Olivia didn’t even bother with Stephanie and said nonchalantly:
-Who knows, maybe she doesn’t have much money, or maybe what she wants will be auctioned off later.
Albina smiled at the nonchalance of her attitude.
-Yes, you’re right.
She didn’t think she should worry about it, she and Olivia had come just to have a few laughs and buy something random.
As long as Stephanie didn’t hit that jade pendant….
But when the jade pendant was exposed, Stephanie couldn’t wait to be the first to pick up the card. Her movements were huge and she looked very excited, it was clear she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Albina frowned.
-Mom, it seems she heard what we talked about earlier and has been waiting for this moment.
Olivia looked at Stephanie with disgust and annoyance.
-This person is so annoying it’s disgusting.
Stephanie finished holding up the card and looked at Olivia and Albina with a smug expression and raised her eyebrows provocatively at them.
Olivia held up her card right away and said her price.
A few others took a liking to the little pendant and followed suit a few times. Then they noticed Olivia and Stephanie were bidding against each other and stopped. The room fell silent as the two fought, one bidding higher than the other.
The price was already in excess of millions and they still hadn’t stopped.
The initial calm on Albina’s face was gone, and she saw that both Olivia and Stephanie had lost their heads and were fighting with each other.
-Mom, the price is now far higher than the value of the jade pendant.
This jade pendant, though well carved, was only the size of a thumb and the carved tiger was relatively for a child to wear for fun.
Olivia’s cheeks were tinged with red, she was a bit parched after fighting with Stephanie for a good part of the day.
-Albina, you don’t have to worry about that, our family is not short of money. It’s normal for me to spend money on things for my grandchildren, but that woman Stephanie wants to steal from me, and I won’t let her! I’ll buy this pendant today, I don’t think Stephanie has more money than I do!
Olivia instantly held up her card and shouted:
-Five million!
Stephanie’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford to pay five million, but it wasn’t worth paying five million for a small jade pendant. And her husband would scold her if he found out.
Clearly Olivia wanted to buy this pendant for her future grandchildren. And Stephanie’s son, Peter, didn’t even have a girlfriend right now, so there was no need for this.
Stephanie stared at Olivia for a long moment, hesitating whether to raise her hand.
Olivia exhaled a sigh of relief, like a general who had won a battle.
-Mrs. Leoz, would you like to raise your bid? But no matter how high you raise it, I’ll be there all the way.
For a moment, Stephanie wanted to raise the price and put Olivia at a disadvantage.
But previous encounters between the two had shown that Olivia had a bit of a mean streak, didn’t follow the rules, and Albina had shown no insistence that she had to have the pendant.
Stephanie weighed the pros and cons and finally gave up.
The auctioneer dropped the hammer and the pendant went to Olivia for $5 million.
Olivia smiled instantly.
People around her whispered. A jade pendant was so small that it could only fetch tens of thousands at most, and maybe a hundred thousand at most. But this asking price was too much.
However, Olivia was unconcerned and said cheerfully to Albina:
-Albina, the more I look at this pendant, the more I like it. The little tiger would be perfect for my future grandchildren.
Stephanie did not look favorably on it and immediately said sarcastically:
-Five million for a broken pendant, the Santangel Family is really rich.
Olivia’s words were interrupted and she looked at Stephanie with distaste. But seeing that her expression was not very pleasant, Olivia was suddenly in a good mood.
-You’re right, I’m not short of five million, the jade pendant makes me happy and that’s enough. Today is a charity auction, so I will consider it a charity and accumulate luck for my future grandchildren.
The auction staff around him immediately intervened.
-Yes, Mrs. Santangel is right. It’s a charity auction, and since the Santangel Family’s business is all over the country, it amounts to an extra donation.
-Yes, Mrs. Leoz can’t cost that kind of money. You are generous, Mrs. Santangel.
Others immediately stepped up to curry Olivia’s favor.
-Their future grandchildren will be as safe, healthy and lively as this little tiger.
Olivia was even happier to hear this, her face beaming, for now was when she was most looking forward to the baby in Albina’s womb.
-I appreciate your kind words.
Stephanie wanted to leave as she watched Olivia being complimented and listened to people’s sarcastic comments.
But if she left now, it would look like she really was as narrow-minded as those people said she was, so she had to sit down and hold back her anger.
Stephanie didn’t raise her hand until the auction was over.
When it was over, everyone left the room.
Olivia opted to leave last with Albina for fear that someone would bump into her.
The staff handed over Olivia’s auctioned items.
Olivia didn’t bother to look at the rest and went first to look at the small tiger jade pendant she had just purchased.
The jade pendant looked larger than when it was displayed on stage, but it was only the distance of a knuckle of her thumb and was very comfortable to touch.
The little tiger was plump and, although it was white all over, the carving was so good that it looked as if you could faintly see the flower patterns, delicate and lovely.
-I was right to buy it, I am very happy with this jade pendant.
And she was even happier that she had won Stephanie over once again.
Albina, seeing Olivia happy, couldn’t help but smile too.
-Mom, they’re almost all gone, let’s go out.
-Okay,” Olivia took Albina by the arm and carefully lifted her up.
Her cautious look made Albina smile.
-You don’t have to be so nervous, the doctor said the baby is healthy. It’s just a walk, nothing will happen. Other pregnant women keep exercising and running when they’re eight months along. It’s not like your body is stronger than everyone else’s, so as long as the doctor hasn’t declared you completely healthy, I can’t let you go.
Albina sighed, but the corners of her lips curved into a smile.
It felt a little good to be nervous, it was a sweet burden.
By the time the two left, there were only a few people scattered outside the venue. Most had left in their cars and a few were chatting happily at the door.
Among them was Stephanie.
She was flattered, surrounded by women who were probably not of her class and who wanted to move up to the Seco Family or the Murillo Family through her, and now they were complimenting her in every way possible.
Stephanie was so pleased with herself that she turned her head and saw Olivia and Albina coming out of the room.
Olivia had one arm around Albina and the other was holding a box with the items she had gotten.
As soon as they both exited, the driver waiting at the door intently picked up the items and came up behind them.
Stephanie stared at the box, as if anger might well up in her eyes.