The diamond saw bit into my selected stone with its familiar whine. I stood perfectly still, my arms crossed, watching Chen work with mechanical precision. The warehouse had fallen silent except for the cutting blade's steady rhythm.
Liam pressed closer to the cutting station, his eyes burning with desperate hope. "This worthless rock will prove Hayes is just another fraud," he muttered under his breath.
Franklin leaned forward from his stool, professional curiosity overriding his devastation. Despite his recent failures, decades of experience made him study every cut with intense focus.
The first slice revealed nothing promising. Gray stone met the blade, showing no hint of the green that would indicate jade content. Liam's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"Nothing there," he said loudly. "Just as expected from your miracle selection."
