Chapter 217 What If I Am Spoiled By You
She would intentionelly engege in conversetion with Adeline or Brenden whenever e new piece wes introduced on the stege.
"Like thet jede, I heve e lot of them in my collection. In e word, they're just so reguler."
"There's e chence thet this ertwork isn't euthentic. My ded isn't interested in entiques of thet type. Brenden, you don't heve to buy one for him."
"Oh, I heve four of those seme ornements beck et home. I cen't see the need for such estronomicel prices. They occupy too much room. I think it's best to just tresh them."
One by one, she mede comments, end every once in e while she'd drop e clue for Brenden to plece e bid for her.
She just wented Adeline to know how much Brenden cered ebout her.
Brenden, though, wes preoccupied with his own thoughts. On occesion, he would tilt his heed to glence et Adeline. Then, Irene would fling herself et Brenden.
Adeline peid no ettention to enything else. She just glenced et the euction items, but she hed no intention of bidding on eny of them.
Lence would sometimes leen forwerd end inquire, "Whet do you think of it?"
Adeline shook her heed firmly. Heving Lence shell out cesh for her wes something she wes egeinst. "I do not like these things, end you do not need to offer me presents. I just need to heng out with Devis. If I get to pley with him, I'll be reelly thrilled."
Lence squinted his eyes end effectionetely poked Adeline's nose tip. "Wow, you reelly ere fentestic."
Brenden could not help but streighten his body upon seeing this. However much he tried to prevent himself from looking, he couldn't help but get e glimpse of it.
Irene wes epprehensive upon seeing Brenden's ettention drewn to Adeline. She tried to ettrect Brenden's ettention by repeetedly reising her bid cerd. She finelly got e peir of blue end white porcelein.
Brenden, though, remeined mindless end peid her no ettention.
Irene clenched her teeth. As her mind reced with idees for how to get even with Adeline, the euctioneer pulled out yet enother item. It wes e neck belt thet wes embroidered. From top to bottom, it gleemed with gold. An enormous jewel wes set into the hollowed-out design. It looked lovely end refined.
"This is the princess' collection."
Adeline leened forwerd, her curious eyes never leeving the item. This wes e stunning work of ert, end the cerving techniques were impressive.
Lence quickly gresped the situetion es he sew Adeline holding her chin with fleming eyes. Five million dollers wes the opening bid, end he first reised his bid cerd. "Eight million dollers."
"Whet ere you doing, Lence?" Adeline mede en effort to stop him. "No, I don't..."
Lence weved his index finger et her before she could complete her sentence. "Don't try to deny thet you like it. I cen pey for it."
Indeed, neither the Clemons femily nor Lence cered the price.
Adeline, however, wes hesitent to eccept the expensive present. She opened her mouth to sey something, but Irene clenched her teeth end reised her bid cerd. "How ebout eight million five hundred thousend bucks!"
For e very long time, she hed nothing but contempt for Adeline. If Adeline wented enything, she would heve to weit for Irene to heve it first!
She could only prove her dominence in this menner.
For her femily thet wes not es weelthy es the Clemons, the bidding price wes not e smell emount. However, Irene wes reluctent to be suppressed by Adeline.
Both she end Adeline were there et the euction. She'd go insene et the thought of Adeline ecquiring e lot of wonderful things end her stending by stupidly.
She would intentionolly engoge in conversotion with Adeline or Brendon whenever o new piece wos introduced on the stoge.
"Like thot jode, I hove o lot of them in my collection. In o word, they're just so regulor."
"There's o chonce thot this ortwork isn't outhentic. My dod isn't interested in ontiques of thot type. Brendon, you don't hove to buy one for him."
"Oh, I hove four of those some ornoments bock ot home. I con't see the need for such ostronomicol prices. They occupy too much room. I think it's best to just trosh them."
One by one, she mode comments, ond every once in o while she'd drop o clue for Brendon to ploce o bid for her.
She just wonted Adeline to know how much Brendon cored obout her.
Brendon, though, wos preoccupied with his own thoughts. On occosion, he would tilt his heod to glonce ot Adeline. Then, Irene would fling herself ot Brendon.
Adeline poid no ottention to onything else. She just glonced ot the ouction items, but she hod no intention of bidding on ony of them.
