Niamh watched as Susy stumbled from one rejection to another, her gaze growing colder by the second.
Her mind wandered to Marina.
Susy had brought this on herself, but Marina was hardly innocent. She was tied up in all of it.
And behind Marina stood Jonathan, ever the silent backer.
It was starting to look like The Fraser Group was about to fall at Marina’s feet.
Niamh frowned and shot a glance at Jonathan.
He stood beside Ramona, and from where Niamh sat, the two looked far more
suited to each other than Jonathan and Marina ever had.
Marina’s obsession with pastel pinks and girlish frills made her seem juvenile–she could never match Ramona’s effortless elegance.
“Does it bother you?” Peter’s voice brushed past Niamh’s ear.
She pulled her gaze back to him, offering a small, knowing smile. “Whatever’s on my mind, I doubt it’s what you’re thinking.”
Peter didn’t get a chance to press her for more. The host’s voice rang out across the hall: “Ladies and gentlemen, the Royal Victoria Cruises Charity Auction is about to begin. Please take your assigned seats.”
With that prompt, guests began making their way to their places, as per the organizers‘ earlier arrangements.
Sprague, Marigold, and Jonathan were seated at the same table as Hayes, Carlotta, Ramona, and Carlisle.
Their two families were the biggest financial powerhouses in Aldonia and Coralis respectively; sharing a table was only natural.
If there was one thing the Quinn family had over the Thomases, it was reach–while the Thomases ruled the business sector, the Quinns commanded both business and politics in Coralis..
Marigold rarely attended these high–society events, mostly because Sprague never brought her along.
This time, she was here only because Hayes had decided to bring his wife, so the
1/3
08:56 1
two families were appearing together. The whole arrangement felt like an unofficial engagement between their clans.
The first row had only three tables. The Thomases and the Quinns shared one, and Marigold felt a flush of pride-
Until she saw Niamh and Peter being seated at the adjacent table, front and center, right beside Prince William.
Marigold’s smile vanished in an instant.
As Jonathan pulled out his chair, he glanced over at the next table. He caught sight of Prince William shrugging off his tailcoat and handing it to Niamh, then offering her a pen.
Just then, Sprague nudged him with an elbow. “Jonathan’s a quiet kid–doesn’t say much, but he’s the type to let his actions speak for him.”
Catching his father’s cue, Jonathan deftly cracked open a king crab leg and offered the delicate meat to Ramona.
“Thank you.” Ramona accepted, her lips curled in a flirtatious smile. “You’re quite the gentleman.”
“It’s nothing,” Jonathan replied, his tone as reserved as ever.
Marigold’s nerves were on edge, but watching Ramona’s approving reaction to Jonathan’s gesture gave her a sliver of hope.
All around the grand hall, guests dined, chatted, and occasionally raised their paddles to bid on the items they fancied. The atmosphere was warm and convivial. Niamh, glancing around the room, realized Susy–the girl who’d been lingering in the corner like a staff member–had slipped away at some point.
Susy wasn’t an official guest. She didn’t even have a seat–when the auction started, she was the only one standing.
Niamh could imagine how it felt for a fallen heiress like Susy: watching coveted treasures go to the highest bidder, knowing she couldn’t afford a single thing, not even a place at the table.
“And now, the next item up for auction is a stunning piece of jewelry.”
The host’s announcement drew Niamh’s attention back to the stage.
Both Prince William and Peter instinctively tightened their grip on their bidding
08:55
Chapter 432
paddles.
At the neighboring table, Jonathan finally picked up his own.
And, somewhere in the back row, another figure quietly adjusted his gold–rimmed glasses with his paddle, preparing to join the fray.
08:56
Chapter 433
