Chapter 32 The Competitive Edge
Charles stepped forward. Though similar in height, the tension between them crackled like electricity in the air.
"I'll pay for her things," Charles said.
The amusement in Wesley's eyes dimmed. "Charles, know your place. You're her brother-in-law. What gives you the right to interfere in her affairs?"
Charles didn't respond. He turned and walked back toward the auction hall.
He refused to admit that Wesley's words had hit a nerve. His relationship with Emily was indeed awkward, and he couldn't explain why he cared so much about her.
All he knew was that he couldn't stand seeing other men show interest in her, or seeing her smile at them.
Once Charles was out of earshot, Elodie emerged from her hiding spot in the corner.
"Wesley, do you think this will work?"
"Trust me, it will. You don't understand a man's possessiveness." Wesley ruffled Elodie's hair affectionately. His sister might have exceptional medical talent, but she remained hopelessly clueless about matters of the heart.
Back in the auction hall, the auctioneer was presenting the ruby brooch.
Under the spotlights, the brooch looked even more magnificent and luxurious.
Charles's gaze instinctively drifted toward Emily. As expected, he caught her holding her breath, her fingertips tensing slightly—a subtle gesture she only made when she truly cared about something.
"The starting bid is fifty million dollars," the auctioneer announced.
The moment the words left the auctioneer's lips, Charles raised his paddle.
Emily whipped her head around to look at him, shock flashing across her face.
A woman sitting nearby leaned over with a knowing smile. "Mr. Windsor, are you bidding for Ms. Johnson? That sapphire necklace you bought last time looked absolutely stunning on her at the gala. Everyone was green with envy."
Charles didn't deny it. He had purchased numerous pieces of jewelry for Clara, which was no secret in Emerald City's social circles.
Emily's heart sank. This brooch was her mother's heirloom. She couldn't bear the thought of it ending up in Clara's possession.
She had to get it!
Just as Emily was about to raise her paddle, Wesley's voice rang out. "Fifty-five million dollars."
He lifted his paddle and smiled at Emily. "I intend to give this brooch to you."
Emily froze, about to shake her head in refusal, when Elodie quickly whispered in her ear, "Accept it! Consider it a welcome-back gift. The Martin family can certainly afford it."
Then Elodie deliberately raised her voice, "Emily, look how thoughtful my cousin is!"
Charles's expression darkened instantly.
Wesley's words were clearly provocative, especially when he saw that Emily hadn't immediately declined. That ignited the competitive spirit within Charles.
"Seventy million dollars," Charles stated, raising his paddle with decisive confidence.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Only the second round of bidding, and the price had already jumped by twenty million dollars. Charles's financial power was truly impressive.
Wesley raised an eyebrow and lazily lifted his paddle. "Seventy-five million dollars."
"Eighty million dollars." Charles didn't even blink, announcing the astronomical figure as casually as if he were discussing the price of vegetables at a market.
Emily's heart raced. She watched anxiously as the price soared far beyond what she had anticipated.
While she appreciated Wesley and Elodie's good intentions, she didn't want to be indebted to the Martin family.
"Ninety million dollars," Wesley announced, deliberately raising his glass toward Charles with a playful smirk.
Charles's jawline tightened. His fingers paused on the paddle for a moment before he looked directly at Wesley. "One hundred million dollars."
This price rendered the entire room silent. Even the auctioneer hesitated, his gavel hovering in mid-air, clearly stunned that a brooch could command such an extraordinary sum.
Wesley observed the determination in Charles's eyes and suddenly smiled. "Mr. Windsor, if you want it this badly, I'll step aside."
He lowered his paddle and shrugged at Emily. "It seems Mr. Windsor's sincerity runs deeper than mine."
Elodie's eyes sparkled with triumph—she and Wesley had planned this all along, deliberately driving up the price to force Charles's hand.
Their strategy accomplished two goals: Emily would get the brooch, and Charles would make a substantial charitable donation. A perfect win-win.
After calling for bids three times without response, the auctioneer finally brought down his gavel. "One hundred million dollars! Congratulations, Mr. Windsor!"
Charles lowered his paddle, his gaze searching through the crowd for Emily. He saw her with her head bent toward Elodie, deep in conversation, her profile turned away from him.
An unfamiliar tightness gripped his chest. He had bid impulsively, without much thought, and now wondered if she would accept such an expensive gift.
Simultaneously, he chastised himself for his foolishness. He and Emily had no real connection—what had possessed him to buy her a gift?
The auction staff moved quickly. Within minutes, they presented the ruby brooch to Charles.
After Nathan carefully secured the item, he asked, "Mr. Windsor, would you like me to deliver this to Ms. Johnson now?"
"Which Ms. Johnson?" Charles countered.
"Emily."
Who else could it be?
While Charles had purchased auction items for Clara before, those had been casual acquisitions.
Nothing like today, when the bidding had been so intense that Nathan nearly expected someone to call for a duel.
Charles clearly felt something unusual for Emily.
But that made sense. Put Clara and Emily side by side, and anyone would know which to choose. Not that Clara wasn't attractive, but...
Clara always gave Nathan an uncomfortable feeling, as if she constantly wore a mask, showing only what she wanted others to see.
Emily was different, but it was obvious that she genuinely disliked Charles.
"Who said I bought it for her?"
Nathan fell silent, thinking, 'Keep denying it if you want!'
Watching Charles so obviously affected yet in denial, Nathan decided not to press further.
A good assistant knew when to stay quiet.
"Pack it carefully and put it in the car," Charles instructed, handing the jewelry box to Nathan before waving him off.
Meanwhile, Emily was still listening to Elodie's excited chatter. "Charles really knows how to throw money around. Spending a hundred million dollars on a brooch just to one-up Wesley! Emily, trust me on this—he's definitely interested in you. Just wait, he'll bring the brooch over any minute now."
No sooner had she finished speaking than they watched Nathan take the brooch away.
Elodie's jaw dropped in shock. Charles hadn't given it to Emily, but had it taken away instead. He couldn't really be blind enough to give the brooch to Clara, couldn't he?
Had Wesley misjudged the situation?
While Elodie's thoughts were spinning, Charles approached Emily. "I'll take you home."
Emily instinctively stepped back. "That's not necessary. I can manage..."
"It's late," Charles interrupted. "It's not safe for you to be alone."
Elodie nudged Emily's arm and leaned in to whisper, her voice barely audible, "Go with him! He's probably planning to give you the brooch on the way and confess his feelings. That's how it always happens in TV shows."
Emily looked at Elodie's excited expression, then at Charles's impassive face, her emotions a jumbled mess.
'Oh, Elodie, you should really watch fewer TV dramas!'