?Chapter 1666:


    “No, I won’t back down. I need that Elderroot,” Christina said, her resolve unyielding.


    With no room left to argue, La was forced to continue bidding.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    As the two sides remained locked inpetition, the entire hall watched the unfolding showdown in tense silence. Without anyone quite noticing when it happened, the price climbed to eighty million — and when Alban called out the figure, the room fell utterly still.


    People strained to understand why Alban and La were so fixated on this single item. Was there something about the Elderroot that outsiders didn’t know? Eighty million was an exorbitant sum. Unless it was meant to save a life on the brink of death or possessed some legendary property, buying it at this price meant epting a staggering loss.


    “Why are they refusing to let go? The price has gone insane, yet neither is backing down.”


    “Could someone in their families be depending on it to survive? Or does it have some rare, hidden quality?”


    “I think it’s just immense wealth shing with stubborn pride. For people like them, this amount barely makes a dent.”


    La had no desire to continue, but seeing Christina refuse to yield, she had no choice but to harden her resolve and push the bid to eighty-eight million. At such a staggering figure, she doubted Alban would recklessly follow. Spending this much might still secure her a ce with the Jones family — but what would Alban gain?


    “Eighty-eight million! Do I hear any advance?” the auctioneer called out.


    Just as the crowd assumed Alban was finished, the unexpected happened.


    “One hundred million!” Alban raised the stakes once more.


    The hall erupted in disbelief. An elderroot had been driven to a hundred million. The seller was incredibly fortunate, caught in a sh between powerful families like the Martels and the Wades. Without that rivalry, the item would have barely surpassed thirty million.


    “Alban has lost his mind. He’s doing this purely out of spite,” La snapped, her face tight with anger.


    She turned sharply toward Christina. “Bonnie, we should stop. We can look for another elderrootter. He’ll just keep matching us — we’ll never outbid him.”


    Every story starts at galn   ovels ;


    Christina looked at her steadily and said in a low voice, “Add ten million.”


    “Have youpletely lost your senses? Jumping it that high?” La’s eyes widened as she turned to Jordy for support. “Aren’t you going to stop her?”


    “Bonnie told you to raise it,” Jordy replied coolly. “Then raise it.”


    In La’s mind, they had all gone mad — both siblings and Alban,pletely unhinged.


    Left with no alternative, La clenched her teeth and called out, “One hundred and ten million!”


    Before she could lower her hand, Christina reached over and firmly guided it upward, signaling totalmitment. A wave of shocked murmurs rippled through the room as every gaze snapped toward Christina.


    Moments earlier, many had assumed she was merely La’s ill-advisedpanion, leading her toward ruin. Now, they sensed the dynamic was far moreplex.


    “Did you see that? Miss Wade is clearly acting on the woman’s instructions — even being directed to raise the bid a second time without objecting.”


    “Exactly. Miss Wade looks unwilling, but she doesn’t dare defy her. Who is that woman?”


    “I don’t know, but her background must be formidable. She has to rival the Wade family’s influence, or she’d never challenge the Martels like this.”


    “Do you think Alban will keep bidding?”


    “That’s the real test. If he stops now, it means that woman’s authority is overwhelming.”


    All attention swung toward Alban as everyone waited to see what he would do next.


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