Chapter 13 Raising the Bid
As the little incident settled down, it was time to move into the main event.
The lights in the hall dimmed and a man got up onto the stage with a spotlight on him.
"Good evening,dies and gentlemen! On behalf of South Hampton''s charity organizations, I hereby
thank you and wee you to the annual charity ball."
All the guests automatically gathered around the stage when the event started.
After a quick introduction, the emcee cum auctioneer started the main event of the night—the
auction.
The guests at the event were all wealthy and famous, so regardless of the items or their value,
every item up for bidding would find its new owner tonight.
In name, it was an auction for charity but frankly speaking, everyone knew it was a forceful
donation.
Item after item was being bid and won.
As the event reached the climax, the emcee said, "Lastly, let''s wee our prized item for the night
—the sapphire from Queen Elizabeth''s crown. It has been around for 80 years and it''s still shining
brightly today. It has appeared in many auctions abroad and after many turns of events, it ended
here in South Hampton.
"A kind gentleman, who wished to remain anonymous, donated this sapphire to us and the starting
price is 500,000 dors! And each call is 20,000 dors."
The man hit the gavel.
"600,000 dors!"
"620,000 dors!"
"640,000 dors!"
"700,000 dors!" A voice from the dark raised the price all of a sudden.
This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.
Jeanne did not care but Monica was curious. She turned to the voice and said, "I think it''s Eden."
Jeanne remained quiet.
Monica added, "I heard that little bastard is trying to get this piece of rock for Jasmine as a wedding
gift."
Jeanne was surprised. "How did you know?"
Monica clicked her tongue in disdain. "You have no idea how arrogant your stepsister was. Ever
since they fixed their wedding date, she has been showing off to whoever she meets.
"Everything that Eden did for her was a story that she can boast to her friends. The high society of
South Hampton isn''trge, of course, everyone heard about it."
Jeanne chuckled. She then raised her hand and called, "900,000 dors!"
Monica was shocked. In fact, not only her but everyone else in the venue turned to Jeanne in
disbelief.
The hall''s lighting was dimmed, notpletely dark. They could see Jeanne calling the price with
her hand raised.
Eden reacted bitterly to her call. Jasmine even wore a gloomy look on her face.
''What''s that woman doing?!''
She thought Jeanne had learned to be smart, so it surprised her when Jeanne embarrassed
Octavia in front of everyone.
Was Jeanne not afraid of Octavia''s retaliation after the wedding?
''Hmph! She''s as stupid as ever!''
With that in mind, Eden''s voice sounded in her ears. "1 million!"
"1.2 million." Jeanne continued to raise the price.
"1.4 million."
"1.6 million."
The gloom on Eden''s face was obvious. He turned to Jeanne and red at her.
Jeanne received multiple questioning gazes but she was not concerned.
Monica, on the other hand, got nervous.
The Jeanne she knew was as feisty as ever! The almighty queen could never be brought down that
easily! She even started to consider throwing all her money in to support Jeanne if Jeanne really
ran out of money.
The thought of Eden losing the bid and the grumpy look on Jasmine gave Monica an adrenaline
rush.
"1.8 million!" Eden squeezed the price out of his clenched teeth.
"2.4 million!" Jeanne said.
''Oh my God...'' Monica started to count how much money she had in her purse.
She did not put any hope in her husband, who was just a poor doctor. How much would a surgeon
earn annually? Besides, based on her understanding, Finn would never lend her the money. The
man was stingy and calctive and they could barely agree on the same thing.
Monica thought of her father. She even started to think of ways to persuade her father to lend her
the money. If she acted hard enough or shed a couple of tears, she could get a few hundred
thousand, probably.
She inhaled deeply.
The hall went quiet. No one raised the price after Jeanne''s 2.4 million.
Monica whispered in Jeanne''s ears, "How much money do you have?"
"Not a single penny."
Monica widened her eyes in shock. She started to rub her hands anxiously.
2.4 million was an astronomical figure even to her. She started to wonder if her father would beat
her to death after asking for the money.
"2.4 calling once."
"2.4 calling twice..."
"S..."
"3 million!" Eden shouted hisst offer.
Monica''s heart was pounding furiously.
She had a nce at Jeanne and she strongly believed Jeanne would raise the price again.
Jeanne, however, remained calm and there was not a hint of emotion on her face.
Monica cautiously asked, "Are you going to raise the price again?"
"Nope. I don''t have the money," Jeanne said.
Monica sighed a breath of relief. ''Geez, if you don''t have the money, why are you raising the price?!''
The emcee on the stage started counting down after Eden''s call.
"3 million calling once..."
The hall went quiet.
Eden red at Jeanne as if he was waiting for a challenge.
Jeanne felt it too but she was not concerned.
She did not raise the price because she wanted the piece of rock. She simply wanted to waste
people''s money.
"3 million calling twice..."
The hall remained silent.
"S..."
"4.5 million."
Just when everyone thought Eden was going to win the bid, a strong voice came from the dark.
The charming voice caused everyone''s heart to skip a beat.
At the moment, everyone turned their attention to Fourth Master Swan.
The man wore a cold look for the entire night and it was at this moment, he became the highlight of
the event.
Eden looked at his uncle in disbelief.
Fourth Master Swan did not look at anyone but the stone on the stage.
The emcee was stunned for a while before he regained hisposure. "4.5 million! Is there another
offer?!"
Eden dared not go against his uncle and 4.5 million had far exceeded his limit. His limit was actually
below 3 million.
"4.5 million calling once..."
"4.5 million calling twice..."
"Sold to Fourth Master Swan! Congrattions!" The emcee hit the gavel excitedly.
The staff took the stone and delivered it to Fourth Master Swan.
The man had a nce at the stone before Teddy epted it.
He looked at the stone in his hand and then his master.
Since when did the master he served be so unusual?