Someone gasped as the audience fell silent again.
Was Mr. Bradley serious about this? Was he really gonna spend 50 million on a pair of bracelets?
The money was enough to buy a mall!
“At 50 million! At 50 million, does anyone go higher?” Jasper called out.
Diego was even pissed off.
Pamela quickly pressed down his hand before he could do anything irrational, “Are you out of your mind? Do you want our company to go bankrupt because of that woman?”
Jasper hammered the desk, and the bracelets were sold at 50 million dollars.
Diego ended up becoming a joke and humiliated before everyone’s eyes.
Diego clenched his teeth, the veins on his temples popping. But he could only watch as Linford took the item away. He knew Cristelle would love it. Diego had seen that pair of bracelets on her mother’s wrists before.
Diego could afford 50 million dollars, but it had to be at the cost of losing his company.
Cristelle didn’t like the fact Linford bought those bracelets for her. Candace didn’t know anything as she stared at her parents.
Everyone present thus instantly thought Linford was deeply in love with this woman. He would even buy those things for her for an enormous amount of money to show his love and affection.
There was a break during the auction. Waitresses and waiters started to serve food at that moment. Cristelle only asked for a glass of orange juice. She wasn’t that hungry.
Jasper proposed to play a game during the break. It was a traditional way added during the auction. Those who were hit by the spotlight must go up the stage and perform for everyone.
The beam of spotlight started to search among the crowd as Jasper announced the game had started.
And then, Cristelle was hit by the light when the music died.
She went frozen as she slowly put the glass of juice on the table. She looked at Linford in surprise.
What to do? Should she step up?
Linford’s face fell as his eyes searched the hall. Cody mirrored his dad’s actions.
Someone did this on purpose to sabotage his Mom.
****
“You’ll see, Clara. That woman is a coward, and she’s a peasant from a small place. I bet she didn’t dare to step forward.” Zoe arranged the spotlight to hit Cristelle on purpose. She meant to make a fool out of Cristelle in front of everyone.
Clara was secretly happy, but she still pretended to shake her head, “You really shouldn’t have done that, Zoe.”
And then, they both started to snigger.
“Miss Friesley, please step on the stage,” Jasper didn’t seem to be worried. On the contrary, he was even a bit happy about it.
Cody frowned. What was Jasper doing? Did he really think his Mom enjoyed being the center of attraction?
Candace and Amy were a bit excited, thinking getting on the stage was something fun.
Cristelle was a bit hesitant. She came here tonight as Linford’s date. People would talk about this trivial matter nonstop if she refused to go up, making Linford a laughingstock.
She didn’t want to become the center of everyone’s gossip anymore.
“I’m going with you,” Before Cristelle could sink into everything, Linford suddenly held her hand and rose from his seat. They walked onto the stage, hand in hand.
Candace started to clap with other people. She thought her Dad and Mom looked good together. Cody was still a bit pissed off. That man was taking advantage of their Mom anytime he found the chance.
Fritzi and Yanni had been waiting for this moment. Other people, however, were deeply confused. They never knew Linford Bradley would be in the mood to perform for them. It was a bit scary.
Jasper’s eyes fell on their interlaced hands. He went silent for a second, and he soon forced out a smile, “What do you guys want to perform?”
Linford suggested playing the piano. Cristelle let out a long breath. Claire had always been the musical kid. She was an exceptional pianist. Cristelle, on the other hand, was not as good as her. But what she had learned was enough for occasions like this. But she hadn’t played for a while. Her skill had been a bit rusty.
She and Linford sat on the stool shoulder by shoulder. Linford suggested Chopin. Cristelle nodded in agreement.
Linford started first, and Cristelle joined him later. She didn’t expect Linford to play the piece of music so well. Her eyes fell on his long fingers, going shortly distracted. Linford nudged her with his elbow a bit, and she suddenly realized it was the turn of the sheet. She went a bit blushed as she continued playing.
It was their first cooperation, but it just sounded like they had played this one million times together. They didn’t even need to say anything. With the exchange of an eye, they could easily understand each other.
The lights on the stage hit them. The pair looked too perfect to be true. But everyone had to admit that they were made for each other.
Fritzi sighed and took out her phone, filming the perfect performance. Candace had jumped off the chair with Amy. The two girls danced to the music.
Cody was still frowning silently. On the other hand, Thomas was staring at the girls, smiling warmly.
Cody suddenly realized that Jasper was also not as good as before anymore. Jasper had been staring at his Mom the moment she went on the stage. Cody decided he was probably not the right man for his Mom.
Diego, on the other side, was so jealous. He used to be the one who practiced piano with Cristelle before. But now, things are completely different.
“I bet you didn’t expect Jasper to be here. How does it feel?” Pamela provoked him on purpose.
Jasper, Pamela, Diego, and Cristelle used to be best friends.
Cristelle had been treating Jasper as a friend. She didn’t know Jasper’s feelings for her. Jasper had done so many things for Cristelle, making Pamela extremely jealous.
That was why she had tried to steal Cristelle’s boyfriend away after the Friesley house fell.