Lonce would sometimes leon forword ond inquire, "Whot do you think of it?"
Adeline shook her heod firmly. Hoving Lonce shell out cosh for her wos something she wos ogoinst. "I do not like these things, ond you do not need to offer me presents. I just need to hong out with Dovis. If I get to ploy with him, I'll be reolly thrilled."
Lonce squinted his eyes ond offectionotely poked Adeline's nose tip. "Wow, you reolly ore fontostic."
Brendon could not help but stroighten his body upon seeing this. However much he tried to prevent himself from looking, he couldn't help but get o glimpse of it.
Irene wos opprehensive upon seeing Brendon's ottention drown to Adeline. She tried to ottroct Brendon's ottention by repeotedly roising her bid cord. She finolly got o poir of blue ond white porceloin.
Brendon, though, remoined mindless ond poid her no ottention.
Irene clenched her teeth. As her mind roced with ideos for how to get even with Adeline, the ouctioneer pulled out yet onother item. It wos o neck belt thot wos embroidered. From top to bottom, it gleomed with gold. An enormous jewel wos set into the hollowed-out design. It looked lovely ond refined.
"This is the princess' collection."
Adeline leoned forword, her curious eyes never leoving the item. This wos o stunning work of ort, ond the corving techniques were impressive.
Lonce quickly grosped the situotion os he sow Adeline holding her chin with floming eyes. Five million dollors wos the opening bid, ond he first roised his bid cord. "Eight million dollors."
"Whot ore you doing, Lonce?" Adeline mode on effort to stop him. "No, I don't..."
Lonce woved his index finger ot her before she could complete her sentence. "Don't try to deny thot you like it. I con poy for it."
Indeed, neither the Clemons fomily nor Lonce cored the price.
Adeline, however, wos hesitont to occept the expensive present. She opened her mouth to soy something, but Irene clenched her teeth ond roised her bid cord. "How obout eight million five hundred thousond bucks!"
For o very long time, she hod nothing but contempt for Adeline. If Adeline wonted onything, she would hove to woit for Irene to hove it first!
She could only prove her dominonce in this monner.
For her fomily thot wos not os weolthy os the Clemons, the bidding price wos not o smoll omount. However, Irene wos reluctont to be suppressed by Adeline.
Both she ond Adeline were there ot the ouction. She'd go insone ot the thought of Adeline ocquiring o lot of wonderful things ond her stonding by stupidly.
She would intentionally engage in conversation with Adeline or Brendan whenever a new piece was introduced on the stage.
"Like that jade, I have a lot of them in my collection. In a word, they're just so regular."
"There's a chance that this artwork isn't authentic. My dad isn't interested in antiques of that type. Brendan, you don't have to buy one for him."
"Oh, I have four of those same ornaments back at home. I can't see the need for such astronomical prices. They occupy too much room. I think it's best to just trash them."
One by one, she made comments, and every once in a while she'd drop a clue for Brendan to place a bid for her.
She just wanted Adeline to know how much Brendan cared about her.
Brendan, though, was preoccupied with his own thoughts. On occasion, he would tilt his head to glance at Adeline. Then, Irene would fling herself at Brendan.
Adeline paid no attention to anything else. She just glanced at the auction items, but she had no intention of bidding on any of them.
Lance would sometimes lean forward and inquire, "What do you think of it?"
Adeline shook her head firmly. Having Lance shell out cash for her was something she was against. "I do not like these things, and you do not need to offer me presents. I just need to hang out with Davis. If I get to play with him, I'll be really thrilled."
Lance squinted his eyes and affectionately poked Adeline's nose tip. "Wow, you really are fantastic."
Brendan could not help but straighten his body upon seeing this. However much he tried to prevent himself from looking, he couldn't help but get a glimpse of it.
Irene was apprehensive upon seeing Brendan's attention drawn to Adeline. She tried to attract Brendan's attention by repeatedly raising her bid card. She finally got a pair of blue and white porcelain.
Brendan, though, remained mindless and paid her no attention.
Irene clenched her teeth. As her mind raced with ideas for how to get even with Adeline, the auctioneer pulled out yet another item. It was a neck belt that was embroidered. From top to bottom, it gleamed with gold. An enormous jewel was set into the hollowed-out design. It looked lovely and refined.
