Chapter 25
Chapter 25:
Austin sat with a calm yet commanding presence. His aura was razor-sharp, his features sculpted with precision, each line of his face exuding elegance and refinement. His dark eyes, bottomless and intense, carried an air of quiet authority. The cold indifference he emanated only amplified the unapproachable nobility that surrounded him.
Yelena blinked, a flicker of recognition passing through her thoughts. Wasn’t that the man she pulled out of trouble recently? She hadn’t anticipated seeing him again so soon, especially not in a setting like this.
She shifted her gaze away, uninterested in lingering.
Brody leaned closer, his excitement barely contained. “Well, what do you think? That’s Austin Barton—the Barton heir. Loaded, influential, and easy on the eyes. He’s practically a walking headline p>
“I’m not interested,” she said flatly, dismissing the notion with a flick of her hand.
That man certainly looked the part—refined, commanding, and noble—but beneath the polished exterior lay a grim truth. He was terminally poisoned, his days likely numbered.
The realization struck Yelena like a slow-burning match. She recalled Brody mentioning a Barton family member offering a reward for her services on the black market. Could it be him?
Brody, watching her detached reaction, could only sigh in exasperation at her lack of enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring room, Austin sat with his phone loosely in hand, his face illuminated by the dim light. His expression was stoic, unreadable, as if carved from stone.
“So, still no luck tracking down Yancy?” asked John Bowen, a close friend and confidant, leaning forward with a curious frown. Austin’s deep-set eyes betrayed no emotion as he replied, “No. Someone’s protecting her. Every time we get close, she’s already gone p>
John raised a skeptical brow. “No one’s ever seen this Yancy, right? How do you even know she exists? What if she’s just some elaborate fabrication? A myth to drum up intrigue?” he speculated, his doubt growing stronger. He was nearly certain that this so-called elusive doctor, Yancy, was nothing more than a marketing gimmick—a fabricated persona designed to cultivate an aura of intrigue and exclusivity.
“I have leads. If necessary, I’ll increase the reward. Whoever’s hiding her won’t be able to do this forever.” Austin’s tone remained calm but resolute. “If she’s real, we’ll find her—even if it means turning this city upside down p>
Austin paused slightly and shifted the topic. “This jade being auctioned—do you believe the claims about its miraculous properties? That it can cure ailments p>
The claims felt exaggerated, almost like a polished marketing ploy designed to captivate attention. However, even the faintest possibility was enough for Austin to pursue it relentlessly.
John leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Hard to say, but the rumors are persistent. Given the reputation of this auction house, it’s likely genuine—or at least rare enough to make it worth looking into p>
Moments later, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, a dramatic pause hanging in the air before he revealed the highly anticipated piece of jade.
All eyes snapped to the stage as the jade was unveiled, its allure drawing a collective hush over the room. The item everyone had been waiting for was finally on display.