Daniel Carter sat aloof and magnificent on high, his gaze meeting mine, acknowledging me with a slight nod. Just the moment before, I felt engulfed by despair, but now I sense a resurgence as if reborn. Habituated with immense joy, I cast a smile toward him from afar. My heart flooded with gratitude—even though the bracelet hasn’t returned to me, it falling under Daniel Carter’s name is the best ending I could imagine. "Three billion! Any takers for three billion?" "Three billion once, three billion twice, three billion thrice! Sold! The new owner of the Vintage Nephrite Wristlet is—Mr. Daniel Carter!" The auctioneer exclaimed with exuberant delight, his voice breaking with excitement. The room erupted into cheers and applause, with everyone craning their necks in anticipation, looking up toward the second floor. But Daniel Carter sat there with such an air of tranquility, unmoved, as though he were an emperor accepting the reverence of all. Beside him stood a man, and I overheard murmurs from around me: "Isn’t that the owner of Brightmoor Auction House standing beside Mr. Carter?" "Yes! That is indeed the owner of the Auction House." "Who exactly is he? So mysterious! The esteemed owner of Brightmoor standing like a servant next to him." "Don’t you know the Carter Family? The Carter Family...they are—honor and prestige that cannot be recounted even over three long nights!" I listened to the crowd’s astonishment and admiration, slowly sinking back in my seat, overwhelmed by a complexity of emotions. Sophie Miller swung from joy to anger, deeply frustrated, venting her spleen at Adrian Gordon. Adrian Gordon soothed her absent-mindedly, yet seemed somehow relieved. I suspected that even if pressured to come up with two billion, he couldn’t manage it, and in a way, this resolution freed him from a predicament. After the sale, the staff carefully took the bracelet from its showcase and placed it into a brocade box with the utmost care. My gaze remained fixed on the stage, eager to see Daniel Carter come to retrieve the bracelet. I fantasize that maybe someday, when my company has grown large and powerful enough, and I’ve earned three billion, I can buy it from him. Daniel Carter didn’t appear. It was his Secretary Harris who came to collect the bracelet. I watched Secretary Harris take the brocade box and walk toward me, assuming he was merely passing by. As he approached, I nodded to him out of courtesy. Unexpectedly, Secretary Harris stopped beside me. Everyone present focused their gaze on Secretary Harris, eyes filled with envy and admiration. As Secretary Harris halted in front of me, all those eyes remained fixated. In the silence, Secretary Harris politely and respectfully said, "Mr. Carter has instructed that the bracelet be given to the Eldest Miss Miller." The room stirred into commotion, many people stood up in shock, craning their necks to stare at my spot. Adrian Gordon and Sophie Miller, across a mere aisle, were both similarly astonished, their expressions changed dramatically. Sophie Miller stammered, "Wh... what’s going on? A bracelet worth three billion, gi... gifting it?" I was equally speechless with shock, staring at the bracelet inside the brocade box, unable to utter a word. "Eldest Miss Miller?" Secretary Harris gently reminded me, seeing my lack of reaction. Coming to my senses, I swallowed, then instinctively looked back up to the second floor. But the box was empty, Daniel Carter had already vanished without a trace. He remained as low-key and mysterious as ever, disappearing quietly upon being recognized. "Secretary Harris, this is too valuable, I..." I stood up, my voice faltering. Even though I dream of reclaiming this bracelet, someone had spent three billion on it only to gift it to me? I dared not accept it. "Eldest Miss Miller, this is Mr. Carter’s instruction, if you have any doubts, communicate directly with Mr. Carter—please accept it." Secretary Harris nudged the brocade box towards me again. Unable to refuse such sincerity, I could do nothing but gratefully accept the bracelet, "Please convey my thanks to Mr. Carter on my behalf, Secretary Harris." Secretary Harris nodded with a smile and departed effortlessly. I stood there, continuing to be bathed in the gaze of all the wealthy onlookers. Their stares were tinged with layers of admiration, even jealousy. The mysterious and reserved heir of the Carter Family, perceived by outsiders as unapproachable Second Master Carter, revealed himself to acquire the bracelet, gifting it effortlessly to a rather disgraced heiress with little but some charm. I dared not imagine how this would unfold, discussed and debated among people. I also didn’t know if this was a blessing or a curse for me. But at this moment, I did reclaim all dignity, delivering a fiercely ironic gesture to Adrian Gordon and Sophie Miller. In this moment, I would willingly lay down my life for Daniel Carter. "Lily Miller, when did you get acquainted with Second Master Carter?" Sophie Miller could no longer maintain her pride, demanded directly out of jealousy. I hugged the brocade box, casting them a serene smile, "None of your business." Having acquired what I wanted, I had no desire to linger, opting to leave early. Sophie Miller, stymied with bad luck in my presence, turned to whine to Adrian Gordon, "Let’s go! Why linger? What I desired is gone!" Adrian Gordon stood stunned, seemingly unable to recover from a significant blow. I had no interest in paying attention, cradling the brocade box as I rose and left. Estimating that Daniel Carter hadn’t left yet, I exited the venue and briskly pursued outward. Passing by a row of rest rooms, I heard voices and assumed Daniel Carter was inside, knocking door after door to check. This man is baffling, elusive like a dragon. For more chapters visit NoveI(F)ire.net Determining that he had departed, I retraced my steps from the corridor’s end. Passing by a half-open door, the familiar sound of quarrels within slightly caught my attention. "Adrian Gordon, don’t think I don’t know, you’re just regretting it, regretting abandoning Lily Miller, regretting marrying me!" "Sophie Miller, can you please stop this? I spend all time outside work with you, what more do you want? I’ve met all your demands, agreed to accompany you to the auction, canceling two meetings to do so." "Are you accompanying me? You knew long ago Lily Miller would attend to bid on the bracelet, you consented just to see her!" "If you insist on thinking that way, there’s nothing I can do." "Hmph! Even if you regret now it doesn’t matter, look—Lily Miller has risen! The esteemed Carter Family dwarfs your Gordon Family! Why would she still care for you?" Sophie Miller’s words made me pout slightly. Thank you for thinking this highly of me, believing that a lightly regarded heiress like me could tether someone as magnificent as the Carter Family. Even with ten generations of riches, I wouldn’t fit. Sophie Miller’s biting sarcasm broke Adrian Gordon too, and I heard his annoyed voice: "Sophie Miller, when will you stop bringing up Lily Miller? Did you marry me out of love or just to spite Lily Miller? You’re becoming incomprehensible!" "Adrian Gordon! Do you even have a conscience? I’ve loved you for so many years, do you doubt my love for you? When you were sick, I took care of you earnestly, have you forgotten? Now that I have a terminal illness, do you despise me?" Listening to those words, I could hardly restrain myself from storming in. During the years of Adrian Gordon’s illness, who truly cared for him? To say such things, how shameless must Sophie Miller be? And how brainless must Adrian Gordon be to believe such words? "I do not despise you, you wanted me to marry you, I did, enduring mockery as I simultaneously accepted! Can you please calm down, stop these wild outbursts? I need care, empathy too, yet all you do is exhaust me!" "Who exactly is exhausting who? In your heart, Lily Miller is still unfinished business, and you have no patience for me, don’t you think I can see?" I heard Sophie Miller start to cry, crying until suddenly Adrian Gordon shouted anxiously: "Sophie Miller! Sophie Miller!" The next moment, Adrian Gordon rushed out of the room, carrying Sophie Miller. I failed to dodge, collided head-on. Sophie Miller looked dreadful, vomiting blood. Adrian Gordon’s eyes met mine, belatedly reacclimating, I pulled out my phone: "Need me to call 120?"