Chapter 233
"The room buzzed with chatter.
""That's Arthur Lewis of the Lewis Group? He's certainly not shy about spending,"" one voice noted.
""I've heard he's been making advances towards the Reynolds family's daughter,"" another added.
""That makes sense. The Reynolds have a considerable influence in Madison. It seems he's planning a triumphant return,"" a third chimed in.
""And there's his former girlfriend, the CEO of Peace Group, Cassie.""
The conversation turned towards Cassie's boyfriend, ""He hasn't made a move. It seems he's too frugal to lavish his girl with expensive gifts.""
The focus of the onlookers shifted to Cassie. She hadn't anticipated becoming the subject of their whispers. Grasping Joseph's hand, she whispered to him, ""Don't be concerned about their words. Such things are mere trinkets. They may incite envy, but they offer little practical use, especially when they're secondhand. They're not worth the expense.""
Joseph's gaze was sincere. He had noted her interest in the Heart of the King and assumed she desired it. He had believed that once she discovered his true identity, she would expect him to buy it for her. However, her response was refreshingly grounded. The saying was true; when a woman genuinely loves a man, she starts considering ways to save him money.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He lifted his auction paddle, his voice resonating with a magnetic yet authoritative tone, ""Two and a half billion.""
Cassie was taken aback, her thoughts in disarray, ""Have you lost your mind? I told you not to bid!""
""Two point six billion,"" Charlotte interjected from nearby.
Cassie gripped Joseph's hand tightly, ""Stop bidding. She can't possibly afford it. She's merely driving up the price.""
Joseph disregarded her plea, switching hands to raise his paddle, ""Three billion.""
Pandemonium broke out in the room.
Arthur Lewis fixed Joseph with a piercing stare. Two point three billion had already stretched his financial limit. This man was not only vying for the woman he loved but also outbidding him for the necklace. His fists clenched in frustration.
Beside him, Luna sighed, ""Let it go. A necklace for three billion is simply too extravagant.""
Arthur Lewis nodded, swallowing the bitterness in his heart.
As Charlotte prepared to raise her hand again, Joseph shot her a threatening look, ""Feel free to continue, but I may not participate in the next round. Consider carefully whether your wallet can bear the strain.""
Charlotte hesitated, her arm frozen mid-air. She had, after all, been intentionally escalating the price.
Andrew snatched her paddle away, admonishing her irritably, ""Don't be foolish. If you actually spend tens of billions on a necklace, I swear I'll slap you.""
Charlotte fell silent, but jealousy gnawed at her as she considered Joseph's willingness to spend such an exorbitant amount on a necklace for Cassie, ""How can Joseph be so wealthy? To nonchalantly toss around tens of billions, could he be from the Hernandez family of New York?""
Andrew dismissed the idea outright, ""Absolutely not.""
""I've never heard of him. He doesn't run large-capital companies like us. He's likely spending his entire savings on that necklace. He probably believes that since Cassie is the chairwoman of Peace Group with a net worth in the billions, spending billions to win her favor and loyalty would be worthwhile. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize she's on the verge of losing that position.""
Charlotte snapped out of her thoughts, but her irritation lingered, ""Didn't she upset Richard yesterday? Why hasn't Richard put her in her place yet?""
Andrew paused, his mind suddenly racing. He hadn't been able to reach Richard's assistant all day, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.
However, he quickly dismissed the feeling, ""I heard Mr. Hernandez wasn't well last night, he may still be recovering.""
""She's finished, it's all Cassie’s doing,"" Charlotte smirked, a self-satisfied expression on her face."
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