Coralie had her eye on a horsewhip.
Channing had recently started taking horseback riding lessons, and he needed a handy crop to help him learn faster.
To help him catch up to her "brother."
Thinking of the boy who had grown up with her at the Haven Orphanage, the boy who had given her so much warmth only to perish in the fire during the prime of his life...
Coralie''s heart gave a painful throb.
He had been exceptionally good at horseback riding. If he were still alive, he would have probably won countless awards by now.
While her thoughts drifted...
"Ms. Quill, what are you looking at?"
Channing''s voice pulled her back to reality.
"Hmm?"
Coralie quickly adjusted her emotions and offered a faint smile. "Nothing."
The little puppy-dog looked past her, his gazending on Shanley''s face, his brows furrowing slightly.
This man was undeniably handsome, but he definitely wasn''t Ms. Quill''s type.
Why was she staring at him?
The auction soonmenced.
Throughout the entire event, Juniper had zero interest in the overpriced scraps of metal being paraded across the stage.
Shezily curled up in her seat, ying games on her phone, asionally looking up at the items.
"Grandma loves jade. How about this one?" Shanley asked.
"It''d suit her well." Juniper lifted her eyelids, ncing at the high-quality jade bangle, and arched an eyebrow. "It would look even better if it''s paired with the ne and earringsing up next."
"Whatever you say."
Shanley signaled Felton to bid. He pursued it relentlessly, and the other interested buyers quickly buckled, dropping out one by one.
Over the next few rounds, Shanley secured several pieces of jewelry.
The auction continued.
Finally, it was time for the pink diamond crown Juniper had her eye on.
Unexpectedly, Coralie was also somewhat interested in the crown set.
"Twenty million."
Hearing the bid, Juniper instinctively looked toward the bidder.
Her?
From this angle, her back really did look like Celine''s.
Felton held the bidding device, carefully ncing at his boss.
Shanley was calmly peeling an orange for Juniper,pletely unbothered, not even batting an eye.
Understood.
Felton looked away and punched in a price. "Twenty-five million."
How could his boss let someone else snatch away something Ms. Payne wanted?
He just needed to keep raising the bid.
Coralie: "Thirty million."
Shanley: "Thirty-five million."
Coralie: "Forty million."
Shanley: "Forty-five million."
Seeing that the other party was determined to win, Coralie decided not to steal their prize.
With a smirk, she turned off her bidding device.
After three strikes of the gavel, Shanley sessfully imed the item.
Shanley nced over at Coralie and noticed she was also staring at him.
Seeing him look over, she even offered a polite smile.
Ever the loyal man adhering strictly to his boundaries, Shanley coldly averted his gaze.
Completely aloof.
"Tch."
Coralie scoffed, muttering to herself, "Well, aren''t you a good boy."
Soon, the staff brought the pink diamond jewelry set over to Shanley.
"I''m not the real owner," Shanley said as he fed a slice of orange to Juniper.
"?"
The staff members were all shrewd
professionals they instantly caught on and turned to uniper
After a two-second pause, they slowly articted the words, "Mrs. Schwartz."
"?"
Juniper paused mid-chew. What the hell?
Yesterday she was the girlfriend, and today she was Mrs. Schwartz?
"Mrs. Schwartz, your auction item."
Seeing herck of reaction, the staff repeated, "Where would you like us to ce it?"
"Just hand it to me."
Blushing, Juniper took the box. Once the staff left, she shot a questioning look at Shanley.
"I didn''t tell them to call you that."
Shanley''s lips curled up, his tonezy
and rxed have to admit the auction staff are highly perceptive,
"But—"
The man''s smile widened, his voice
turni Mrs. Schwartz
sounds much better than Ms Payne."
Swa