CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: THREE HUNDRED THIRTY MILLION!

"Cindy truly is irresistible, even people from the second floor are bowing to you." Rhys naturally believed that the second-floor VIPs must be captivated by Cindy Lynn.

Seeing this, everyone else began praising Cindy Lynn.

"It’s rare to find someone like Ms. Lynn who possesses both talent and beauty."

"Tonight, we must thank President Hawthorne for giving us the opportunity to meet such an outstanding lady."

"Ms. Lynn, I hope our company will have the pleasure to cooperate with you in the future!"

Initially, they thought Cindy Lynn was just a pretty face, invited by Rhys Lucas to The Dissonance to show off his beautiful companion. However, upon arriving, they learned Cindy Lynn was the winner of the International Designer Competition, which made their gazes less frivolous and more respectful.

After all, for those who only serve others with beauty, no matter how stunning, they are just a dish at the table for this crowd.

But Cindy Lynn has talents to stand on, and now she can also attract the attention of those on the second floor, making her undoubtedly the best resource for social connections.

It was clear to everyone, even though Cindy Lynn was brought in by Rhys Lucas, her companion tonight was Vincent Hawthorne.

If Cindy Lynn belongs to Vincent Hawthorne, their target for networking becomes crystal clear.

"President Hawthorne, who would have thought that you have an outstanding beauty like Ms. Lynn by your side, truly enviable."

Tonight, Vincent Hawthorne’s main goal was to network with Felix Kendall, the young master of Commander Arthur Kendall’s family, who was now walking towards him.

When Vincent Hawthorne first arrived, Rhys Lucas introduced him, bringing him forward to greet, but at that time, Felix Kendall didn’t even rise from his chair, only slightly nodding his head.

Now, Felix Kendall took the initiative to clink glasses with him.

Vincent Hawthorne maintained a polite smile, lowering the rim of his glass below the other’s, "Young Master Kendall, you’re too kind. I’ve long admired Commander Kendall’s charisma, hoping to have the opportunity to visit."

Commander Arthur Kendall controls the government’s largest military project for the next quarter but is based in the military zone, making him hard to approach. However, if he could connect with Felix Kendall, there might be hope...

"Of course." Felix Kendall accepted Vincent Hawthorne’s business card and handed over his own.

Felix Kendall certainly knew Vincent Hawthorne’s intentions.

He had little interest in these pointless social interactions. Tonight, he came with the aim to get access to the second floor.

Felix Kendall had applied to become a member of The Dissonance for two consecutive years but still fell short, lacking a member as his introducer.

Originally, he had no interest in Cindy Lynn; he only glanced at her a couple of times upon hearing she was the winner of the International Designer Competition, but that was it.

Unexpectedly, the big shots on the second floor were all drawn to her...

With a meaningful look, Felix Kendall gazed at Cindy Lynn on stage, just about to speak.

Suddenly, several spotlights on stage went out, leaving only Cindy Lynn and... Tanya Sinclair, who had just finished eating grapes and was preparing to step off the stage.

Tanya Sinclair: "..."

Suddenly being spotlighted again left her speechless.

The audience below stirred in subtle chaos.

Rhys Lucas furrowed his brows and asked the host, "Manager Horn, is the equipment malfunctioning again? According to The Dissonance’s rules, the last two lights left represent the first and second place in tonight’s Rose Queen contest!"

Tanya Sinclair only had ten yellow roses sent by Cody Crawford, not to mention ranking against Cindy Lynn; even the leftovers of the other female contestants outweighed hers!

"..."

The host Manager Horn looked at the card in his hand, his expression exceptionally complex.

Clearing his throat, he said with difficulty, "From the second floor, Mr. Pierce has gifted Ms. Tanya Sinclair one thousand yellow roses, one thousand white roses, and one thousand red roses."

Cindy Lynn, who had been prepared to accept the Rose Queen crown, froze with her smile completely locked on her face.

Tanya Sinclair turned in shock: "?"

Yellow roses cost thirty thousand each, a thousand of them equate to thirty million; red roses one hundred thousand each, a thousand equal... one hundred million! And red roses, twenty thousand per rose, a thousand of them mean... two hundred million!!

That Mr. Pierce spent three hundred thirty million on her?!!

Wait, Mr. Pierce...

Tanya Sinclair’s pupils suddenly constricted.