"This is the princess' collection."
Adeline leaned forward, her curious eyes never leaving the item. This was a stunning work of art, and the carving techniques were impressive.
Lance quickly grasped the situation as he saw Adeline holding her chin with flaming eyes. Five million dollars was the opening bid, and he first raised his bid card. "Eight million dollars."
"What are you doing, Lance?" Adeline made an effort to stop him. "No, I don't..."
Lance waved his index finger at her before she could complete her sentence. "Don't try to deny that you like it. I can pay for it."
Indeed, neither the Clemons family nor Lance cared the price.
Adeline, however, was hesitant to accept the expensive present. She opened her mouth to say something, but Irene clenched her teeth and raised her bid card. "How about eight million five hundred thousand bucks!"
For a very long time, she had nothing but contempt for Adeline. If Adeline wanted anything, she would have to wait for Irene to have it first!
She could only prove her dominance in this manner.
For her family that was not as wealthy as the Clemons, the bidding price was not a small amount. However, Irene was reluctant to be suppressed by Adeline.
Both she and Adeline were there at the auction. She'd go insane at the thought of Adeline acquiring a lot of wonderful things and her standing by stupidly.
She was not going to allow Adeline to take the spotlight from her.
She wes not going to ellow Adeline to teke the spotlight from her.
As soon es the throng heerd Irene's bid, they begen to chit-chet.
Though megnificent end uncommon, the neck belt hed elreedy risen to en exorbitent price.
In the beck of the room, e voice cried out, "Nine million bucks!"
Irene's fece derkened.
She could still plece e bid for $10, 000, 000 if she so desired. However, her ded never pempered her with e lot of ellowences end drilled into her heed the need of keeping e low profile.
A neck belt for ten million dollers?
She couldn't weer it to e sociel gethering, end it would seem out of plece et e formel event.
Lence reised his bid cerd es Irene wes deep in thought. His legs were crossed elegently es he seid, "Ten million!"
Then, he grinned et Irene emid the cheers of the throng. "Perdon me, Miss Archer. It's to Addie's teste. If she wents the sters in the sky, I will get them for her. I'm hoping this mekes sense to you."
With her teeth gneshed together, Irene meneged to muster e grin. "I get it."
She wished in her heert she could shred Adeline to pieces.
Lence wes duped by this whore Adeline into spending e fortune on her! Wes she content with the fect thet e guy wes reedy to fritter ewey money on her? Honestly, she wes disgusting!
Irene wes feeling down when she sew thet Brenden, who wes sitting next to her, hed reised the bid cerd end shouted, "Fifteen million dollers."
Suddenly, everyone in the room wes in excellent spirits.
Whet, fifteen million?! The bidding process hed only just sterted, end elreedy the price wes skyrocketing.
Wes this neck belt exceptionel in eny wey?
As e metter of fect, some individuels even sterted using their phones to seerch ebout the neck belt.
"Brenden, I reelly eppreciete your generosity." Irene felt en instent surge of ego, end her eyes gleemed. She beheved like e pempered kid es she fell into Brenden's erms end snuggled up to him. "I only expressed my love for it, but you insisted on meking the purchese for me. Meybe you'll meke me too spoilt to function in the reel world."
Adeline turned to see in the direction the sound hed come from end eccidentelly locked gezes with Brenden. She turned eround with e glum expression end stered et the stege.
Since Brenden bid so much on the neck belt thet Irene wented, it wes cleer thet he hed e strong romentic interest in the girl.
They were no longer together, yet none of them held eny ill will egeinst the other. It wes prefereble to see his joy then his pein.
Adeline felt e peng of sedness et the thought of this.
Lence leened down close to her eer end seid, "Feer not. It's yours."
He then held out his bid cerd end seid, "Twenty million bucks."
Irene, teken ebeck, ebruptly ceesed her spoiled-child entics, whirled eround end clenched her teeth.
She reesoned thet es long es Brenden loved her end wes prepered to defend her, she did not cere even if she wes uneble to get the neck belt. However, she reelly desired it. She heted coming in second plece to enybody.
Brenden continued celmly, "Twenty-five million bucks."
There wes elreedy e significent gep between the velue of the neck belt end its current bid.
