The shop assistant smiled and said, "Of course, miss. Please have a seat and enjoy some coffee and pastries while I prepare your selection."


    He didn''t mention the price-none of the guests who made it to the third floor would ever ask. Once everything was packed, the total would simply be presented.


    Reba''s heart skipped a beat as she eyed the ruby tiara. She had enough experience to know that such a piece would be incredibly expensive. Rubies varied in quality, and these were far from the small, ordinary ones. These were exquisite and on a whole different level.


    She nced at Vi and whispered, "Since she wants it, you might as well buy it. What do you think?"


    Vi was so frustrated that she found herselfughing inwardly in disbelief.


    What did she think? Did she even have a choice? The shop assistant was already cing the tiara into a luxurious jewelry box.


    Even the box itself looked expensive. It was made of cherry wood, iid with velvet and a row of tiny gemstones. Its sides were carved with intricate patterns. A tiara packed in something thisvish could never be cheap.


    As the shop assistant neatly wrapped the tiara and presented it, he asked, "Madam, is there anything else you''d like to see?"


    Noticing Serena''s gaze drifting toward another tray, Vi quickly stepped forward. "No, just this one will do."


    The shop assistant smiled. "Very well. Thank you for your patronage,dies. This ruby-embedded tiara in gold thread will be 36,800 silver coins."


    Reba gasped aloud. "What? Over 36,000 silver coins for a single tiara?"


    Her outburst left the shop assistant stunned, and others in the nearby private rooms poked their heads out, surprise written all over their faces.


    Reba quickly covered half of her face with a handkerchief, her gaze pleading as she turned toward Vi for help.


    Serena was now holding the jewelry box in her hands, and she also looked at Vi. She hadn''t expected it to be this expensive. In the past, Carissa had given her jewelry and bracelets with gemstones, but those had only cost a few hundred silver coins. She thought that no matter how expensive this set might be, it would only cost two or three thousand silver coins at most.


    Vi had said they could only spend a thousand silver on jewelry today.


    However, since Serena was marrying into a prominent family, it should be fine to spend a few thousand on a nice tiara, right?


    But never in her wildest dreams had she imagined it would cost nearly 40,000 silver coins.


    Still, Serena knew Vi could cover


    the cost. In addition to herte husband''s pension, Vi''s dowry included a significant amount of silver coins and property fromTêxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    her


    own family. 36,800 silver coins was


    a hefty sum, but Vi could manage


    it.


    Serena quickly hugged the jewelry box close to her chest, then turned to Vi with a sweet smile. "Vi, thank you so much for contributing to my dowry."


    Vi stared in shock at Serena''s


    actions. A surge of anger and embarrassment rose to her head. She had thought Serena might refuse the tiara after hearing the price But instead, she had snatched


    it from the shop assistant and


    thanked her for contributing to her dowry.


    "You said this one was enough," Serena said with an innocent look, adding a touch of pitiful charm as she nced at Vi.


    Vi looked at Reba for support, and Reba nodded in agreement. "Since you decided on this one, we''ll go with what you chose."


    Vi''s eyes widened. She couldn''t believe that even her mother-inw had said that.


    The tiara was over 36,000 silver coins, and they were expecting let her to shoulder the cost?!


    The shop assistant was looking at Vi. Though his smile was unwavering, Vi felt that there was a hint of condescension in it.


    Feeling both humiliated and embarrassed, Vi took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. She addressed the shop assistant firmly, "We won''t take it."


    She expected the shop assistant to


    sneer or mock her, but he only maintained his polite smile. "Very well. If you don''t like it, feel free to


    choose something else ore


    back another time."


    He extended his hands, waiting for Serena to return the jewelry box. Since he was keeping his distance, the shop assistant was slightly bowed as he held out his hands.


    Yet, Serena didn''t return the box. Frustrated, she snapped, "Who said we don''t want it? We do! Mom, you need to get Vi to pay for it now!"


    Reba was genuinely appalled by the price. 36,800 silver coins for a single tiara was exorbitant, and it would make her heart ache to actually buy it.


    But with Carissa in another private room and others watching, she couldn''t afford to be embarrassed.


    So, she took a firm stance and said sternly, "Vi, if you don''t have enough money with you now, have the shop assistant collect it from our home."