Clara shook her head, “Pop likes her. There’s nothing we can do to prevent it.”
Zoe was so pissed off. If that woman really became Mrs. Linford Bradley, she would never be able to live in peace.
The representatives from other houses at the table heard their conversation, but they didn’t make any comments.
Diego was sitting by the table with Pamela, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Cristelle. Pamela kicked his shin under the table. Diego almost dropped the glass of wine in his hand.
“What are you doing?” He hissed.
Pamela glared at him, “She won’t be yours no matter how long you stare at her. If other people get to know that you’ve been coveting her, how will Bradley react to that?”
“You’re a fucking psycho, Pamela!” Diego changed his seat.
Pamela gulped down her glass of wine. When she looked at Cristelle, her eyes were dark and vicious.
The lights were off at 8 pm, the hall fell silent, and the host went on the stage. People in the hall recognized that man instantly. It was Jasper Johnson.
“Cristelle! He’s wearing your design!” Fritzi exclaimed, “So he’s that mysterious client! He’s so handsome.”
Jasper was standing under the spotlight. He was tall and muscular. The suit looked perfect on him.
Cristelle went blank for a second. And then, a big smile showed up on her face.
Meanwhile, Diego’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
Why would he be here?
Cody and Candace also saw that man. Their reactions were quite different. Cody looked surprised. Candace was happy. She pulled at Cristelle’s hand, telling her silently that it was Jasper.
“Mom, I think the host is Jasper,” A big smile showed up on Cody’s face as his shock was gone.
Jasper used to be their Mom’s best friend. He had been helping them. Cody used to think Jasper would be his dad one day. But Jasper had gone abroad for some reason, and they hadn’t seen each other for a while. He didn’t expect to see Jasper here today. Cody was both surprised and thrilled.
Linford frowned as he took in the reactions of his wife and babies. He looked at Alfred. Alfred approached him instantly, leaning forward, “Sir?”
“I need you to find everything about that man,” Linford sounded mildly pissed off as he gave the order, “I want to know everything about him in 3 hours.”
“Yes, sir,” Alfred left instantly.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 60th City Charity Auction. I’m your host, Jasper Johnson.”
Jasper was standing in the middle of the stage as he addressed the audience. His eyes didn’t leave Cristelle’s direction even for a second.
“Jasper? When did he come back?” Zoe looked surprised, half blushing as she looked in Jasper’s direction. Clara noticed the look on her face, “What? You guys know each other?”
Zoe cast a glance at the people around them, biting her bottom lip, “I’ll explain it to you later.”
Clara nodded as she looked at the guy on the stage, smiling, “Does he know Cristelle? Look at her, and she seems to be fascinated by him.”
Zoe looked in Cristelle’s direction, noticing instantly that Jasper had been looking at her. She went mad instantly, gritting her teeth as she asked, “When did she know Jasper?”
This whore! Could she even stop flirting with every man she met?
Zoe rose up from her seat and walked away in a rage.
“Zoe!” Clara tried to stop her, but it was already too late. She could only wish that Zoe wouldn’t do anything stupid this time.
“Clara, just focus on the auction,” One of the representatives of the White House reminded Clara.
Clara was Mrs. White’s granddaughter. She was also representing the White house as well.
Clara nodded, “Of course.”
****
“How did Jasper just come back?” Cody looked up at his Mom.
Cristelle smiled down at the boy, “I also have no clue, honey. We can go ask him once this event is over.”
Cody nodded, “Okay then.”
Alfred put a black cell phone in Linford’s hand a couple of minutes later. Linford turned it on. The phone contained all the information he wanted to know about Jasper.
After reading the content, he gave the phone back to Alfred. This man was barely a threat.
The first item that showed up on the stage was a Chinese painting. Cristelle was not interested in that. Before her family collapsed, her house was filled with all sorts of art, modern ones, and classic ones. She wondered where did those arts end up by now.
Those things were vanity. They were not as real as a person’s love for her family. But Cristelle still went petrified as she noticed a pair of jade bracelets among all the other items on the stage.
They belonged to her mother. And they used to be Mom’s favorites because it was passed on from Cristelle’s grandma.
She didn’t expect to see them during this auction. Cristelle appeared to be emotional for a short moment. But she soon managed to calm herself. She couldn’t afford to buy them anyway. Besides, having them back would only remind her of Mom. They would only remind her of those dark memories of her past.
She thus pretended she didn’t see them.
“30 million,” Linford suddenly said as he raised his hand. The hall fell silent.
Cristelle turned to look at him in surprise.
Linford smiled at her, “I can guess you like them. You can keep them if you want them.”
Cristelle blinked and soon managed to hide her feelings, “I don’t like them.”
“But I think they suit you,” Linford leaned forward, taking in the smell of the beautiful woman sitting next to him. His eyes diverted challengingly toward the man on the stage.
Jasper faltered as he met Linford’s gaze.
He cleared his throat and looked away, “We’re at 30 million, gentlemen. At 30 million.”
“35 million!” Someone suddenly shouted.
People looked back and saw it was Diego.
Cristelle was so annoyed. When would this man leave her alone?
Linford smiled faintly, “50 million.”