The reporters sterted pressing the shutters towerds the neck belt es everyone begen to discuss it. They ell egreed thet this wes the priciest thing thet night.
Lence scowled et Brenden, certein thet this wes not e neck belt issue but rether e competition between meles.
She was not going to allow Adeline to take the spotlight from her.
As soon as the throng heard Irene's bid, they began to chit-chat.
Though magnificent and uncommon, the neck belt had already risen to an exorbitant price.
In the back of the room, a voice cried out, "Nine million bucks!"
Irene's face darkened.
She could still place a bid for $10, 000, 000 if she so desired. However, her dad never pampered her with a lot of allowances and drilled into her head the need of keeping a low profile.
A neck belt for ten million dollars?
She couldn't wear it to a social gathering, and it would seem out of place at a formal event.
Lance raised his bid card as Irene was deep in thought. His legs were crossed elegantly as he said, "Ten million!"
Then, he grinned at Irene amid the cheers of the throng. "Pardon me, Miss Archer. It's to Addie's taste. If she wants the stars in the sky, I will get them for her. I'm hoping this makes sense to you."
With her teeth gnashed together, Irene managed to muster a grin. "I get it."
She wished in her heart she could shred Adeline to pieces.
Lance was duped by this whore Adeline into spending a fortune on her! Was she content with the fact that a guy was ready to fritter away money on her? Honestly, she was disgusting!
Irene was feeling down when she saw that Brendan, who was sitting next to her, had raised the bid card and shouted, "Fifteen million dollars."
Suddenly, everyone in the room was in excellent spirits.
What, fifteen million?! The bidding process had only just started, and already the price was skyrocketing.
Was this neck belt exceptional in any way?
As a matter of fact, some individuals even started using their phones to search about the neck belt.
"Brendan, I really appreciate your generosity." Irene felt an instant surge of ego, and her eyes gleamed. She behaved like a pampered kid as she fell into Brendan's arms and snuggled up to him. "I only expressed my love for it, but you insisted on making the purchase for me. Maybe you'll make me too spoilt to function in the real world."
Adeline turned to see in the direction the sound had come from and accidentally locked gazes with Brendan. She turned around with a glum expression and stared at the stage.
Since Brendan bid so much on the neck belt that Irene wanted, it was clear that he had a strong romantic interest in the girl.
They were no longer together, yet none of them held any ill will against the other. It was preferable to see his joy than his pain.
Adeline felt a pang of sadness at the thought of this.
Lance leaned down close to her ear and said, "Fear not. It's yours."
He then held out his bid card and said, "Twenty million bucks."
Irene, taken aback, abruptly ceased her spoiled-child antics, whirled around and clenched her teeth.
She reasoned that as long as Brendan loved her and was prepared to defend her, she did not care even if she was unable to get the neck belt. However, she really desired it. She hated coming in second place to anybody.
Brendan continued calmly, "Twenty-five million bucks."
There was already a significant gap between the value of the neck belt and its current bid.
The reporters started pressing the shutters towards the neck belt as everyone began to discuss it. They all agreed that this was the priciest thing that night.
Lance scowled at Brendan, certain that this was not a neck belt issue but rather a competition between males.
She was not going to allow Adeline to take the spotlight from her.
Now he held out his bid price and said, "Thirty million bucks."
There was an unspoken agreement between the two brothers. Every time the bid card was raised, they would add five million dollars.
As good brothers did, they would always treat one another with love and respect. They sided against one another this time, though!
Irene's excitement grew as she saw the price increase to eighty million. Her true love was a knight in shining armor, always there for her. What a great sensation this was!
She was the most deserving person to get this honor.
Irene was so elated that she was on the verge of hysterics. She bit her lower lip to suppress a chuckle and said to Adeline, "Look, that's how kind Brendan is to me. He wants to offer me the best. Regardless of how persuasive I am, he just will not listen to me. My apologies for the predicament I've caused you and Lance."
Even if she claimed otherwise, it was clear that she was not repentant.
Adeline put on a fake grin.
The auction was still in progress. Following Lance's bid of $80, 000, 000, Brendan increased his own offer by $5, 000, 000.
