Cantarella set down her wine glass, appearing to ponder for a moment. She then gestured to the attendant beside her, whispering a few words as he leaned down.
A few seconds later, under the watchful eyes of the entire hall, Cantarella's attendant raised the bidding paddle once more.
"Five million!"
As the bid was announced, the whispers in the hall instantly died down. Most guests were stunned by the sheer audacity of the Fesale Family Head.
Seeing her opponent nearly double the price in a single leap, Coletta's face turned ashen. This price point was no longer something her "small purse" could sustain.
"Lady Cantarella bids five million Shell Credits! Are there any further bids?"
Hearing the master of ceremonies call out the price from the stage, Coletta's mind raced. Ultimately, reason triumphed over emotion, and she silently lowered her paddle...
But at that very moment, a faint yet pointedly familiar voice drifted over again, causing Coletta's eyes to snap wide.
"For such a beautiful Gilded Pearl to be hidden away in the Fesale collection alone would truly be a pity," Cantarella's voice rang out. Her right hand reached out, tracing Rover's cheek beside her. "The golden eyes of the 'Crown-Taker' are truly unforgettable. In my view, this pearl was practically made for you."
"To thank you for your immense help to Laguna, and to commemorate your friendship with the Fesale family, this Gilded Pearl shall be a gift to you. I hope you will not refuse..."
"What do you say, Rover? My... Opal?"
She enunciated the last word slowly, syllable by syllable. Her voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet auction hall, it was exceptionally clear—as if specifically intended for a certain someone to hear every single letter.
"!?!"
Although Cantarella hadn't looked at Coletta once, the young girl "exploded" exactly as expected.
You actually...
Right in front of me...
Using MY exclusive nickname...
Are hitting on my man?!
"Five million going once..."
The MC's voice droned on, acting as a catalyst for anyone wishing to raise the bid.
Coletta's slender fingers clenched the hem of her dress so hard her knuckles turned white; her face was so dark it looked like it might drip ink. She looked up at her grandfather beside her and requested in a voice only the two could hear: "Grandfather, I wish to advance my allowance for next month and the month after."
Francis had been watching the dispute between his granddaughter and the Fesale matriarch with great interest, showing no intention of stepping in to shield her. Hearing Coletta's request, he simply offered a faint smile and replied softly: "Of course, Coletta. But... have you thought this through?"
"I—" Coletta tried to argue further for her decision, but the MC's voice cut in again.
"Five million going twice..."
Hearing the call, Coletta abandoned her long-winded explanation and nodded immediately. "I've thought it through, Grandfather!"
"Mm... then do as you wish."
Receiving Francis's affirmative answer, Coletta's face lit up with joy. After a quick word of thanks, she thrust her paddle into the air.
"Five million and thr—"
"Ten million! Mortari bids ten million!"
An instant before the gavel fell, Coletta's crisp bid echoed through the auction hall.
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.
Almost everyone present was shocked by the Second Young Miss Mortari's staggering extravagance. Ten million Shell Credits—there were people in the room whose entire net worth didn't reach that number. Even for those who had it, producing that much liquid cash on the spot would be an immense difficulty.
Yet, ten million was thrown away by Coletta just like that. All for a single pearl.
At this moment, Cantarella, who had been quietly watching Coletta's performance, finally moved.
She released her soft hand from Rover's arm and raised both hands to clap gently. A look of profound admiration appeared on her face. "Truly breathtaking charity, Miss Coletta."
"The financial might of the Mortari family is indeed well-deserved."
Her words sounded like praise, but Coletta's heart suddenly sank, a premonition of disaster flashing through her mind.
Cantarella slowly stood up. Addressing the host on stage and the guests in the hall, she spoke in a clear tone tinged with a hint of regret: "Since Miss Coletta is so determined to win this pearl—even willing to pay the astronomical price of ten million Shell Credits to support charity—such sincerity is truly moving."
"If I were to keep contesting, it would seem somewhat heartless of me."
She gave a slight nod, her tone incredibly sincere. "I withdraw. Congratulations, Miss Coletta. This beautiful Gilded Pearl belongs to you."
Boom!
Coletta felt her mind go blank.
She had been played!
Cantarella never intended to actually buy the pearl from the start. She was merely driving up the price, forcing Coletta to lose her cool and announce an absurdly high figure, only to gracefully step back at the last second.
Not only had she forced Coletta to pay a massive financial price, but she had also successfully painted her in front of the entire elite as a spoiled, impulsive heiress who threw away a fortune just to win a petty jealousy spat.
As for Cantarella herself, she became the elegant winner who considered the "bigger picture" and graciously stepped aside for another's sake.
Ten million! For a single pearl!
Coletta's face turned deathly pale. She could feel the gazes from the surrounding crowd turning complex—there was amazement and envy, but more of it was the mockery and whispering of those watching a fool.
The host didn't care about the drama; after excitedly calling the price three times, he brought down the gavel. "Ten million once, ten million twice, ten million three times!"
"Sold for ten million Shell Credits! Congratulations to Miss Coletta Mortari of the Mortari family!"
The applause in the hall rang out like thunder, but to Coletta, it felt like a thousand needles pricking her heart. She sat there stiffly, wishing she could vanish on the spot.
As Cantarella passed by her, she paused slightly, leaning down to whisper in a voice only the two could hear: "Do you like it, little sister Coletta? This 'grand gift' from your elder sister."
Having finished, she drifted over to Rover with a relaxed air. "Quite an interesting auction, wasn't it?"
"The passion of the youth is always so... expensive."
Rover glanced at her with profound eyes, still silent. He looked toward Coletta and seemed to shake his head slightly—though it was unclear whether he was reacting to the farce itself or to Coletta's excessive impulsiveness tonight.
Coletta watched dazed as a waiter brought the tray with the sky-high pearl to her. Its flowing gilded light now seemed incredibly piercing to her eyes.
Once again, she had suffered a total defeat.
This time, she hadn't just lost face; she had lost a genuine fortune and... likely, some of the favor she held in Rover's heart.
The banquet gradually drew to a close as Coletta remained lost in a daze. She felt like a joke. All her fighting spirit and the confidence she had just built had been shattered into dust by Cantarella's effortless maneuvering.
Watching Cantarella and Rover walk away side-by-side, she felt, for the first time, a deep sense of powerlessness.
_____
+50 advanced chapters monthly on my patreon, join now and read...
Patreon.com/IndifferentVillain
Ur support keeps me motivated thanks in advance.
Chapter 260 is out on my patreon!!!!!
________