Chapter 191: Chapter 191

Dear Sweetheart Chapter 191 Do Not Apologize After the woman had stalked off in a huff, Jefferson took a glass of champagne for Rayna and remarked, “You were still too impulsive. You’ll fail in business if you can’t remain calm. Didn’t Curtis teach you that?”

Snatching the champagne from him, Rayna retorted with a harrumph, “I was just irritated by her hoity-toity attitude.”

On second thought, regret crept into her. “I seem to have gone a bit overboard just now. Is she someone important? Will it affect your business? And why didn’t you stop me?”

She shot a barrage of questions at the man.

Chuckling softly, Jefferson drawled airily, “It’s her honor to have an opportunity to speak to us. You may say and do whatever you want with me by your side, for I’ll back you up.”

Rayna sensed her face burning up. She hastily took a gulp of champagne and averted her gaze.

There were many people who knew Jefferson, and they all came up to greet the man. Rayna kept smiling to the point that she could feel that her face had gone stiff. When she could finally take a breather and have a seat, the auction started.

More than thirty items were to be auctioned, and they were all donated by elites or celebrities. No matter the price they ended up fetching, all proceeds would be used to establish charity schools, mobile health vehicles, and the like.

Some would even fork out an exorbitant sum to win a bid for the sake of their reputations. The atmosphere right then was exceedingly lively.

“The next item to be auctioned is a yellow diamond necklace donated by Mr. Charlie Landry!”

The auctioneer opened the box, revealing a yellow diamond necklace lying on top-notch velvet, shimmering brightly.

Feminine gasps rang out all around the banquet hall.

When Rayna cast a glance at the necklace, she could understand their feelings.

Yellow diamonds were common, but those on that particular necklace were of high purity and large in size. If one were to wear it to a dinner or the like, it would be incredibly riveting.

Noticing that she was staring at the necklace, Jefferson asked, “Do you like it?”

“I’m not all that interested in jewelry. Besides, its starting price must be sky-high, considering the size of the yellow diamonds,”

Rayna replied. She found it pretty, but she wasn’t really enamored by it.

At that precise moment, the auctioneer announced, “The starting price of this necklace, Passionate, is thirty million!”

Rayna spluttered, almost spewing the champagne she had just drunk. She wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue. “I find the charity dinner tonight no different from an auction. They both aim for money.”

No sooner had she said that than Jefferson lifted his hand, his voice steady and commanding. “Fifty million.”

Immediately, Rayna swung her gaze at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

“It’s just fifty million.” Jefferson chuckled lightly.

“I’ve told you that I don’t want it!”

“I’m not forcing you to take it either. Just smash it for fun if you don’t want it, lest it annoys me to see someone else wearing it.”

That had Rayna dumbfounded.

Out of the blue, a deep male voice drifted over from the right. “Sixty million.”

The familiar voice had her stiffening. Jefferson, on the other hand, frowned.

A few seconds passed before Rayna cast her eyes to the right.

Her gaze bypassed everyone, alighting on the man under the spotlight, who had austere features and crimson lips. He sat there in a wheelchair quietly with a thin blanket on his lap, looking entirely indifferent.

Why is he here?

She saw quite a number of people sitting around Curtis, and they were seemingly whispering about his participation in the bidding. On instinct, she made to stand up and go over, only to see a thin and slender woman sitting beside him. The woman seemed to be leaning very close to him as though saying something to him.

It was none other than Jasmine.

Sitting back down, Rayna suppressed the discomfiture within her.

Jefferson noted that subtle movement of hers. When he placed a bid again, his voice was low and cold. “Seventy million.”

Likewise, Curtis followed suit. “Eighty million.”

“This is too boring.” Jefferson shot a look in Curtis’ direction with a smirk on his lips before stating, “A hundred million.”

By then, the auctioneer’s hands were shaking.

This is just a charity dinner, yet a single necklace reached such an exorbitant price!

