The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 124

The auctioneer, hearing the bid, paused for a second. But as a seasoned professional, she quickly recovered and looked at Victoria, who hadn't had a chance to lower her hand. "Ma'am, do you still wish to bid?"

Victoria's fingers curled slightly. After a two-second silence, she finally said, "…I withdraw."

The auctioneer nodded. "Is there any price higher than twenty million? Twenty million going once, twenty million going twice, twenty million—"

"Sold!"

*Bang.*

The gavel fell, sealing the deal.

Victoria's lips pressed tight. She had considered the possibility of miscalculating, but she never imagined it would be because of Elias.

In her memory, Elias had no interest in this kind of stuff.

Her plan to win James over with a thoughtful gift was in ruins.

She would have to think of another way.

But after what felt like an eternity, she still couldn't come up with anything.

The air conditioning in the venue was set low, and Victoria could feel a cool draft blowing down on her. She flagged down a staff member serving tea, asked for the direction of the restrooms, and got up to leave.

From beginning to end, aside from that initial shocked glance, she didn't look at Elias again.

Elias crossed his long legs and leaned back, his eyes following Victoria's retreating figure, his thoughts unreadable.

"Our next item can be considered the centerpiece of tonight's auction. Sourced from the same mine as the famous 'Pink Star' diamond and boasting the same highest standards of color and clarity, I present to you a pair of pink diamond earrings crafted over two years—"

"Starfall!"

As the auctioneer finished, a staff member swept away the red velvet cloth that had been covering the glass case.

Under the lights, the pink diamonds refracted a brilliant and captivating glow.

"The starting bid for 'Starfall' is two hundred and ten million dollars! There is no bidding increment limit. Please, place your bids!"

The atmosphere in the hall became electric again as paddles shot up.

"Two hundred and thirty million!"

"Two hundred and sixty million!"

"Three hundred million!"

"Three hundred and fifty million!"

"…"

The price soared, and the number of bidders began to dwindle.

The auctioneer raised her gavel for the tenth time that night. "Four hundred and eighty million going once, four hundred and eighty million going twice—"

"Six hundred million," Elias said, raising his hand.

One moment, the remaining bidders were debating whether to grit their teeth and push higher. The next, the entire hall fell silent.

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