Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156

Someone in the crowd quietly did the math.

In less than half an hour, Medea had spent a full hundred million.

Truly worthy of her title as the new darling of finance–her spending was lavish, her style bold.

And for his fiancée, Calvin was all too willing to spend a fortune, tossing money around for her sake.

Medea looked every bit the victor, the corners of her lips arched high the whole time.

Almost casually, her gaze swept in Eliza’s direction.

The auction was halfway through, and Eliza hadn’t raised her paddle once. Was it because she couldn’t afford anything?

What was the point of coming to an auction without money?

After the jewelry lots came antiques and calligraphy. Eliza finally set her phone down, ready to bid.

The scroll she wanted had a starting price of 500,000. She followed protocol and bid 600,000.

Bidders gradually raised it to one million.

ust as Eliza was about to raise her paddle again, someone in the center called out, “Five million.”

What?!

Vho had taught them to spend money like this?

liza turned to look and froze.

I was Xander.

if course. As Medea’s friend, his bidding habits were just as reckless,

axter noticed how much Eliza wanted the painting, so he raised his paddle.

Six million.”

he thought he was bidding for her, so she stayed silent.

ut Xander raised again: “Ten million.”

liza frowned. “That’s way too inflated. It’s not worth it.”

he thought like a businesswoman, value came first. Clearly, this scroll wasn’t worth it.

lo matter. She had other options.

o Xander took the painting home for ten inillion.

he second scroll Eliza liked had a higher starting price, five million.

Again, she was first to bid, adding the standard half million increment.

But Xander struck once more, jumping straight to ten million.

liza’s brows furrowed. Only then did she realize he was deliberately targeting her.

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Chapter 156

And in that instant, she lost her cool, raising her paddle. “Fifteen million.”

Xander sneered, about to outbid her–when someone in the front raised their paddle.

I was Calvin.

Thirty million,” he called.

hat sobered Eliza up. Auctions really did make people lose their heads.

ander narrowed his eyes at the front row.

At the same moment, Calvin turned, their gazes clashing across the room.

wo seconds later, Xander raised his paddle again. “Fifty million.”

he hall instantly turned into a battlefield without smoke.

I was like they were playing a numbers game, neither willing to back down.

Vatching from the sidelines, Eliza couldn’t help wondering. Why were these two butting heads?

robably because of Medea.

ove was inherently exclusive. It bristled against any man near her.

hat included both Josh and Xander.

nd Xander had no fondness for Calvin either. If He wanted to compete, Sheng wasn’t about to pull his punches.

Seventy million,” Sheng called.

liza leaned back in her chair, amused.

he had always thought men competing was far more entertaining than women competing.

And since Calvin had started this war, he wasn’t going to retreat.

One hundred million.”

Medea gasped. “Calv, it’s not worth it!”

But Calvin only shook his head gently to reassure her.

eft with no choice, Medea turned hopeful eyes to Xander.

He had been ready to keep bidding, But when he caught her look, he set his paddle back down.

No more bids.

In the end, the scroll was hammered down at one hundred million.

Even Baxter couldn’t help exclaiming, “Caly, that’s insane, two hundred million just on betrothal gifts? The dowry’s gotta be even bigger. You’re killing the rest of us single guys.”

Since neither of the items she wanted had gone her way, Eliza saw no reason to stay. She stood and told Baxter, “Young Master Wade, I’ve got something to take

care of. I’ll head out first.”

“I’ve got something too,” he said, rising with her.

“You haven’t bought a thing yet.”

Chapter 156

“What I wanted got snatched. Didn’t the same happen to you? Funny, right, we both leave empty–handed.”

His easy humor made Eliza smile. “It is funny. All right, let’s go together.”

Baxter was only too happy, hurrying after her as though afraid she’d change her mind.

Once outside, Eliza walked toward the parking lot.

Baxter’s car was parked on the other side, yet he still followed her. “Eliza, let’s grab a meal. Since we ran into each other anyway.”

“Not tonight. I’ve got plans. Next time.”

As expected, she declined politely, said goodbye, and drove off.

The whole exchange took less than five minutes–swift and clean.

Watching her taillights vanish, Baxter felt a pang of emptiness.

He had wanted to come clean to tell her he liked her, to ask her for a chance.

But he knew all too well how cruelly he had treated her over those seven years.

You reap what you sow.

f not for the cooperation between their families, Eliza probably wouldn’t even speak to him now.

she treated him the way she treated Gideon, cold, dismissive.

io Baxter could only rein himself in.

He’d wait. There was still time.

liza thought the auction was behind her and didn’t give it another thought.

ut the very next day, gossip media exploded with the story, spreading like wildfire.

Even Belle, shut away on set filming, got wind of it. As soon as she wrapped for the day, she video–called Eliza to share the gossip.

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