The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 160

A low murmur rippled through the crowd. Two-hundred-thousand-dollar increments—this was the first real bidding war of the night.

Claire called a number, and Yvonne instantly matched it. To the heiress, throwing around hundreds of thousands of dollars was nothing more than pocket change. She couldn't care less about the dress, but because Claire wanted it, she was determined to snatch it away.

Up on the second floor.

Mr. Whittaker watched the brutal bidding war, absolutely sick to his stomach.

One was the absolute center of Miles's universe, and the other was the pampered princess of the Zimmerman empire. What was he supposed to do?

Yvonne announced with smug composure, "Two million dollars."

The entire room erupted in shocked gasps. Every single person could taste the radioactive hostility between Claire and Yvonne.

A vintage dress, which wasn't even an ancient historical artifact, had just commanded an astronomical two-million-dollar bid.

It was blatantly obvious that Yvonne was just using her family's endless wealth to crush someone. She stared down at Claire, a vicious, victorious smirk plastered on her face.

Whether it was men or auction lots, anything she wanted, Claire Jenner would never be allowed to have.

On stage, the auctioneer looked like he was about to pass out from pure joy.

An aggressive, bloodthirsty bidding war had just occurred without him even needing to hype up the crowd.

Two million dollars.

Claire hesitated. She had the money, but this had grossly exceeded the dress's actual value. For two million, she could track down and purchase several antique garments with even more intricate stitching.

Slowly, she lowered her paddle.

The auctioneer looked right at Claire, eagerly fanning the flames. "Miss, are you certain you're backing down? A gown this stunning, featuring such a unique embroidery technique—are you really going to let it slip away?"

Claire pressed her lips into a thin line and shook her head.

"Very well, what a tragic loss!"

The auctioneer bellowed, "Two million going once! Two million going twice! ..."

In the second-floor VIP room.

Miles looked at Mr. Whittaker. With a terrifyingly calm, deadpan voice, he uttered a single command.

Mr. Whittaker froze for a second, then immediately shoved his upper body out of the bamboo window.

He shouted at the top of his lungs, "The VIP in the second-floor suite is issuing a blank-check bid!"

"A blank-check bid! I've been going to auctions for years, and I've never seen one happen in real life!"

"And he just gave it to that designer?!"

Claire looked up at the window, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she typed out a text.

[I thought you were giving me the silent treatment? Why did you buy me the dress?]

His reply came through instantly.

[It's beautiful. Once you study the embroidery, make one for yourself. You wear it, and I'll take it off.]

Claire stared at the screen, her cheeks bursting into a furious red.

He sent a second text, reading like an absolute order: [Come upstairs.]

A few seats away, Yvonne's face twisted into an ugly grimace. She had just become the biggest joke of the night.

She stared up at the second floor. She couldn't see the man's face, but the hand resting on the windowsill...

Why did that hand look exactly like her uncle, Miles Zimmerman's?!