Chapter 151 She Challenged My Bid

Chapter 151 She Challenged My Bid
Selene’s POV

By the time I finished breakfast, my mind was much clearer than it had been the night before, so I opened the proposal Arya had sent me and carefully reviewed every part of it. The document contained the launch plans for Joe Studio’s next season, and although Arya had already done an excellent job, I still noticed a few areas that could be improved. I added several suggestions, adjusted a few details, and sent my comments back to her before turning my attention to the charity auction scheduled for that evening.

Tonight’s charity gala was being held at a luxurious five-star hotel in Fostrau. Since Joe Studio was organizing the entire event, Arya had been at the hotel since early morning, making sure every detail was properly arranged. She had too much to handle for me to distract her, so when I arrived that evening, I simply greeted her and allowed her to return to her work.

The auction hall was already filled with guests. Wealthy businessmen, socialites, collectors, and influential figures from different parts of Fostrau occupied the beautifully arranged seats. Some were there because they genuinely wanted to support charity, while others clearly enjoyed the prestige that came with spending large amounts of money in public. Either way, the money would eventually go toward helping people who needed it, and that was what mattered.

I had no interest in attracting attention tonight.

After everything that had happened recently, being surrounded by cameras and curious eyes was the last thing I wanted. I found a quiet, inconspicuous corner and settled there, hoping to enjoy the auction without becoming part of the evening’s entertainment.

At exactly eight o’clock, the lights around the stage brightened, and the auction officially began.

The host stepped forward with an easy smile, waiting until the room had settled before speaking.

“Welcome, everyone, to tonight’s charity auction hosted by Joe Studio. All proceeds from tonight’s auction will be donated to charitable causes, and we sincerely thank every guest here for your generous support.”

His warm, rhythmic voice carried easily through the large hall.

“We have ten special items available for bidding tonight, and every single one has been generously donated by Joe Studio. Each piece has its own history and value, and we hope that before this evening ends, every one of them will find its destined owner.”

The guests applauded enthusiastically.

I smiled faintly from my seat.

Destined owner.

Werewolves seemed determined to connect everything with destiny.

After the applause faded, the host lifted one hand.

“Let the auction begin!”

The atmosphere immediately became more focused as everyone turned toward the stage.

“Our first item tonight is a Verdant Glaze Bowl from the Eldoria Dynasty. Please welcome our usher.”

A poised young woman stepped onto the stage carrying a delicate tray with both hands. Her movements were careful and graceful, and the red cloth covering the object only increased the curiosity in the room.

The host waited until she reached the center of the stage before gently lifting the cloth.

A beautiful jade-green bowl was revealed beneath it.

Even from where I sat, the craftsmanship was unmistakable. The glaze reflected the stage lights softly, while the elegant shape carried the unmistakable style of the Eldoria Dynasty.

“The starting bid for this Verdant Glaze Bowl is five hundred thousand dollars,” the host announced. “Each additional bid must increase by at least fifty thousand dollars. If you are interested, please place your offers.”

I looked at the bowl with a quiet sense of familiarity.

It had once belonged to me.

My grandfather, Alaric, had given it to me as a keepsake. He had always been passionate about antiques, particularly objects connected to the Eldoria Dynasty. Over the years, his collection had grown so large that there was hardly enough room for everything he had gathered.

At home, pieces like this seemed almost ordinary because there were so many of them.

That did not mean they lacked value.

Alaric treasured history, and I had grown up watching him carefully examine antiques as though each object carried a story only he could hear. Since his collection had become enormous, I had thought donating one of those pieces for charity would be a meaningful way to put it to good use.

The bidding began almost immediately.

Different paddles rose across the hall as the price climbed steadily. I did not participate. I had already chosen to give the bowl away, and I was more interested in seeing how much support it could raise.

The final bid eventually reached two million dollars.

“Two million dollars!” the host announced with excitement. After giving the room one final opportunity to challenge the offer, he confirmed the sale.

Applause followed as the Verdant Glaze Bowl found its new owner.

I felt satisfied.

Two million dollars for charity was far better than allowing the bowl to sit among countless other antiques at home.

The first item was removed, and preparations immediately began for the second.

When the next object appeared on stage, my expression softened.

It was a remarkably lifelike plush cat.

The little cat had been carefully crafted, with soft features and sparkling eyes that made it look almost alive.

The host grinned at the audience.

“This plush cat is adorable, isn’t it?”

Several people laughed softly in agreement.

“But don’t underestimate it because of its appearance,” he continued. “This piece was handcrafted personally by the internationally renowned master Joe. Even the cat’s eyes are decorated with diamonds, making this an extremely rare collectible.”

The reaction was immediate.

Excited whispers spread across the room.

“So it was personally made by Joe?”

“That’s incredibly rare.”

“I heard pieces personally created by Joe almost never enter the public market.”

“This could be worth a fortune.”

“I wonder who will take it home tonight.”

