Chapter 47
Amelia took a deep breath and stared up at the starlit sky.
Yeah. She’d moved on.
Looking back down, everything felt calm again.
Amelia pulled her gaze away, smiled, and said: “Sorry, Mr. Harrison. I overstepped.”
She drained her glass: “Intermission’s almost over. I should get back.”
With that, Amelia brushed past Nathan.
“Don’t follow up.” As Amelia reached the stairway, Nathan’s voice came from behind.
How many fucking times had he defended Vivian in front of her now? How many times had he fought for Vivian’s interests?
For Vivian, he really would do absolutely anything.
Amelia didn’t stop or look back, walking straight into the corridor.
Leaving Nathan standing alone, watching her disappear.
Evening wind blew through, and moments later, Nathan’s figure also vanished into the passage.
Voices from the garden carried on the breeze.
“…I’m dropping 5 mil that 888 wins!”
“Jesus, that’s insane money.”
“Look who’s holding paddle 888. Whatever he wants, he fucking gets!”
“True, but that makes it boring as hell.”
“Nah, let’s switch it up–if Nathan gets personally involved, how many rounds will 823 dare to follow?”
“Love it! I say zero!”
“I say one!”
“Anyone else?”
“Come on–maybe she’ll grit her teeth for one more round, but I can’t imagine past that!”
Everyone cracked up, treating it like a joke.
Meanwhile, Vivian was texting on a burner phone.
Vivi: What’s Grandpa Cavendish’s take on Elena now? Heard she walked out of their meeting looking totally unfazed. You losing your edge?
SesCavi: What the hell? Real men don’t lose their edge!
SesCavi: Relax. Louie started a fight after Elena came out–shows he’s rattled.
SesCavi: Plus I know the old bastard–he doesn’t flip–flop. Elena going head to head with Nathan like this will bite her in the ass! Once Louie crashes and burns, it’s game time. Then you can crush whoever you want.
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Vivian smirked and typed back.
Vivi: That’s reassuring. When I heard Grandpa Cavendish wanted to see her, panicked for a hot second.
SesCavi: Moron.
While they texted away, Nathan returned and glanced over.
Vivian felt his presence and immediately stashed her phone.
“Nathan, you’re back!” she beamed.
Nathan didn’t think much of it, just nodded.
He wasn’t into snooping on people’s conversations, so he’d only caught a glimpse.
But that avatar Vivian was using…
Definitely not the account she normally used to text him–probably a burner.
That avatar looked weirdly familiar though, like he’d seen it before.
Elsewhere, in a shadowy second–floor booth, Lester was happily people–watching and muttering to himself.
Agorgeous woman next to him finally snapped and kicked him in the face.
.“Ow! Sis, what the fuck!”
Lester grabbed his face, howling.
Her response? Another kick.
Lester scrambled away terrified, whimpering as he hid in a corner.
Only then did the woman roll her eyes and go back to her tea.
Lester felt totally wronged. As one of the big three families, the Wessexes were actually pretty chill.
They weren’t like the Harrisons, where Nathan single–handedly carried everything, or the Cavendishes with their brutal three–way succession war. The three Wessex siblings actually got along.
They’d already sorted out roles–their brilliant oldest brother ran the company, but he and his sister had real power too.
The whole family worked together, which made Wessex Industries one of New York’s power trio.
But as the baby brother, he genuinely feared getting his ass kicked sometimes
“Client privacy is sacred. Don’t run your mouth about shit you shouldn’t. If you still don’t get that, Lester, get out of Wessex Industries before you tank our reputation,” the beautiful woman said while sipping tea.
Lester nodded. He got it.
He’d just been too hyped–hadn’t seen drama this good in forever.
“Sis, won’t happen again,” Lester mumbled.
The woman finally gave him a slight nod, letting him off the hook.
Someone else sat in the shadows, having watched everything, but nobody could see his face.
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Time flew, and under everyone’s eager stares, intermission finally wrapped
Everyone regrouped.
The auctioneer took the stage again, showcasing the tanzanite once more.
“Distinguished guests, good evening. Our extended intermission is over. Now’s get back to the heart–pounding bidding action!”
The auctioneer gestured to the display: “In the first half, bidder 823’s top offer for this tanzanite hit 1.5 million. Now, let’s keep this party going!”
On the second floor, Vivian absorbed everything, her eyes glinting, but stayed quiet.
She scribbled down a new bid and raised paddle 888 with her price.
“Following bidder 823’s first–half offer, bidder 888 has returned with 1.8 million!”
The auctioneer immediately called out Vivian’s bid.
The room exploded instantly.
“Called it! Nathan’s staying in the game. This isn’t about the stone anymore–it’s about Nathan’s fucking reputation!”
“Exactly! What about 823? What’s her play? Nathan’s loaded–will she really keep pushing?”
“No clue. I still don’t get why she started this war.”
Right then, in Nathan’s VIP box, Vivian smiled at him: “Nathan, I’m short on cash tonight. I’ll cover the difference later. This still counts as my buy
But Nathan wasn’t looking at her.
“Forget about it,” Nathan said, eyes locked on Elena and Louie’s booth.
But the people across from him were hidden in shadow–Nathan couldn’t read their expressions.
Vivian followed his stare.
Realizing they were waiting to see if the other side would counter, Vivian looked over with smug satisfaction.
But then that pale hand emerged again.
Gripping paddle 823.
“Bidder 823 counters–2 million!”
Vivian’s smile died on her face.
The crowd’s buzz erupted again as everyone lost their minds.
“Holy shit, 823’s got serious stones!”
“For real! First half to second half, even with that cooling–off break where they could’ve made peace, where does 823 get the balls to keep fucking with
Nathan
“There’s gotta be something we don’t know!”
“I’m dying to find out what!”
While everyone speculated and Vivian looked to Nathan asking if he’d raise again, he suddenly stood and walked slowly to the second–floor balcony
rail.
“Nathan’s moving! He’s stepping out! Check this out!”
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Chapter 47
Nathan
stood at
the railing
and raised his
right
hand.
Everyone watched
ดร
hiring
curled finger and pinky
down,
forming a
gun shape.
No–limit bid!
Meaning
whatever
else
anyone offered, he’d
top it.
He
