He Cheated I Rose Making Him Regret Everything (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 142

142 Fierce Competition

The room buzzed with an electric tension that seemed to grow heavier with every passing second. Aside from the handful of active bidders locked in the auction, the rest of the guests sat in a tense hush, eyes flicking between the stage and each other, waiting for the next move.

“It’s already at 43 million! That’s way beyond what we expected. Pushing it any higher would be absolutely absurd,” Selina whispered, her voice barely audible but laced with disbelief.

Joseph, sitting nearby, nodded in quiet agreement. “The Sleep-Soothing Jade’s true worth doesn’t justify this kind of bidding war. There’s really no reason to keep this going,” he said calmly, his tone carrying an undeniable authority that drew the attention of those around him.

Anthony, however, was undeterred. With a sly grin and a hint of playful arrogance, he declared, “I’ve already said it—I want Ms. Lewis to give me a chance. I’m completely serious about this!” His voice rang out clearly across the room.

“Forty-five million,” Anthony called, pushing the stakes even higher.

Landon, seated nearby, allowed himself a faint smile. “Seems like winning this jade has become quite the challenge,” he remarked, his words seemingly aimed at Joseph. Yet, his eyes subtly flicked toward Eugene beside him, then to Chloe sitting quietly next to Eugene.

“Mommy, the price is spinning out of control. If this keeps up, it could breach the auction rules here at Mistveil Manor. They might pull the item from the auction altogether, and it could vanish without a trace,” Robert whispered anxiously in Chloe’s ear.

Chloe stayed rooted in her seat, her gaze locked on the Sleep-Soothing Jade displayed prominently on the stage. If it were pulled from the auction, they’d lose any chance to learn more about it. She hadn’t imagined the night would spiral into such chaos. Anthony was clearly not going to behave reasonably.

Anthony stirring up trouble—yes, she understood that. But why was Arthur losing his composure over it? What was wrong with him? Had he completely lost his mind?

“Forty-six million,” Arthur’s voice cut through the tension, raising the bid even higher.

Anthony heard and let out a cold snort. “Mr. Voss, are you really planning to keep bidding?” he challenged openly.

The room’s attention shifted immediately to Landon, whose words carried a clear edge of provocation. Though Landon had made it known that he intended to gift the jade to Chloe, his bidding had been inconsistent. The price had already far surpassed the jade’s market value; at this point, it was less about the item and more about who had the deeper pockets.

If Landon were bidding on behalf of a corporation, his persistence might make sense. But for a single employee—no matter how talented—continuing at this level seemed excessive.

“Cosmos Group has a remarkable eye for talent,” Landon said with a confident smile. “We found Ms. Lewis among countless candidates, and this piece fits her perfectly. How could we possibly let it slip through our fingers?” He raised his hand and declared, “Fifty million.”

6:22 pm

Chapter 142 Fierce Competition

Anthony’s calm began to crack. The Myers family heir was openly challenging him—a score Anthony vowed to settle later.

“Fifty-six million,” Anthony growled through clenched teeth.

Losing tens of millions was a minor setback—Kerry would likely just lecture him. But if the price kept climbing and Kerry realized he was wasting money purely for pride, the fallout would be severe.

“Fifty-eight million,” Arthur called out again.

Anthony’s expression darkened further. Arthur was clearly determined to win, but Anthony was no quitter.

All of this was Chloe’s fault. Tonight, he’d make sure she paid twice over for the trouble she’d caused.

“Fifty-nine million,” Landon’s voice rang out, rejoining the bidding.

Anthony’s fury boiled over. He had almost forgotten Landon was still in the game, assuming he’d dropped out. But Landon’s return signaled that this silent war was far from over.