being with him must be tough for you.”

Charlotte was speechless. Was Anthony really at the bottom of the family food chain?