Chapter 171


    Erica’s face turned red and her eyes popped out in anger, making her look like a fiend.


    She rushed over and raised her hand to p Eliana, but her wrist was grabbed by Asher.


    “Erica, stop it,” Asher warned sternly, digging his nails into her wrist.


    “Why?!” Erica’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She seduced you shamelessly!”


    Her shoulders heaved as she fumed with anger and pointed an using finger at Eliana.


    “Eliana, you bitch! Can’t you live without a man? Back when you were rich, you used to sleep with a


    gigolo, and now that you have no money, you want to seduce my rich husband! Where are the security


    guards? Kick this shameless bitch out!”


    Erica’s raucous assertion drove the whole venue into an uproar. In an instant, Eliana found herself


    being the center of unwanted attention.


    Maurice couldn’t stand aside any longer. He stepped forward before Eliana could exin.


    Then, he went straight to her and wrapped his arm around her waist, as if iming her.


    Gazing coldly at the contemptible couple standing in front of him, he domineeringly dered, “Miss


    Pierce is mypanion. Mr. Harrison, you would do well to ask your wife to watch her mouth.”


    Erica’s face instantly shrunk, as if she had just swallowed a lemon. “Did I say anything wrong? She is


    just a social climber-”


    “Erica Harrison!” Maurice growled, interrupting her. “Don’t try my patience! Have you forgotten the


    lesson you learned before regarding the pink diamonds? If you dare to say one more word, don’t me


    me for being ruthlesster.”


    Erica pursed her lips tightly in displeasure, but there was nothing she could do.


    ‘Damn it! How could Eliana be lucky enough to have Maurice backing her up?’ she wondered bitterly.


    She was not reconciled at all. Eliana was someone that Erica could easily insult in public, but she could


    not afford to provoke a big fish like Maurice.


    Maurice stormed off with Eliana, leaving the couple in his wake, who watched their receding back with


    envy and resentment.


    Although Erica didn’t dare to say anything more, the onlookers around them began to gossip about


    Eliana in hushed tones, though their words were loud enough for everyone to hear.


    “Wow, thatdy even seduced another woman’s husband!”


    “I’ve seen a lot of material girls like her. But how did she seduce Mr. Moran?”


    Embarrassed by these words, Eliana subconsciously tried to get rid of Maurice’s hand on her waist.


    However, Maurice just held her even tighter and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “I don’t


    mind.”


    Hearing that, Eliana was stunned. She raised her head and looked at him in surprise. “What did you


    say?”


    “I said I don’t mind. I don’t mind even if you have a boyfriend or you’ve slept with a gigolo before.


    Unless…”


    “Unless what?” Without knowing why, Eliana began to feel flustered.


    “Unless you hired a gigolo to pretend to be your boyfriend.” Maurice’s eyes darkened as he spoke.


    Eliana’s heart skipped a beat when she heard those words, and she had to struggle to keep her


    composure.


    “How could that be? How could I do that?” Eliana finally asked with a wry smile.


    Maurice didn’t say anything, and just watched Eliana put on an act.


    Who knew better than him whether Eliana had done that or not?


    At this time, the auction was about to begin. Still holding onto Eliana’s waist, Maurice led her to their


    seats.


    Erica and Asher were sitting not far away from them.


    “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending the auction. A very warm wee to everyone


    present here. Now, let’s start the auction with our first precious item.”


    With a practiced flourish of his hand, the auctioneer lifted the red cloth that was covering the first


    auction item on the stage.


    It was an exquisitely-made music box that had aged beautifully.


    “ording to the records, this antique music box was made by a skilled royal craftsman in Louis XIV’s


    court. Over the centuries, it has passed into the hands of various collectors.”


    The auctioneer’s exnation echoed faintly in Eliana’s ears. It had never urred to her that her


    parents’ music box would be the first auction item of the day. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it.


    “The base price of this antique music box is $5 million. With every bid, the price of this music box will


    be raised by at least $100, 000.”


    Eliana’s heart sank when she heard the price. Her hope seemed to vanish in an instant.


    But before she could dwell on it for long, Maurice turned around and handed her the bidding paddle


    indifferently.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    “Do you want it? Raise it by yourself.”