Chapter 1357:


    However, at that very moment, Brielle raised her paddle. Her voice was gentle but clear as she said, “I bid seven hundred million.”


    Brielle’s bid caught Maia off guard.


    Maia looked toward her, and Brielle responded with a wink.


    Maia realized Brielle had misunderstood her intentions.


    Suddenly, Hurst stood up and raised his paddle high. “One billion!” he dered, then challenged the man sitting next to Maia. “An open-ended bid, huh? Let’s see how capable you really are.”


    The atmosphere grew tense the instant Hurst made his bold move.


    Maia felt dizzy as things began spiraling out of control.


    Hurst had intervened because he interpreted Maia’s earlier signal to Pattie as opposition to the mysterious man purchasing her jewelry designs.


    He saw this as a perfect chance to make a good impression.


    Another factor motivated him: the man’s arrogant behavior seemed to imply that people from Wrontcked financial resources, something Hurst refused to tolerate.


    Kiley nearly cursed when she saw Hurst raise his paddle. Hurst was her father’s cousin. Wasn’t he undermining their entire n? This was like pointlessly moving money from one pocket to another.


    Kiley made her displeasure known. “Hurst, are you really sure about bidding one billion?” she asked, a clear threat in her tone.


    Normally, Hurst would have backed down. But he had prepared to sever ties with Kolton and had no intention of paying a single cent.


    He simply wanted to see Kolton suffer a severe blow, knowing that non-payment meant they could walk away from the purchase. The thought of Kolton’s impending humiliation filled Hurst with satisfaction.


    He nced at Maia. “Ms. Watson’s work has immeasurable future value, so I want a piece of the action too,” he said.


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    Comments flooded the live chat.


    “One billion already!”


    “Priceless jewelry!”


    “Everyone’s gone crazy!”


    The man who had made the open-ended bid chuckled. He hadn’t expected anyone to raise the bid, but this oue suited him perfectly.


    The higher the price, the better it served his purpose, as he also had no intention of paying. The Cooper Group would be left with nothing but hollow victory.


    So he raised his paddle once more. “One and a half billion,” he announced, then added with feigned embarrassment, “That’s as high as I can go.”


    Cold sweat broke out on many foreheads the moment he finished speaking. No one dared to bid carelessly now.


    All eyes turned to Hurst.


    Maia looked at Hurst and shook her head vigorously. Hurst noticed and stopped, wondering if she wanted him to quit.


    Scratching his head, he coughed and sat back down, not raising his paddle again.


    The host quickly announced, “One and a half billion going once, going twice, sold!” He turned to the man. “Guest 99, congrattions on winning the auction item!”


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