CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: THAT YEAR OF TWIN LAMPS, A NIGHT THAT BURNED AWAY HALF A FORTUNE

The room was in an uproar.

"823 is still bidding?! What’s her game?"

"Julian Lawson has already lit the Sky Lantern, and she’s still bidding?"

"Does she want to blow Julian Lawson’s lamp?"

"It’s already at five million, and the tanzanite’s actual value is only one million. If it closes now, it’s five times the original value!"

"What’s the catch here?"

"Is it the stone, or is it the people?"

People looked at each other, and then someone asked the key question—

"What happens if two people light the lamp for the same item?"

There was a two-second silence, then someone said, "It depends on who can hold out."

"Remember, four years ago, there was a case of dual lamps, and that item was auctioned at a sky-high price."

"Overnight, just because of that one item, more than half of the wealth of the Huxley family in Darrow was burnt, causing the downfall of the Huxleys, who were once a top mogul in Darrow! The aftermath was so serious it took the Huxley family years to recover; this incident is famous in Darrow."

"That terrifying?"

"Yeah, if there’s a dual lamp situation, it’s like riding a tiger; you can’t get off and can only hold on. You never know if you or the other person will fall first, nor if you can handle the final auction price."

"I see."

"But 823 hasn’t said she wants to light the lamp, right? She’s just bidding, so what’s she doing?"

"I have no clue."

"Speaking of which, who opened the betting pool, saying 823 would follow Julian Lawson several times if he intervened? She’s followed once already, so whoever bet on zero should start paying!"

"No result yet, keep waiting!"

...

While downstairs there was much chatter, on the second floor—

Vera Hansen, who had just thought everything was settled, stood up when she saw the other side increase the bid.

"What does she want?" Vera’s voice was a bit sharp.

With Julian Lawson’s influence in Aeston, lighting the Sky Lantern meant he would definitely get what he wanted, so what’s the point of increasing the bid?

Does Irene still think she can outbid Julian Lawson?

If not, then what is it?

A provocation?

Is this provocation directed at Julian Lawson or at Vera herself?

While Vera was baffled, the reactions of others on the second floor differed.

Jasper Ford didn’t understand Serena Sterling’s intentions.

He was a hot-tempered person, but he was also meticulous and often didn’t force things when they were impossible.

Even though the tanzanite was meant to be a birthstone for Serena’s child, they couldn’t outbid Julian Lawson together, so what was the point?

Based on his understanding of Serena Sterling, she wasn’t that impulsive, so what was this?

Was she so infuriated by Vera and Julian Lawson that she lost her mind?

Thinking this, Jasper Ford lowered his voice and asked, "Irene?"

Serena Sterling slightly lifted her eyes to look at Jasper Ford.

She said, "Do you believe in me?"

Just that glance made Jasper’s heart race.

Those cold eyes hidden beneath the mask were lethally attractive.

Enough to make anyone step into the gamble for her.

Jasper Ford’s right hand clenched tightly.

Then he nodded gently.

At this point, he wasn’t afraid to join her at the table.

Alexander Ford over there leaned over, gloating.

He waved at Jasper and spoke loud enough for the two of them to hear: "Can’t control your own woman, and now she’s challenging Julian Lawson? Grandpa is still in the villa, just wait for his scolding!"

"Alexander!" Jasper Ford was furious.

He couldn’t handle Julian Lawson, but was he afraid of Alexander?

Thinking this, Jasper Ford directly charged towards Alexander.

"Why are you calling your brother?" Alexander didn’t hold back. "Have I said anything wrong? You’ve been groveling to that woman named Irene for so long, aren’t you tired? I don’t want to be brothers with a groveler."

"Watch your mouth!" Jasper Ford stepped forward, "Keep talking like that, and don’t blame me for ripping your mouth!"

Alexander was not to be outdone: "Go ahead, but it won’t matter. Just wait for Grandpa to give you trouble!"

The room was full of commotion.

Many people on the second floor watched with interest as the brothers quarreled.

Even the second Hawthorne wanted to fan the flames, only to be pulled back by his sister, who held his ear down, making him sit.

"When will you become more reliable?" The beautiful woman said helplessly.

The second Hawthorne, like a pitiful puppy, mumbled: "My elder brother is reliable, so it doesn’t matter how I am ..."

If he, also from the Hawthorne family, was reliable, talented, and ambitious, the Hawthorne family would not be in this situation now.

He knew this very well from a young age.

"Enough." A man’s voice came from the shadows among the seats, and the two stopped their squabbling.

The auction continued.

In seat 888.

"Brother Julian, now this ..." Vera Hansen "hesitantly" looked at Julian Lawson, seeming as if she wanted to say something to ease the tension.

"Does she really need that tanzanite so much?" Vera "understandingly" said, though her words were laced with malice.

But Julian Lawson still didn’t look at her.

His dark, cold eyes quietly focused on seat 823.

Though the woman named Irene was still seated in the shadows, barely visible in her silver, glossy satin gown, her presence was impossible to ignore.

The words on the rooftop, "speaking deeply despite shallow acquaintance," still echoed in his ears.

Her whispers seemed to have the power to stir hearts.

Dangerous yet lethally seductive.

He couldn’t see her face, but he felt that she was watching him, too.

In seat 823, Serena Sterling calmly watched Julian Lawson.

She saw his right hand lift, maintaining that gesture.

The palace lamp formed by drones over the villa quietly burned, becoming more intense.

"Bidder 888 continues, offering six million!"

On stage, the auctioneer’s voice was full of excitement: "Is there a higher bid? Bidders, please bid actively!"

People below were all rolling their eyes.

Who would continue to follow?

A tanzanite worth just one million, and a hundred and twenty thousand was already their perceived limit.

The price had already increased several times, and there was the risk of offending Julian Lawson, not worth it.

The only potential participant was that woman at 823.

Then, everyone’s gaze focused once again on the second floor.

At seat 823.

Then, everyone saw the same hand.

Moon-white nails, snow-white skin, calmly and decisively raising the paddle.

The entire room gasped.

Even the auctioneer paused for two seconds before loudly announcing—

"Bidder 823 continues, offering ten million!"