Chapter 452

Chapter 452:

Susan swiftly took Dane’s hand in hers and leaned closer, whispering softly, “That’s enough. That perfume isn’t worth that much.” Dane gave her a warm, understanding look and nodded in agreement. Ultimately, the final bid was set at twenty million.

The host, clearly thrilled, announced, “We have a new winner—Susan—with an impressive bid of twenty million! Let’s all thank Susan and Mr. Johns. Now, moving on…” Susan’s item had officially beaten Jada’s, securing the top spot for now. All eyes in the room turned toward her and Dane, full of curiosity and significance. Apparently, Susan wasn’t as worthless as the rumors made her out to be.

A curious friend of Jada’s, Isabella Alpert, leaned in and asked, “Jada, what exactly is the connection between your sister and Mr. Johns?”

Jada blinked and offered a smile. “Well, my sister has a strong personality and a lot of charm. It looks like they both find her pretty appealing.”

“But wait—Andrew is Madisyn’s boyfriend, right?” By now, this fact wasn’t a secret to anyone in their social circle.

“Yes, Susan and Madisyn were quite close once. Maybe Mr. Johns is just looking out for Susan because of that,” Jada remarked, leaving just enough ambiguity in her tone. The way she said it left room for people to misunderstand. Looking out for her? Was it in a normal way?

Isabella’s expression shifted to one of disgust. “I never thought your sister would stoop so low. You earned your place with strength and integrity, but she… she’s been seducing them. That’s just awful!”

“Don’t be so harsh. Susan has her reasons. She’s just too determined not to lose,” Jada sighed softly.

“But she’s nowhere near as good as you. Why does she feel the need to compete? She’s only setting herself up for disappointment.”

Jada simply let out another sigh.

Following a few more auction items, it was finally Madisyn’s turn. While many of the auction items didn’t hold a fixed value, the moment Madisyn’s crown was presented, the crowd was taken aback.

“What is that?”

“Wait, could that be Queen Sophia’s crown? I recall it vanished ages ago, and people assumed it was lost forever. Antique dealers have been hunting for it, and its black market value has skyrocketed to one hundred million.”

“It’s absolutely stunning. Look at that blue diamond—it is breathtaking!”

Queen Sophia’s crown stood as one of the finest antiques, renowned not just for its beauty but also for its immense value. While this crown had been featured in numerous TV shows, all of them were replicas. The allure of those fakes had left many captivated. Now that the real crown was on display, no one could tear their gaze away.

Everyone here had fine possessions, given they were the wealthy elite of Ansport. However, since this was a charity event where no one would profit, they typically refrained from offering up their truly valuable items. The sight of this crown undeniably left many in the room astonished.

“Miss Johns must be incredibly wealthy to offer such a rare gem. It’s incredible—I have to place a bid on it.”

A lot of attendees were eager to get their hands on the crown. The host himself was visibly thrilled. “It’s well known Queen Sophia’s crown has been missing for ages. To see Miss Johns offering it up for auction is quite a surprise. We’re starting the bid at fifty million!” The host barely finished his announcement before the bidding war began.

“Sixty million!”

“Sixty-five million!”

“One hundred million!”

“One hundred and ten million!”

Jada was stunned; the bidding had already surpassed her own record. Her previous high was one hundred million. Susan and Madisyn were always her rivals. Still, Jada smiled as she watched the fierce bidding unfold.

“What… How can that be?” Isabella wore a sour expression. “Jada, do you think that crown is even real?”

“I’m not sure, but since she has offered it, it’s probably not a fake, right?” Jada said. “Isabella, doesn’t your family specialize in the history of Queen Sophia’s crown? Surely, you’d know better.”

Isabella’s voice was resolute. “It doesn’t seem genuine to me. The crown vanished overseas, and no one would ever auction off something so valuable like this.”

Jada quietly responded, “Hmm… Too bad no one else would realize that.” As Jada spoke, she watched Isabella’s face closely, noticing her clenched fists. Jada smiled.

The room buzzed with energy as people competed for the crown. Andrew leaned toward Madisyn, saying, “It’s amazing you’d part with such a priceless piece for auction.”

“It’s an auction. We have to contribute something worthwhile. Plus, the funds will go to a good cause,” Madisyn answered warmly.

Andrew’s gaze softened further as he admired her. She might seem distant, but in truth, she had the kindest heart. At an auction where others hesitated to offer anything significant, Madisyn presented a rare and valuable antique—something that even elite auctions might not see. Thanks to her contribution, this charity auction would go down in history.

The bid had climbed to one hundred and fifty million, and there were no further offers.

“Two hundred million!” Andrew raised his paddle. His calm, quiet words silenced the lively crowd in an instant. Many wanted the crown, but two hundred million was steep. Reality set in, and they realized it was time to back down.

“Alright then, two hundred million going once, two hundred million going twice—”

“Hold on!” Just as the hammer was about to drop, someone stood up and shouted, “I’d like to know—is that crown real?”

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