Chapter 309
“Haynie, the auction is about to start. If you have anything to discuss, let’s wait until it’s over.”
Haynes watched the pair as they walked off together, his thin lips pressed into a hard line. A glint of cold calculation flickered in his eyes.
Inside the auction hall, Abby waved Stella and Neville over as soon as she spotted them entering.
“Star! Mr. Connolly! Over here.”
Stella made her way to Abby. “I told you we could have come together, but you insisted on coming alone.”
“If the two of you walked in with me, I’d just drag down your star power. Gorgeous couple like you? You’d turn every head in the room, and next to you, I’d just fade into the wallpaper,” Abby declared, her tone proud and playful.
She glanced around, rolling her eyes. “Did you see how smug Rachel and Haynes looked earlier? Especially Rachel-strutting around like a peacock, fanning her feathers for everyone to see.”
“And everyone else isn’t any better-falling over themselves to praise her, like she’s some sort of goddess descended from the heavens. Please.” Abby scoffed, unimpressed. “Her achievements are barely worth mentioning next to yours. I don’t get what all the fuss is about.”
Neville chimed in, “Well, Rachel must have something going for her. She’s still stuck in Haynes’s mind, and Jasper’s been trailing after her for years. There’s got to be a reason.”
He glanced at Stella. “From what I’ve looked into, she’s been a top student since she was a kid-queen bee at every school, and there was even a director who invited her to join the film industry, but she turned them all down.”
“She’s a multi-instrumentalist, but the violin’s her real talent. That’s how she got into Neo-Vespera University.”
“Even after she and Haynes split up, she didn’t exactly sit around. She’s been competing in international contests, racking up awards left and right. I even heard she once beat out a prodigy everyone had high hopes for-after losing to her, the poor guy never really recovered.”
Stella nodded thoughtfully. “There are plenty of prodigies in this world, but not many who can keep it up and actually make something of themselves. Rachel… she’s got real ability, no question.”
Unlike her, Stella thought silently. If she hadn’t gone through the divorce, would she ever have picked up the violin again? It was impossible to say.
As the three chatted, the auction officially began.
Neville, never much for these kinds of events, had only bothered to come tonight because he’d managed to get a few tickets. Their seats weren’t the best-fourth row to the left. The closer to the front, the higher your social standing.
Haynes, Rachel, and Jasper, of course, were seated right in the front row.
As they passed Stella’s row, Jasper shot her a sidelong glance and let out a soft, derisive snort-his disdain clear as day. So much for Stella’s supposed connections; she was still stuck in the fourth row, after all.
Five minutes later, the auction got underway.
The first item up for bid was a set of antique porcelain cups once used in a royal palace. Several collectors and high society types began bidding in earnest, and the set finally sold for three million.
The second item was a crown from the early twentieth century, once worn by a European royal. Studded with diamonds, it sparkled so brilliantly it nearly dazzled the whole room.
Rachel couldn’t help but gasp. “What a gorgeous crown!”
Jasper agreed, “It really is. If you wore that at one of your concerts, you’d be unforgettable.”
The bidding started at one million. Jasper didn’t hesitate—he raised his paddle.
“Two million.”
Rachel looked at him, eyes shining with gratitude. “Jasper, you really don’t have to go to all this trouble…”
But her expression betrayed her words-she was clearly thrilled.
Jasper basked in her adoration. “Don’t worry, I’m getting this crown for you, no matter what-“
Before he could finish, a clear, cool female voice rang out.
“Three million.”