“Mr. Hamilton is offering a hundred million. Are you bidding further, Mr. Faymon?” He trained his gaze on Curtis.

“No,” Curtis answered.

“Passionate is hereby sold for a hundred million! Congratulations, Mr. Hamilton!”

As it was a charity dinner, there weren’t all that many complex procedures. Soon, the necklace was delivered to Jefferson.

“I’ll put it on for you.” Jefferson unfastened the clasp of the necklace.

However, Rayna shook her head. “I really don’t like it, Jefferson. Just keep it.”

“So, you’d prefer to smash it?”

Rayna could tell that the man didn’t seem to be joking. He might really have someone bring a hammer over if I were to decline again.

Deflating, she turned around and allowed him to put the necklace on for her.

Jefferson took off the diamond pendant hanging on her neck and tossed it away as though it was a piece of trash. Grinning, he gently put on the yellow diamond necklace for her.

She deserves the best!

Two and a half hours later, everything had been auctioned off. The lightning turned flashy, and music started drifting through the air.

It was then the final dance segment.

Pulling Rayna into the center of the dance floor, Jefferson placed his hand on her waist and stared at her greedily. It was as though he couldn’t get tired of looking at her. The two of them swayed slowly to the music.

“Stop looking at me like this. Dance properly.” Verily, Rayna couldn’t stand his scorching gaze.

“Will you remember tonight?”

Rayna said nothing.

Chortling softly, Jefferson continued, “I will. I’ll remember these seven days, every second we were together, and the places we’ve been. In fact, I’ll even draw them out.”

Subsequently, he rested his forehead against hers, sounding a touch servile. “Belle, can you forgive me?”

Memories of all those events flooded Rayna, and she inexorably stiffened.

“I’m sorry.”

He hurt me too much. I’ve tried my hardest for such a long time, but still, I couldn’t forget the pain he inflicted on me.

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Jefferson murmured.

I’m in no hurry, for there’s still time. There’s definitely still time. When I ask her this question again, she’ll forgive me.

A sudden stabbing pain in his chest robbed him of all air.

Sensing that his arms were trembling, Rayna hurriedly inquired, “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Jefferson shook his head and fibbed, “I just remembered that there’s something I forgot to handle.”

Pulling her away from the dance floor, he removed the camellia from his suit jacket and placed it into her hand solemnly. “I’ve got to leave first. Wait here, and someone will come to pick you up.”

“Hey! Hey, Jefferson!”

At the sight of him hastening away, Rayna followed stumblingly. Just when she had arrived downstairs after much difficulty, she saw him bending and climbing into a car. In the next second, the car sped away.

A strange feeling welled within her.

It felt as though they wouldn’t have an opportunity to meet again after parting ways this time.

When she was about to head back to the hotel, she bumped into Curtis, who was on his way out. Jasmine wasn’t with him.

Curtis wheeled himself out in the wheelchair, his expression as dark as thunder. “Why didn’t you tell me about it, Rayna? Do you think Jefferson could stir up a storm just because he got his hands on Faymon Group’s shares?”

Crap! So he already found out about it.

Pursing her lips, Rayna replied in feigned nonchalance, “It’s nothing. We’re considered friends, so it’s great that I can get the shares back just by going on a vacation with him.”

“I don’t need you to use such a method to regain Faymon Group’s shares! You’d better not get involved with him. Otherwise, no one would be able to save you if something were to happen.” Curtis’ tone was hard and unyielding.

Rayna’s temper spiked at his beratement. “Was I supposed to sit around and wait for Faymon Group to go bankrupt without doing anything? Do you think I wanted this crappy job? I’d long since grown sick of it!”

She had been haunted by guilt because he took the fatal blow for her, thereby crippling his legs. For that reason, she hoped that he and Faymon Group could be well at all times.

If I’d known that feeling guilty would be so exhausting, I’d rather he hadn’t protected me!