Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 44

Naturally, those who consigned items received invitations from the auction house as well.

Seating was strictly tiered. VIP members enjoyed exclusive, private boxes, while regular members and consignors had to sit in the main hall.

The VIP boxes were located on the second floor, designed so that the crowd below couldn't see inside, but the occupants had a crystal-clear view of the auction floor via large screens.

Bids from the private boxes were placed over a microphone system.

This provided maximum privacy for high-profile guests who preferred to remain anonymous.

Right before the auction began, Stella spotted Frederick on the screen.

"What is he doing here?"

"Who do you see, Stella?"

Stella pointed to a man sitting in the very last row of the ground floor. "Frederick Hawthorne."

"Ignore him. We'll find out what he's up to soon enough. We have a perfect view from here."

The auction officially kicked off with the host's opening remarks.

The early lots weren't particularly exciting, though a few collectors eagerly snapped them up.

The catalog was relatively short today—only about a dozen items in total, with the final two being the highly anticipated grand finales.

When the Rejuvenation Herb was brought out, the bidding started at one hundred thousand. Stella was the first to raise her paddle.

Perhaps because no one else understood its true value, nobody tried to outbid her, and she won the herb effortlessly.

Finally, it was time for the main event.

The host's voice rang out with infectious energy. "Ladies and gentlemen, our final two lots of the evening are about to commence. Please get ready."

"Our first finale piece is Maestro Fèvre's Dusk on the Western Ridge, personally consigned by the Maestro himself. Bidding starts at one million, with increments of no less than a hundred thousand. Let the bidding begin!"

"One point one million."

"One point five million."

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