Chapter 171

Erica’s face turned red and her eyes popped out in anger, making her look like a fiend.

She rushed over and raised her hand to slap Eliana, but her wrist was grabbed by Asher.

“Erica, stop it,” Asher warned sternly, digging his nails into her wrist.

“Why?!” Erica’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She seduced you shamelessly!”

Her shoulders heaved as she fumed with anger and pointed an accusing finger at Eliana.

“Eliana, you bitch! Can’t you live without a man? Back when you were rich, you used to sleep with a

gigolo, and now that you have no money, you want to seduce my rich husband! Where are the security

guards? Kick this shameless bitch out!”

Erica’s raucous assertion drove the whole venue into an uproar. In an instant, Eliana found herself

being the center of unwanted attention.

Maurice couldn’t stand aside any longer. He stepped forward before Eliana could explain.

Then, he went straight to her and wrapped his arm around her waist, as if claiming her.

Gazing coldly at the contemptible couple standing in front of him, he domineeringly declared, “Miss

Pierce is my companion. Mr. Harrison, you would do well to ask your wife to watch her mouth.”

Erica’s face instantly shrunk, as if she had just swallowed a lemon. “Did I say anything wrong? She is

just a social climber-”

“Erica Harrison!” Maurice growled, interrupting her. “Don’t try my patience! Have you forgotten the

lesson you learned before regarding the pink diamonds? If you dare to say one more word, don’t blame

me for being ruthless later.”

Erica pursed her lips tightly in displeasure, but there was nothing she could do.

‘Damn it! How could Eliana be lucky enough to have Maurice backing her up?’ she wondered bitterly.

She was not reconciled at all. Eliana was someone that Erica could easily insult in public, but she could

not afford to provoke a big fish like Maurice.

Maurice stormed off with Eliana, leaving the couple in his wake, who watched their receding back with

envy and resentment.

Although Erica didn’t dare to say anything more, the onlookers around them began to gossip about

Eliana in hushed tones, though their words were loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Wow, that lady even seduced another woman’s husband!”

“I’ve seen a lot of material girls like her. But how did she seduce Mr. Moran?”

Embarrassed by these words, Eliana subconsciously tried to get rid of Maurice’s hand on her waist.

However, Maurice just held her even tighter and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “I don’t

mind.”

Hearing that, Eliana was stunned. She raised her head and looked at him in surprise. “What did you

say?”

“I said I don’t mind. I don’t mind even if you have a boyfriend or you’ve slept with a gigolo before.

Unless…”

“Unless what?” Without knowing why, Eliana began to feel flustered.

“Unless you hired a gigolo to pretend to be your boyfriend.” Maurice’s eyes darkened as he spoke.

Eliana’s heart skipped a beat when she heard those words, and she had to struggle to keep her

composure.

“How could that be? How could I do that?” Eliana finally asked with a wry smile.

Maurice didn’t say anything, and just watched Eliana put on an act.

Who knew better than him whether Eliana had done that or not?

At this time, the auction was about to begin. Still holding onto Eliana’s waist, Maurice led her to their

seats.

Erica and Asher were sitting not far away from them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending the auction. A very warm welcome to everyone

present here. Now, let’s start the auction with our first precious item.”

With a practiced flourish of his hand, the auctioneer lifted the red cloth that was covering the first

auction item on the stage.

It was an exquisitely-made music box that had aged beautifully.

“According to the records, this antique music box was made by a skilled royal craftsman in Louis XIV’s

court. Over the centuries, it has passed into the hands of various collectors.”

The auctioneer’s explanation echoed faintly in Eliana’s ears. It had never occurred to her that her

parents’ music box would be the first auction item of the day. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it.

“The base price of this antique music box is $5 million. With every bid, the price of this music box will

be raised by at least $100, 000.”

Eliana’s heart sank when she heard the price. Her hope seemed to vanish in an instant.

But before she could dwell on it for long, Maurice turned around and handed her the bidding paddle

indifferently.

“Do you want it? Raise it by yourself.”