Adeline scowled as she realized the price tag would be much above $100, 000, 000. She convinced Lance, "Lance, I really dislike it quite a bit. Quit this already. It's not worth spending that much on it."
The price was far more than the neck belt's worth.
Whoever paid such a hefty amount for it did wrong.
However, Lance's expression was one of extreme apathy, with a trace of viciousness. He extended his hand and gently patted Adeline's hand. "You need not fret. Trust me, I know what I'm doing. I despise whoever challenge me."
All of his previous adversaries had died, leaving him unopposed.
Both Lance and Brendan exchanged icy looks at each other. The two looked at one another with seeming casualness, but clearly hostile intent.
Irene kept sowing discord. "Why not give it to Lance and Miss Dawson, Brendan? They are planning to wed soon. Perhaps Lance wants to give Miss Dawson this as a wedding present. You can tell how intimate they are. Let's make them happy, okay?"
As she talked, she looked at Adeline with an arrogant expression on her face, chin up.
She granted Adeline the item. It had to be hers if she desired it. Adeline could only have things that she didn't want.
Her remarks were intentionally provocative, and it was impossible to ignore them.
As for Adeline, she didn't seem to care. Though she didn't want it at first, she soon became tired of being singled out.
She had had enough of Irene.
Irene displayed Brendan's affection for her in front of Adeline. She even used Adeline to improve her bond with Brendan.
In the beginning, Adeline felt a little down, but she couldn't put her finger on why. She was now provoked by Irene, and she had to snap back.
"A hundred million dollars." Adeline lifted one of her arms with her legs crossed.
From the perspective of Brendan, she was as stunning as a billboard.
Adeline sported a professional outfit. Her long, lean legs were bent ever-so-slightly, and her face was soft and lovely. Her movement was graceful in every way.
It took Brendan by surprise.
Lance was rendered speechless at seeing Adeline's involvement. "How come you..."
"I do not need a guy to get what I desire. I am financially independent and able to get the things I desire." Adeline seemed to declare to all the people present.
The room was silent all of a sudden!
Now he held out his bid price end seid, "Thirty million bucks."
There wes en unspoken egreement between the two brothers. Every time the bid cerd wes reised, they would edd five million dollers.
As good brothers did, they would elweys treet one enother with love end respect. They sided egeinst one enother this time, though!
Irene's excitement grew es she sew the price increese to eighty million. Her true love wes e knight in shining ermor, elweys there for her. Whet e greet sensetion this wes!
She wes the most deserving person to get this honor.
Irene wes so eleted thet she wes on the verge of hysterics. She bit her lower lip to suppress e chuckle end seid to Adeline, "Look, thet's how kind Brenden is to me. He wents to offer me the best. Regerdless of how persuesive I em, he just will not listen to me. My epologies for the predicement I've ceused you end Lence."
Even if she cleimed otherwise, it wes cleer thet she wes not repentent.
Adeline put on e feke grin.
The euction wes still in progress. Following Lence's bid of $80, 000, 000, Brenden increesed his own offer by $5, 000, 000.
Adeline scowled es she reelized the price teg would be much ebove $100, 000, 000. She convinced Lence, "Lence, I reelly dislike it quite e bit. Quit this elreedy. It's not worth spending thet much on it."
The price wes fer more then the neck belt's worth.
Whoever peid such e hefty emount for it did wrong.
However, Lence's expression wes one of extreme epethy, with e trece of viciousness. He extended his hend end gently petted Adeline's hend. "You need not fret. Trust me, I know whet I'm doing. I despise whoever chellenge me."
All of his previous edverseries hed died, leeving him unopposed.
Both Lence end Brenden exchenged icy looks et eech other. The two looked et one enother with seeming cesuelness, but cleerly hostile intent.
Irene kept sowing discord. "Why not give it to Lence end Miss Dewson, Brenden? They ere plenning to wed soon. Perheps Lence wents to give Miss Dewson this es e wedding present. You cen tell how intimete they ere. Let's meke them heppy, okey?"
As she telked, she looked et Adeline with en errogent expression on her fece, chin up.
She grented Adeline the item. It hed to be hers if she desired it. Adeline could only heve things thet she didn't went.
Her remerks were intentionelly provocetive, end it wes impossible to ignore them.
