Chapter 450

Chapter 450:

Tatiana trailed behind Hector as they went upstairs, and it seemed like she wanted to protest, but something held her back. Lowering her gaze ever so slightly, Tatiana watched Hector as he carefully disinfected her wound, tears brimming in her eyes. “You’re such a kind man,” she said.

“What’s the matter?” Hector asked, his voice gentle as he noticed the tears streaming down her face. Tatiana quickly brushed her tears away and forced a smile. “It’s nothing. It’s just… it’s been so long since I came across someone as kind and gentle as you.”

“Is that so?” Hector responded. “Maybe you’ve just been crossing paths with the wrong kinds of people. It’s not just that; most people these days are just opportunists. I’m sure you’ve heard rumors about me—my reputation is pretty bad, and people have started looking down on me.”

As Tatiana spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again. She quickly wiped them away and said, her voice cracking, “People might gossip about you being with me. I really appreciate your kindness, but it’s better if I go.”

As she stood to leave, it looked like her knee buckled beneath her; the pain was too much to bear, and she stumbled forward. Hector swiftly caught her in his arms. “Take it easy. And don’t say things like that. Whether you’re good or not, that’s for you to decide. Everyone should live by their own standards, not by the judgment of others.”

Tatiana felt touched by his words. “You’re incredibly kind, sir,” she murmured, gently wiping away her tears. He offered a small smile.

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“Don’t let this get you down. Here’s my card. If you ever need help, feel free to reach out anytime.”

The moment she glanced at the card, Tatiana’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Lyons? I had no idea you were… ”

“What’s the matter?” Hector asked, puzzled.

“You are close to the Johns family, right? The Johns family would never approve of us interacting, Mr. Lyons. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.” As she spoke, Tatiana slipped the business card into the pocket on Hector’s chest, letting her fingers lightly graze his collarbone.

With that, Tatiana turned on her heel and walked away. She could feel Hector’s eyes on her as she made her exit, a satisfied smile dancing in her eyes. She held him exactly where she wanted him.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Madisyn had been watching the stairs closely. The moment she spotted Tatiana descending, she finished the wine in her hand, a knowing smile creeping across her face. Tatiana had played right into her hands.

“You look like you’re in a good mood. Is everything going according to plan?” Susan asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Everything’s going perfectly,” Madisyn replied with a grin, swirling the glass in her hand. This time, she wasn’t just going to deal with Tatiana—she’d be able to dig up some dirt on Hector too. Two birds, one stone.

“Oh, Madisyn! There you are!” Jada approached with a casual stride, taking the seat right next to Madisyn. “So, what are you pulling up for auction?”

When Susan saw her arrival, her face soured. “Jada, we were in the middle of a conversation. Could you stop interrupting?”

“What? I just wanted to chat with Madisyn for a bit. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Jada said, her voice soft as she lowered her head, feigning sadness. “I’ll leave if it bothers you.”

Wesley was irritated. “Why can’t Jada speak like the rest of us? What’s your problem with her, Susan?” he asked.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Susan shot back. With that, she stood up abruptly and walked away. Dane quickly followed after her without a word.

Andrew glared at Wesley sharply, making him duck his head and grumble under his breath, “Susan was way out of line…”

Jada turned to Madisyn, her face still wearing a sad expression. “I’m sorry, Madisyn. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Madisyn’s voice was calm and low. “Don’t worry about it. We were just chatting because we happened to sit together. Honestly, if it weren’t for Dane, I wouldn’t even bother talking to her.”

With a satisfied smile, Jada tilted her head and asked, “So, you want Dane and Susan to break up? I honestly think your brother deserves someone better.”

Lowering her voice even more, Jada whispered, “It’s not just Dane seeing her; she has someone else.”

“What do you mean by that?” Madisyn asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ve got proof. You have to trust me on this, Madisyn,” Jada replied with a firm nod.

Madisyn caught the serious look in Jada’s eyes and felt a bit uneasy. Still, part of her found it hard to believe that Susan could be involved with another man.

“Alright, so what’s your evidence? If it’s convincing, I’ll let Dane know,” Madisyn said after a brief pause.

“I can’t show you right now, but I need you to trust me on this. Susan isn’t the right person for Dane,” Jada replied confidently.

Madisyn looked a bit uncomfortable as she responded, “I trust you, but Dane’s really into her. If I say anything bad about her, he’s going to be upset.”

Jada stopped pressing the issue. She had planned to use Madisyn to drive a wedge between Dane and Susan, but it seemed her plan wasn’t working. Susan was more cunning than she thought.

“By the way, do you have any idea what Susan is planning to auction later?” Jada asked, shifting the conversation.

“I think it’s a bottle of perfume,” Madisyn replied. Something occurred to Jada, and she asked, “And what about you? What are you putting up for auction?”

“I’m offering an antique.”

Jada nodded, and Wesley, with a warm smile, added, “Jada, the title of Charity Angel always went to you before. This year, it’s bound to be yours again.”

Jada let out a light laugh. “I don’t really need the title. What matters most is helping the kids in need.”

“Jada, you’re so generous,” Wesley said with admiration. The others quickly chimed in with their own praises, and it wasn’t long before Jada became the focus of everyone’s conversation.

It was clear Jada held a prestigious position in the high society of Ansport, sparking envy among the other ladies. After dinner, the guests made their way to the auction hall, where the excitement of the evening was about to unfold.

Seating in the hall was arranged based on status, and both Madisyn and Andrew were given spots right in the front row. As guests continued to arrive, Madisyn scanned the room but didn’t spot anyone for quite a while. She lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

Before long, all the guests had taken their seats, and the auction finally kicked off.

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