Chapter 96
Noticing Alexander's darkened eyes, Charlotte's gaze flickered for a moment. She felt strangely uncomfortable and looked away.
"Thank you."
"Shall we go? The charity auction is about to start, isn't it?"
As if sensing her unease, the man let out a soft laugh but said nothing more, and simply offered his arm.
The moment she saw the gesture, Charlotte hesitated briefly, then gently rested her hand on it.
The two of them got into the Rolls-Royce waiting outside and headed straight for the city's most famous seven-star hotel.
At the hotel entrance, a crowd of reporters had already gathered, all armed with cameras, shooting as much footage as they could to send back to their news agencies.
When the Rolls-Royce slowly pulled to a stop, the reporters who had been watching and waiting immediately swarmed forward, and camera flashes lit up all at once.
The car door opened. Alexander stepped out first, then reached his hand back toward whoever was still inside.
Every reporter craned their neck, eager to see who his companion was.
A moment later, Charlotte stepped gracefully out of the car, one hand lifting the hem of her dress.
When the crowd got a clear look at her, there was a collective gasp.
"Oh my God, Mr. Harris's companion is Ms. Johnson?!"
"They're appearing in public together — doesn't that basically confirm there's something going on between them?"
"Am I seeing this right? That dress Ms. Johnson is wearing — isn't that the latest haute couture piece from Elian Saran? You can't buy that even if you have the money!"
"Never mind the dress — have you seen her jewelry? That's the 'Heart of Nocturnal Skies,' the one that sold at auction overseas last year for fifty million!"
The murmurs and camera clicks rose and fell around them, but Alexander paid none of it any attention. His eyes were entirely on Charlotte.
Once he was sure she was comfortable, he quietly let out a breath of relief, wrapped his arm around her waist, and guided her toward the banquet hall.
The heavy gold doors swung open, and the sound of flowing music drifted out.
The magnificent banquet hall was already filled with Penang's elite — perfume and glamour in the air, glasses clinking, the whole space thick with luxury and excess.
The moment the two of them walked in, every head turned.
In the instant people recognized them, their gazes held admiration and curiosity, along with hints of scrutiny and envy.
In a corner of the hall, Chloe stood motionless, her eyes locked on the couple who had just come through the door. Her grip on her wine glass tightened.
"Damn you, Charlotte."
Just thinking about how everything Charlotte was wearing, everything she owned, should have been hers — the thought twisted something inside Chloe further, and her nails dug deep into her palm.
Nora, sitting across from her, seemed to notice she was losing her composure. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold smile curved her lips.
"Don't rush."
She kept her voice low, her words laced with malice. "There's a saying — the higher you climb, the harder you fall."
"The real show is about to begin."
Chloe was just about to say something in response to Nora's loaded words.
Just then, the emcee walked up onto the stage at the front of the hall.
He gave a slight bow to the guests and smiled as he spoke.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us for this charity auction. I'm your host for this evening, and we won't waste any time — let's get started right away."
"Please welcome our first item."
As everyone looked on with anticipation, a heavyset man with a wide smile squeezed his way to the front row, right where Charlotte and Alexander were seated.
"Mr. Harris, it's an honor. I'm the owner of Orbis Land Properties Co., Ltd."
The man was all smiles as he held out his business card.
Looking at his eager expression, Alexander gave him a polite nod.
Even though Alexander's manner was clearly dismissive, the man didn't dare show any dissatisfaction.
When he realized Alexander wasn't giving him much attention, his eyes shifted to Charlotte.
"And you must be the Johnson family's daughter who just returned — Ms. Johnson?"
"Ms. Johnson is every bit as talented and beautiful as I'd heard. You and Mr. Harris make a truly wonderful pair."
Charlotte saw right through him. She gave a cool, barely-there nod — just enough to be polite.
The man had run into a wall that was neither hard nor soft. He rubbed his nose, lingered a little longer out of sheer nerve, and then finally moved on.
By now, the first item of the auction had been unveiled on stage — an oil painting by a contemporary artist, masterfully executed with impressive technique. But Charlotte had no interest in it at all.
"Not a fan?"
Alexander had been watching her the whole time. Noticing that she seemed a little bored, he asked.
"It's not really about liking it or not."
Charlotte pressed her lips together and sighed. "I just find it a bit dull."
She had never been fond of events like this. If it hadn't been for Alexander's invitation, she probably wouldn't have come at all.
Seeming to understand what she was thinking, Alexander looked at her for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh — his tone shifting into something coaxing.
"Bear with it a little longer? There's something worth seeing coming up."
Charlotte glanced at him, said nothing, and let that serve as her answer.
The auction moved along smoothly — from paintings to antiques, then to limited-edition jewelry and watches sponsored by luxury brands. Each item stirred up considerable excitement, and the final prices were remarkable.
But Charlotte sat quietly through it all, like someone watching from the outside.
And Alexander, beside her, never once raised his paddle. His attention was entirely on Charlotte the whole time.
He swapped her water glass every now and then, set freshly shelled nuts in the small dish beside her, and took care of her with quiet, steady attention.
Even though Charlotte barely glanced at him throughout, the man didn't seem to mind at all — as if he was perfectly content doing this.
Over in the corner, Chloe had been watching the two of them the whole time.
Seeing how close and at ease they were together nearly drove her mad with jealousy. She ground her teeth.
"That shameless woman — who does she think she's putting on a show for?"
Seeing Chloe on the verge of completely losing it, Nora frowned but kept her patience.
"What are you rushing for? It's not time yet. Let her enjoy herself a little longer — what does it matter?"
Chloe drew a slow, deep breath. Her eyes darkened, but she forced herself to hold it together.
As time passed, just when Charlotte was beginning to lose her patience, the emcee finally brought out a new item — his expression visibly excited, his voice notably louder than before.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the next item up for auction is something truly special."
"This is a bracelet called 'The First Sight,' created by an anonymous and exceptionally gifted designer during her youth."