Chapter 4: The True Price
Marcus stepped forward, using a delicate silver key to open the glass case. With gloved hands, he lifted the timepiece resting on the black velvet cushion.
The watch was intricate—an openwork skeleton dial revealing gears no larger than the head of a pin, moving with silent, hypnotic grace.
"This piece is the *Aeterna Genesis*," Julian explained, speaking not to insult, but to educate. "It was assembled by Master Horologist Jean-Pierre Laurent over the course of four years. He lost eighty percent of his central vision finishing the tourbillon bridge by hand."
Julian looked Carter dead in the eye.
"My father didn't buy this to show off on social media. He commissioned it to preserve Laurent’s workshop when the man couldn't afford treatment for his wife’s leukemia. The price tag isn't about bragging rights. It’s the cost of human time, dedication, and survival."
Carter stared at the watch, the color completely drained from his cheeks. His friends had completely pocketed their phones, standing awkwardly near the marble pillars, desperate to vanish into the background.
"You called me a bum because I wear clothes meant for working," Julian continued softly. "I spend six months a year in our assembly apprenticeships learning how to make these springs from raw steel. Real value isn't inherited through a credit card limit. It's earned through labor."
Marcus leaned in slightly. "Mr. Julian, should I contact Mr. Arthur Hayes regarding his son’s conduct on store grounds?"
May you like
Carter’s eyes widened with genuine panic. "No—please. If my dad finds out I caused a scene with the Vance family, he’ll cut me off completely. Please, don't."
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