Chapter 811 Bid Two Million Dollars?
Nathaniel had picked out a dress for Saskia.
The champagne-colored strapless gown fit her perfectly, though she felt a bit out of place wearing something so fancy after so long. She kept glancing at herself in the mirror.
The maid complimented her, "Ms. Fuller, you look amazing. No need to worry."
Saskia just smiled.
"She's right. You look stunning," Nathaniel's voice chimed in.
Saskia turned around to see Nathaniel already dressed in a matching suit.
Saskia suddenly felt uneasy.
The maid quietly left, and Nathaniel produced a necklace. He said, "A dress like this needs the right jewelry. I picked out this necklace for you. Try it on."
Saskia wanted to refuse. "That's not necessary."
But Nathaniel's seemingly gentle demeanor left no room for argument.
Before Saskia could protest, the necklace was already around her neck.
Nathaniel's eyes flashed with admiration, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Just as I imagined," he said.
Saskia felt as if she was being drawn into his gaze.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she lowered her head to avoid looking at Nathaniel, but her thoughts were harder to control.
Her mind was filled with Nathaniel's gentle yet firm smile.
"It's time to go," Nathaniel said, taking her hand.
They got into the car and headed to the venue.
The journey didn't take long, as the path to the venue had been cleared, allowing them to arrive without any delays.
The reactions of the crowd upon seeing Saskia varied.
Most were surprised to see Nathaniel with a female companion.
Someone approached them and joked, "This young lady looks unfamiliar. She's so beautiful. Why hasn't Mr. Egan brought her out before?"
Nathaniel replied, "Because I'm still pursuing her."
Not only were the guests shocked, but Saskia was also stunned, looking at the cold and composed Nathaniel beside her.
Nathaniel hadn't mentioned this to her!
The sudden attention from all directions made Saskia want to escape.
Nathaniel held her tightly.
It was as if he knew Saskia would feel uncomfortable with his statement, but he had no intention of letting her go.
This was Nathaniel; he always found a way to get what he wanted.
Once they were away from the crowd's gaze, Saskia wanted to question him, but Nathaniel spoke first. "I should have given you a heads-up. That's my fault. But it's how I truly feel."
"Why?" Saskia didn't understand.
She said, "There are better people than me, and Azalea..."
Mentioning Azalea brought a pang to her heart.
Nathaniel fell silent. After a moment, he closed his eyes slightly and spoke in a low voice, "Don't bring her up, at least not tonight. Tonight, I wanted to take you out to relax."
Saskia opened her mouth but ultimately closed it under Nathaniel's gaze.
The auction showcased a variety of luxury items, such as gemstones, which didn't pique Saskia's interest much.
She cared only about the people around her.
Money and power were important, but they couldn't compare to family.
Saskia saw the final item—a ring that had belonged to a queen. The moment it was displayed, Saskia felt a sense of daze, as if she were seeing Azalea; it was precisely the kind of thing Azalea would have loved.
"Do you want it?" Nathaniel leaned close, his deep voice creating a gentle illusion, like rich red wine.
Then, he raised his bidding paddle.
The auctioneer's eyes lit up. "Mr. Egan is interested in this ring?"As soon as he spoke, countless eyes turned towards them. Saskia felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny, but Nathaniel remained composed.
Just as Nathaniel was about to bid, Saskia raised her own paddle, which she had never used before. "Two million dollars."
The starting price for the ring was one million dollars, and she had doubled it.
This changed the way some people looked at her.
At that moment, Saskia was no longer just Nathaniel's companion; she was her own person.
Nathaniel's surprise was fleeting, replaced by a sense of inevitability.
In the end, Saskia won the ring for two million dollars.
The amount exceeded her expectations, but she did it anyway.
After the auction, the item was delivered, and Nathaniel helped her keep it safe.
He said, "You seem to really like this ring."
"Well, you said the auction proceeds would go to charity, so it's not a loss, right?" Saskia deflected the question, her eyes lightly sweeping over the red velvet box.
It was hard to tell what she was thinking.
Nathaniel frowned, his defined fingers brushing her brow.
Saskia was startled, looking up in surprise.
Nathaniel's fingertips smoothed out the crease until it was gone. "I don't like seeing you frown. You look better when you smile." His casual tone carried a hint of seriousness.
Saskia was stunned for a moment.
Just then, she glanced to the side, and her eyes widened. She involuntarily called out a name. "Azalea!"
Nathaniel held her shoulder, preventing Saskia from rushing over, while quickly turning his head.
But he only caught a fleeting glimpse.
A sleek black dress hugged the woman's figure, evocative of Azalea's elegance.
Nathaniel frowned, recalling the surveillance he had ordered. Before he could process it, a strong, pungent smell hit him.
Saskia smelled it, too.
The sudden odor made her stop. Otherwise, she would have already run to find the person who had just passed by.
"What is that smell?" she asked.
Nathaniel's expression changed drastically. He exclaimed, "It's gasoline!"
He grabbed her wrist, pulling the stunned Saskia out forcefully.
A deafening explosion erupted, followed by raging flames that consumed the entire villa winery.
Screams and cries echoed from inside.
Saskia's heart raced, filled with a primal instinct to survive.
They had been in the villa's back garden, where there was a back door leading out, but it required a quick walk to reach.
The explosion happened so fast, and Saskia was distracted by the person who looked like Azalea. If it weren't for Nathaniel's quick reaction, the consequences would have been dire.
"Call for help immediately," Saskia said, dialing the fire department like the other survivors.
Soon, fire trucks arrived and extinguished the flames.
Many people died, and over a dozen were injured.
The scene was chaotic.
What was supposed to be a pleasant party turned into a murder scene, and the villa was quickly sealed off.
Most of the survivors were taken for questioning.
Saskia didn't go.
Nathaniel, concerned about her state and noticing her unease since the explosion, had his assistant handle the situation and took her home first.
On the drive back, Saskia was wrapped in Nathaniel's coat, which he had given her to keep warm. She murmured, "How did things turn out like this? I thought it was just a party."
Nathaniel opened his mouth, unsure how to comfort her. He said, "It was an accident. Don't overthink it."
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