Richard raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Tiffany's sudden excitement. "Are you interested in this?" he asked.

Tiffany chuckled. "Not really," she replied. "I've just never been here before, so it's all a bit new to me."

Tiffany sounded perfectly serious, but Richard gave her a knowing look. He thought, Not been here before? Who's she kidding?

When it came to Tiffany, Richard figured he could only trust about half of what she said—the rest was just noise.

They had been seated only a short while when Tiffany checked the time, deciding it was time to get ready. Suddenly, she frowned, clutching her stomach. "I don't feel so good," she said with a pained expression. "I think I ate too much too fast, and now my stomach's killing me."

"I'll take you to the hospital," Richard said, immediately standing as if to carry her.

Tiffany quickly backed away, shaking her head. "No, no! I just need to use the restroom!" She spun around and darted off.

Richard didn't argue, sitting back down to wait patiently. But even after the auction began, Tiffany was nowhere to be seen. Where was she?

After going to the restroom, Tiffany had changed into a different outfit, put on a mask, and subtly disguised herself with makeup. She was now ready to take her place backstage as Treasure Tower's new appraiser.

This auction was all about money, so Frank had come in person. When he first saw Tiffany, he was startled, thinking she was an imposter. Just as Frank was about to confront her, Tiffany spoke first. "My previous identity wasn't very convenient. So, from now on, this is how I'll be appearing at events."

Frank studied Tiffany closely. Although he didn't know exactly which wealthy family she belonged to, his decades of experience had taught him to be flexible. In fact, he thought this was a good idea—less hassle in the future. He gave her a nod of approval.

But the older, more seasoned appraisers weren't as accepting. They were displeased that Frank had hired such a young, inexperienced girl. One of them dismissed Tiffany outright, barking, "Hey, kid! Get over here and clean up this mess. Don't you know the rules?"

Rules? Rules are meant to be broken, Tiffany thought, ignoring him completely.

Seeing Tiffany calmly put on white gloves, a few of the appraisers grew angry. "Young and clueless! You don't know what you're getting into. You'll be in tears soon enough!" one exclaimed. Another scoffed, "Arrogant, full of yourself! You've never faced any real hardships, right?"

The appraisers sat together, grumbling. Tiffany, however, acted as if she hadn't heard a word, focusing entirely on the treasures that would soon be displayed.

The appraisers were speechless. Has she really just ignored everything we said? one thought. It felt like a punch landed in thin air—frustrating and unsatisfying. They became determined to teach Tiffany a lesson.

John, one of the most senior and authoritative appraisers, walked over and said sternly, "You're new, so you have no business touching those antiques. Today, you'll be in charge of showcasing these instead." He pointed dismissively to a glass case filled with diamonds and modern jewelry made from rare gems.

While the diamonds and jewels were valuable, especially coming from Treasure Tower, the auction attendees were mostly there for the rare antiques. Compared to those, these pieces were of little interest. It was clear John intended to sideline her; if things went poorly, Tiffany might not sell a single piece.

Tiffany didn't get mad. The auction was about to start, and she didn't want to stir up trouble. She moved away from the antiques and headed toward the jewelry.

John snorted in satisfaction. "At least you know your place."

The auction began, and Tiffany was scheduled for the final segment. After the antiques were sold, it would be her turn to present the jewelry. By then, most of the important guests would likely have left, leaving her with an empty room.

The older appraisers exchanged knowing smiles, eagerly awaiting Tiffany's failure.

An hour passed, and all the treasures had been showcased. The final item was a painting by a famous painter, titled Autumn Rhythm. It wasn't the original, just a replica, yet an elderly bidder purchased it for sixteen million dollars. Almost everyone at the auction had come specifically for this painting; only a couple of other antiques were sold, bringing the total to just over twenty million dollars. It wasn't as much as they had hoped for, but it wasn't bad.

As Tiffany prepared to take the stage, the older appraisers couldn't resist taunting her. "Good luck, little girl. And don't feel too bad if nothing sells. You can always have a good cry afterward!" Their laughter echoed in the room.

Meanwhile, Tiffany walked onto the stage. As she expected, a small portion of the guests had already left, and many others were gathered around Richard, eager to ingratiate themselves with him. Someone said, "Mr. Hampton, what a surprise to see you here!" It felt as if the auction had already ended.

The moment Tiffany stood on stage, Richard, who had been looking at his phone, suddenly lifted his head. His sharp, cold gaze scanned the crowd, landing on her with uncanny precision. Instantly, Tiffany felt a wave of pressure and nervousness. Before coming onstage, she had carefully checked her disguise. Even someone who knew her well wouldn't recognize her up close.

Soon, Richard looked away quickly, his face impassive. Tiffany breathed a sigh of relief. She picked up the microphone, not caring whether anyone was paying attention, and began. "Ladies and gentlemen, there are still a few special treasures I'd like you to take a look at."

Tiffany intentionally lowered her voice, making it sound somewhat muted. Most of the guests barely glanced at the stage, seeing only an ordinary-looking girl. They paid no attention, continuing to chat and laugh. The room was noisy.

In the vast hall, the only person showing any respect was Richard. He glanced at the people trying to ingratiate themselves with him and, with a faint smile, casually remarked, "It's kind of rude to be so noisy, don't you think?"

Richard's tone was light, revealing no emotion, but his words made everyone freeze. When the big shot spoke, you listened. The room fell silent immediately. Those trying to get close to Richard laughed awkwardly and quickly returned to their seats. Richard's powerful aura remained undiminished, creating an invisible barrier that kept everyone at a distance. The room, once loud and chaotic, quieted down instantly.