?Chapter 1663:


    Christina gave a small, polite shake of her head. “Thank you, La, but it’s not really to my taste. I already own more sapphire nes than I could ever wear.”


    The remark made La’s jaw tighten, a flicker of jealousy crossing her eyes. Was that a casualment or a subtle disy of wealth? The Jones family truly spared no expense — it hadn’t been long since they reimed Christina, yet she already possessed jewels most people could only dream of.


    “That’s fine, then — we’ll skip this one,” La said smoothly, a confident smile curving her lips. “If you see anything you liketer, just say the word. I’ll make sure you get it.”


    “Alright,” Christina replied without resistance. After all, the poison had already been administered, and the antidote rested firmly in her grasp. As long as the Wades remained loyal to the Jones family and refrained from plotting against her, she could show mercy. Zahir had once saved her father, and she was willing to honor that debt. But if they crossed her, she would leave them stripped of wealth and influence — and their entire lineage would pay the price.


    “The next item up for auction is the Emberbloom, with a starting bid of five million,” the auctioneer announced.


    “Five and a half million!”


    “Six million!” Bids began to rise across the hall.


    Christina turned to La. “I need the Emberbloom.”


    La looked at her in surprise. “The Emberbloom is toxic. It can counteract some poisons, but it has no real value for most people. Why would you want it?” Handled incorrectly, it was deadly — most physicians avoided it, and those who sought it were usually top medical researchers.


    “I’m getting it for Jordy,” Christina said simply.


    Jordy was briefly taken aback but didn’t press the matter. If his sister wanted something, she always had her reasons.


    The bidding had already climbed past eight million. La clenched her teeth and lifted her paddle. “Nine million!”


    To most people, an herb like the Emberbloom was practically worthless. Yet since Christina insisted, La had no choice but to follow through — every increase felt like money poured into nothing.


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    “Anyone else?” the auctioneer called out.


    At that moment, Alban calmly raised his paddle. “Ten million.”


    La frowned, casting a sharp nce his way. He must have lost his mind. Why would hepete for the Emberbloom? It made sense for Jordy, a doctor, to want it for research — but Alban’s move felt deliberate, as though he were driving the price up on purpose. She was trapped. She had promised Christina she would secure the item. She lifted her paddle again. “Eleven million!”


    The highest price the Emberbloom had evermanded was twenty million, paid years ago by an anonymous bidder no one had ever identified. When La had heard about itter, she had mocked the buyer for throwing away such a sum on something so useless. Alban, no matter how wealthy, had never seemed like the type to squander a fortune without reason — he was far too rational for that.


    Once Alban entered the bidding, the other participants quickly fell silent. They knew better than topete with his resources, and none wished to offend him. Backing off was the wisest choice.


    Soon, all eyes were fixed on the quiet standoff between Alban and La. Just as everyone expected him to call out twelve million, his voice cut through the tension instead.


    “Twenty-one million.”


    The moment the number left his lips, the auction hall erupted into a collective gasp. The Emberbloom’s highest recorded price was twenty million, and Alban had surpassed it without hesitation. Was he throwing money around simply to humiliate the Wade family, or did the Emberbloom truly matter that much to him? Soft murmurs rippled through the room as spection spread from seat to seat.


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