The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 159: Hall of Fame

Chapter 159: Hall of Fame

If Valerie had a talent, that would be irritating someone just by breathing. There was something about her tone of voice and the way she laughed that could make anyone feel small. No matter how Fil thought she was immune to that, it still got to her.

"Filomena, what is the meaning of this?" this time, Rosalind joined in the fun. "A rock as a gift? Are you implying a memorial for the chairman?"

’Of course, she will join,’Fil mentally sighed but still maintained her composure on the outside. "Of course not, Madam Hale. It’s —"

"Are you trying to embarrass our family?" Rosalind continued, portraying herself as the righteous daughter who was simply concerned for her father. "How could you gift the chairman a mere rock?"

"After all the good things our family did for you and your family, this is how you’re going to show your gratitude?" Valerie added in a hiss, as if she wasn’t satisfied in dragging Fil’s name through the mud. "I’m out of words for you, Filomena."

Fil sucked air through her teeth, darting her eyes between Valerie and Rosalind. In her mind, she was already planning for their demise in the future.

’I lowered my guard,’ she told herself, accepting this momentary defeat. ’I shouldn’t have underestimated them.’

Fil slowly veered her eyes to the people around, their displeasure was evident. Even the ones who were initially praising her when the chairman introduced her looked disappointed.

"Rosalind," the chairman called in a low growl, this time giving them a sharp look. "It seemed you had quite a wine for the night. You should sober up for now."

Rosalind’s arrogant smirk disappeared the second her father set his eyes on her. She tried to keep a brave and prideful front, but her eyes cast down. Valerie, on the other hand, frowned deeply. Of course, her mother would fold. Everyone in the family was a coward to the chairman except her.

"Grandpa, we’re simply concerned!" Valerie defended. "Filomena is giving you a rock! If this isn’t about memorial, then what is it in there?! Look at her! She’s not even denying it."

"Filomena." Ignoring the young lady’s tantrums, Madam Sinclair looked at Fil sincerely. "Are you not saying something you should, hmm? For instance, your gift being replaced?"

Fil’s brows rose in surprise at Madam Sinclair’s question. ’Chance!’ she thought, knowing this was her only chance to come clean. Although it might humiliate the chairman one way or another, Fil wouldn’t just take the fall.

But alas, just as her mouth parted, the unhinged man spoke.

"This gift is from Filomena," the man asserted, causing Fil’s face to twitch. "No one can replace it. I held on to it from beginning to end. Never kept my eyes off of it!"

Madam Sinclair furrowed her brows, casting the chairman a quick look. The latter looked concerned. Hence, they both cast Fil a look.

’I should tell them,’Fil told herself, knowing the chairman and Madam Sinclair would back her up. ’I should tell...’

Deep lines appeared between Fil’s brows as she intuitively gazed at the unhinged man. This time, the man was also looking at her with this strange and inexplicable gaze. Fil didn’t know why, but the man seemed to be waiting for her to say anything as well. But she was sure denying it wasn’t one of them.

’This man,’she thought, assessing him from up and down. ’There’s nothing special about him. If the scar across his brow and the strong scent of smoke counts, then...’

Again, Fil’s thoughts trailed off.

’His scent!?’Her eyes dilated a little, finally realizing where she caught that scent before. ’Jack’s been smelling the same scent after one of his business trips. At least, all his laundries on that trip. If I remember correctly, he said the man he was negotiating with was someone who was surrounded by smoke a lot. Don’t tell me, he...?’

It was a wild idea, and she might be mistaken. But Fil wanted to believe Rosalind did not send this man but was sent along with the gift.

"No." Fil drew a deep breath and smiled, facing Madam Sinclair and the chairman. "Nothing like that happened. This party is special and I believe no one in here is so wicked to do this just to humiliate a nobody."

"Are you sure, Fil?" the chairman inquired, and Fil nodded. "If you say so, then I believe you."

Madam Sinclair also smiled in relief. "So, what does this rock signify? I’m pretty certain there’s more to see?"

"Well." Fil cleared her throat, casting the unhinged man a look. The man smiled in satisfaction, nodding at her reassuringly.

"Madam is not only pretty, but insightful. I’m assuming it was because of your experience, which not some people in here have." The man humored, directing that insult toward Rosalind and Valerie. He then slowly shoved his hands inside his pockets as he continued;

"People say things have different values in different places. A bottled water costs less in the convenience store, but at different places like the airport, it costs three times more," the man spoke while taking out some of his small tools, and placing them down on the table beside the rock. "If a person dies, a person in the cemetery would bury the body. But in the hospital, they would give you a form to donate the organs that could save other people."

"As for this rock, the young lady and the old madam see it as a mere rock of no importance. Some would give meaning to it spiritually," the man added in a solemn tone, yet, somehow, it felt insulting on the receiving end. "But for others, who had enough knowledge in these things, this rock is more than just a spiritual meaning or a decoration in the garden."

"It is an art in its raw form." The man slowly took what looked like a small drill, holding the rock in place. "And a masterpiece in process."

The man drilled a tiny and hollow hole in the rock. Once he was done, he took out another of his tools. Using a small hammer and nail, he tapped it carefully, but with precision. Everyone who was listening to him stared at the rock, as it seemed he was trying to break it in half.

"Lo and behold," he muttered as he smiled as soon as he tapped on the stone and heard a satisfying faint crack. "The beauty of one of the world’s finest diamond Hall of Famers since the mid-1600s."

The man carefully opened the perfectly split stone, revealing a pink gem in it.

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