The auction was already underway, and the items on stage were absolutely gorgeousโranging from intricate trinkets to grand pieces, with origins spanning the Tang and Southern Song dynasties all the way to the late Qing era.
My head was spinning from all the dazzling treasures, but I didnโt dare raise my paddleโthe prices were sky-high for everything.
Once the antiques were done, the auction moved on to jewelry. Edward shot me a sideways look. โWhy arenโt you bidding? If I donโt even lift my paddle tonight, itโll make me look bad.โ
I stared at him, stunned. โHere I am, trying to save him money, and heโs worried about his image?โ
Edward could tell exactly what I was thinking, and soon enough, his assistant was raising the paddle again and again, barely pausing between bids.
Whenever Edward spotted a gorgeous necklace, bracelet, or pendant, he didnโt bother to ask for my opinionโhe just had his assistant snap it up without a second thought.
Listening to those sky-high prices made my heart go numb, but Edward was completely unfazed. He spent a couple million like it was nothingโthat was just his way of making a donation tonight.
Once the auction was over, it was time for the dinner, held in the grand hall downstairs.
Edward took my hand and led me into a private room, where all the treasures heโd won at the auction had already been delivered.
By the time we walked in, his team had already organized everything for us.
Edward turned to me and said, โEverything here is yoursโexcept for the jade Guanyin statue and the emerald bead necklace.โ
โEdward, youโฆโ I was stunned. My jaw nearly dropped. He was actually giving me six insanely rare pieces of jewelry!
Edward bent down and gently ran his fingers over the jade Guanyin statue. โMy mom loves this one, and the emerald bead necklace is her absolute favorite.โ
I was taken aback. โVivian must be so proud to have such a devoted son,โ I thought.
If I ever get old and have a son whoโs always fussing over the things I loveโฆ
โWait, Victoria Murphy, get a gripโyou donโt even have a son,โ I scolded myself.
โThank you, I really love them,โ I said with a grin, happily accepting the gifts without a hint of hesitation.
Edward had his assistant take care of the items, but instead of leading me to the banquet hall downstairs, he took my hand and brought me up to the fifth and sixth floors to check out the scenery and the incredible interior design.
โTake a look at the style hereโthese are all creations by the worldโs top brands. Maybe youโll find something you can weave into your own designs,โ he said.
โThe ocean is blue, so theyโve used colors that echo the sea. This whole section features mirror-like artworks crafted from polished shell pieces. All these shells come from the deep sea, and the colors are completely natural,โ he explained.
As we walked hand in hand, Edward walked me through everything, explaining the design concepts and where the inspiration for each piece came from.
I realized that being a corporate leader, Edwardโs expertise went way beyond just running the showโhe really knew his stuff when it came to the details.
Listening to his breakdown, I almost wanted to whip out my phone and record everything. His perspective was so much broader than mine, and some of the design ideas he mentioned were honestly beyond anything I could ever dream up.
I hung on his every word, feeling a fresh wave of admirationโand maybe even a little aweโtoward him.
โHere we are, this is our suite,โ Edward said, swiping us in with his keycard.
I followed him inside. Out beyond the windows, the city lights twinkled in the distance, scattered like stars across the horizonโso impossibly far away.
Edward slipped off his jacket, grabbed two bottles of water, and slid open the balcony door. The salty sea breeze swept in, filling the room with the fresh scent of the ocean.
Out here, as the yacht drifted farther from the cityโs chaos, Edwardโs silhouette seemed to etch itself into my heart. I looked down, curling my fingers tightly, a wave of emptiness washing over me.
I just didnโt know if I could ever truly hold onto him.
Edward leaned on the railing, the wind messing up his short hair as he beckoned me over.
I walked up to him, and he wrapped me in his embrace. The wind sent my long hair flying, strands curling around his arm and brushing against his neck, the chemistry between us impossible to ignore.