The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 279

The first number popped up on the screen: 5.

A ripple of whispers swept through the crowd. If buyer number nine had just added fifty million, they would have easily outbid number eight. But this? Starting with a five meant the bid was nearly three hundred million higher than the last. Did the super-rich always throw money around like this?

All eyes locked on the screen as the next digit appeared: 2.

With those two numbers, everyone knew the rest hardly mattered. The price was already way out of reach.

“Please show the full bid,” the auctioneer called out.

The screen lit up with a string of numbers: 529113140.

For a moment, the room went quiet. A few people tried to pronounce the number, but suddenly, it was like everyone had forgotten how to count. The figure was just too much to process.

“That’s a weird number. Think it means something special?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Someone’s throwing down a fortune for the woman he loves!”

“What kind of girl gets that kind of love?”

“I swear, the world owes me a boyfriend like that.”

Cabinda was full of beautiful gems. If he couldn’t get this one, he’d settle for something else. And then, feeling like he needed to make it up to Charlotte, he added, “Actually, make it three sets.”

His assistant went quiet for a second. Three sets of jewelry would cost tens of millions at least. Roger really did spoil the sister he’d never even met.

“Yes, sir, I’ll get started right away,” the assistant replied. Just before hanging up, he hesitated, then said, “By the way, Roger, Asclepius agreed to the forensic society’s invitation. The work is scheduled for Saturday. Does that work for you?”

Saturday? Roger’s brow tightened, anger bubbling up again. Saturday was when Charlotte would be done with school, the day they were supposed to meet.

“No. Absolutely not.”