Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 658

She waited, daring anyone to try and snatch what she wanted from her.

Bella turned to Sebastian, expecting praise, but his expression was cold.

Twenty-five million? She had certainly been direct with her bid.

He couldn’t help but think she was being reckless with his money, and his expression darkened slightly.

Of course, he wasn’t going to make a scene over a twenty-five-million-dollar jewelry set.

There had been reporters when they arrived, and they had swarmed the couple for an interview.

Bella had explicitly stated they were there to pick out items for their wedding.

Given the circumstances, Sebastian couldn’t afford to look displeased.

But he mentally filed away the twenty-five-million-dollar price tag.

Bella’s aggressive bid didn’t surprise Lillian. After all, Sebastian was the one footing the bill.

The Blake family’s immense fortune was Sebastian’s safety net; he probably didn't care about such a small sum.

Seeing Bella's fierce determination to win the jade set, Lillian decided not to compete any further.

Lillian didn't raise her paddle, but Leonard had noticed how much she’d liked the piece.

He knew she didn't want to create a public spectacle by fighting with Bella, so he discreetly sent a message to Ethan.

Just as the auctioneer was about to bring the hammer down, the man sitting next to Ethan raised his paddle, a second before the final call.

The price went up by another million.

Lillian was surprised at first, wondering who would jump in at the last second.

But then she spotted Ethan in the row ahead and immediately understood what was happening.

Bella, annoyed, shot a glare at the strange man in the back.

She raised her paddle again, adding another million.

At the same time, Ethan looked back at Leonard for instructions.

But Lillian placed a hand on Leonard's arm and shook her head gently.

It wasn't worth it.

The current price had far exceeded the item's intrinsic value and its potential for appreciation.

Buying it now would be a guaranteed loss.

Jewelry fell into three categories. The first was for pure enjoyment—you liked it, you bought it to wear, as long as you could afford it.

The second required a discerning eye, buying pieces at or below their value with the potential for profit.

The last category was for priceless treasures—items that had circulated among the ultra-wealthy for centuries or were held in permanent collections.

From what Lillian could see, everything at tonight’s auction belonged to the first two categories. Nothing was a candidate for a permanent collection.