Chapter 48
The entire room exploded.
The auctioneer’s excited voice filled the mansion: “No limit bid! Bidder 888 has made a no–limit bid! Let’s give him a round of applauser
“Clap clap clap…”
The thunderous applause nearly blew the roof off.
This auction had reached fever pitch!
If people had been whispering before, now they were completely unleashed, discussing loudly:
“Holy shit, a no–limit bid! How long has it been since we’ve seen one?”
“Right? Last time was that ancient artifact a year ago–bidding kept climbing until some mystery buyer went no–limit and closed at 12 billion!”
“Before that was three years ago, that artist’s painting–another mystery buyer went no–limit and paid 7 billion!”
“And before that, in the UK, that famous modern art sculpture–mystery buyer took it for 7 billion too.”
As people discussed excitedly, some were confused:
“You’ve mentioned all this stuff, but I still don’t know what a no–limit bid is. Can someone explain?”
Someone immediately educated him: “It’s that gesture Nathan’s making right now. Means he wants that tanzanite, and no matter what anyone else bids, he’ll top it.”
.The guy was still puzzled: “Can anyone make that call? What if they can’t pay up in the end? Wouldn’t that blow up in their face?”
“Auction houses have their own rules. The Cavendishes run this business–they know what they’re doing. I heard about someone who made a no–limit bid but couldn’t pay. Things ended badly for them.”
“For this event, we’re all invited guests and Cavendish Group has vetted everyone. You know how smaller auctions have asset verification requirements.”
The guy nodded: “That makes sense.”
“But we don’t need to worry about asset verification now–that’s Nathan fucking Harrison!”
Right. Nathan Harrison.
The sole power holder of the Harrison family, leaders of New York’s big three
The venue lights dimmed, then blazed bright as dazzling special effects swept through like dragons, creating brilliant displays throughout the hall.
At the same time, outside the mansion, countless people saw drones rising into the sky above the now–quiet exterior.
These drones carried colorful lights, circling above the mansion before forming a massive burning palace lantern in the sky.
“What the hell? What’s happening?”
“No idea. Something big must be going down!”
“Go find out–there’s definitely drama inside!”
screen inside the mansion showed the real–time situation outside. Now both inside and outside were in total chaos.
Suddenly, someone asked: “Has Nathan ever made no–limit bids at previous auctions?”
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“Actually, yeah, he has.”
“Really? How come I never heard about it? What did he buy?”
The person thought back, then spoke carefully: “I’m not entirely sure–it was seven years ago.”
“Seven years ago?” The questioner was confused. “Wasn’t he still pretty young then?”
The answerer nodded: “Yeah, still young. And what he bid on was weird too.”
The questioner grew more curious: “What was it?”
The answerer looked conflicted: “A document.”
“They auction documents?”
“Yeah, don’t know the specifics. That auction wasn’t public, very few people knew about it. I only found out by chance–just bits and pieces.”
On the second floor, Vivian watched Nathan standing in the distance, her heart pounding.
After learning what a no–limit bid meant, she could barely sit still.
After the initial excitement, she felt a deep satisfaction that everything was under her control.
In New York, Nathan’s power and status were unmatched–countless women would break their legs trying to climb into his bed.
But this man, this untouchable man, would go this far for her!
In that moment, Vivian felt like she’d won.
With just a little manipulation, Nathan truly loved her.
Really, really loved her.
Little Amelia was nothing!
Vivian looked at Nathan. His face remained that same calm mask, his dark eyes fixed on Elena’s direction, quietly waiting for her response.
So Vivian smiled, also waiting to watch Elena pathetically back down!
On Amelia’s side, Louie had completely lost it.
“What the fuck is Nathan doing!” Louie shot to his feet. If Amelia hadn’t pressed his arm, he probably would’ve charged over
han.
“Bringing Vivian was bad enough. Letting Vivian use his paddle was bad enough. Even tolerating Vivian bidding against you on that tanzanite–I could say he didn’t know what the stone meant. But now?”
Louie’s chest heaved with anger.
“At a public auction with reporters present, where this will make the news–making a no–limit bid for his mistress! Where does that leave his wife who isn’t even divorced yet!”
Looking at Amelia’s still–calm expression, Louie felt more heartbreak than anger.
Everyone present knew that while the mansion auction was private and everyone respectfully kept quiet, once the auction ended and they left this mansion, everyone would know.
Whether reporters or Vivian, none would waste this opportunity.
So “Amelia” would definitely become a joke nailed to the pillar of shame!
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And this was when people didn’t even know Elena was actually Amelia.
If they found out..
Louie couldn’t even imagine.
But Amelia just calmly watched Nathan standing there. Her face was hidden behind the mask–no one knew what she was thinking.
So it only took seven years.
Seven years to make a young man completely unrecognizable.
To make him easily transfer all the favoritism he’d once shown her to another woman.
A flash of memory: seven years ago at that private auction, the young man standing with his right hand raised high above his head.
Finally, Amelia’s lips curved slightly, sketching a hint of mocking smile on her face, though her eyes remained ice–cold.
“Elena, are we still bidding?” Louie asked worriedly.
But Amelia’s lips were full of smiles.
No frustration or unwillingness from being crushed by money and power. Just smiles.
After the brilliant light show, the auctioneer spoke with excitement: “…bidding continues! Please keep those offers coming.”
But his gaze was fixed on seat 823.
Everyone in the room was the same.
Everyone wanted to see what choice the woman holding paddle 823 would make.
At that moment, people saw a hand slowly emerge from the shadows.
That same pale hand, holding paddle 823.
Then, on the accompanying price board, a string of numbers appeared.
Simultaneously, on the auctioneer’s stage, the bidding number changed.
5 million.
A new number appeared before everyone’s eyes.
The auctioneer looked incredulously at the bid number, then at that hand on the second floor, confirming repeatedly.
Finally, the auctioneer’s voice rang out:
“Bidder 823 continues! The bid is 5 million!”
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