Chapter 265: The Enchanting Red-haired Woman

As each auction piece found a new owner, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the tiara, the centerpiece of the evening, was finally unveiled. Silence enveloped the once noisy hall as all eyes turned to the auctioneer, Zayn, hanging on his every word about the tiara. Zayn only described the tiara’s appearance, skipping its history and origin. This wasn’t an intentional omission; rather, the tiara’s owner had not provided any historical details. Nonetheless, the air of mystery only heightened the attendees’ intrigue.

“Presenting the final item tonight, a replica of an ancient tiara, renowned for its elaborate craftsmanship. We start the bidding at 60 million dollars,” Zayn announced. His voice resonated across the silent hall, sparking a fierce round of bids.

The competition drove the price rapidly upward, surpassing 150 million. From his vantage point at the back, Jacob observed the escalating bids with a mix of amusement and surprise. The excitement around the tiara was more than he had expected. The bids continued to surge as Jacob mulled over the unfolding scene. Meanwhile, Zayn, on stage, felt his hands start to sweat. The current bid of two hundred million dollars had surpassed all expectations. Despite the stakes, Zayn kept his composure, scanning the crowd and his eyes finally resting on Jacob. Zayn could see that, despite the intense bidding, no one could match the financial power of the person behind Jacob. In this gathering, many were just mid-level members, none a match for a top-level member.

After several intense minutes, most had bowed out. Now, only three bidders were left standing. From the crowd came a bid, exclaiming, “Three hundred and ten million.”

“Three hundred and twenty million.”

“Three hundred and fifty million.”

The escalating bids stirred excitement among the audience. Warren and his group, positioned near the front, were visibly intrigued. “This tiara seems unremarkable. Do these wealthy folks not see it?” Diana murmured, bewildered. Natalie’s expression remained calm, her gentle smile lending her an air of innocence and naivety.

At Forreal’s auctions, dramatic moments and the extravagant whims of the wealthy were nothing new. Yet, the tiara’s climb to an astounding 350 million dollars was truly extraordinary. Both the earlier auctioned rare blue diamond and the nineteenth-century diamond butterfly necklace were known for their potential to appreciate in value. But this tiara? Natalie didn’t think it deserved such excitement.

Warren looked over at Natalie. “Do you know the backstory of this tiara?”

With a subtle shake of her head, Natalie responded, “Its history seems irrelevant, given that no top-level members have shown interest in it. This lack of interest from them usually means it lacks investment value.” Her comment was audible enough for nearby attendees, who nodded in agreement, persuaded by her logic. At Forreal’s auctions, the participation of a top-level member in bidding was a sign of the item’s worth. The absence of such interest typically indicated minimal value.

Smug smiles spread among the audience as they grasped the situation, anticipating the drama that might unfold. Onstage, Zayn surveyed the room, his gavel poised as he reiterated the current offer, saying, “Three hundred and eighty million, going once…”

Out of nowhere, a captivating voice declared, “Five hundred million!” The attendees gasped and turned to identify the speaker. The bidder was a woman with striking red hair in a strapless dress, her presence radiating a bold charisma unlike the typical representatives of top-level members. Everyone was abuzz, eager to learn the identity of this daring woman.