Chapter 44: Not Lika, but Amelia
The venue erupted.
Three consecutive bids, each one executed methodically and decisively.
Especially this last one - no longer adding $100,000, but jumping straight to $1.5 million, expressing her determination to win.
"What's going on? Doesn't 823 know who she's bidding against? Going head-to-head like this."
"How could she not know? That Lika is the woman Jeffrey brought. This evening's host is the Adams Group - how could Jeffrey not know?"
"True, so what are they doing now?"
"Who knows? Even though it's William's date holding up the paddle, 823 is basically slapping William in the face!"
"This tanzanite is worth a million dollars. By my estimate, anything over $1.2 million isn't worth it. Now it's jumped straight to $1.5 million - is there some history here?"
"Not sure. Do you think 888 will bid again?"
"If it were William, he'd definitely bid higher - given his wealth. But this time it's Isabella holding the paddle, so who knows."
"Isn't William afraid of losing face?"
"You don't get it - he can play it either way. If he keeps bidding, he's going all in. If he backs out, he can say the other party needed it urgently, and letting them have it shows he's generous."
"You can do that?"
"Why not? Everyone here knows William has the means to go all the way. If he doesn't bid higher, no one will doubt his wealth - they'll just think he's being generous."
"But I still think it's awkward - not being able to win a million-dollar tanzanite..."
"True, he could just buy it and then give it to them. That would cover everything."
"Smart, that's the way!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
But no one was certain, so they all looked toward the second floor.
On the second floor, everyone sat at their seats, seemingly unchanged, but undercurrents were surging beneath the surface.
Amelia looked at Jeffrey beside her, worried: "Will this affect you?"
Jeffrey smiled: "You're bidding with your own paddle. What does it have to do with me?"
Amelia smiled, her eyes sweeping to the table nearby.
That's right - there were two bidding paddles here.
One was Lika's, one was Jeffrey's.
They were both invited guests, so they each had a paddle.
Still, going head-to-head with William like this would have some impact.
"Don't worry." Jeffrey saw Amelia's concern and said, "This small matter, I can handle it."
Then he added: "Bid freely. I've got the funds covered."
Amelia looked at Jeffrey and said softly: "Thank you."
She wasn't worried about the money - she was worried about whether William would get involved personally.
From what it looked like so far, everything was just Isabella's personal preference.
As for Isabella, she was stuck in an awkward position right now.
To match that $1.5 million - it hurt, and she didn't know if the other party would keep raising.
If she didn't match it, it would be embarrassing for both her and William.
While she hesitated, William tapped the table with his finger.
"Match it," he said simply.
But Isabella didn't act immediately. Instead, she looked at him worriedly: "William, it's really not necessary. It's already exceeded its actual value."
"And..." she said somewhat embarrassed, "I don't have that much money left."
William just calmly glanced at the tanzanite below.
He felt it should belong to him.
"Don't worry about the money," William said.
The meaning was clear - he would pay for it.
Isabella felt relieved, but deliberately acted anxious: "No, William, we agreed I would pay for it myself."
Meanwhile, in several hidden seats, people were quietly watching, waiting for the final result.
Just then, suddenly, the villa's main door, which had been tightly closed, opened.
In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn over.
A wheelchair was slowly pushed in.
An elderly man sat in the wheelchair.
Though seated, his presence was undiminished.
The old man's face wore a smile.
"Sorry I'm late," the old man said with a smile. "Looks like it's quite lively here today - I could hear the discussions from far away."
As soon as Jeffrey saw the old man, he stood up and quickly went downstairs.
Jeffrey helped the old man stand: "Grandpa, why did you come in person?"
He had thought Oliver was hiding in one of the dark seats, waiting to send him a message to bring Amelia over. He didn't expect Oliver to take an unconventional route and come straight through the main entrance in a wheelchair.
"Came to take a look," Oliver said, standing steady with his cane. The other two members of the Adams family also arrived, coming over to help.
Oliver just waved them off. He smiled and surveyed the people there, his gaze pausing briefly on William, Isabella, and Amelia, then looking at the auction item.
Finally, he said something many people didn't understand: "It's good to be young."
Due to Oliver's sudden arrival, the auction paused briefly. The auctioneer was about to continue the process, but Oliver just lightly tapped a nearby plate.
Oliver said in his aged voice: "It's already intermission time. What comes next can wait for the second half."
Leave it hanging like this?
Everyone felt like cats were scratching at their hearts, itching unbearably.
Just when the bidding had reached its peak, now they had to take an intermission?
Oliver saw what everyone was thinking, but said nothing.
With his three grandsons' support, he headed toward the elevator to the third floor.
Before the elevator doors closed, Oliver said to Jeffrey: "Go get her. I want to see her."
Who "her" was went without saying.
Jeffrey panicked immediately - the timing was wrong!
Everyone had seen 823 and 888 going head-to-head. Calling Amelia over now - nothing good could come of it!
If things had been handled well before, there might have been a glimmer of hope, but now...
Beck Adams, by Oliver's side, remained calm and silent.
Zaid looked at him mockingly: "Jeffrey, hurry up."
Jeffrey knew he had no choice, so he could only glare at Zaid, then went to find Amelia.
Amelia already knew what would happen next, so before Jeffrey could figure out what to say, she nodded to show she understood.
Jeffrey let out a long sigh, knowing this was something she had to handle, so he just helped her stand and walked with her toward a room on the third floor.
"Grandpa's inside. Be careful. If it comes to it, just yell, and I'll come save you," Jeffrey warned.
Amelia smiled: "It's not as scary as you're making it sound."
"It really is scary!" Jeffrey's cold sweat showed he was serious.
Amelia said nothing more, just nodded: "Alright, I'm going in."
Beck and Zaid had already come out. They now stood not far away, watching Jeffrey nervously pace outside the door.
Inside the room.
Amelia calmly closed the door, then walked step by step toward Oliver.
Then she stopped.
Her right hand moved, grasping the custom-made half-face mask. Without any hesitation, she removed it.
Now, Amelia's face was completely exposed before Oliver.
Not Lika, but Amelia.