“Maybe what?” Eli Wayne asked.
Natalie looked at Eli and said, “Sean has a great influence in X Country. It should not be a problem for him to get me a fake marriage certificate.”
Eli frowned and said with distress, “Do you not want to fight for your own happiness anymore?”
Natalie held Eli’s hand and said with a smile, “I know what I’m doing.”
Eli withdrew her hand and turned her face away. She looked at the table sadly and murmured, “I can’t help you with this as I will be leaving for D Country soon. Even if Sean is willing to help you, it will only be temporary.”
Natalie Wheeler thought that might be the case too.
Sean Yaleman had helped her because Eli chose to stay with him for her sake. As soon as Eli leaves, he would no longer have a reason to help her. Sean might even seek revenge against her once Eli leaves.
She had been dragging Eli down for two years. Natalie did not want Eli to sacrifice herself for her anymore.
“I have another way,” Natalie said with a smile, hoping to ease Eli’s anxious heart.
Eli looked at Natalie, whose face was full of smiles, with reddened eyes, “Can’t you just leave with me? I’m really worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“Why don’t you try to approach Allen then? Allen is a nobleman from France. No matter how powerful Sean is, he would not be able to reach France. Moreover, with Allen’s protection, you don’t have to worry about Frederick anymore,” Eli suggested.
“I know what to do. Don’t worry,” Natalie kept smiling from the beginning as if she had a card up her sleeve.
Eli’s heart sank, for some reason, her heart was filled with uneasiness.
The auction finally began.
There were twelve items slated for the auction this time.
Eli had been waiting for the auction of “The Dreamy Girl”.
They were already at the eighth item, but the painting had not shown up yet.
The ninth item was a diamond necklace with the starting price of ten million dollars. The bid increment was two hundred thousand dollars. At that moment, a few wealthy-looking men were eyeing for the necklace excitedly.
Eli could not help but roll her eyes. What a rich man! He probably was not afraid of being robbed with a necklace worth ten million dollars around his neck. If compared with the property prices of A city, it would be as if he was walking on the road with a small villa round his neck.
“Ten million dollars. Any higher than ten million dollars?” The host shouted excitedly.
“Ten million and two hundred thousand dollars, ten million and four hundred thousand dollars… 13 million dollars, calling once, calling twice, final call. Congratulations, you’ve got yourself a diamond necklace.”
Eli followed the host’s sight and looked over. She wanted to see who the final bidder was. He must be a very rich man!
An elegant smile crept across Allen’s face. He looked at Eli and nodded his head gently.
Eli nudged Natalie and said in a low voice, “Allen is the final bidder for the diamond necklace. He must be extremely rich.”
“Didn’t he say that already? His grandmother was the one who wanted it. Besides, he had inherited his noble status from his family. If I had guessed correctly, his grandmother’s status is probably much higher than his, so he has to do it,” Natalie analyzed.
“Oh, that’s how it is,” Eli understood.
The painting titled “The Dreamy Girl” was the final item in the auction. The starting price was 500, 000 dollars. Each time the bid was raised, the price would increase by 20, 000 dollars.
Eli was the first to raise her bid. She said to Natalie, “It seems that it’s not that expensive. I have a budget of ten million dollars, I should be able to get it.”
Natalie turned around and looked at Frederick Addington. He had been staring at her with an evil smile on his face, as if he was ready to breeze through the auction.
“Let’s bid eight million dollars from the get-go,” Natalie said to Eli.
“Huh? Why?” Eli was confused.
“Some people came here specially for “The Dreamy Girl”, but before they came here, they probably already had a bidding amount in mind. If you bid eight million dollars from the beginning, you would be able to see whether there are people who would continue to bid for the painting. From thereon, you would know the chances of you getting the painting,” Natalie deduced.
Eli trusted Natalie’s judgment. She raised her paddle and shouted, “Eight million dollars.”
“Eight million dollars?” The host was shocked. He was stunned and then shouted excitedly, “Is there anyone else who has a higher bid than eight million dollars? Calling once. That gentleman had just bid for eight million and twenty thousand dollars. Eight million and twenty thousand dollars, anyone?”
The host looked towards Eli subconsciously. Eli raised her paddle immediately.
Natalie turned to Frederick.
Frederick shook the paddle in his hand with a smile on his face, looking calm and relaxed.
Natalie frowned and looked at Eli, “Ten million dollars.”
“Huh? Ten million dollars? There is nothing left for me then. Don’t we want to raise it little by little?” Eli had a bad premonition that she might not be able to get “The Dreamy Girl”.
“What if there is someone who would raise 20, 000 dollars no matter the price you offer?” Natalie said in a low voice.
Eli understood. She glared at Frederick, who was sitting in the corner. She raised the sign and shouted, “Ten million dollars.”
The crowd was shocked by her words.
Frederick raised his paddle once again.
“Ten million and twenty thousand. Is there who would like to bid for a higher price?” The host was excited and he looked at Eli once again.
Eli smashed the paddle onto the table indignantly.
When the host saw that Eli had given up, he looked at Frederick and said ingratiatingly, “Ten million and twenty thousand, calling once, calling twice.”
“Eleven million dollars.” Jasper’s voice was deep and low. It was so deep that it was as if the speaker was deliberately restraining his voice. This made his voice sound even more masculine and heavenly.
Everyone was shocked. They started murmuring, trying to find the source of the voice.
Frederick was a little unnerved. He cast a glance at Jasper Milton.
Jasper did not even look at him. He raised the corners of his mouth thoughtfully as if he could see through everything.
Natalie also noticed the smile on Jasper’s face. She turned to look at Frederick.
Frederick’s eyes became sharp, and he raised the paddle in his hand.
“Eleven million and twenty thousand…” Before the host could finish his words, he heard Jasper’s voice, “Twelve million dollars.”
Frederick gritted his teeth and raised his paddle again.
“Twelve million and twenty thousand dollars,” the host shouted, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on Jasper.
“Thirteen million dollars,” Jasper said calmly.
Frederick clenched his fists and hesitated.
“Are Jasper and Frederick fighting with each other on purpose?” Eli asked Natalie.
Natalie looked at Jasper’s poker face.
Throughout the time they had been together, she had never been able to see through him. He was very good at hiding his emotions, so she could not read Jasper’s thoughts.
“Thirteen million dollars, calling once, calling twice, calling…”
At the final moment, Frederick shouted, “Fourteen million dollars.”
“Fifteen million dollars,” Jasper shouted promptly.
Frederick sneered and smashed the paddle on the table. He stood up and shouted at Jasper, “Sixteen million dollars.”
The host was shocked and he turned to look at Jasper. The guests in the auction were all silent.
Jasper also stood up and tidied up his clothes. He looked at Frederick deeply and said meaningfully, “Just because you have won doesn’t mean that you have succeeded. Similarly, just because you have failed to achieve your goal doesn’t mean that you have lost. Thank you.”
Frederick frowned, “What do you mean?”
“You will figure it out soon,” Jasper said coldly and strode toward the door. There seemed to be a clear light under his feet, leaving the hall of people looking at each other confusingly.