Chapter 43: Intentional Price Hike
The gigantic screen displayed the dazzling diamond bracelet, radiating light so intensely it was almost blinding.
“Wow! Damian, look! It’s beautiful!” Sienna’s voice was filled with undisguised longing. She vigorously shook Damian’s arm. “I want this one! Hurry up and bid!”
Damian raised his bidding paddle. “Six hundred thousand dollars!” “Six hundred fifty thousand dollars!” “Seven hundred thousand dollars!” The price climbed rapidly.
Evelyn noticed that while Damian still smiled, his eyes involuntarily darted toward the price display, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Just then, Ryan reached out and took Evelyn’s hand, which was resting on the sofa armrest. Her hand felt sticky and trembled slightly. He encased her hand in his warm palm and guided her finger to press an inconspicuous silver button on the coffee table in front of them.
“Ding—” A clear sound rang out in the private box.
The price on the big screen downstairs immediately jumped.
“One million dollars!” the host shouted excitedly, turning his gaze toward the dark glass wall on the second floor. “The guest from the VIP box bids one million dollars!”
Damian downstairs was visibly stunned. He seemed not to have expected such a brazen, direct hike in the bid.
Sienna, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, urged him on with greater excitement. “Damian, quickly! Bid higher! I really love this one!”
Damian took a deep breath, seemingly suppressing something, and raised his paddle again. “One million fifty thousand!”
Ryan chuckled lightly, giving the opponent no time to breathe. He took Evelyn’s hand again and pressed the button. “Ding—” “One million two hundred thousand!”
“Damian...” Sienna’s voice was edged with tears now.
Damian’s face darkened visibly. His polite smile had completely vanished, replaced by the sinister look of a man enraged. He glared fiercely in the direction of the second floor, as if trying to penetrate the one-way glass with his eyes.
“Ding—” Ryan pressed it again. “One million five hundred thousand!”
This price was already far beyond the bracelet’s actual estimated value.
Sienna was still prattling beside him, “Damian, I really love this! You promised me!”
“Shut up!”
As if steeling himself, he gritted his back teeth and raised the paddle with a savage finality. “One million five hundred fifty thousand!”
Ryan raised an eyebrow but did not follow up this time.
“One million five hundred fifty thousand, going once! One million five hundred fifty thousand, going twice! One million five hundred fifty thousand, going three times! Sold!” The auctioneer’s gavel came down hard.
Downstairs, after confirming the win, Damian looked completely spent, leaning back against the chair. Even from this distance, Evelyn could imagine the blood dripping from his heart over the final bill.
“The second lot,” the host quickly unveiled the next item. “The ‘Heart of Flame,’ a pigeon blood ruby necklace from Myanmar!”
The necklace was even more dazzling than the bracelet. The enormous ruby seemed to flow with a fire-like sheen under the lights. Sienna’s eyes lit up again. Forgetting her previous annoyance, she grabbed Damian’s arm once more.
“Damian, this is so pretty too... I...”
“The budget is maxed out.” Damian’s voice was very low but full of impatience and warning.
Sienna pouted in dissatisfaction, her voice growing louder, laced with a hint of a tantrum. “How can that be! You promised to grant all my requests! You said you would!”
Ryan leaned back on the sofa, thoroughly enjoying the drama below. He turned his head and whispered in Evelyn’s ear, his warm breath tickling her lobe.
“It seems your husband isn't always so generous with his mistress.”
Evelyn did not reply. Her gaze was fixed not on Ryan nor the ridiculous couple, but back on the auction stage below.
The second round of bidding ended quickly, and the third began.
The spotlight illuminated the stage. The host lifted the red velvet cloth, revealing the jewelry display beneath. “Our next item is a platinum iris necklace, titled ‘Iris Kiss.’ The iris symbolizes light and freedom. Starting bid, two hundred thousand dollars!”
The moment she saw the necklace, Evelyn’s breath hitched. That iris seemed to bloom directly from the depths of her sealed memories. The iris was her favorite flower, and a recurring element in her university designs. Eight years of marriage had almost made her forget the bright-eyed self who used to stay up all night over her sketches. She leaned forward involuntarily, her gaze glued to the necklace, as if seeing her past self.
Ryan, who had been watching her, naturally did not miss the fleeting look of desire and nostalgia in her eyes. It was a light entirely different from lust, carrying a resilient vitality.
“Two hundred thousand dollars, do we have any bids?” the host inquired loudly. “Two hundred fifty thousand dollars!” Someone raised a paddle in the back. “Three hundred thousand dollars!” The price climbed slowly.
Evelyn’s fingers unconsciously tightened on her skirt. Her heart pounded anxiously.
Just then, Ryan put down his wine glass, picked up the intercom on the table, and spoke two words into the mouthpiece in a casual tone. “One million.”
The entire auction hall fell silent for a second. Five times the reserve price. This was a completely dominant price. The few bidders who were still hesitating wisely put down their paddles.
The host paused, then instantly reacted. His face split into a professional smile as he rapidly brought down the gavel. “One million, going once! One million, going twice! One million, going three times! Sold! Congratulations to the distinguished guest in Box Seven!”
It all happened too fast. Evelyn hadn't even had time to react. The necklace she thought was unattainable was nonchalantly claimed by the man beside her.
A short while later, a waiter respectfully delivered the exquisitely packaged jewelry box. Ryan took the box, opened it, and picked up the silver chain with his long fingers. The cold metal hung down, reflecting a clear, cool light.
Without a word, he placed the necklace directly into Evelyn’s open palm.
“The iris suits you.” “Keep it safe. Consider it a... souvenir of tonight.”
Evelyn instinctively closed her hand. The sharp edges of the iris pendant pressed into her palm, a slight prickle. The metal felt cold on her fingertips, yet an inexplicable warmth spread from deep within her heart.