However, I remembered that Brother Adrian mentioned a couple of days ago that he couldn’t come up with a hundred million in cash right now. I thought optimistically, since they don’t have enough money, I still have a chance of winning. The auction started soon. This auction house is one of the top-ranked international auction houses, attracting many wealthy individuals from home and abroad to their annual charity auctions. I also saw several familiar faces at the venue, all wealthy people from Fallhaven. The previous paintings by famous artists and antique ceramics, even the cheapest deals were in the tens of millions. Those rich folks were enthusiastically throwing money around, as if buying a head of cabbage. I secretly clicked my tongue, starting to worry that I might not be able to get the Bracelet. Adrian was with Sophie, the two of them occasionally whispering to each other, looking all sweet and loving, completely forgetting how they publicly argued and embarrassed themselves a few days ago. They had raised their paddles a few times but hadn’t successfully bid on anything, seemingly just joining in the fun. While I was slightly dazed, a small paddle suddenly nudged my arm. Turning my head, I saw Sophie leaning over Adrian and asking me, "Sis, why aren’t you bidding? Don’t you like anything?" I cursed inwardly, rolled my eyes with disdain, and ignored her. Unexpectedly, Sophie continued, "If there’s something you fancy but can’t afford, we can help you bid for it." I smiled and readily replied, "Sure, just don’t chicken out later." "How could that be? We’re all family—right, Brother Adrian?" Sophie’s fake sincerity was displayed to the fullest in that moment. Adrian turned to look at me, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Soon, it was time for the Bracelet. This jadeite Bracelet, carved from top-quality Hetian jade, was as pure as lard and fine and oily with a bright white glow, known as the Vintage Nephrite Wristlet, with extremely high collectible value. When I was eighteen, my mom handed me the Bracelet, and I remember her saying that my maternal grandpa’s ancestors were from a prestigious family and once held high positions in the court. The family had women who entered the palace and were favored, and this Bracelet was a reward. There was originally a pair, but one was broken during wartime escape, leaving only this rare piece. If it hadn’t been for my grandpa’s critical illness, my dad’s scoundrel relatives taking over most of the family business, and the heavy debts, my mom would never have pawned this Bracelet for money to save lives. After searching for years, I didn’t expect to hear any news about it, only for it to stunningly reappear. It seems my fate with the Bracelet hadn’t ended yet. Excitedly, I watched the Bracelet on the auction stage, elegantly fixed on a delicate display rack, glowing like the bright full moon. The audience immediately buzzed, countless wealthy people whispering in admiration of this Vintage Nephrite Wristlet. "Brother Adrian, I want this!" Suddenly, Sophie’s excited voice rang out. Upon hearing her, I turned my head and coldly stared at the two of them. Sophie noticed something and asked, "Sis, you’re not here for this Bracelet, are you?" I spoke frankly, "This is the Bracelet my mom left for me. You’ve seen it before and even made a fuss about wanting to wear it." "Huh? Is it this one? Why do I feel it doesn’t look like it? Your mom’s wasn’t this lustrously white." I fiercely cursed her in my heart. "Adrian, if you have any humanity left, don’t compete with me." I coldly eyed Adrian, warning in a low voice. As long as he doesn’t indulge her, Sophie doesn’t have the money to outbid me. Sophie shook Adrian’s arm, "Honey... I want this too. Look, my skin is so fair; it would look great on me." "Stop it for now, let’s talk later," Adrian gently soothed Sophie. I forcefully held back my disgust, took a deep breath, and focused my attention on the auctioneer. After hearing the auctioneer’s introduction, I became more convinced that this was indeed my mom’s Bracelet—it had entered the Fallhaven antique collecting circuit and was initially undervalued, only appearing in this auction after an expert recognized its true worth. "Vintage Nephrite Wristlet, starting bid, twenty million." As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, someone immediately raised a paddle: "Twenty-five million." "Thirty-two million." I knew what I was doing, unhurriedly watching and waiting. Unexpectedly, Sophie suddenly raised her paddle, "Fifty million!" The crowd stirred, turning to look at them. I was startled, realizing this bitch was starting to act. "Fifty million once, fifty million twice, fifty million..." Before the auctioneer could finish, I finally acted, "Fifty-five million." Sophie turned to look at me in surprise, but I ignored her. Adrian quietly asked, "Where did you get so much money?" I couldn’t be bothered to respond. The atmosphere suddenly went silent, everyone`s attention focused on our side. Sophie’s expression was visibly resentful, hesitating before raising her paddle again: "Sixty million." I raised my paddle: "Seventy million." "Seventy-five million!" Adrian, caught in between, glanced from side to side, and said in a low voice, "Can you two stop this? It’s not worth it for this Bracelet." "This was given by my mom; it’s an heirloom from my grandmother’s family, priceless." I explained blandly, raising my paddle again, "Eighty million." I refused to believe Sophie could continue bidding. I won’t deny, at this moment I was already headstrong and a bit irrational. It’s no longer just for the Bracelet; it’s for the dignity of myself and my mom. "Lily, do