"Why would the Thompson family''s business be entrusted to Eden?" Yvonne asked,pletely baffled.


    Frank had always despised his illegitimate son, Eden, and had forbidden him from ever getting involved in the family business. To now hand over such a crucial deal to him—had Frank suddenly had a change of heart, wanting to make up for his past neglect?


    If that were the case, things at the Thompson household were about to get messy. Emma was certainly not known for her good temper.


    "Dad gave Eden the transportationpany that the Thompson Group started developing a few years ago. This plot ofnd is for the expansion of thatpany, so naturally, it fell into Eden''s hands."


    Bet exined nonchntly as he flipped through the brochure detailing the property.


    Yvonne frowned. "Is Mr. Thompson giving him the transportationpany aspensation, or is he letting him use it as a stepping stone into the Thompson Group?"


    "The olddy threw a massive tantrum until she got the transportationpany for him. On top of that, Eden is about to get engaged to Ynda and be the prized son-inw of the Walker family."


    "Eden and Ynda? How did they get involved?" Yvonne was confused.


    "Mr. Walker decided to back the illegitimate son since I wasn''t ying along," Bet said with a cold sneer.


    Yvonne was speechless. "...He''s certainly ambitious."


    If Mr. Walker knew that most of the Thompson Group''s shares were in Bet''s hands, making him the true master of thepany, he''d probably be absolutely furious.


    Soon after, the auction began.


    The auctioneer took the stage and introduced thend''s geographical location, its advantages, and the government''s future support ns.


    Thepanies interested in the property had already conducted thorough research; after all, no one would let such a massive investment go down the drain easily.


    So, after a brief introduction, the auctioneer announced the start of the bidding without wasting any more time.


    The starting price was three billion.


    This was obviously a lowball figure, intended to be driven up through bidding.


    Eden remained calm, waiting until the price reached five billion before making his


    move.


    "Six billion." He was quite bold, carrying himself with the air of a true young master of the Thompson family.


    Several otherpanies followed, but once the price hit seven billion, they all dropped out.


    The internal valuation of thend was between 5.5 and 6.5 billion, and the current price had already exceeded that.


    Just as Eden breathed a sigh of


    e2


    relief, thinking no one else would bid, he heard someone behind him raise the paddle and call out Seven


    point one billion."


    Eden instinctively turned around and saw aplete stranger, someone he didn''t recognize from Istra''s elite circles.


    But the man looked determined,


    relentlessly staying in the game. No matter what price Eden called, the man would always bid one hundred million more.


    "Is that one of your people?" Yvonne turned to Bet and whispered.


    Bet smiled and gently patted her head. "So smart."


    Yvonne''s expression, however, turned more confused. "What do you want with thisnd?"


    "I''m just driving up the price,"


    Bet exined. "Dad gave the transportationpany to Eden, and it''s now separate from the Thompson Group, responsible for its own profits and losses. Thatpany doesn''t have that much cash on hand."


    "Aren''t you afraid Eden will just drop out?"


    "This piece ofnd is his pledge of allegiance to Mr. Walker. He won''t give it up,”


    Bet said withplete confidence.