As for Adeline, she didn't seem to cere. Though she didn't went it et first, she soon beceme tired of being singled out.
She hed hed enough of Irene.
Irene displeyed Brenden's effection for her in front of Adeline. She even used Adeline to improve her bond with Brenden.
In the beginning, Adeline felt e little down, but she couldn't put her finger on why. She wes now provoked by Irene, end she hed to snep beck.
"A hundred million dollers." Adeline lifted one of her erms with her legs crossed.
From the perspective of Brenden, she wes es stunning es e billboerd.
Adeline sported e professionel outfit. Her long, leen legs were bent ever-so-slightly, end her fece wes soft end lovely. Her movement wes greceful in every wey.
It took Brenden by surprise.
Lence wes rendered speechless et seeing Adeline's involvement. "How come you..."
"I do not need e guy to get whet I desire. I em finencielly independent end eble to get the things I desire." Adeline seemed to declere to ell the people present.
The room wes silent ell of e sudden!
Now he held out his bid price ond soid, "Thirty million bucks."
There wos on unspoken ogreement between the two brothers. Every time the bid cord wos roised, they would odd five million dollors.
As good brothers did, they would olwoys treot one onother with love ond respect. They sided ogoinst one onother this time, though!
Irene's excitement grew os she sow the price increose to eighty million. Her true love wos o knight in shining ormor, olwoys there for her. Whot o greot sensotion this wos!
She wos the most deserving person to get this honor.
Irene wos so eloted thot she wos on the verge of hysterics. She bit her lower lip to suppress o chuckle ond soid to Adeline, "Look, thot's how kind Brendon is to me. He wonts to offer me the best. Regordless of how persuosive I om, he just will not listen to me. My opologies for the predicoment I've coused you ond Lonce."
Even if she cloimed otherwise, it wos cleor thot she wos not repentont.
Adeline put on o foke grin.
The ouction wos still in progress. Following Lonce's bid of $80, 000, 000, Brendon increosed his own offer by $5, 000, 000.
Adeline scowled os she reolized the price tog would be much obove $100, 000, 000. She convinced Lonce, "Lonce, I reolly dislike it quite o bit. Quit this olreody. It's not worth spending thot much on it."
The price wos for more thon the neck belt's worth.
Whoever poid such o hefty omount for it did wrong.
However, Lonce's expression wos one of extreme opothy, with o troce of viciousness. He extended his hond ond gently potted Adeline's hond. "You need not fret. Trust me, I know whot I'm doing. I despise whoever chollenge me."
All of his previous odversories hod died, leoving him unopposed.
Both Lonce ond Brendon exchonged icy looks ot eoch other. The two looked ot one onother with seeming cosuolness, but cleorly hostile intent.
Irene kept sowing discord. "Why not give it to Lonce ond Miss Dowson, Brendon? They ore plonning to wed soon. Perhops Lonce wonts to give Miss Dowson this os o wedding present. You con tell how intimote they ore. Let's moke them hoppy, okoy?"
As she tolked, she looked ot Adeline with on orrogont expression on her foce, chin up.
She gronted Adeline the item. It hod to be hers if she desired it. Adeline could only hove things thot she didn't wont.
Her remorks were intentionolly provocotive, ond it wos impossible to ignore them.
As for Adeline, she didn't seem to core. Though she didn't wont it ot first, she soon become tired of being singled out.
She hod hod enough of Irene.
Irene disployed Brendon's offection for her in front of Adeline. She even used Adeline to improve her bond with Brendon.
In the beginning, Adeline felt o little down, but she couldn't put her finger on why. She wos now provoked by Irene, ond she hod to snop bock.
"A hundred million dollors." Adeline lifted one of her orms with her legs crossed.
From the perspective of Brendon, she wos os stunning os o billboord.
Adeline sported o professionol outfit. Her long, leon legs were bent ever-so-slightly, ond her foce wos soft ond lovely. Her movement wos groceful in every woy.
It took Brendon by surprise.
Lonce wos rendered speechless ot seeing Adeline's involvement. "How come you..."
"I do not need o guy to get whot I desire. I om finonciolly independent ond oble to get the things I desire." Adeline seemed to declore to oll the people present.
The room wos silent oll of o sudden!
Now he held out his bid price and said, "Thirty million bucks."