Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 215 Emeralds and Envy

"Pretty impressive."

At the tennis court.

After training, Violeta wiped the light sweat from her forehead with a towel.

Kaylee handed over a bottle of water from the side. "Vio, here you go."

"Thanks."

"Psh, what's there to thank for."

Kaylee walked in. "They're giving a speech in the auditorium again. Zelena and Hattie must be feeling pretty pleased with themselves."

Violeta took a sip of water, sat on the bench, and rolled up her pants legs to let them breathe. Her slender legs were fair-skinned, and even the veins at her ankles were visible. "They deserve to feel pleased when it's their time."

Kaylee said, "If Nolan hadn't invited you first, they wouldn't have been invited."

Violeta countered, "It's not about who Nolan invited. Even if Nolan had invited me, they still would have gone."

If Violeta had gone alone, Zelena and Hattie wouldn't have let it slide so easily. Who knows what trouble they would have stirred up?

It was better to let them attend. Besides, Violeta could have been more eager to step onto the stage herself.

Kaylee nodded after thinking about it. "True, they can't stand your success. Focus on practicing before the championship and go win that gold medal." "Yeah."

Violeta took off her jacket, revealing an emerald bracelet on her wrist.

Kaylee immediately noticed the bracelet and couldn't see its beauty. "Vio, your bracelet is so gorgeous!"

Violeta glanced at her wrist and smiled. "My mom bought it for me while travelling in Verdancia."

Kaylee exclaimed, "It's so pretty! Can I take a closer look?"

Violeta carefully removed the bracelet and handed it over. Kaylee accepted it delicately, mindful of its value. Emeralds were pricey, so she handled them carefully to avoid damage.

The emerald's glassy bottom revealed almost imperceptible flaws, its intricate structure visible only upon close inspection. Floating within were three colours of delicate flowers, lending it a nearly ethereal quality.

"The emerald is so beautiful, I can see why it must be valuable. I'll be extra careful not to break it," Kaylee remarked, returning the bracelet to Violeta.

Violeta replied, "Of course, it's emerald."

Kaylee returned the bracelet, speaking familiarly to Violeta, "Obviously, you wouldn't wear glass."

"If I had something that precious, I wouldn't risk wearing it out!"

Violeta chuckled. "But whether it's glass or emerald, it's all just decoration."

Kaylee nodded in agreement. "True. I think I'll treat myself to a boutique visit tomorrow and maybe get a crystal bracelet. Maybe a rose quartz. They say it attracts love!"

After their break, the two chatted and laughed, then left the tennis court together.

The two walked out of the tennis court together with their jackets in hand.

Previously, Violeta had also worn the bracelet hidden under long sleeves and gone unnoticed. Now, with her jacket off, the emerald bracelet shimmered with such brilliance that it caught everyone's eye.

As the weather warmed up in Quinston over the next few days, Violeta began to shed her jacket, and many tennis club members noticed the emerald bracelet on her wrist. Only a few people knew, like Kayle, that Violeta's bracelet was emerald, not glass.

Some boys, impressed by the bracelet Violeta wore, thought she had bought it from a nearby boutique and rushed to buy similar bracelets for their girlfriends. This unintended trend unexpectedly boosted sales of flashy glass bracelets in nearby boutiques for several days.

This sudden trend of bracelets in school caught Zelena's attention. Discussions about glass bracelets even started in their class.

On Friday, Zelena wore her emerald bracelet to class. Its lustre could be described as luxurious and was completely different from regular glass beads.

Spotting it, students in the back row whispered to each other, "Look at Zelena's bracelet on her wrist. It's so beautiful and glossy. I wonder where she bought it."

"Yeah, it looks way better than mine. It even has that floating colour. So pretty."

"Should we ask her after class where she got it?"

"Do you think she'll tell us?"

"Zelena seems approachable. I think she might."

"Alright."

Class ended.

Several girls gathered around Zelena's desk.

"Zelena, your bracelet is so beautiful! Where did you buy it?

Hattie, touching up her makeup nearby, heard the question and glanced at Zelena's wrist, suppressing a smirk. She knew Zelena would definitely show off this bracelet. Look, here it was, on display. What's the big deal?

Zelena achieved her goal. She pretended to be surprised. "Oh? Are you talking about this bracelet?"

"Yeah!"

"Emerald Bracelets are so trendy now. Yours is the prettiest. Where did you get it? Can you tell us? We want to get the same one."

Zelena covered her mouth and chuckled. "I got this one in Verdancia."