Chapter 332: Chapter 332: A 180-Degree Turn

As Winnie Summers watched in mild surprise, Miles Howell bowed slightly, extended his hand for a handshake, and said with a smile, "Hello, Ms. Summers! My surname is Howell. Please, just call me Howell!"

Melody Summers: "..."

Melody Summers was dumbfounded. ’Is it just me, or does it feel like this Miles Howell has suddenly become a completely different person?’

Melody even began to wonder if the arrogant Miles Howell from a moment ago—the one with his legs crossed and a look of utter disdain—had just been a figment of her imagination.

It wasn’t just Melody who was surprised; Kylie Walsh, who was hiding and peeking from the balcony, was utterly shocked.

Kylie thought, ’Did Miles Howell take the wrong meds or something?!’

’Wasn’t he supposed to help me teach Melody Summers and her mother a lesson? So what’s with this bootlicking act now?’

Winnie Summers was also taken aback by this, but she still managed a polite smile and replied, "...Hello, Mr. Howell..."

Before Melody or Winnie could even process what was happening, Miles Howell quickly ushered them over. "Please, have a seat! Don’t just stand there!"

Seeing the warm smile on Miles Howell’s face, Melody and Winnie pushed down their confusion and sat on the sofa together.

After a moment of careful consideration, Winnie spoke. "Mr. Howell, about your jade pendant... we are truly sincere in our desire to purchase it. Is there any chance we could discuss it further? If you feel the price isn’t right, we’re willing to increase our offer. What price did you have in mind?"

Upon hearing this, Miles Howell waved his hands dismissively. "Not at all, not at all. That jade pendant was left to me by my father. The price is irrelevant. My main wish is for it to find its destined owner!"

"And now that I’ve met you two ladies, I’m certain that you are the ones destined to have it!"

This left Melody even more stunned. ’How did things end up so different from what I expected?’

’I was preparing for a tough fight, but we’re getting the pendant this easily?’

As Melody watched in astonishment, Miles Howell fumbled to put down his wine glass and picked up a box from the table.

He presented the box to Winnie Summers with both hands and said with a smile, "The pendant is here, Ms. Summers. Please, take it!"

Winnie took the box with both hands and opened it. Inside lay the very same jade pendant with the ruyi pattern.

Relieved, Winnie looked up at Miles Howell and said sincerely, "Thank you so much, Mr. Howell, for being willing to part with it. Please rest assured, I will take very good care of this pendant." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Miles Howell quickly waved his hands. "Not at all, you’re being too kind! It’s an honor for the pendant to be in your hands!"

He then took a business card from his pocket, offered it to Winnie with both hands, and said, "Oh, and this is my card. Please take it. If you need anything in the future, I am at your service anytime!"

Winnie was completely baffled by Miles Howell’s effusiveness.

She accepted the card with both hands. Looking at the gilt lettering, she said, a little sheepishly, "Thank you, Mr. Howell... but we’re just an ordinary family. We probably can’t afford the services you provide..."

Miles Howell immediately replied, "No, no, please don’t say that! It’s an honor for me that you’ve even accepted my card!"

Winnie, feeling a bit overwhelmed by his intensity, could only thank him again. She rose to her feet and said, "Thank you, Mr. Howell. We should be going now."

Miles Howell shot to his feet as well. He hurried forward to open the door for Winnie and Melody, his tone tinged with reverence. "Of course, of course, Ms. Summers. Please, watch your step!"

Only after the mother and daughter had left did Miles Howell finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Kylie Walsh had watched the entire exchange from the balcony. She was in shock from start to finish, almost wondering if she was dreaming.

’Is this really the same Miles Howell I know?’

’How could the ever-arrogant Miles Howell act like such a spineless suck-up in front of that mother and daughter?!’

Once Melody and her mother were gone, Kylie stormed out from the balcony and said in disbelief, "Miles Howell, what was all that about? Weren’t you supposed to put that mother-daughter duo in their place?!"

At her words, Miles Howell looked up at Kylie, his expression unreadable.

’At first, I really had planned to chew them out and then throw them out.’

’But...’

’Some time ago, the head of the Rhodes Family, Mr. Rhodes, had someone bring him two rough diamonds worth billions—one pink, and one blue.’

’He’d been in the business for decades and had handled countless precious gems, but he’d never seen colored diamonds so large, so flawless, and with such a rich, saturated hue.’

’Mr. Rhodes had tasked him with designing two pieces of jewelry for women with these diamonds, saying they were for the Rhodes Family’s future daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law.’

’Miles Howell knew that the pink diamond was now worn by the Rhodes CEO’s wife, Miss Thorne.’

’And the more valuable blue diamond... was being worn by that very same Ms. Summers just a moment ago!’

’There was absolutely no way he would mistake his own creation.’

’He realized that Ms. Summers had a profound connection to the Rhodes Family... She was almost certainly the "future daughter-in-law" Mr. Rhodes had mentioned!’

’Even if Ms. Summers was poor now, she was on the verge of marrying into wealth. He’d have to have a death wish to mess with them!’

Miles Howell silently wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. With a grim expression, he said to Kylie, "Don’t say another word. I can’t afford to get on their bad side... And out of friendship, I’m giving you some well-intentioned advice: don’t you mess with them, either. From now on, if you see them, you walk the other way."

Kylie was completely bewildered. She had no idea what Miles Howell was talking about.

’She, the great Miss Walsh of the Walsh Family, had to steer clear of those two? Why? Was there any justice in the world?’

Kylie grabbed Miles Howell, demanding that he explain himself.

But no matter how much she pressed him, Miles Howell refused to say another word.

...

Meanwhile, Winnie and Melody returned to the reception room, beaming as they held the jade pendant.

Seeing them return with the box, Joanna Dunn got up and asked, "Did you get the pendant?"

Winnie nodded and said with a smile, "We did! That Mr. Howell is actually quite nice, and he was very polite to us. Once he knew we were sincere about wanting the pendant, he just gave it to me. He didn’t even ask for more money."

Melody nodded in agreement. "Mr. Howell is a really nice guy, very friendly. He seems so refined and easy-going, not at all like the hot-tempered person from the rumors."

Miss Joanna Dunn nodded thoughtfully. "Then I guess the rumors were wrong... Maybe someone’s jealous of him and made up stories about him having a bad personality... Oh well, never mind that. The important thing is you got the pendant! Quick, open it and let me see!"

Winnie carefully opened the box. Inside, an openwork jade pendant with a ruyi pattern lay quietly.

The pendant was made of green-on-white jade, lustrous and delicate to the touch. The surface was carved with a ruyi pattern in smooth, flowing lines.

Miss Joanna Dunn ran a finger over the ruyi pattern and said with a smile, "The quality of the jade itself isn’t the best... but the pattern is very unique. A lot of thought must have gone into the design."

Winnie was also very pleased. ’This pendant looks so much like the one my father gave my mother,’ she thought. ’It’s so similar it could almost pass for the original.’

’If I give this pendant to Mom, she’ll be overjoyed!’

Just as the group was about to leave, the auctioneer from before came rushing over. He said to Winnie, "Ms. Summers, please wait a moment!"

Winnie turned to look at the auctioneer and asked, puzzled, "Is there something else?"

The auctioneer replied, "Yes. The jade pendant you won was the 37th transaction of the event, and the number 37 was just drawn as our lucky number. According to the rules, we have a gift for you. Would you please come with us to claim it?"

Melody was a little suspicious. ’What a coincidence...’

Joanna was also surprised. "Is that a rule? How come you never mentioned it before?"

The auctioneer smiled and replied, "You could call it an easter egg. It’s a special bonus for this charity auction."