Chapter 166: A Battle Between Two Women The auction hall fell into complete silence.
Bellaâs expression froze, and the surrounding crowd quickly snapped out of their shock, exchanging bewildered glances.
Ten million? Selina?!
This watch had just been bid up to ten millionâwasnât Miss Hayes saying Selina was too stingy to spend money? Why was this not going as expected?
Selina seemed to have anticipated the stunned reaction. She spoke lightly, "Ten million. Is there a problem with that price?"
The auctioneer finally regained his senses. "No problem, no problem! Miss Clark has bid ten million. Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"
Bellaâs face turned ashen.
Her entire body trembled with rage. What the hell was Selina doing?!
She had already bid five million, and now Selina just had to push the price higher. Was she deliberately going against her?!
Rose was fuming as well. Without thinking, she snapped, "Selina, are you insane?! Raising the bid by five million in one goâdo you even know the rules?!"
Selina lazily ran her fingers through her hair, her eyes sweeping over Rose with a meaningful smirk.
"Of course, itâs because I have a kind heart. Isnât this all for charityâto donate to children in impoverished areas?"
"Whatâs wrong, Miss Hayes? Are you saying Iâm not allowed to be generous?"
The words landed like a slap across Roseâs face.
Just moments ago, she had been sneering at Selina for being stingy and refusing to donate.
Now, Selina had just proven otherwise.
Not only was she spending money, but a lot of it.
Roseâs face burned red, her fingers trembling with anger. "Youâyouâre just being unreasonable! Youâre only doing this because my cousinâ"
"How is this unreasonable?"
Selina feigned confusion. "Is your cousin the only one allowed to spend money? And if Miss Hayes truly wants it, she can always raise her bid."
Rose was about to argue further whenâ
"Rose."
Bella cut her off just in time.
Her expression was dark, but she forced herself to act indifferent.
She gritted her teeth before sighing. "Forget it, let her have it. There are plenty more valuable items later."
Selina raised an eyebrow, watching as the watch was brought over to her.
Logan chuckled softly beside her, leaning in close as his voice dropped into a low murmur.
"Ten million. Mrs. Reid, do you need my help with that?"
His voice was gentle, smooth as silk, sending a subtle shiver down her spine.
Selina, ever honest, shook her head.
"I have money. Besides, didnât you come for the final auction item tonight? What if you give me your money and donât have enough for that?"
Loganâs smirk deepened.
Ah, so Mrs. Reid truly underestimates my financial strength.
Not far away, Luke muttered under his breath, "She doesnât seem stingy at all. Why did Bella say she was so petty and calculative?"
The crowd, too, had begun to change their opinions.
"Selina didnât even flinch at spending ten million. Honestly... she might even be wealthier than Bella."
"Could it be that Miss Hayesâ earlier remarks were just jealousy...?"
Rose was on the verge of exploding.
"Cousin, donât listen to them! Thereâs no way Selina is richer than you! That ten million was probably all she had. Some people like to pretend theyâre wealthy, but they donât even have the financial strength to back it up!"
Hearing that, Bellaâs tear-filled eyes finally softened into a small, victorious smile.
"Alright, Rose, donât say that about Selina. After all, she did it for the children in need."
Luke frowned slightly, feeling that something about Bellaâs words felt... off.
Just then, the next auction item was brought onto the stage.
Roseâs eyes lit up instantly. "Cousin, look! This is something Selina definitely canât afford!"
The auctioneer introduced the item:
"Up next is an imperial painting, lost for over two hundred years. It holds immense historical and artistic value. The starting price is nine million."
Rose leaned in, grinning. "Cousin, Logan loves collecting antique paintings. If you win this, he might even ask to borrow it for studyâwhat better chance to get closer to him?"
Bellaâs heart skipped a beat.
Thatâs rightâthis painting was something Logan was interested in. She had to win it!
Soon, Bella and another male bidder had raised the price to twenty million.
After the man backed out, the auctioneer began the final countdown.
Bella nervously glanced at Selina.
From the very beginning, Selina hadnât even spared the painting a single look, as if she had no interest in it at all.
Bella exhaled in relief.
Rose sneered mockingly, "See, cousin? I told you she was just putting on a show. Sheâs run out of money. There are still so many valuable items left, but too badâsome people just donât have the qualifications to buy them."
Bella finally felt like she was regaining her dignity. "Rose, Selina probably just doesnât like paintings."
Rose scoffed. "Not interested? Didnât she say she was so generous and full of love? Why isnât she bidding now?"
"Some people only know how to talk about generosity. Not like you, cousinâyou actually follow through, donating real money instead of empty words."
Bella smiled modestly. "Alright, alright, thatâs enough. Letâs not make a sceneâ"
"Thirty million."
Selinaâs voice rang out, calm and unbothered.
A dead silence swept through the entire auction hall.
Then, she turned back with a bright, amused smile.
"Miss Hayes is rightâsome people talk about donating money, but when it comes time to actually pay, somehow, the money never leaves their pockets. Now thatâs truly laughable."
Logan let out a soft chuckle.
Mrs. Reid was relentlessânever missing a single opportunity to strike back.
Bellaâs entire expression froze.
Was Selina out of her mind? Thirty million?!
And what did she mean by "the money never leaves their pockets"? Was she mocking her?!
But thirty million... She needed to save her money for the violin! She couldnât waste it on this!
Bellaâs lips trembled, her forced smile nearly cracking as she bit down on her lip. "...Since Selina likes it so much... Iâll let her have it."
Selina shrugged indifferently.
From that moment on, the auction transformed into a silent battlefield between Bella and Selina.
Every time Bella bid, Selina would follow up with a price ten million higher, effortlessly securing each item.
By the end, Bella had spent only two million, the amount she had bid at the beginningâwhile Selina had spent extravagant sums, outbidding her every time.
For the Hayes Family, who prided themselves on their elite status, spending only two million at a charity auction was an utter embarrassment.
Finally, Rose couldnât hold it in anymore.
With a loud bang, she shot up from her seat, pointing a trembling finger at Selina and screaming in rage.
"You bitch! Youâre doing this on purpose! You just want to humiliate our Hayes Family, donât you?! Why do you keep stealing my cousinâs things?! Is it because she and Mr. Reid were childhood sweethearts? Are you jealous?!"
The hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Even Loganâs expression darkened.
Selina casually placed her bid before leaning back with a cold, mocking smirk.
"Stealing? I placed legitimate bids in an open auctionâhow is that âstealingâ?"
Her voice turned even icier. "If Miss Hayes is unhappy about losing, she should keep bidding. Since the Hayes Family apparently canât afford it, is she now trying to stop me from bidding too?"
Rose clenched her fists in frustration. "Youâre twisting words!"
Desperate, she turned to Logan for support.
"Mr. Reid, isnât Selina going too far?! Say something fair!"
In that instant, every pair of eyes in the room shifted toward Logan.
Bellaâs heart pounded in anticipation, her gaze soft and expectant.
She bit her lip, looking delicate and pitifulâhoping Logan would defend her in this moment.
Unfortunately for her...
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
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