Claudia's interest in fashion design was purely out of passion.
She came from a wealthy family and didn't rely on it for a living; it was simply a hobby.
However, Claudia had an innate talent for it.
At the age of sixteen, she entered a world-class fashion design competition and garnered attention with a dress that combined elements of the past and present.
Afterward, she seemed to fade from the fashion design scene, with many speculating that her inspiration had dried up and she couldn't produce anything remarkable anymore.
In reality, Claudia had devoted more time to learning.
Her designs were characterized by simplicity and beauty, always evoking a sense of goodness.
The evening gown she had designed this time, though understated, exuded nobility and beauty in its details.
During the auction, as soon as the model appeared in her creation, the bidding began.
Typically, a dress without exceptionally valuable jewels could fetch several hundred thousand dollars at auction, which would be considered a good price. If adorned with jewels, fetching millions of dollars at auction would also be quite common.
However, Claudia's dress, without any jewels, had already reached a bid of two hundred thousand dollars.
At this point, the bidders would usually be wealthy individuals who both admired the dress and had the means to afford it.
But this price was already quite high, and under normal circumstances, no one would bid any higher.
Josephine was overjoyed.
She was even happier than Claudia to see her dress being valued.
"Two hundred and twenty thousand dollars!" Another bidder raised their paddle!
Josephine's eyes widened with surprise as she looked over. The bidder was a middle-aged man in glasses, around forty, and not a foreigner.
The auctioneer announced, "Two hundred and twenty thousand dollars! Any further bids? Two hundred and twenty thousand dollars once, two hundred and twenty thousand dollars twice."
Just when Josephine thought this was the final price and the deal was about to be sealed, another bid came in! "Three hundred thousand dollars!"
Josephine couldn't believe her ears and turned around.
It was indeed Stuart!
Beside him was Doris!
The onlookers were also astonished, with some even suspecting that Stuart was artificially inflating the price, staging a fake auction.
A dress without any jewel embellishments fetching a price of three hundred thousand dollars would easily rank among the top three in the history of this auction.
The high prices of the other two items were due to them being works of renowned masters.
Obviously, Claudia was not such a master.
The auctioneer on stage asked, "Any more bids? Three hundred thousand dollars once, three hundred thousand dollars twice."
Josephine suddenly raised her paddle, "Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars."
Claudia, as the designer, couldn't participate in the auction.
She had just won an award, and now she sat on the stage, unable to see the specifics of what was happening below, but she could hear Josephine's voice.
Seeing Josephine raise her paddle, she felt a mix of relief and anxiety.
She knew Josephine was being kind to her. She felt that the price was already high enough, and Josephine didn't need to raise it further.
Besides, her dress wasn't worth that much.
At this moment, Doris noticed Josephine and her bid. She held Stuart's arm and said, "Stuart, I really like this dress, but..."
"Yes, since Josephine wants it, let her have it,"
Stuart said, holding up his paddle. "Four hundred thousand dollars!"
The room erupted in gasps.
Claudia, a rising designer, had won awards, but her creations were never worth that much.
Josephine glanced back lightly and did not raise her placard again.
The dress sold for four hundred thousand dollars.
After the auction, Josephine went to the restroom, waiting for Claudia.
When she emerged, she saw Doris fixing her makeup.
"Josephine," Doris said with a sweet smile, "you're here too. You must know that Stuart bought Ms. Howard's dress for me, right?"
Josephine replied coolly, "Congratulations."
"It's nothing. I told him I didn't want it, but he insisted," Doris said. Josephine, with a smile, asked, "Did Stuart only buy you sapphire jewelry? Didn't you ask for anything else?"
Doris mentioned it, but Stuart didn't listen.
Doris didn't understand why Josephine kept asking her, but she felt something was off. Doris, not wanting to appear weak, said, "Of course not. Whatever I want, Stuart will get it for me."
Josephine said, "That's great. But have you considered that everything Stuart buys for you is from our joint property? If I want it back, what do you think the court will decide?"
Doris was stunned.
The legal awareness in society was now widespread, especially with some well-known bloggers providing detailed analyses.
Doris knew that if Josephine pursued these things, she would have to return them! "You wouldn't do something that damages your reputation, would you?"
Doris tried to calm herself down. "Besides, you and Stuart are just a business alliance, you have no feelings for each other."
"I may not have feelings for him, but it's not for you, a homewrecker,
to come and flaunt it in front of me."
"I didn't." Doris bit her lip and said, feeling wronged, "Besides, those things were not what I asked for."
"You should find out why Stuart likes to buy you sapphire jewelry." With that, Josephine wheeled away.
Outside, she saw Stuart, who was apparently waiting for Doris.
Seeing Josephine, Stuart said, "What are you doing here? Are you looking for me?"
The restroom was a bit secluded, but Josephine had come here because it was closer to where Claudia would come out. She didn't expect to be misunderstood by Stuart.
Stuart said again, "Or do you want to say something to Doris to make her misunderstand? Josephine, can you stop being so sinister?"
Josephine was about to speak when Doris came out.
Doris ran over to Stuart, not saying a word, and took his arm.
Her cheek rested on his arm, and she glanced at Josephine, a little afraid.
Josephine gritted her teeth, wanting to scold her!
She thought, 'What does Doris mean? Is she implying that I just bullied her in the restroom?'
Stuart looked at her and asked gently, "What's wrong? Don't be afraid, tell me, I'll support you."
Doris looked at Josephine, then at Stuart with red eyes, and said, "Stuart, I'm not with you for your money, and I've said I don't want those things you bought me. But just now, Josephine, she said, she said..."
"I said I can legally get back all the things you gave her," Josephine said coldly. "Was I wrong?"
Stuart looked at her angrily and said, "Josephine, refrains from entertaining the notion of possessing things that do not belong to you."