The gemstone gleamed under the exhibition lights like a captured star, encased in a velvet cradle of indulgence. Ten carats, surrounded by haloed bricks and stones, each over a carat themselves. It wasn’t just jewelry. It was a statement. A legend in mineral form.

“A style worth collecting,” someone murmured behind Linsy.

She turned instinctively and caught Violet Bento’s gaze. The woman’s lips curved in a sleek smile, the corners slightly curled with provocation, almost as if to ...