Chapter 50: A Wife's Completely Genuine and Urgent Bidding Desire
Here's the translation:
10 million dollars!
10 times!
It's already gone up 10 times!
Everyone was stunned. The whole venue fell silent for two seconds, then erupted into heated discussion.
"Still going!"
"823 is really going to compete with William to the end!"
"Am I about to witness this historic moment!"
"In all these years, no one has dared to challenge William like this!"
The discussion at the venue was so loud it nearly blew the roof off.
Isabella looked over at seat 823, grinding her teeth in frustration.
She had no idea what that woman called Lika was trying to do.
A calculating look flashed through her eyes.
Then she turned around, and where William couldn't see, she grabbed her phone and sent someone a message.
At the same time, William raised his hand again.
"Bidder 888 continues, offering 12 million dollars!"
The auctioneer called out loudly.
"12 million dollars, that's 12 times the starting price!"
"A full 12 times! My goodness, how high will it go today? Will 823 keep going!"
Just a piece of tanzanite, but the bid had reached 12 million dollars!
The entire inner hall was in an uproar, lights flashing constantly, all eyes focused on those two seats on the second floor.
Just as everyone was discussing heatedly, suddenly—
"This is malicious price inflation! This auction isn't fair at all!"
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Malicious price inflation means—[During an auction, when bidders conspire with each other or with the auctioneer, using improper means to raise the price of auction items to gain unfair benefits or harm others' legitimate rights.]
The venue suddenly quieted down. People looked around, but the person had already left.
No one knew who it was.
Some agreed—
"Right, until now 823 has only been making bids. Could they be deliberately making William pay a high price for that tanzanite?"
But most people were just watching the drama unfold, not really caring—
"William's not an idiot. If he dares to do this, he must have considered this possibility."
"Exactly. William said he'd compete to the end himself, so he's definitely not afraid of others raising the price. Besides, this amount of money means nothing to William."
As the discussion grew louder, the auctioneer tried to maintain order: "Everyone please quiet down, distinguished guests please remain calm. The Adams Group's auction house will not allow malicious bidding."
But no one paid attention to him. After all, those invited to this charity auction dinner were no ordinary people.
Just as the discussion kept growing and some people took out their phones, seemingly wanting to send messages to the outside world—
A loud, urgent knocking sound came, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The spotlight focused on a high platform on the second and a half floor.
A wheelchair was slowly pushed out.
Then everyone saw Oliver sitting in the wheelchair.
He took the microphone.
"Everyone, let me say a few words." Oliver's aged but powerful voice rang out.
In that moment, the noisy atmosphere temporarily ceased.
"Bidder number 888." Oliver called out.
William looked up at Oliver and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Bidder number 823." Oliver spoke again.
Amelia stood up slowly after hearing this.
Then, under everyone's gaze, she slowly walked out of the shadows and, like William, stood at the second-floor railing.
The spotlight from the inner hall shone on her, making the woman in the silver-white flowing satin gown breathtakingly beautiful.
She looked toward Oliver and bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
"For this piece of tanzanite, are there any other bidders present?" Oliver spoke again.
No one answered, and no one stepped forward.
After waiting about 30 seconds, Oliver nodded and continued: "Very good. Now I ask you both, are you bidding of your own free will?"
Both raised their hands in acknowledgment.
With that, Oliver raised his hand, and the lighting suddenly changed.
As an exciting drumbeat sounded, Oliver spoke again: "Ladies and gentlemen, I understand both parties' situations. I guarantee, on my reputation and that of the Adams Group, that today's bidding between these two parties involves no malicious price inflation."
People looked at each other.
This situation was even stranger.
No malicious price inflation, no marketing tactics—both people genuinely wanted this tanzanite!
So all of 823's bids were genuine bids made of their own free will!
What was going on!
Of course, the people present wouldn't know, and William frowned slightly, looking at the woman standing there calmly.
Amelia wasn't looking at William. She just lowered her eyes slightly.
Oliver knew her identity. She had previously asked Jeffrey to hide the seller's true information for this tanzanite, but none of this could be hidden from Oliver.
After all, Jeffrey was Oliver's grandson.
Oliver might even know that this tanzanite was originally a birthday gift she had prepared for her child.
A wife not wanting her husband's mistress, or her husband helping the mistress, to win her child's birthday gift—this was a completely genuine, urgent bidding intention with no malicious price inflation.
No matter where you took this explanation, no one would doubt her motives.
But was that really the case?
A mocking look flashed in Amelia's eyes.
Knowing something couldn't be done, would she still forcefully bid?
She wasn't that foolish.
Looking up again, Amelia looked at William standing there, her red lips curving slightly.
And he was looking at her too.
In this moment, an invisible magnetic field seemed to surround them both.
In this moment, blocking out everyone else, leaving only each other.
This was a psychological battle.
One held the advantage of money and power, the other was mysterious and unfathomable, impossible to read.
William's brow furrowed.
Who was this woman?
After years of navigating the business world, this was the first time he'd encountered someone so inscrutable.
"Very good." At this moment, Oliver on the high platform spoke again. "For the rest of this auction, I will personally host it."
The inner hall, which had just quieted down, erupted into heated discussion again.
"Oliver's hosting personally! How many years has it been since Oliver came out? This time he's actually hosting for these two!"
"This really is a historic moment!"
"Will we see Oliver dominating the auction scene like twenty years ago!"
...
Another round of loud knocking came, and the crowd slowly quieted down.
Everyone looked at these three locations.
The high platform on the second and a half floor, seat 888, seat 823.
"Now, bidding continues. Bidder 888 has offered 12 million dollars. Is there a higher bid?" Oliver's voice filled the entire inner hall.