Chapter 70:
“One billion dollars.”
The declaration sent a shockwave through the audience, prompting a cacophony of gasps and murmurs. Heads swiveled and eyes widened in disbelief.
“One billion dollars? Did I hear that correctly? Surely, that must be a mistake!”
The whispers grew louder, buzzing with speculation and surprise. The auctioneer paused, his gavel hovering in mid-air, as he processed the unprecedented escalation.
In his decades of conducting auctions, never had he seen such a leap—from one hundred million to one billion dollars.
Collin’s voice echoed crisply from the luxurious private box, slicing through the murmur of the crowd. “That’s right. One billion dollars.”
The room fell into a stunned silence as everyone absorbed the magnitude of the bid—someone was indeed offering a massive one billion dollars for the necklace.
The gemstone necklace that lay resplendent under the spotlight was undoubtedly a masterpiece of craft, sparkling with an ethereal glow. Yet, despite its allure, the price tag of one billion dollars catapulted it into a stratosphere of opulence far beyond its estimated value. This audacious bid transformed the necklace into a symbol of unparalleled luxury overnight.
An incredulous whisper swept through the room. “Who on earth has that much money? To casually drop a billion dollars—he must be insanely rich!”
As the whispers grew louder, someone near the stage responded with a hint of awe. “The bidder is none other than the enigmatic founder of CR Corporation.”
Murmurs of recognition and astonishment buzzed around.
The founder of CR Corporation was a titan who had dominated the global rich list for years. His financial prowess was legendary.
The auctioneer, a gleam of excitement in his eyes, seized the moment. As the representative of the auction house, he was eager to milk this spectacle for all it was worth—not just for the hefty commission, but also for the prestige it would lend the auction house.
He turned his attention to Adela, whose face was a mask of conflicted emotions.
“Ms. Greville, your admiration for this piece is clear to all present. With the bid now at one billion, what will your next move be?”
Adela clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The necklace was the reason she was here, a gem she had longed to claim as her own. But one billion dollars? That price was a gulf too wide to cross.
With a mixture of desperation and hope, she cast a pleading look toward Collin’s box. “I’ve been longing for this necklace for quite some time, sir. Would you consider letting it go? I would gladly make it up to you, perhaps with a personal visit to CR Corporation to express my gratitude.”
From the shadows of his box, Collin’s response was a blend of resolve and gentle finality. “I’m afraid not, Ms. Greville. I intend this necklace as a special gift for my wife.”
Collin’s offhand remark sent shockwaves through the room.
“Did I hear that right? Did the founder of CR Corporation just mention his wife? He’s married?” someone blurted out in disbelief.
“No way! This is huge! How has no one ever heard about this before? He’s kept it under wraps that well?”
“Who on earth could be lucky enough to marry the founder of CR Corporation?” a woman murmured, her voice laced with jealousy.
The moment the realization settled in, the women in the room couldn’t suppress their mix of envy and admiration. After all, this wasn’t just any man—it was the billionaire tycoon behind CR Corporation. He was a man wrapped in mystery, one of the most powerful figures in the world.
