Chapter 242
Allegra ground her teeth so hard they nearly shattered, but inside her mind, calculations spun wildly.
She couldn't let Lucinda get away with this for nothing!
If that bitch Lucinda could hook up with someone like that, why the hell couldn't she?
If she could find a way to seduce the Douglas family's second son today—or even that man in black—the Wipere family could turn everything around overnight. And she'd never have to worry about anything again.
"Mr. Wesley Douglas! Mrs. Douglas! Mr. Milton Douglas! What a coincidence! I'm Preston from the Wipere Group..." Preston had already abandoned all sense of dignity. He dragged Gemma and Allegra forward like a groveling lapdog, plastering on his most obsequious smile, desperately hoping to strike up a connection.
But the moment Wesley and Valencia spotted the Wipere family approaching, their already cold expressions turned to ice.
They didn't spare them even a hint of courtesy.
If their precious daughter Cindy hadn't personally invited them to come and play along with this little charade, the Douglas family—the wealthiest family in the entire country—wouldn't have bothered glancing at such a low-tier auction in the first place.
Let alone acknowledge these Wipere family scumbags who'd once abused Cindy.
Preston tried to shuffle closer, shameless as ever.
"Stop!"
"Step back!"
Before he could get within three feet of the Douglas family, several towering bodyguards in black blocked the Wipere family's path.
The bodyguards' presence was overwhelming. Preston's legs buckled beneath him, nearly dropping him to his knees.
They couldn't even touch the hem of the Douglas family's clothing.
Valencia scoffed coldly. Escorted by her guards, she swept past the pathetic Wipere family trio with her head held high.
She and Wesley took Lucinda's hand and led her to the very front row of the venue.
Watching the Douglas family personally welcome Lucinda, the Wipere family's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Since when was Lucinda so close to the Douglas family?
They'd assumed she was just Wesley's mistress. But now even Valencia had come to greet her personally?
Who the hell was Lucinda, really?
Meanwhile, at the front row.
Reginald pulled out Lucinda's chair with meticulous care and helped her sit down.
Then he settled naturally into the seat on her left, his eyes filled with a tenderness that could drown her.
"Cindy!" Valencia hurried over with the rest of the Douglas family, the frost on her face melting into infinite warmth the instant her gaze landed on Lucinda.
They spread out around the pair with perfect coordination.
Milton took the seat on Lucinda's right without hesitation.
In an instant, Lucinda occupied the center position.
On her left sat her fiancé—the world's wealthiest man, powerful and coldly noble.
On her right sat her second brother—a scientific legend, aloof and proud.
Wesley and Valencia took seats slightly to the side, gazing at their daughter with eyes full of affection.
"Cindy, are you tired? Thirsty? I brought you warm water." Milton unscrewed his thermos, his voice so gentle it could drip honey.
"Lucinda, have some fruit. I had it specially air-shipped from overseas." Reginald's face remained expressionless, but his movements were practiced as he slid a plate of washed imported cherries in front of her.
Two of the most powerful men in the business world—men whose mere presence could shake entire industries—now circled around Lucinda without a trace of arrogance, attending to her every need.
Lucinda leaned back in her chair and nodded faintly.
From the very last row, Allegra watched the scene unfold, her eyes red with jealousy.
Why?
Why were all these exceptional men now circling that country bumpkin Lucinda like dogs?
And her?
She was stuck in the back row, squeezed between her parents, wearing last season's white dress with a gray stain on the shoulder that wouldn't rub off no matter how hard she tried.
What the hell was this?
Allegra lowered her head, the bitterness inside her nearly overflowing.
"Lucinda... you bitch. Just you wait."
Allegra clenched her teeth, her entire body trembling violently.
She turned her head and looked at the file in Preston's hand labeled 'Plot 03,' a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.
'Bid on it! Dad, hurry up and win that plot!'
Once the Wipere family used that land to turn things around and became a top-tier family like them, she'd make Lucinda pay back every humiliation she'd suffered today a thousand—no, ten thousand times over.
She'd show those two outstanding men who truly deserved to stand beside them—a real heiress.
Soon, the lights around them dimmed.
The auctioneer struck the gavel heavily. The auction officially began.
On the stage, the large screen lit up with a planning map of the plot in the southern new district.
The location was marked in eye-catching red, with several main roads and subway lines around it highlighted in different colors. It looked like a hot commodity, no question.
"Starting bid: three hundred twenty million."
The host's voice echoed through the hall. "Minimum increment: five million. Please place your bids."
Preston's palms were already sweating.
Before coming here, he'd mortgaged everything he could—the house, the cars, a few still-profitable shops. He hadn't even left Allegra the small apartment under her name.
The bank had reviewed his collateral list and hesitated for three days before finally approving the loan. The interest rate was terrifying, but he'd signed anyway.
This was the Wipere family's last chip. Win or lose, it all came down to this.
"Three hundred twenty million."
Someone on stage raised their paddle.
Preston took a deep breath and thrust his number paddle into the air.
"Three hundred twenty-five million! Number 37 bids!" The host's voice rose a notch.
Preston sat up straighter, lowering the paddle back to his knee. His fingers still trembled slightly, but a smile had already crept onto his lips.
Gemma leaned in, keeping her voice low. "How much now?"
"Three hundred twenty-five million." Preston whispered back. "Lower than I thought. That's only half our budget. Once we win this plot, we'll still have enough left over to pay back part of the loan."
Gemma's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Once we get the land and pay back half, we'll still come out ahead!"
Allegra lifted her chin proudly, her expression smug.
But the next second—
"Three hundred thirty million."
A calm voice drifted from the front row.
Preston's smile froze on his face.
He snapped his head up and saw Lucinda in the center of the front row, lowering her number paddle without hurry.
"She's bidding too?" Gemma's breathing quickened. "She wants this plot too?"
Preston's brow furrowed tightly. He bit down hard and raised his paddle again.
"Three hundred thirty-five million!"
"Three hundred forty million."
Lucinda raised her paddle again.
"Three hundred forty-five million!"
"Three hundred fifty million."
Sweat began beading on Preston's forehead.
The increments had jumped from five million to ten million. In just a few bids, the price had soared nearly thirty million.
He stared at that silhouette in the front row, his palms slick with sweat.
Just then, another paddle rose from the left side of the front row.
"Three hundred sixty million."
Wesley's voice was steady and commanding, making Preston's breath catch in his throat.
The Douglas family had entered the bidding!
Immediately after, from the right side of the front row, Aiden casually lifted his hand.
"Three hundred seventy million."
Preston's pupils contracted sharply.
He recognized that man—Aiden, assistant to the world's richest man, Reginald!
He looked around. Lucinda, the Douglas family, the Lancaster family—all three were competing for this plot.
What did that mean?
It meant this land was worth far more than he'd ever imagined!