Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Screwing Over Aiden Faulkner
This set of Early Dynasty Purple Clay Teapots was arguably one of the finest items in the auction. Wesley Grant was a renowned master of Purple Clay Teapots. While teapots like these weren’t as sought-after as porcelain or calligraphy, for a collector with a specific taste for them, a piece by Wesley Grant was an absolute must-have.
"The starting bid is one hundred thousand!" The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, people in the audience began to bid, though the increments were small and confined to a narrow range. Seraphina Sterling remained still, and Aiden Faulkner also watched and waited.
"Five hundred thousand! Do I hear anything higher than five hundred thousand?"
"Six hundred thousand!" Seraphina Sterling made her move. There was activity from the third-floor VIP suites again, and the main floor fell silent. No one with any sense would bid against the guests upstairs.
"Seven hundred thousand!" Aiden Faulkner also sprang into action.
Bids coming from the same VIP suite? What was going on? The guests on the main floor couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. Even the auctioneer, who had hosted countless events, was a bit baffled. ’Shouldn’t everyone in one suite be on the same side?’ she thought. ’Who bids against their own party?’
While the crowd was still puzzled, the two women had already driven the price up to four and a half million.
"Seraphina Sterling, you should just save that chump change you made from stone gambling instead of embarrassing yourself! I’m getting this Purple Clay Teapot set, and that’s final! Whatever I like, I get. You can’t outbid me!" Aiden Faulkner raised her paddle again.
"Five million!"
Seraphina Sterling gave a faint smile. "Oh, what to do? I happen to be very stubborn. The more you say things like that, the more I want to buy it." With that, Seraphina Sterling raised her paddle again. "Five million and ten thousand!"
"Fine. Then let’s just see who this Purple Clay Teapot set ends up with!" Aiden Faulkner was starting to get nervous. She hadn’t expected Seraphina Sterling to keep up like this. "Five and a half million!"
Seraphina Sterling: "Five million, five hundred and ten thousand!"
Aiden Faulkner: "Six million!"
...
The two resumed their bidding war. The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. ’It’s just a set of Purple Clay Teapots,’ everyone thought. ’Isn’t this price a little too high?’
"Ten million and ten thousand!" Seraphina Sterling’s expression was grave.
Wyatt Gallagher looked at the silent Aiden Faulkner and broke out in a cold sweat on Seraphina Sterling’s behalf. ’How can this girl be so bold? Isn’t she worried Aiden will just give up and stop bidding? If that happens, she’ll be the one stuck with the bill!’
"Ten million and ten thousand, going once!"
"Miss Faulkner is certainly persistent! You’ve really spared no expense to get this teapot set. But it’s clear I still have the upper hand. This Purple Clay Teapot is mine!"
The smile returned to Seraphina Sterling’s face, a world away from her previous grave expression. A triumphant gleam flashed in her bright eyes, mingled with a hint of mockery.
"Ten million and ten thousand, going twice!"
Aiden Faulkner grit her teeth and raised her paddle one more time. "Fifteen million!"
Zion Hale grabbed Seraphina Sterling’s arm, stopping her from bidding again.
"Seraphina, do you really not want me as your big brother? Having me as an older brother comes with a lot of perks! Think about it: if you’re the little sister, then it’s my job as the big brother to take care of you."
"Fifteen million, going once!"
"But if you’re the older sister, that means *you* have to take care of *me*! And I’m a real handful. I love causing trouble and getting into scrapes. Even the old man of my family refuses to clean up my messes anymore! You’d be much better off as my little sister. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your time cleaning up after me instead of doing anything else!"
Zion Hale held Seraphina Sterling’s wrist, listening to the auctioneer’s call as he continued to stall for time.
"Fifteen million, going twice!"
"And think about this: the bracelet I just bought you only cost five and a half million. If you turn around and spend fifteen million on a teapot set for me, what will that do to my reputation as the Second Young Master of the Hale Family? For the sake of my pride alone, you can’t bid again!"
"Fifteen million... sold!"
Aiden Faulkner had finally won the Purple Clay Teapot set. "Seraphina Sterling, I told you. Whatever I, Aiden Faulkner, want, I get! Just like this teapot set."
"Well then, congratulations, Ms. Faulkner! And thank you so much for paying such an exorbitant price for this teapot set. Otherwise, I would have lost our little bet. I have to say, I’d much rather have a little sister than an older one!" Zion Hale’s heartfelt gratitude instantly erased all of Aiden Faulkner’s sense of accomplishment.
’I was willing to spend fifteen million on this teapot set just to humiliate Seraphina Sterling in public, to make her go back on her word. I wanted to make Zion Hale despise her, to see her defeated! But now... Zion is still defending her so fiercely! Does this mean I just spent fifteen million for nothing?’
"Congratulations, Miss Faulkner. I lose this round," Seraphina Sterling admitted graciously, her warm smile unwavering. She wasn’t dejected at all, contrary to what Aiden Faulkner had expected. It was as if nothing had happened. This only made Aiden feel more vexed, and she felt even more strongly that the fifteen million was a complete waste. Aside from acquiring a set of teapots, it had achieved nothing!
The most shocked person there was Wyatt Gallagher. ’A set of Purple Clay Teapots that should have sold for five million at most was just driven up to an astronomical price! As expected of someone the old man acknowledges. She’s not just smart, she’s got guts, too!’
The auction had been full of twists and turns. The four antiques Seraphina Sterling had brought sold for a grand total of fifty million! Of course, that included the fifteen million contributed by Aiden Faulkner.
After exchanging phone numbers with Seraphina Sterling, Zion Hale returned to Aethelgard. He had, after all, come here on a mission.
But Seraphina Sterling hadn’t come to the city just for the auction. She, too, had an important task to complete.
