CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: HE TRULY, DEEPLY LOVES HER

The entire venue erupted.

The auctioneer’s excited voice spread throughout the villa: "Sky Lantern! Bidder number 888 has lit the Sky Lantern! Let’s give him a round of applause!"

"Clap clap clap..."

The enthusiastic applause almost lifted the roof off.

This auction had reached a fever pitch!

If there had been quiet whispers before, now everyone was openly discussing it loudly:

"My god, lighting the Sky Lantern, it’s been ages since we’ve seen that at an auction!"

"Indeed, the last time was a year ago with that large stature. The whole venue kept bidding higher until a mysterious bidder appeared and lit the Sky Lantern, closing at 12 billion!"

"And before that, three years ago, there was that artist’s painting where a mysterious bidder also lit the Sky Lantern, closing at 7 billion!"

"And even before, in Cygnus, a globally famous modern art symbolic sculpture was taken by a mysterious bidder for 7 billion."

While people were loudly discussing, some were very puzzled—

"You’ve talked so much, but I still don’t know what lighting the Sky Lantern means, can you explain it to me?"

Someone immediately explained: "It’s Julian Lawson’s current gesture, meaning he wants the Tanzanite, no matter what others bid, he will outbid them."

That person was puzzled again: "Can anyone light it? What if they can’t come up with the money, doesn’t it mean the lantern would explode?"

"The auction house has its rules, the Ford Family is in this business, they have it covered. In short, I heard once someone lit the Sky Lantern but couldn’t pay, and their end was miserable."

"We were invited to this event, the Ford Group basically has everything covered. You know, other smaller auctions even have a verification session."

The person nodded: "You have a point."

"But now we don’t have to worry about any verification issue, that’s Julian Lawson!"

Yeah, that’s Julian Lawson.

The sole power holder of Aeston’s top three ruling families, Julian Lawson!

The lights at the venue dimmed, then suddenly brightened with a dazzling light spectacle that swirled around like a dragon, bursting into vibrant colors.

Meanwhile, outside the villa, countless people noticed, the surroundings had quieted due to the villa’s closed doors but suddenly a multitude of drones rose up.

These drones carried various lights, hovering over the villa, finally forming an enormous burning palace lamp shape.

"What’s happening? What’s going on?"

"I don’t know, what happened?"

"Go find out, something must be going on inside!"

Inside the villa, a screen could be seen showing the outside’s real-time situation, and currently, both inside and outside the villa were in a frenzy.

Suddenly, someone asked: "Has Julian Lawson ever lit the Sky Lantern at previous auctions?"

"Let me tell you, he really has."

"Ah? How have I never heard of it, what was it for?"

That person recalled, finally speaking carefully: "Actually, I’m not quite sure, it was seven years ago."

"Seven years ago?" The person asking was a bit puzzled, "Wasn’t he quite young then?"

The responder nodded: "Yes, he was young, and the item auctioned was quite strange."

The questioner was even more curious: "What was it?"

The responder looked conflicted: "A document."

"They auction such items?"

"Yes, I don’t know the specifics, that auction wasn’t public, very few people knew about it, I found out by chance, only know part of it."

...

Second floor.

Vera Hansen looked at Julian Lawson standing not far away, her heart was jumping wildly.

After knowing what lighting the Sky Lantern meant, she could hardly sit still.

Beyond excitement, she also felt a sense of satisfaction as everything seemed under control.

In Aeston, Julian Lawson’s power and status were unmatched, a man whom countless women would bend over backward to pursue.

Yet, such a man could actually do such things for her!

At this moment, Vera Hansen felt she had won.

She had only used small means, and Julian Lawson truly loved her deeply.

Really loved her.

Serena Sterling was nothing special!

Vera Hansen looked at Julian Lawson, his face was still as calm as ever, his dark eyes looked towards Irene, quietly awaiting her reaction.

With that, Vera Hansen’s lips curved into a smile, waiting to see Irene meekly bow down in submission!

On Serena’s side, Jasper Ford had already erupted completely.

"What is Julian Lawson up to!" Jasper Ford immediately stood up, and if Serena hadn’t pressed against his arm, he would have charged straight towards Julian Lawson.

"Bringing Vera Hansen is one thing, letting her use his number to bid is another, even him tolerating Vera Hansen to bid against you for that Tanzanite, I could still say he didn’t know the Tanzanite’s significance, but now?"

Jasper Ford was so furious his chest kept heaving.

"In a venue where there are reporters and the auction would be reported openly, what about putting his still-undivorced spouse in disgraceful misery!"

Jasper Ford looked at Serena Sterling, who remained indifferent, more than the anger, he felt heartbroken.

Everyone present knew, although the auction inside the villa was closed, everyone followed rules, tacitly not spreading the word too much, but after the auction ended and left this villa, everyone would certainly know.

Whether it’s the journalists or Vera Hansen, they won’t miss this opportunity.

Thus, the name "Serena Sterling" would undoubtedly become a laughingstock nailed to the pillar of shame!

And this is still when people don’t know Irene is actually Serena Sterling.

If they knew...

Jasper Ford dared not even think.

But Serena Sterling simply looked calmly at Julian Lawson standing over there, her face hidden behind a mask, no one knew what she was thinking.

It took only seven years.

Seven years to change a young man beyond recognition.

To allow him to easily give the preferential treatment he once bestowed upon her to another woman.

What flashed before her eyes was the scene from seven years ago, in that private auction, a young man standing upright with his right hand held high above his head.

Finally, Serena Sterling’s lips slightly curved, sketching a hint of a mocking smile on her face, but in her eyes, there was only coldness.

"Irene, should we continue bidding?" Jasper Ford worriedly asked beside her.

Yet Serena Sterling’s lips were full of smiles.

Not the sense of defeat, suppression and unwillingness due to lack of money and power, only smiles.

After a dazzling light show, the auctioneer spoke with excitement: "...The bidding continues, please make your bids actively."

But his eyes were on seat 823.

Everyone present was doing the same.

Everyone wanted to see what the woman holding the number 823 would choose to do.

At that moment, everyone saw a hand slowly reaching out from the shadows.

Still that snow-white hand, holding number 823.

Then a series of numbers followed on the bidding sign.

At the same time, on the auctioneer’s podium, the bidding numbers changed.

million.

A new number appeared before everyone’s eyes.

The auctioneer, in disbelief, looked at the bidding numbers, then at the hand on the second floor, confirming repeatedly.

Finally, the auctioneer’s voice rang out loudly:

"Bidder number 823 continues to bid, offering 5 million!"