Chapter 13
A Renaissance silk fan was presented. It was intricately embroidered with a majestic golden eagle soaring in mid- flight.
*260 thousand dollars!” Someone made an offer.
Jessica, normally indifferent to items of such modest value, found herself inexplicably captivated. She hesitated. briefly before speaking up.
100 thousand dollars!”
There was actually nothing particularly special about this fan, except its fine craftsmanship. Coming from the Richardson family in Lunarisca renowned for their embroidery techniques, an opening bid of 160 thousand dollars was already steep, and 260 thousand dollars seemed the limit. No one had expected Jessica to suddenly offer 400 thousand dollars.
“Since it’s a charity gala, I’d like to contribute my bit as well.” Jessica spoke softly.
As she did, admiring glances came from the surrounding crowd.
Just then, without Lola giving the command, the foreign man stood up again.
“One million dollars from Ms. Lewis!”
This announcement sent a ripple of shock through the onlookers.
Jessica, taken aback, turned to look at Lola, and spoke embarrassedly.
“Lola, you have been a bit impulsive when you bid on the bracelet with a high price. If you bid high again for this fan, it might be… Why don’t you discuss it with the gentleman behind you? Maybe let
me have the fan?”
As Jessica spoke, her eyes flickered momentarily towards the man standing behind Lola.
It was clear to anyone that the man was purely respectful towards Lola. Jessica’s suggestion for Lola to discuss with the man wasn’t truly about discussing with him, but rather referred to his employer, in other words, the financial backer behind Lola.
After all, Lola had been so thrifty before that she wouldn’t even buy clothes for herself, and now here she was at auction. The reason was obvious.
“Let you have the fan?” Lola sneered, her eyes coldly turning to Jessica.
“Ms. Moore, you might not know, but I don’t let others take what belongs to me. I would rather throw it away?
Hearing Lola’s meaningful undertone, Dominick slightly frowned.
At this moment, the foreign man also spoke, his Lumarian halting and deliberate. “While Ms. Lewis certainly doesn’t compare to the status of this young lady here, the charitable donation she makes tonight come entirely from her personal funds, independent of anyone else!”
“Oh, it seems I’ve got it all wrong.”
With a laugh, Jessica’s gaze darted between them. Although her words suggested a misunderstanding, her eyes couldn’t hide a trace of disdain.
She believed no one knew Lola better than her.
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Clupter 13
An abandoned girl with an unknown past, taken in by the Mitchell family, Lola had been Brittany’s stand–in for two years. Later, through the Mitchell family’s connections, she had entered a prestigious school, met them, and made her way into high society.
The fan was now placed in Lola’s hands. She fiddled with it, as if it were nothing different from the cheap fans. on the streets.
“Two million dollars from Ms. Lewis!”
“3.6 million dollars from Ms. Lewis!”
“Four million dollars from Ms. Lewis!”
… from Ms. Lewis!”
bought
Whenever Lola showed even a slight interest in an item, the foreign man would bid immediately, often leaving no chance for others to compete. What was said to be a charity auction had turned into Lola’s personal showcase.
Lola’s actions were the very definition of what Jessica had referred to as impulsive, perfectly explaining what Lola had said about her never letting others take what belonged to her. Her behavior left the high society crowd utterly speechless, even prompting the usually vocal ladies to bite their tongues.
“Now, we will present the highlight of tonight, the Diamond of the Glory Hill.
As the host spoke, two hostesses rolled a display table to the stage’s center. They lifted off the cover, revealing a crown in a glass case. It was adorned with hundreds of diamonds of various
sizes, but the true star was the rose–shaped main gem at its peak. In the light, this gem radiated a brilliance unmatched by any other.
This gemstone boasts an extraordinary history spanning over five thousand years, marking it a rare and coveted treasure. It has journeyed through numerous nations, each chapter of its existence shrouded in legend. The ancient Fluviora culture speak of it, proclaiming that to possess this gem is to hold the world in your hands.
The crowd’s attention was unanimously captivated by the crown on stage, and even Lola looked up to see.
“The starting bid is 200 million dollars.”
Many had been keen to participate. However, the staggering starting price quickly dampened most people’s enthusiasm.
“206 million dollars!” a man shouted.
Before the auctioneer could speak, another woman’s voice rang
*210 million dollars!”
*216 million dollars!”
Lola cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at the crown showcased behind the glass, then quickly shifted her attention away, seemingly bored. She yawned languidly, leaned back comfortably, and took out her phone. Casually flipping through it, she started playing a game, her engagement seeming only half–hearted.
The man did not bid this time.
“240 million dollars!” Jessica made an offer. Lola halted mid–scroll, turning to her.
Jessica’s hand, still holding the bidding paddle, hadn’t yet lowered. Seeing Lola looking at her, she smiled gracefully. “One needs to know their place and act accordingly, rather than yearning for things that don’t belong to them. Even if
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one does get them, in the end, one will lose them again.”
“Things”
Lola laughed, her gaze sweeping over Dominick before turning to Jessica.
“Ms. Moore, you are talking about herself, aren’t you?”
With that, Lola mouthed Jessica’s name.
Dominick glanced at Jessica to his left, and then at Lola to his right coldly.
In his mind, Lola had always been obedient, quiet, and inconspicuous to the extent that everyone overlooked her existence. She had never been involved in such confrontations. Now, she seemed like a rose in the night – beautiful but dangerous, her thorns ready to draw blood from anyone who dared touch her. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“250 million dollars!” A wealthy lady called out.
*260 million dollars!” Jessica glanced at Lola, then coldly shifted her gaze, speaking slowly. Her hand clenched tightly into a fist.
The charity auction was, in some ways, a display of prestige. It was about living up to the expectations for the Moore family, the Moore Group, and also for her, the future wife of Dominick Sinclair, a position Jessica was determined not to lose to someone as insignificant as Lola.
As Jessica spoke, many people instantly fell silent, not because she was the lady of the Moore family, but because of Dominick seated beside her
“260 million dollars going once!
“260 million dollars going twice…”
Before the auctioneer could finish, a faint voice interrupted.
“280 million dollars.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked over, only to see that the bidder was Lola, seated in the center. She was still looking down at her phone, as if it was not she who made the offer.
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