Could it be... Declan Pierce?

The entire hall was eerily silent, with several people gasping audibly.

"Spending three hundred thirty million... Tanya Sinclair must be the most expensive Rose Queen ever?"

Almost everyone present tonight was worth billions; after all, any luxury residence in Aris can effortlessly exceed a billion, yet tangible liquid funds are entirely different from asset valuations!

Vincent Hawthorne had just spent twenty million, which was almost set as the ceiling for the evening.

Yet, it was unexpected that the person from the second floor would make a move worth ten times that!

Rhys Lucas was so furious he was almost losing his composure.

"This is impossible! The guest from the second floor must have made a mistake writing the name! These flowers are definitely for Cindy!" Losing his rationale for a moment, he turned to head upstairs to argue with the guest, but as he reached the staircase, two rows of bodyguards in black appeared like phantoms.

Cody Crawford quickly rushed up to intercept Rhys Lucas.

"Sorry, it’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

He dragged Rhys Lucas back hard, lowering his voice, "Are you crazy? Did you not notice that all these bodyguards in black are armed? Even Commander Kendall doesn’t have such an entourage. If they shoot you right here, do you think your father can handle it?"

"..."

Vincent Hawthorne looked upward towards the second floor with a heavy gaze, only to catch the silhouette of a man standing in the shadows, a tall outline exuding an oppressive superiority.

The figure even provocatively raised a glass towards him, before turning the cup upside down, pouring its contents onto the ground.

It was utter disdain.

Vincent Hawthorne clenched his hand around his wine glass tightly, his knuckles turning white, but he could only watch as the other left unabashedly.

On stage, Manager Horn reversed his previous contempt towards Tanya Sinclair, holding the crown with both hands, smiling obsequiously as he approached her.

"Ms. Sinclair truly surprised everyone!" He covered the microphone with a hand, flattering, "Ms. Sinclair, I actually thought you would win from the start."

Tanya Sinclair: "..."

She’s seen plenty of these fence-sitters and opportunists, so she couldn’t be bothered.

Tanya Sinclair: "Can I leave now?"

"Certainly, this is your crown. You also have a chance to go upstairs..."

Before Manager Horn could finish, Tanya Sinclair pushed away the crown encrusted with roses and jewels, cutting him off coldly: "I don’t need this crown, give it to whoever likes it. I also don’t care to go upstairs. Additionally, those three thousand roses, please return them to Mr. Pierce."

Whether he was Declan Pierce or not, money wasn’t intended to be spent like this.

She didn’t need sympathy or showy attention.

Tanya Sinclair left without looking back.

Cindy Lynn watched her cool and distant figure, grasping the hem of her dress tightly.

As Tanya Sinclair reached the exit, Vincent Hawthorne came face-to-face: "Tanya..."

Tanya Sinclair only coolly left a sentence: "Caden and Joy have classes tomorrow, take them home early."

Having said this, she bypassed Vincent Hawthorne and walked straight out.

Tanya Sinclair walked directly towards the street corner, where her car was parked.

"Ms. Sinclair!"

Someone caught up to her, calling out.

Tanya Sinclair turned to see a well-mannered man wearing glasses, approximately thirty years old, presenting an elegant demeanor, with eyes that discreetly gleamed.

The man courteously expressed: "My Mr. Pierce would like to invite you to meet him."

Tanya Sinclair naturally associated this Mr. Pierce with the one who just spent three hundred thirty million on flowers—a fool.

She coolly refused.

"Sorry, I have to work tomorrow, no time."

She opened the car door, paused slightly, then asked, "Your Mr. Pierce, is he Declan Pierce?"

Upon hearing the name Declan Pierce, a subtle emotion flickered in the man’s eyes, he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, "No. Our Mr. Pierce’s name has three characters, unrelated to Declan Pierce."

So he wasn’t Declan Pierce.

Tanya Sinclair felt inexplicably relieved, nodded slightly towards the other, and got into her car, driving away directly.

The man remained, watching Tanya Sinclair’s car vanish from sight, then approached a nearby black business car, the rear window lowered marginally, obscuring the inside view.

"Mr. Pierce, she wouldn’t come."

The man within the car coughed mildly twice before speaking, his voice raspy yet deep.

"Look into her details; a woman that could matter so much to Declan Pierce is quite intriguing."

"Understood."