"Ms. Quill, did you like that jewelry set?"
Channing observed her expression and asked in a low voice, "If you liked it, why didn''t you snatch it away?"
"That''s Shanley Schwartz."
Coralie pinched Channing''s cheek. Looking into those eyes that so closely resembled herte boyfriend''s, her tone softened. "It''s not something I''m dying to have. Better to just sell him a favor."
She was considering expanding her businesses from Caelus into Borealia in the future, so there was a good chance they would cross paths.
Burning bridges and offending him wouldn''t do her any good.
"Mhm."
Channing nodded, picking up the coffee on the table and bringing it to her lips. "I''ll make soup for you when we get back tonight. Your favorite, poached pear soup."
"Good boy."
Coralie pinched his cheek again, her eyes curving into a smile. "If there''s anything you like, tell me."
"Thank you, Ms. Quill."
A sweet, obedient smile graced Channing''s handsome face as he replied sensibly, "But just being able to stay by your side is more than enough for me."
Coralie''s smile deepened.
Obedient, sensible, aware of his boundaries, and absolutely gorgeous.
Who wouldn''t love a boyfriend like this?
The auction continued.
Having acquired what she wanted, Juniper threw herself back into her game.
Half an hourter, Shanley suddenly patted the back of her head, his gentle voice ringing out, "The hip you wanted is up."
"?"
Juniper looked up and saw the staff disying the item.
This horsewhip dated back to the Middle Ages, an exclusive item used by high nobility.
The handle was crafted from premium leather, and its midsection featured a remarkably rare ck agate.
The braided whip itself was handmade, woven with gold threads and expensive brocade.
It was dazzling to look at, yet incredibly lightweight.
Some big shot had probably just tossed it in to appease the auction house.
Surely, something like this wouldn''t fetch a high price.
"Do you really want it?" Shanley asked.
"Mhm," Juniper nodded. "There''s an equestrian club on Liberty Ind that Celine goes to all the time. This whip is pretty useful. When she''s bored, she can go horseback riding. And if the kid acts up, she can use it to discipline him."
"You really are a true aunt."
Shanley remarked, stroking the girl''s hair as his thin lips curled into
souk. Alright, you into y
if like i
it.
At the exact same time.
Coralie had her sights set on the horsewhip, equally confident that no one else
would be interested.
The biddingmenced.
Before Coralie could even punch in her numbers, the man nearby lit up his paddle first:
Shanley: 5 million.
Five million?
The starting price was one million, and he instantly raised it by four million. Even the jewelry worth tens of millions hadn''t seen such aggressive price hikes.
She couldn''t let him steal one t
and then
Could Snatch another. He
Kl
thog all the good luck to
himself, right
Besides.
She hade today specifically for this horsewhip.
She absolutely had to have it.
Coralie entered her numbers, pushing the price to 8 million-far exceeding its market value.
"???"
The crowd probably never expected such an unremarkable horsewhip to spark a bidding war.
Whispers rippled through the audience.
Seeing who the bidder was, Shanley frowned heavily.
Her again.
Shanley: 12 million.
Coralie: 15 million.
This price had already surpassed several of the previous lots.
"?"
Hearing the murmurs, Juniper tore her eyes away from her game.
She noticed the woman nearby staring at them with a half-smile.
Or more urately, staring at Shanley.
Juniper closed her game, leaning forward, her cold, apathetic
shooting daggers backset
woman.
It was the look of someone whose most prized possession was being coveted.
Her eyes shed a clear warning: Don''t look, don''t touch, and don''t even think about
it.