you have that much money? If you win the bid but can’t pay, it’s a serious breach of contract, not to mention losing face, and you’ll face huge fines. Don’t be willful!" Adrian furrowed his brow tightly, seriously reminding me. "It’s none of your business." The auctioneer looked around the room and called out loudly, "Eighty million once, eighty million twice, eighty million three..." "Eighty-five million." Just when I thought the bracelet was within reach, Adrian suddenly raised his placard and shouted. This move shocked not only me but also Sophie. She reacted joyfully, holding Adrian’s arm, "Brother Adrian, you’re amazing. I knew you love me the most." I turned to stare at him, my molars nearly grinding to dust. Speaking of the bracelet being overpriced, yet still upping the bid. Countless rich folks watched Adrian, smiles on their faces, but I felt they were more mocking. Obviously, they also thought the bracelet was overpriced. "Anyone else for eighty-five million?" "I’ll go, ninety million." It’s close to my limit, but there’s no choice. "Lily!" Adrian gritted his teeth. Sophie bent over, looked past Adrian at me, "Sis, what will you offer? Why get angry with us? I can let you borrow the bracelet once I buy it." Adrian fixed his gaze on me, seemingly ignoring Sophie’s insult towards me. Moments later, he raised his placard again: "Ninety-five million." I raised mine too: "One hundred million." Silence enveloped the room, everyone saw the tension between us reaching a boiling point. After I shouted one hundred million, Adrian was so shocked his eyes seemed about to shatter. He stayed silent, but Sophie became anxious: "Brother Adrian, you’re too great, keep up! I just want this bracelet." "One hundred and twenty million." Of course, Adrian couldn’t resist her charm; with Sophie’s coaxing, he continued bidding. The tight string in my heart snapped. My nose suddenly stung, and my eyes ached terribly. I used all my strength to suppress my tears from falling. This content belongs to novel-fire.net The deepest pain comes from someone you once loved the most. Despair and hatred seized my chest, even my fingers trembled. Moments later, I suddenly felt relieved, turning to him and asked, "If I keep bidding, will you continue following?" Adrian’s eyes flickered, seemingly bearing his own pain, softly saying, "Lily, stop this." I ignored him, smiling as I looked at him, then raised my placard: "One hundred and fifty million!" Worst case, I become a laughingstock, sell the company to pay fines, start all over again from nothing. But if I won the bet, wouldn’t it make him bleed heavily and feel real pain once? "Lily!" Indeed, after I called one hundred and fifty million, Adrian couldn’t hold his composure. But Sophie, clueless and naïve, didn’t understand. Seeing Adrian hesitating, with the auctioneer about to strike the gavel, she suddenly grabbed the placard, held it high: "Two hundred million!" The whole room erupted! Even the auctioneer got so excited he couldn’t speak properly, eagerly shouting, "Two hundred million! Anyone else? Two hundred million!" I thought Adrian would scold her, but he didn’t react much, quite indulgently too. Knowing he told me he couldn’t even afford one hundred million, yet turned around to throw two hundred million for Sophie, just to make her happy and oppose me—I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Laughing with tears finally uncontrolled, sliding down my cheek. My mind was chaotic, with a reckless impulse to drag everything down with me. My arm moved, ready to raise the placard again, but Adrian extended his hand and pressed it down. He stared unwaveringly at me, word by word: "Lily... don’t continue, you can’t afford it." I was shocked, surprised. Seeing the faint redness in his eyes, those words carried a pleading tone, and suddenly, I understood— Was it that he kept bidding to prevent me from winning and failing to pay, facing mockery and fines? So he kept bidding, to cover for me? Would he be that kind-hearted? Or was it... using this kindness as a guise to help Sophie bully me? I couldn’t fathom his actions. But thinking about him spending two hundred million would at least be a severe blow, I smiled charmingly, abandoning the thought of raising the placard. "Alright, I won’t bid, but can President Gordon afford two hundred million? Don’t forget, if you win the auction and break the contract, you’ll face huge fines." I kindly reminded. Adrian’s eyebrows furrowed tightly, glaring at me, realizing: "You did it on purpose?" I replied with a silent smile. Thinking about his dilemma, losing either way, made me feel somewhat better. Only, escaping Sophie’s mockery and humiliation was inevitable. "Anyone for two hundred million? Twice, two hundred million going thrice..." The auctioneer raised the hammer, making the final inquiry. Sophie was extremely excited, as if a terminal illness had been cured at that moment, "Brother Adrian, I finally got what I wanted!" "Three hundred million." Just as the auctioneer was about to finalize, a clear, gentle voice pierced the restless auction hall, shocking everyone’s senses. People turned towards the sound but couldn’t pinpoint where it came from. Until someone pointed out: "Upstairs, VIP private room!" I followed the voice upstairs to look, then realized there was an entire row of private boxes on the second floor! "The Carter Family from Fallhaven raised the placard!" "The Carter Family? They came to this auction too?" My heart skipped a beat, instantly conjuring Daniel Carter’s elegant and handsome image in my mind. My gaze subconsciously swept around, indeed, spotted that familiar figure, familiar smile. It’s really Daniel Carter!