?Chapter 1702:


    “Miss Jones, you’re courageous. Still, there’s a condition you need to understand clearly,” Violette said, the curve of her lips carrying unmistakable satisfaction.


    “What condition?” Christina asked.


    Violette gave a soft chuckle. “Neither the Jones family nor the Wade family is permitted to ce bids on your painting. And you are forbidden from revealing any ties you have to the Jones family. Break the rule, and you forfeit immediately.”


    “And why exactly should we ept that? I refuse!” La stepped forward at once, her objection sharp and unrestrained.


    If Christina depended entirely on outsiders during the auction, she would almost certainly be crushed by Violette. After all, Violette possessed genuine artistic credentials — she had staged multiple exhibitions, and renowned painters had publicly praised her originality. On one side stood an artist repeatedly validated by the professional art world; on the other stood someone who didn’t paint at all. The oue seemed painfully obvious. If the Jones or Wade families were allowed to bid, even a meaningless scrawl from Christina could be driven to an absurd price. Violette wasn’t foolish — she had severed that path before it could even open.


    “You’re not my opponent, so your opinion is irrelevant.” Violette cast La an icy look before shifting her attention back to Christina. “Do you ept?”


    “Alright. But you’re not allowed to involve the Martel family or the Hewitt family either,” Christina replied evenly, herposure steady, as though the result were already decided.


    Watching her agree without the slightest hesitation, La felt Christina was being recklessly na?ve. “Are you charging straight toward humiliation? Others may not know about your link to the Jones family, but everyone knows she belongs to the Hewitts — people will always show them courtesy. You have no visible backing. Do you seriously think you can beat her? No one will offer a high bid for your piece.”


    Christina’s lips lifted in a mild smile. “It’s fine. I know exactly what I’m doing.”


    “You…” La fell speechless. She decided that if Christina was intent on disgracing herself, there was no reason to interfere — the embarrassment wouldn’t fall on her. “If you’re determined to go through with this, I won’t stop you,” she said coldly, her displeasure in.


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    Violette and Irene exchanged a nce, both failing to conceal the smugness spreading across their faces. They were delighted by how effortlessly Christina had been lured into an art contest. Violette trusted her own abilitiespletely and looked down on Christina — defeat felt impossible.


    “Please,” Christina said, gesturing courteously toward the stage.


    Violette flicked her a disdainful nce before turning and heading up. “Ladies and gentlemen, today’s talent auction will open with the two of us,” she announced into the microphone, her voice carrying clearly through the ballroom.


    The pair instantly drew every eye in the room.


    “Who’s the woman next to Ms. Hewitt? She’s breathtaking.”


    “No idea — I’ve never seen her before. Maybe she’s rted to the Hewitts.”


    “She’s gorgeous… Ms. Hewitt almost fades beside her.”


    Soft murmurs rippled through the crowd. Hearing them, a trace of jealousy flickered in Irene’s eyes. Christina wasn’t just beautiful — she also had ties to the Jones family, as though fortune itself had decided to favor her. Irene resented her own family’s mediocrity, which denied her a life of luxury and left her trailing behind Violette like a disposable follower, stripped of dignity.


    “We’ve ced a wager on whose artwork willmand the higher bid. To keep things fair, none of the four major families are permitted to participate,” Violette dered.


    The moment she finished, several people in the audience cast discreet nces toward Bain, Alban, and Jaxen.


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