Californium?
What was that?
Everyone present froze for a moment, exchanging skeptical glances. Was this some kind of joke?
Whatever it was, could it possibly be more valuable than diamonds?
Even if it was as big as a diamond, the size of a pebble, it couldn't be worth more than a few thousand dollars. That wouldn't even cover the cost of a single tire on the Maserati.
"Mike, you've redefined my understanding of both comedy and poverty," Ethan Bear sneered, his laughter dripping with mockery. "I've seen people trying to show off before, but I've never seen someone do it with so little intelligence."
The crowd erupted into laughter, their voices echoing through the luxurious space.
Mike Carter stood there, unfazed, his expression a mix of disappointment and amusement.
To him, the reaction was far worse than he had expected. The so-called "elite" of River Valley's high society were shockingly ignorant. These so-called rich kids lacked even the most basic knowledge. They didn't recognize californium?
"Mike, just leave already," someone jeered.
"Seriously, you're embarrassing everyone here. Sophia, if you were going to hire a fake boyfriend, at least pick someone who knows how to fake it better."
Downstairs, the crowd's disdainful whispers grew louder. Leila Stewart came up to Sophia Rivers and grabbed her by the arm, trying to pull her away. Her expression was one of disgust.
"You see what I mean now?" Leila said sharply. "Mike Carter is nothing but a clown. I told you—I saw him stealing snacks from my family's store. And now he's here pretending to be someone he's not. How much lower can he go?"
Leila shot Mike a glare that could have pierced steel. "Get out of here already. Sophia trusted you, and this is how you repay her?"
The crowd's laughter and taunts turned into a tidal wave of humiliation.
Sophia's face reddened as the weight of everyone's scorn bore down on her. She felt a pang of guilt. She had brought Mike here. She hadn't anticipated how cruel the night would turn for him.
Mike glanced at Sophia, who looked like she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Instead, she let Leila pull her away. Sophia didn't follow Mike, even as he turned and walked toward the exit, his steps calm and steady.
As Mike disappeared into the night, Sophia wrestled with a swirl of emotions—guilt, anger, and regret. She had handed him $5,000 to help him prepare for this evening, but he had chosen to show up with this. What had he been thinking?
Her phone buzzed in her hand as she debated whether to send him an apology text. Before she could decide, her family's butler approached, holding an envelope in his gloved hands.
"Miss Sophia, Mike asked me to return this to you," the butler said, handing her the envelope.
Sophia opened it and found the money she had given Mike, untouched.
"He didn't take the money?" Sophia's brows furrowed deeply. The guilt in her chest grew heavier.
"He has some sense of dignity, I'll give him that," Ethan sneered, cutting into her thoughts. "At least he knows his place."
The butler's attention, however, was elsewhere. His eyes were fixed on the small box in Sophia's hand. His usually composed demeanor shifted, replaced by an unusual intensity.
"Miss Sophia," the butler said carefully, "this box… would you mind if I took a closer look at it?"
Sophia was surprised. "Why? It's just a box," she said, handing it over.
The butler studied the intricate craftsmanship of the box, his gaze lingering on its polished edges and unique carvings. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice tinged with reverence.
"This is no ordinary box. It's the kind of container used to hold something… priceless. If you don't need it, I would be honored to keep it."
Before Sophia could respond, Ethan interrupted with a harsh laugh.
"You're kidding, right? It's a box for holding rocks. Why on earth would you want that?"
The butler said nothing, but the seriousness in his expression deepened.
Just then, a woman's voice called out from the doorway, silencing the room.
"Sophia!"
Everyone turned to see a strikingly beautiful woman entering. She was tall and elegant, with cascading waves of hair and an air of sophistication that silenced the room. It was Sophia's older sister, Veronica Rivers.
Veronica removed her sunglasses, her sharp gaze sweeping the crowd before landing on Sophia. But then her eyes locked onto the box in the butler's hands. Her expression changed instantly.
"Sophia," Veronica said, her voice urgent. "Where did you get that?"
Sophia blinked. "This? Mike gave it to me. Why?"
Veronica moved closer, her attention completely focused on the box. She took it from the butler, her movements deliberate and precise. As she opened it and saw the small piece of californium inside, her breath hitched.
"This… this is californium," Veronica said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The room fell silent. The murmurs and laughter died as everyone turned their attention to her.
"What's californium?" Sophia asked.
Veronica's eyes gleamed with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"It's the rarest and most valuable metal in the world," she explained. "It's used in advanced cancer treatments and scientific research. The global production is less than a quarter of a gram per year. One gram costs upwards of $30 million."
Gasps filled the room.
"Wait," someone blurted out. "Are you saying that tiny piece of… whatever it is… is worth millions?"
Veronica nodded. "And not just millions. It's priceless. You can't even buy this on the market. Whoever gave this to you… either has unimaginable wealth or connections beyond what you could imagine."
Sophia's eyes widened. Her mind raced as she replayed the events of the evening. Mike's calm demeanor, the way he had handed her the gift without any expectation. And yet, it was worth more than everything Ethan had brought combined—more than everything Ethan owned.
Ethan's face turned ashen as the realization hit him. He looked at the Maserati parked outside and then back at the box. The roses, the car, the grand gestures… all of it paled in comparison to what Mike had casually handed Sophia.
"Impossible," Ethan muttered, his voice shaking. "There's no way that guy could afford something like this. It's a trick. It has to be a trick!"
The murmurs around him grew louder. People who had laughed at Mike minutes ago were now whispering about Ethan's humiliation.
"A Maserati? That's pocket change compared to what Mike gave her."
"Who's the real clown now?"
Ethan clenched his fists, his face red with fury and shame. He turned and stormed out, leaving the party in awkward silence.
Veronica handed the box back to Sophia with a knowing smile.
"It seems you've found someone extraordinary, little sister."
Sophia's cheeks flushed as she stared at the box. She pulled out her phone and, after a moment's hesitation, typed out a message to Mike:
"Mike, where are you? I'd like to see you. I… owe you an apology. Can we talk?"