Listening to them, I had to suppress a smile.

I had sewn that plush cat myself.

Unlike the antique bowl, this piece carried a different kind of meaning. I had spent time creating every small detail, and I had always been rather fond of it.

When it had been selected for the charity auction, I had agreed to donate it.

However, donating it did not mean I could not buy it back.

In fact, that was exactly what I intended to do.

The money would still go to charity, and the plush cat would return to me.

A perfect outcome.

“The starting bid for this handcrafted cat is one million dollars,” the host announced. “Every increase must be at least one hundred thousand dollars. Bidding starts now.”

Paddles rose almost immediately.

“One point two million dollars!”

Another bidder called out, “Three million!”

A different voice followed quickly. “Two million dollars!”

Offers came rapidly from different directions. The excitement surrounding the fact that Joe had personally handcrafted the cat pushed the bidding higher with surprising speed.

I remained silent.

There was no need to join too early.

The price continued climbing until it reached five million dollars.

The host looked across the room.

“The current bid stands at five million dollars. Do I hear anything higher?”

A few people lowered their paddles, clearly deciding that five million dollars was already a great deal to spend on a plush cat, regardless of who had made it.

That was when I finally smiled.

I calmly raised my paddle.

“Ten million dollars.”

Several heads immediately turned toward me.

The host’s eyes brightened at the sudden jump.

“Ten million dollars! This lady has offered ten million dollars. Do I hear a higher bid?”

I relaxed in my seat.

At that price, I expected most of the remaining bidders to withdraw. Ten million dollars was already far above the starting price, and I had no problem paying it because the money was going to charity.

The cat would return to me, and the auction would receive a generous donation.

But before the host could finish speaking, a sharp female voice cut across the hall.

“Twelve million dollars!”

My brows lifted slightly.

Someone was willing to challenge ten million?

I turned toward the voice.

The moment I saw the woman holding up her paddle, any surprise I felt disappeared.

Winnie.

She was not looking at the plush cat.

She was looking directly at me.

The hostility in her eyes was so obvious that I immediately understood this had very little to do with the auction item.

Winnie was challenging me.

There was a clear provocation in her expression, as though she wanted to see whether I would retreat.

I met her glare without showing the slightest irritation.

If that was what she wanted, fine.

My lips curved into a calm smile as I lifted my paddle again.

“Fifteen million dollars.”

Another murmur spread through the auction hall.

Winnie’s POV

Fifteen million dollars?

My fingers tightened around my paddle as I stared at Selene.

How could a lowly Omega possibly have that much money?

Fifteen million dollars was not a small amount, yet she had announced it without even blinking. She looked completely relaxed, as though she were buying something worth a few hundred dollars instead of bidding millions on a stuffed cat.

There was no way that money belonged to her.

She must have seduced some wealthy man into paying her expenses.

My first thought was Lucian.

Of course.

Who else could it be?

Selene had probably been spending Lucian’s money while pretending to be wealthy herself.

I quickly glanced around the auction hall, searching among the guests.

Lucian was nowhere in sight.

My irritation immediately turned into satisfaction.

Interesting.

If he was not even here, perhaps Selene was spending his money without his knowledge.

I rose from my seat and walked directly toward her.

Several people watched me approach, but I did not care. I stopped beside Selene and looked down at her with a mocking smile.

“Selene, you’re really planning to spend that much money on a stuffed cat?”

She lifted her eyes toward me without the slightest sign of embarrassment.

I continued, “Does Lucian know?”

Selene rolled her eyes.

“And what does that have to do with you?”

Her dismissive tone irritated me even more.

“So he doesn’t know.” I let out a cold laugh. “You should think carefully before throwing around money that might not belong to you. If you win the auction and then discover you can’t afford to pay, wouldn’t that be humiliating?”

I expected her to become defensive.

Instead, Selene smiled.

It was a calm, almost lazy smile that made my anger burn hotter.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Then, as though she had deliberately waited for me to question her ability to pay, she reached into her belongings and casually pulled out a black card.

She held it up just long enough for me to see.

My expression stiffened.

That card.

I remembered it immediately.

Back at Raveneaux Deluxe Studio, Selene had used the exact same black card when she snatched the Alice Signature Collection gown away from me.

The memory still made humiliation burn through my chest.

At the time, I had wondered how an insignificant Omega from Firstband could possess a card like that.

Now the answer seemed obvious.

Someone rich was funding her lifestyle.

Perhaps it was Lucian. Perhaps it was another man. Either way, it only confirmed what I already believed.

Selene was nothing but a shameless gold digger who relied on men while pretending their wealth belonged to her.

My gaze shifted toward the plush cat on the stage.

She wanted it badly enough to offer fifteen million dollars.

That alone was enough reason for me to make sure she did not get it.

I tightened my grip around the bidding paddle and raised it again, refusing to take my eyes off Selene.

“Twenty million dollars!”