Chapter 58
After greeting the guests at the main table, Elisa stepped onto the stage:
“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this event. Tonight’s banquet is for a charitable cause. On behalf of the Rivas family, I am donating twenty million dollars to fund education and support for children in remote mountain areas,” she announced, her voice filled with excitement and joy.
The evening was particularly meaningful for her. Her father, Elliot Rivas, had recovered, lifting a heavy burden from her heart.
Elisa continued with visible enthusiasm: “Additionally, we will be auctioning several items tonight. All proceeds will go toward charitable causes. Rest assured, every transaction will be transparent and publicly disclosed.”
As her words concluded, she gave a small bow to the audience and prepared to step down from the stage. But someone in the crowd called out:
“Ms. Rivas, since Mr. Rivas Senior has recovered, could we have the honor of visiting him? He’s someone I’ve admired my entire life.”
“Yes, I’d like that too! Mr. Rivas Senior has always been a role model for his charitable deeds.”
“Even just catching a glimpse of him from afar would be enough for me!”
Tonight’s charity banquet celebrated Elliot’s recovery. However, Elisa hadn’t mentioned it in her speech, leaving some attendees unable to contain their curiosity. After all, this was a rare chance to curry favor with the Rivas family. Sending gifts like luxury supplements or rare medicinal items to express well-wishes could earn goodwill, undoubtedly boosting one’s social standing and financial prospects. Association with the family would provide significant bragging rights; at the very least, securing projects in collaboration with them would elevate one's status considerably.
Elisa, however, responded with a gentle smile, waving her hand slightly. “Thank you for your kind concern. Although my father has recovered, he still needs rest and cannot meet with anyone at the moment. I hope you’ll understand.”
Disappointment flashed across many faces. It was a missed opportunity to strengthen ties with the Rivas family. Still, no one dared express dissatisfaction openly. Even if they couldn’t visit Elliot, they could make their presence felt by bidding generously at the auction and catching the Rivas family’s attention that way.
As the auction began, the room quickly grew lively with guests eagerly raising their bids. Few cared about the actual items; their sole purpose was to impress the Rivas family—even if it meant spending more than necessary.
One by one, the items were auctioned off. Watching them dwindle, Chloe nudged Belle. “Belle, are you going to join in? Ms. Rivas is seated right over there. We should show our support.” Belle nodded, her mind already made up. “It’s still early. Nothing exceptional has come up yet. If we’re going to stand out, we need to bid on something significant. No point wasting money on something that’ll just gather dust in a corner.”
Then the auctioneer introduced a new piece: “A painting, a work by a renowned painter from the Everdale Era. I won’t go into too much detail; you all have the full description in your catalogs. The bidding begins at two million dollars.”
Belle quickly flipped through the information, her eyes lighting up. The painting was by a celebrated artist from the Everdale Era, whose surviving works were exceedingly rare. Within seconds, bids started pouring in.
Belle whispered to Chloe, “Mr. Cole Senior seems to have a particular fondness for this artist’s works. If we manage to get this painting for him, he’d definitely be grateful.”
Chloe nodded in agreement. “He’s well known for his love of art, especially older pieces like this. This artist happens to be one of his favorites. But with so many people bidding, it’s going to be cutthroat.”
The price had soared from two million dollars to thirteen million.
Belle frowned. “We have to get it. This painting would not only please Mr. Cole Senior but also show our support for the Rivas family. It’s perfect.”
She raised her paddle: “Fourteen million dollars!”
The bids jumped to fifteen million dollars, then sixteen million dollars. It was clear that many of the bidders weren’t interested in the painting itself; they were simply aiming to win favor.
Belle hesitated. It was too high for her. Spending sixteen million dollars was undoubtedly a significant blow, but it was still within acceptable limits. Any higher, and even she might have had to bow out. Pleasing others was important, but it wasn’t worth completely emptying her pockets.
“Belle, don’t you enjoy painting? Weren’t you always fascinated by these old works of art?”
This cleaned-up version corrects grammatical errors, improves punctuation, and enhances the overall flow and readability of the passage. I also made some stylistic choices (e.g., replacing "torchildren" with "for children") to improve clarity and professionalism.