A Marriage Without Touch, A Goodbye Without Tears (Amelia and Ethan) novel Chapter 271

Chapter 271 A Backup Plan

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Finished.

“Really? That’s great!” Hannah quickly put on a surprised, touched smile. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Ethan. “Thank you, Ethan. You’re so good to me.”

That made Ethan relax a little bit.

But there was always someone who loved rubbing salt in other people’s wounds.

The real estate guy next to them leaned over again, clearly enjoying the drama.

“Whoa, Ethan, giving up already? I thought we were going to see a real fight tonight. Giving up over ten million… Is the Rowe Group having money problems lately?”

That hit right where it hurt.

In business, cash flow is a company’s lifeline.

What he said was basically questioning Rowe Group’s strength and hinting that Ethan was all show and no real power.

Ethan’s eyes turned cold, staring at the guy coldly.

“What’s it to you?” he snapped. “It’s my money, not yours.”

He looked up at the second floor and spoke with arrogance and disdain, “Besides, everyone up there has money to burn. If you’re interested, go compete with them yourself and see how long you last.”

That shut him up immediately.

The man’s face flushed. He laughed awkwardly. “Well, good point.”

After all, at a charity gala like this, the private rooms on the second floor were for the ultra–rich -rich enough that even normal millionaires couldn’t compare.

The person bidding earlier might not even be the real buyer, just an assistant.

No one knew who was really sitting up there–some powerful newcomer or a low–key old- money family.

Going head–to–head with people like that would just be asking for humiliation.

Even though Ethan shut that guy up, he still felt humiliated. He felt like he had a thorn stuck in

his heart.

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Chapter 271 A Backup Plan

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Finished

He had to do something to turn this around. He had to prove to everyone that Ethan and the Rowe Group were still powerful and not to be messed with.

He grabbed the auction catalog and flipped through it until he hit the final item of the night: the oil painting.

Amelia in Sunlight.

Estimated price: 30 million.

This was the most expensive and most talked–about item on the list.

A ruthless look flashed in Ethan’s eyes.

Fine.

If I’m going to prove myself, I’ll do it in the loudest way possible.

He would win the final item and crush everyone with an unbeatable price. He’d make all the doubters and mockers shut up.

He wanted to show the business world that the Rowe Group was doing better than ever.

The white chalcedony earrings, pushed to a crazy million–level price, were finally declared sold by the host.

Half the room was still watching Ethan’s grumpy face, while the other half kept looking up at the second floor, wondering who the mystery buyer was.

But then, something unexpected happened. An auction staff member in a uniform and white gloves didn’t go upstairs. Instead, he walked through the crowd and came straight to Amelia’s table.

He held a delicate velvet box. Nodding slightly, he placed it in front of Amelia with respect.

“Ms. Harlow, here is the item you won. Please take it.”

Everyone at the table froze.

Amanda looked at the box, then at Amelia, completely speechless.

Even Amelia herself had no idea what was going on.

She had thought it was just some random rich guy acting on a whim. She never expected this sky–high gift to end up in front of her.

In a split second, Amelia understood.

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