?Chapter 276:


    Stunned and secretly impressed, Javier watched Elena with a mix of shock and admiration. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful that he hadn’t upset her too much.


    As he reyed the moment in his mind, a sliver of doubt crept in. Still, Elena didn’t seem like someone who held grudges for long. Noticing him lingering awkwardly, Elena’s voice was calm. “It’s starting soon. Take a seat.”


    “Huh? Okay!” Javier blurted out, snapping out of his thoughts. He hurried to his seat, but even as he settled in, he couldn’t help but sneak nces at Elena, his curiosity barely contained.


    Elena, meanwhile, reclined in her chair with an ease that made her seem entirely unbothered by his attention.


    Unable to hold back his anxiety any longer, Javier leaned forward slightly, his voice tinged with hope. “You… you don’t hold grudges, do you?”


    Elena gave him a casual nce, her expression unreadable. “What do you think?” she replied, her voiceced with a yful challenge.


    Javier’s pulse quickened, a mix of nerves and anticipation on his face as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “You wouldn’t, would you?” he asked.


    Elena’s lips curled into a knowing smile, but she kept her thoughts to herself.


    Before Javier could say more, the booming voice of the auctioneer filled the room, announcing the start of the evening’s proceedings. Javier was left with his words unspoken as the chaos around them settled.


    The grand Aureus Auction House, renowned as the’s premier venue for the extravagant and exclusive, buzzed with anticipation. Over the years, it had witnessed the exchange of countless treasures, the most legendary being a pendant crafted by Helena, a titan in jewelry design, which once sold for an astonishing two hundred million in a frenzied bidding war. The identity of its current owner remained a mystery. the’s affluent circles gathered at Aureus Auction House for these events in search of their next priceless acquisition.


    As the lights dimmed, a hush fell over the crowd, and the earlier murmurs faded into tense silence. The auctioneer stepped forward with a confident smile. “Wee, everyone, to today’s auction. I’m Andrew Ortiz, and I’ll be leading this event. Let’s kick things off with our first piece—the stunning Dreamy Ocean Blue Bracelet!”


    The bracelet, a masterpieceposed of sixteen azure jade beads each encrusted with sparkling diamonds, captivated the audience with its refined elegance. The starting bid, set at a hefty five hundred thousand, seemed almost modest for such a spectacle.


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    No sooner had the bidding begun than the atmosphere crackled withpetitive energy. Evelyn, seated not far from Elena, was quick to join in, her voice clear and confident. “Six hundred thousand,” she dered.


    Karen, never one to back down, immediately ced a higher bid. “Seven hundred thousand,” she countered sharply.


    The relentless bidding on both sides of Elena made it impossible to ignore. Javier watched Elena’s face, but her unreadable expression gave him no hint as to whether she was interested in the bracelet orpletely indifferent.


    He nced her way before finally breaking the silence. “Do you like it? If you do, I’ll get it for you.”


    Elena’s lips curved into a faint smile. Memories flickered behind her eyes—of the time when Vince had roughed Javier up for stealing a painting, yet here he was, ever the generous soul, still contemting gifts for others.


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