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Vesta handed a crisp envelope to her mother. "Here's the invitation you wanted."
“Perfect. Thank Thorne for me, would you?" Maureen replied, sliding the invitation into her purse. She paused,
glancing up. "Are you coming with us to the auction tomorrow, or is Thorne picking you up?"
Vesta shook her head. "Neither of us will be going tomorrow."
Maureen's hand stilled over the zipper. "Alright," she said simply.
ork
Auction night arrived, and Charlene made her way to the grand auction house with her aunt, Maisie.
As they checked in, Charlene spotted Maureen and Laverne just ahead in the line. The recognition was mutual-
Maureen's expression barely shifted, but there was a faint furrow between her brows.
This evening's auction featured pieces so rare and valuable that only the world's wealthiest and most influential
had managed to secure invitations. Most prominent families wouldn't even stand a chance.
If it hadn't been for Thorne, Maureen wouldn't have gotten her invitation either. But Charlene—well, given
Stewart's current prominence and his close connection
to Charlene, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to help her obtain one.
With that thought, Maureen and Laverne averted their gazes and continued inside.
Thanks to Thorne, Maureen and Laverne had seats close to the front-right next to where Charlene and Maisie
were directed.
Charlene and Maisie had barely settled in when Moran entered the hall. He did a double take upon spotting
Charlene, and then noticed she was seated beside Maureen. His eyes widened. What kind of high-stakes
showdown was this?
Flustered, he found his own seat alongside his date, then hurriedly texted Thorne: fight next to your future
Charlene's at the diamond auction too-and she's sit mother-in-law!
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Thorne's reply was prompt.
Oh.
And that was it.
Apparently, he couldn't care less.
Moran stared at the screen, speechless. He glanced over at Charlene and Maureen's group again; Charlene
noticed him this time, but her face remained impassive as she looked away.
Maureen, on the other hand, offered Moran a polite smile. "Good evening, Mr. Albright."
He gave her a sheepish grin. "Ma'am..."
After the brief exchange, Moran quickly took his seat.
A few moments later, Dalton Ramirez arrived. His seat happened to be right next
to Maisie's, so he immediately noticed Charlene and Maureen as well.
Dalton didn't bother greeting Charlene, and she returned the favor, pretending not
to see him. Still, like Moran, Dalton nodded politely to Maureen, who responded with a gracious nod.
Soon after, the auction began.
Apart from the evening's star
attraction a legendary
diamond there were a handful of
other items, each with a starting price in the millions. Charlene Kad no interest in the rest; she was here for the
diamond, and the diamond alone. She sat out the bidding on everything else, as did Maureen.
Finally, the most anticipated moment of the night arrived.
As the diamond was unveiled, a wave
of awe swept through the
room-gasps and Ty Ryser
ANE fecoroifd en Charlene who
didn't consider herself much of a
diamond enthusiast, couldn't help but
be stunned by the stone's
extraordinary beauty and brilliance.
Maureen, for her part, had seen and
owned countless pieces of
world-class jewelry over the years)
But this {hfs wasdn'a Gidterent level.
SheWas, for once, rendered
speechless, utterly captivated by the
gem on display. From the moment it
appeared, she could hardly tear her
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eyes away. The content is on
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chapter there!
As the crowd buzzed, the auctioneer announced the starting bid.
Forty million.
The words had barely left his mouth before bidding paddles shot up all over the room. Charlene was among the
first.
Seated right beside her, Maureen
noticed Charlene's raised paddle.
She'd assumed Secs likecheriself,
wes fend abris itness a
once-in-a-lifetgem—after all, even
if you couldn't afford it, seeing such a
treasure up close was an event in
itself. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
But then-
Maureen's eyes flickered in surprise as she watched Charlene lift her paddle, her attention snapping away from
the diamond.
Charlene spoke up, her voice clear and steady, "Fifty million."
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