CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: SO YOUR MOM IS A HOUSEKEEPER?

At the auction.

The auctioneer, dressed in a dark blue cheongsam, conducted herself with elegance and grace, exuding the charm of an intellectual woman.

Adrian Jennings and Ethan Grant showed no interest in the earlier items.

Until the Pink Diamond Necklace appeared.

The auctioneer concisely introduced the Pink Diamond Necklace and opened the bidding at four million.

Ethan Grant immediately raised his paddle.

After several rounds of bidding, the price quickly rose to six million, with only a few remaining bidders.

Ethan Grant continued to raise his paddle, increasing it to six million two hundred thousand.

The auctioneer gestured, "Now at six million two hundred thousand, anyone for six million five hundred thousand?"

Adrian Jennings calmly raised his paddle.

The auctioneer smiled at him, "Now at six million five hundred thousand, is there a higher bid?"

Ethan Grant glared in Adrian Jennings’ direction and raised his paddle with a sullen face.

The auctioneer: "Six million five hundred thousand, the item is now with bidder number 20, anyone for six million eight hundred thousand?"

Adrian Jennings continued to raise his paddle.

The auctioneer gestured toward Adrian Jennings’ direction, "Six million eight hundred thousand, any higher?"

Ethan Grant was determined, gritted his teeth, and continued to raise his paddle, increasing it to seven million.

Seven million is nothing; he can still afford it. If Oscar Sterling’s cousin is satisfied, the cooperation with the Grant Group will result in at least ten times the investment.

As the saying goes, you have to sacrifice the lamb to catch the wolf.

He must win that necklace today.

The auctioneer: "Alright, seven million, the item is back to bidder number 20, any higher?"

Adrian Jennings raised his paddle.

The auctioneer: "Seven million five hundred thousand."

Ethan Grant increased it to eight million.

Adrian Jennings still wanted to raise his paddle, but Talia Rhodes suddenly held his hand, "Forget it, it’s not worth it."

An item with a starting price of four million has now doubled.

Talia Rhodes looked at it; the necklace was worth at most two or three million, and she didn’t particularly like it. There was no need to keep raising the bid in a rivalry with Ethan Grant.

Since he wants it, let him have it.

She remembered there would be another blue diamond necklace up for auction later, which she liked better.

Adrian Jennings glanced at Talia, and obediently refrained from raising his paddle again.

In the end, Ethan Grant won the Pink Diamond Necklace for eight million.

Vivian Coleman sat beside him, smirked contemptuously toward Talia Rhodes.

It seems her new man isn’t that great; he stopped at eight million.

...

Inside the ladies’ restroom.

Talia Rhodes was touching up her makeup in front of the mirror when she suddenly saw Vivian Coleman behind her in the mirror.

Vivian Coleman, with a smug look, turned on the faucet to wash her hands next to Talia, "Oh, haven’t seen you for a few days and you’ve found a new man?"

Talia continued applying her lipstick, ignoring her.

Vivian Coleman chuckled, "I merely mentioned that the necklace looked lovely, and Ethan spent eight million on it for me. Your man isn’t much, won’t even spend that amount for you."

"Then again, the wealthy aren’t fools; they only spend when it’s worth it, while you..." Vivian Coleman looked at Talia Rhodes in the mirror, her lips curling into a mocking smile, "You don’t deserve it."

Talia finished applying her lipstick, looked straight at herself in the mirror, and said word by word, "Is that so? Then I wish you good luck."

With that, she decisively turned around and left.

Vivian’s words had no impact on her.

Because she was living far better than Vivian imagined.

At that moment, Vivian seemed like a miserable dog, barking powerlessly at her.

She had no need to argue with Vivian, it was beneath her.

...

Soon it was the day of the banquet.

At the Sterling Family private estate.

Cars were coming and going at the entrance, all luxury vehicles worth millions.

The guests were all affluent or influential, aside from people like Ethan Grant who came to curry favor, there were also various industry bigwigs personally invited by Oscar Sterling to introduce and acquaint with Talia Rhodes.

Networking is extremely important in the lawyer profession.

Talia and Adrian Jennings together arrived early at the estate.

Oscar Sterling stood at the main villa entrance to greet them, "Talia, you finally made it."

Oscar Sterling, in a full white suit, had his hair styled in a slicked-back look.

The Sterling Family genes were good; Oscar Sterling was exceedingly handsome, even during school days, he was hailed as the campus heartthrob, constantly chased by girls.

He was also a flirtatious man who changed girlfriends faster than outfits.

Talia greeted him with a smile, "Cousin."

"How many years has it been, Talia just gets prettier and prettier." Oscar Sterling joked, turning to Adrian Jennings, "Tsk tsk, didn’t expect I’d be calling you brother-in-law someday, hahaha, let’s hear you call me ’brother.’"

Adrian Jennings scoffed lightly, his gaze sweeping coldly past.

Oscar pretended to be dissatisfied, "Tsk, look at you, always carrying that aloof demeanor. My sister suffers being with you."

Talia’s almond eyes curved into a smile, "Aloof? I don’t think so. Adrian is very gentle with me."

Oscar posed as if he couldn’t stand it, "Not even engaged yet and you’re already feeding me dog food?"

Talia chatted with Oscar for a while at the door, then entered the villa with Adrian Jennings.

The hall on the first floor of the villa was the main venue for the banquet.

The place was crowded with guests, mostly unfamiliar faces to Talia.

As soon as Adrian Jennings entered the venue, people came flocking to converse and curry favor.

A foreign couple had an important project to discuss with Adrian Jennings and Oscar Sterling, requiring them to go to the study upstairs.

Talia diplomatically said, "It’s okay, you guys go ahead, I’ll browse around downstairs."

Talia had just sat down on the sofa when the Rhodes Family housekeeper, Mrs. Chen, came over.

"Miss, you left in such a hurry today, you forgot to wear this pair of earrings. Madam asked me to bring them to you." Mrs. Chen held out a pair of pearl earrings, the ones Talia had carefully chosen to match her gown.

Upon hearing that, Talia instinctively touched her earlobes, "Oh, look at me, I can’t believe I forgot this."

"Miss, the banquet hasn’t officially started yet, right?" Mrs. Chen offered the earrings, "There’s still time to wear them."

"Alright then." Talia smiled gently, "There’s no mirror here, Mrs. Chen, could you help me put them on?"

"Sure."

Mrs. Chen sat beside Talia, gently helping her put on the earrings.

"Now this feels much better." Mrs. Chen said approvingly after putting on the earrings for Talia, smiling contentedly with a nod.

"Talia Rhodes? What are you doing here?" A familiar yet surprised female voice sounded.

Talia frowned and turned her head.

It was Ethan Grant’s mother, Mrs. Eleanor Madison.

Beside her stood Vivian Coleman, dressed in formal attire.

Talia frowned even deeper.

Eleanor Madison stood in front of Talia, glancing at Mrs. Chen and then at Talia with a condescending attitude, speaking disdainfully, "So it turns out your mother is a maid?"

Mrs. Chen was easily recognizable as a maid because she was wearing a maid’s uniform.

Upon hearing, Mrs. Chen hurriedly waved her hand to deny it, "No, you misunderstand. I’m not Talia’s mother, I’m simply the Rhodes Family’s maid."

"Oh." Eleanor Madison chuckled lightly, "I know you’re saying that to avoid embarrassing your daughter’s face, but there’s no use in lying. We all just saw you putting earrings on her so attentively, who’d believe you’re not her mom?"

Vivian Coleman also covered her mouth with a laugh, "Ahahaha, indeed, being a maid isn’t quite glorious; I’d feel embarrassed, too."

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