Chapter 404


    Chapter 404


    Lucas was touched by Anastasia’s gentle reminder, and he gave her a grateful smile as he said, “Thank


    you for your concern, Miss Tillman.” He would never have agreed to Riley and Aliona’s ns had they


    not used his son’s life as leverage. He could never bring himself to do this to Elliot, but as things were,


    he had no choice.


    There was nothing he could do but watch Aliona seed in her plot against Elliot. Resigned, he looked


    at Elliot and said meaningfully, “The young woman on your arm right now is as gorgeous as she is kind.


    Make sure to keep her.”


    “We’ll invite you to our wedding for sure, Mr. Dora,” Elliot replied with a good naturedugh.


    Anastasia, on the other hand, blushed. There he goes with that nonsense again, she thought in


    exasperation, though there was no denying the fondness she felt for him.


    “Very well, and I’ll be sure to show up for the asion. Have fun this evening.”


    Not long after, the first session of the auction kicked off. Elliot wasted no time in bidding for a diamond


    bracelet for Harriet, and he was the highest bidder at three million. Next to him, Anastasia pursed her lips


    as she tried to reign in her shock.


    This was closely followed by his bidding for an antique, and it was sold to him at a whopping eight


    million. A gift for Harriet, he had told Anastasia.


    She swallowed. The man was shopping like how she would at a thrift store at this point of the auction. He


    didn’t even blink when he bid millions on the items.


    “You’re wee to put up your card when you see something you like,” Elliot said quietly as he leaned


    closer to her. Most of the things he had bid on were more suited to geriatric tastes, so he didn’t manage


    to get anything for Anastasia.


    She shook her head and pointed out, “I’d rather not take advantage of your money, Elliot. It’s bad


    behavior.”


    “You’ll be my woman someday anyway; think of it as indulging in advance,” he countered with a confident


    smile. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She didn’t know how he could be so confident that they would get married one day, but she had to admit


    that confidence certainly boosted a man’s charms.


    At that moment, she nced over at Aliona, who sat toward the front of the crowd.


    She had turned around several times to cast ediniring looks at Elliot, and it was cle to see that she was


    trying to seduce him.


    Anastasia whispered in amusement, “I think Miss Dora has feelings for you.”


    “Those are nothingpared to the feelings I have for you,” Elliot said matter-of factly as he turned to


    look at her with a devilish gleam in his obsidian eyes.


    A smile touched Anastasia’s lips, and he took the chance to wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling


    her close to kiss her on the forehead. She froze at first, and when she nced at Aliona again, she met


    thetter’s scornful and mutinous gaze.


    She hated Aliona for her disgusting two-faced demeanor.


    Aliona, on the other hand, sneered when she saw how tenderly Elliot had kissed Anastasia on the


    forehead. He’ll be mine by the end of the night. Mark my words, Anastasia. Just imagining the


    devastated look on Anastasia’s face filled her with satisfaction


    After the first round of the auction was over, Aliona leaned close and whispered to Lucas, “I think it’s time


    you introduce me.”


    Lucas sighed wearily and rose to go up on stage, whereupon he announced, “Thank you all for being


    here tonight. Next up, I have an important announcement. I would like to introduce all of you to someone,


    namely my daughter, Aliona.”


    When her name was called, Aliona rose in her seat and elegantly made her way up the stage. Then, she


    hugged Lucas as she said sentimentally, “Thank you, Dad. I love you the most.”


    Lucas was decidedly ufortable in her embrace, but just as he was about to pull away, she


    whispered in her ear menacingly, “I’ll be handing you a ss of wer, and I want you to give it to


    Elliot.”


    “I want no part in this,” Lucas rejected in hushed tones.


    “Oh, but that won’t do. You must be the one to give him the wine,” she drawled as she dug her nails into


    his shoulders, threatening him.


    “Fine,” he bit out forcefully and unwillingly,


    Below the stage, everyone thought that it was a harmless and loving embrace between a father and his


    daughter. They were all clueless about the truth of their exchange.


    Meanwhile, Anastasia was seated as she took in the scene. She had to give it to Aliona for being so


    dedicated in her pursuit of Elliot.


    Now that the first round of the auction was over, the guests resumed their rxed chatter and ss-


    clinking, hoping that they could seize every chance to strengthen. their socialwork during the benefit


    g. Some of them circled Elliot, who was the main target of these social climbers tonight, while trying to


    get acquainted with him.


    TT


    They even tried to hand him the precious goods they had bid for during the auction as gifts, but Elliot


    turned them all down.


    Just then, Lucas walked up to him with two sses of wine in hand, one of which had been spiked by


    Aliona.