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Chapter 43
This was bidder 888’s first offer of the night.
Since Vivian was Nathan’s guest, bidder 888 was essentially Nathan himself.
Amelia looked over too. Actually, almost everyone in the room was staring at Vivian.
The second floor had VIP seating with options–some seats were visible to everyone below, others hidden in shadows.
Right now Vivian was in plain sight, while Nathan sat in the shadows. The crowd downstairs could only make out his silhouette, not his expression.
Louie knew this tanzanite was Amelia’s and why she’d donated it. Seeing Vivian bid on it made him want to tear her apart.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed as she watched Vivian’s smug smile.
She’d planned to let this tanzanite go tonight, but it could go to anyone except Vivian!
Meanwhile, at Nathan’s table, he glanced at Vivian holding up the paddle.
“Like it?” he asked calmly, his dark eyes unreadable.
Vivian nodded with a smile.
Nathan said nothing, just looked down at the sparkling tanzanite below.
He remembered seeing this stone before. It was early March when he and Amelia had spotted it together.
They’d just endured another round of his grandparents pressuring them for kids.
Driving home, their Aston Martin had passed New York’s biggest gem store, and she’d lingered on this tanzanite.
That early March night was still chilly outside, but warm inside the car.
He’d noticed her interest and asked the same question: “Like it?”
Amelia had just smiled. “I was thinking–Grandpa and Grandma are pushing so hard for us to have kids. If we got pregnant now, the due date would be December. December babies‘ birthstones are tanzanite or turquoise.”
“Seeing this tanzanite felt like a coincidence.”
He’d looked at the stone again and asked, “What’s the significance?“*
“Tanzanite represents love and eternity, turquoise means success and victory Amelia had answered. “If it were me, I’d lean toward tanzanite.”
She’d smiled at him: “Because I’d want to tell our baby that mommy and daddy will always love them.”
He’d raised an eyebrow: “I’d rather they always succeed and win.”
Seeing her slight disappointment, he’d added: “Doesn’t matter. Nathan Harrison’s child deserves the most expensive diamonds–like the Pink Star.”
He remembered Amelia hadn’t cared much. When he’d suggested buying the tanzanite, she’d gotten annoyed, so he’d dropped it.
But that night when they got home, from the car to the villa, from the entrance to the bedroom, they’d been wild all night.
The scene flashed before his eyes again–her breathing, her warmth, her scent all seemed real again.
And that mole on her heart… he’d loved it.
Nathan closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing. When he opened them, he took a sip of wine.
20:19
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
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Chapter 43
He wondered whose hands that tanzanite had ended up in, and why it was at his charity auction.
Just as Nathan was collecting himself, a pale hand emerged from a nearby seat The fingers had pearl white nail polish–mysterious, beautiful, pristine. The hand held a bidding paddle.
“After bidder 888’s offer, bidder 823 has joined with a bid of 900K!”
Nathan and Vivian both looked over.
That hand, that seat.
Elena!
All eyes focused again as excited chatter filled the mansion.
“This is Nathan’s first charity auction in two years, his first bid tonight, and it’s not even that special an item. Who’s got the balls to outbid him?”
Right? When that tanzanite first came up, I was impressed, but it’s just tanzanite–not exactly eye–catching. I wasn’t even thinking of bidding.”
“Exactly. If it was a blue diamond, I might be interested.”
“Wait, wasn’t it his date Vivian who bid?”
“Same difference. She’s using Nathan’s paddle and he didn’t stop her. Whether the girlfriend likes it or he’s buying it to make her happy, it’s the same thing.”
Everyone nodded–this was understood protocol.
Unless you absolutely had to have something, you showed respect where respect was due.
“Word is, the bidder is that Elena girl that Louie brought.”
Everyone was confused.
“What’s this about? Louie trying to pick a fight with Nathan?”
“Who knows? He’s always had a temper–maybe he’s lost his mind again.”
While people gossiped, on another private balcony, Louie’s older brother was dying laughing.
“My idiot little brother–Grandpa’s already pissed at you, and now you’re being stupid! This is hilarious. I don’t even need to make another move–you’ll destroy yourself!”
Another figure hidden in the shadows calmly sipped wine, listening to the laughter.
Meanwhile, Vivian couldn’t believe someone was actually competing with her.
This had been her whole strategy. At this charity auction, she wouldn’t bid on expensive items, and cheap ones would embarrass her and Nathan.
This tanzanite was perfect. She could say she used Nathan’s paddle for fun, contributing to charity.
This tanzanite would become a symbol of their love.
Plus Nathan wouldn’t let her lose money–whatever she spent here, he’d give her more later.
Not to mention the massive social media value.
This was their first bid–protocol said people would defer to them. She’d even added 100K to the starting price, bidding 800K. She never expected Elena to challenge her!
Whose idea was this? Elena’s, or Louie’s?
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Was this a test? Or were they trying to mess with her or Nathan?
What was the point?
Vivian wax confused. Should she bid higher?,
The tanzanite was worth 1 million–her max was 1.2 million. Beyond that wash worth it.
While Vivian hesitated, the auctioneer continued the process, asking for additional bids.
So Vivian raised her paddle again. She didn’t believe Elena would really dare
“Bidder 888 offers 1 million…”
People kept chattering.
“She’s raising–guess she really wants that tanzanite,”
“Will 823 follow?”
As everyone looked toward Amelia’s private seat, before the auctioneer could continue, that pale hand shot up again without hesitation.
“Bidder 823 offers 1.1 million!”
Vivian gritted her teeth and quickly wrote her bid. She couldn’t back down.
“Bidder 888 offers 1.2 million!”
Without waiting-
“Bidder 823 offers 1.5 million!”
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