Next Man Better Plan novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

A dark glint flashed in Victoria’s eyes. She nodded. “Yes, Quennel. You’re too good to Stephanie. She’s the one who doesn’t appreciate it.”

Quennel’s expression softened slightly.

Victoria seized the opportunity. “Quennel, that pearl necklace…”

Quennel didn’t respond, instead taking a seat next to Stephanie.

Soon, the first item was presented for bidding.

It was a pearl necklace made of the finest South Sea pearls, emitting a warm, gentle luster under the lights.

Stephanie liked it the moment she saw it.

The starting bid was two million. Without hesitation, she raised her paddle. “Three million.”

Unexpectedly, Victoria also raised hers. “Three–point–two million.”

A poor girl from the countryside who had been working for less than a year–where would she get that kind of money?

Stephanie raised her paddle again. “Five million.”

Victoria hesitated, seeming to glance in their direction.

Her eyes, red–rimmed, filled with a sense of grievance. “Ms. Jackson, you’re so wealthy, you can buy any jewelry you want. It’s just a pearl necklace. Why must you compete with me for it?”

Stephanie chuckled. “This is an auction. The highest bidder wins. That’s the rule. Why are you playing the victim? Victoria, you should know your place. This isn’t where you belong.” Victoria bit her lip, her eyes turning red.

“Yes, I don’t belong here. I’m just a country bumpkin, unworthy of attending your elite gatherings. But this pearl necklace is a family heirloom, lost a hundred years ago. I just wanted to buy it back as a keepsake. Why do you have to humiliate me like this?”

A family heirloom? From a hundred years ago?

Stephanie thought the lie was a bit too careless.

People around them started whispering and pointing at Victoria, discussing her in hushed

tones.

Victoria’s face turned pale, then red.

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Chapter 7

Just then, someone from backstage approached the auctioneer and whispered something to him.

The auctioneer was stunned for a moment, then announced loudly to the audience, “We have a sky lantern bid!”

His words caused a stir throughout the hall.

‘Lighting the sky lantern‘ was auction jargon, meaning that if someone set their sights on an item, they would continue to raise the bid indefinitely until all other competitors dropped out, securing it at the highest price.

Someone asked curiously, “Who lit the sky lantern?”

The auctioneer’s gaze fell on Victoria as if he were looking at a gold mine.

He smiled. “It’s for this Ms. Powell. Someone has lit the sky lantern for Ms. Powell for this pearl necklace today.”

“Ms. Powell? Could she be the long–lost daughter of some tycoon? To be so rich?”

“Or maybe she’s caught the eye of some wealthy benefactor.”

Amidst the murmurs, Victoria looked at Quennel, a touch of deep emotion in her eyes.

Now feeling confident, Victoria lifted her chin and asked smugly, “Stephanie, are you still going to compete with me?”

Stephanie’s expression froze. She turned her head in disbelief to look at Quennel.

A minute ago, while she and Victoria were fighting over the necklace, Quennel had been on his phone, texting someone.

And then, someone lit a sky lantern for Victoria.

As Stephanie looked over, Quennel’s phone screen conveniently went dark.

Stephanie instinctively closed her eyes, her fingertips trembling.

While the Gonzalez family was wealthy, Ternence had never wanted Quennel to become a spendthrift playboy.

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