Chapter 204  Despite telling myself that I had long let go, my body still tensed involuntarily. The reflexes from the past ten years weren’t something that could just disappear from command.  “Herbbite Construction is also my company,” Hayden casually threw out the statement.  The Parker Group had controlled Herbbite Construction for quite some time, though it operated independently.  When Hayden saw the seating arrangement earlier, he immediately made his way toward me.  The head of Herbbite Construction was now awkwardly standing in the back row, unable to speak.  Marlon snorted, but didn’t respond, and I kept silent as well.  Thankfully, after the host finished discussing the layout of Wavepeak Stadium, the bidding began.  “Starting price: 30 million dollars. Each bid increases by 3 million dollars.”  As soon as the words left the host’s mouth, the audience was eager to get started.  “Bidder 017, 33 million dollars.”  “Bidder 009, 36 million dollars.”  The bidding was lively at first, and I wasn’t interested in joining just yet.  I planned to wait until the price had risen enough. Then, suddenly, Hayden’s secretary raised the paddle. “Bidder 001, 160 million dollars.”  I raised an eyebrow. I knew he was after the land, but I didn’t expect him to raise the price so high.  When Hayden made his bid, the entire room fell into stunned silence.  No one dared to outbid him.  After all, no one wanted to go against Hayden.  They were afraid of him, but I wasn’t.  I glanced at Marlon, and he raised his paddle.  “Bidder 021, 163 million dollars.”  Soon, Hayden lowered his voice and asked, “Do you want that land?”  “Why? Mr. Parker, are you willing to back down?” I smiled, still polite, but distant.  Hayden said nothing. His secretary didn’t make another bid either.  No one else was competing with me, probably out of respect for Hayden.  The host began the countdown. “163 million dollars, once. 163 million dollars, twice…”  Just as the hammer was about to fall, a paddle suddenly shot up in the sea of heads.  The host hesitated before calling out, “Bidder 008, 166 million dollars.”  Curious about who was bold enough to challenge me, Marlon leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Is that Zachary?”  “Really?” I sneered, a smirk curling on my lips. “Well, it seems fate has a funny way of working. Raise it to 200 million dollars.”  When I sold the Jackson Group, I invested the money and had since made hundreds of times that amount. Now, I could proudly say, “Is that all they’ve got?”  Marlon raised his paddle. “200 million dollars.”  3:37 PM  Chapter 204  The host, seeing the price escalate, was getting more excited. “Bidder 021, 200 million dollars.  “230 million dollars.” Zachary’s voice rang out from the crowd, full of smug confidence.  “It seems the Parker Group isn’t backing down,” I turned to Hayden and said.  “You finally  I was  spec  at me,” Hayden sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone.  Of all  serious moments, he had to say something like that?  As I furrowed my brow, he added, “Zachary has investments in many companies. He’s not involved with the Parker Group, but I can help you.”  “No need,” I coldly rejected him. Then I turned to Marlon and said, “330 million dollars.”  Marlon smiled and raised the paddle. “330 million dollars.”  The room immediately erupted in surprise.  Whispers filled the air.  “How did it reach 330 million dollars? That land is barely worth more than 30 million dollars, it’s not even in the city center.”  “This Jethive Group is loaded, Yvonne really is something.”  “Mr. Parker’s sitting next to her. Do you think they might get back together? After all, once a couple, always a couple.”  “Getting back together? It looks like they’re fighting over the land now.”  “I think the land is as good as Jethive Group’s now.”  I couldn’t help but laugh at the chatter. People sure have vivid imaginations.  At that moment, I didn’t know Lucy and Yasir were sitting two rows behind me.  Lucy’s eyes were red, she had clearly been crying for a while.  She was happy to see her old friend alive but saddened by how distant I had become.  Yasir was comforting her. “Don’t overthink it, there are so many people here. She’s probably just being reserved. And don’t forget, when she jumped into the sea, it was a miracle she survived. A lot must have happened in these three years.”  “No, it’s not that,” Lucy shook her head, fresh tears streaming down her face. “The way Yvonne looks at me now… She used to look at me with warmth, but now… It’s cold, so cold that it’s like ice in my bones. Yasir, do you think Yvonne knows about me and Joanna?”  “What’s there to know? Joanna and Zack are close, what does that have to do with you?” Yasir didn’t think it was an issue.  “But Yvonne doesn’t know that. She must have misunderstood me,” Lucy finally connected the dots. Without hesitation, she stood up, eager to explain, “I’m going to clear things up with her.”  Yasir quickly grabbed her arm. “The auction’s still on. Wait until it’s over.”  Lucy froze, then remembered where she was. The auction was still ongoing, and they were seated far in the back.  Meanwhile, Joanna had regained her composure, but her teeth were clenched tightly as she watched the auction.  That damn Yvonne… she had actually come back.  And not only that, she had a company now, even someone like Marlon was following her around? Why hadn’t fate drowned her?  Sophia, too, was fuming. “Yvonne must have gotten all that money from selling the Jackson Group. Those should have been our funds!”  Her comment made Yosef lose whatever sense of guilt he had left.  “Has Yvonne really been abroad with that money all these years?” He finally snapped back to reality.  “Yes, Dad. That money should have been for Quinn. We’re struggling to pay for his medical bills, but Yvonne…”  2/3  3:37 PM  Chapter 204  Joanna quickly added her own jab. “She’s been living it up with that money.”  Sophia, who had already discussed things with Joanna, wanted to set their plan in motion. “Since Yvonne’s back, we need to figure out a way to make sure Dad doesn’t feel guilty. We need him on our side.”  Yosef hesitated for a moment, unsure what to say.  Sophia quickly wiped her tears and said, “Yosef, Quinn can’t even find a matching bone marrow donor yet. We’ll need so much more money. Yvonne’s doing so well now. She can easily come up with a billion dollars. Maybe… maybe she can help us? Quinn’s her brother too.”  Yosef’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, the host’s voice rang out again. “Bidder 008, 400 million dollars.”  Zachary had raised the price to 400 million dollars?  I smiled faintly. As expected, he was still pushing for more.  Just when everyone thought I would keep bidding against Zachary, I had Marlon lower his paddle.