As it turned out, the second stone was extraordinary as well. It was another piece of imperial jade, but of even higher quality than the previous one. Although smaller in size, it could still be worth up to $1 million and was sufficient to craft both a bracelet and a pendant.
The stone master's heart nearly leaped from his chest as he examined the opened stones on his table. He hadn't encountered two consecutive imperial jades from the same person in a decade. This particular piece had a rich, deep color with no impurities and a remarkable luster. He began to think it might fetch even more than he initially estimated.
Even Miss Goldsmith stared at the stone in disbelief. She had paid little attention when Hera selected it, treating the process as casually as picking vegetables at a market. Hera hadn't even inspected the stone with the meticulousness of a professional; she simply looked at it briefly and felt its surface before making her choice.
