Chapter 43
Chapter 43:
Ashton offered his insights, and not only were the assembled dignitaries visibly impressed, but even the professional appraisers standing to the side were openly amazed. One appraiser exclaimed with enthusiasm, “This young man possesses an exceptional eye for detail. He discerned so much in such a brief time! Even I, venturing beyond my area of expertise, would struggle to achieve the same p>
With professionals now voicing their admiration for Ashton, it became unmistakably clear that Phillip, who had earlier scorned and doubted him, was the true mistake-maker. The surrounding laughter caused Phillip’s face to turn a deep shade of red. Although his name was not directly mentioned, it was clear that the ridicule was pointed at him. If possible, Phillip would have preferred to disappear right there.
Emalee, who was there as Phillip’s plus-one, felt equally humiliated as she sat beside him. “Phillip, perhaps we should leave before we further embarrass ourselves,” she whispered, her voice filled with vexation. Internally, her dissatisfaction with Phillip was growing. She and Ashton hadn’t even exchanged a word, yet Phillip’s repeated provocations had turned them into the targets of ridicule for the evening.
However, Phillip’s face contorted with determination, and he shook his head. “No way! Leaving now would only cement our status as the laughingstock of Inewood. I must find a way to redeem our standing. At the very least, I need to win a bid for the Watson family.” Emalee sighed, deciding against further argument.
As the auction progressed, several high-value items were auctioned off, with the prominent families in attendance driving up the bids and fetching impressive prices. Phillip found no opportunity to place his bid. After the highlight pieces were sold, the auction moved on to more ordinary items.
At that moment, the auctioneer presented a magnificent bracelet. Crafted from platinum, this bracelet radiated nobility and elegance.
The lustrous sheen of the platinum, coupled with its durability, made it an exceptional choice for refined jewelry. What drew even more attention were the three sparkling blue crystals embedded within the bracelet. Each crystal, meticulously selected and perfectly polished, enhanced the allure of the platinum and added a unique charm to the bracelet.
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However, this bracelet was not an antique but a contemporary piece crafted by a modern artist. Ashton, who had shown little interest until now, suddenly found the bracelet intriguing. Recalling Rosalie’s fondness for the color blue, and considering the help she had recently extended to him, Ashton decided to bid on the bracelet as a gift for her. For him, money was simply a resource to be used as needed. He was confident that he could regenerate any spent funds at his convenience. Thus, he resolved to acquire this bracelet.
Seeing Ashton raise his hand for the bid, a flicker of opportunity flashed in Phillip’s eyes. Phillip was adamant that he wouldn’t allow Ashton to walk away with the bracelet. He was determined to prove that in their circle, financial clout spoke volumes. Without substantial wealth, Ashton’s skills would seem insignificant. Moreover, winning the bracelet for Emalee would undoubtedly brighten her mood. This way, he could not only outshine Ashton but also please his girlfriend.
Fueled by determination, Phillip sprang into action. “I’ll bid one hundred and eighty thousand!” he declared, quickly increasing the amount right after Ashton had made his offer, simultaneously throwing Ashton a taunting look.
Unperturbed, Ashton calmly raised his hand again. “One hundred and ninety thousand p>
The competitive bidding between the two escalated, pushing the price higher with each bid. The starting price of the bracelet was one hundred thousand, and the bid quickly climbed to five hundred thousand.
Sweat began to form on Phillip’s forehead as he grappled with a mix of frustration and disbelief. His mind raced with confusion as the bidding escalated. He couldn’t fathom how Ashton could possess such substantial funds and suspected that Ashton might just be bluffing.
Learning from previous missteps, Phillip refrained from directly challenging Ashton. Instead, he decided to make a bold move and shouted, “Eight hundred thousand! Let’s see if you can top that p>
Ashton responded with a subtle smile and lifted his hand once more. “Nine hundred thousand p>
Phillip’s face drained of color, a mixture of anger and despair taking over him. The bracelet, worth at most two hundred thousand, had now been driven up to over four times its value by Ashton. Phillip was convinced that Ashton was deliberately provoking him.
“Fine, you win! The bracelet is yours, as long as you can actually pay that amount!” Phillip retorted, his teeth clenched in frustration.
Ashton remained composed and spared no words in response. He gestured for one of the auction staff members and efficiently finalized the transaction with his card.
When the transaction confirmation beeped from the POS machine, Phillip felt as though the ground was falling away beneath him. He regretted his decision to attend the auction as the stares from those around him only compounded his feeling of complete foolishness.