Chapter 32

Eloise seemed almost frantic in her defense of Freya, but her words only fanned the flames of Kieran’s anger. ‘Fancy that? Freya is nothing but a gold digger! First, she latched onto me. Now, she’s set her sights on Ronan as her next target. No wonder she’s been less attentive and flattering towards me recently.’ Thinking this, Kieran’s gaze turned even icier. Oh, Freya, she had been quite the eye-opener for him!

“Let’s go.” Kieran didn’t spare another glance at Freya and Ronan, pulling Eloise into the auction hall instead.

On the other side, Ronan allowed Freya to loop her arm through his, speaking coldly, “You’re my date tonight. If I make a move, you follow—no questions asked, okay?”

“Mr. Beckett, we’re both businesspeople. Since I’m your date for the evening, shouldn’t you pick up the tab for my expenses?”

“You’re my date, not my girlfriend.”

Freya feigned difficulty and said, “But Kieran used to spend money on me. In terms of personal charm, Mr. Beckett, you wouldn’t want to lose to Kieran, would you?”

“Are you trying to provoke me?”

“Why would I…”

“You win.”

As everyone took their seats at the venue, it became apparent that this auction was different from the rest, with assistants attending instead of the big players themselves. Yet, there were Kieran and Ronan, causing a stir by their presence, making the atmosphere unusually tense.

“Kieran, it seems there’s something between Ms. Dawson and Mr. Beckett…” Eloise watched Kieran’s expression closely. Perhaps by design, Ronan and Freya sat directly across from them, ensuring they were in each other’s sights.

Seeing Freya and Ronan chatting and laughing, Kieran’s tone grew dangerously cold, “Freya’s doing quite well for herself.”

First, she tried to win him over by mimicking Eloise, playing the dutiful girl in front of his grandmother, and loudly declaring her wish to break off their engagement, only to seek his grandmother’s favor over and over. But then, she was cozying up to Ronan, even having her stepmother come to him to apologize and seek reconciliation.

Kieran gritted his teeth. ‘Is she taking me for a fool?’

Meanwhile, Freya could feel a chilling gaze on her, making her skin crawl.

Ronan mused, “I wonder how Kieran feels seeing you with me.”

“What’s there to feel?” Freya responded dismissively. “Kieran’s heart is with Eloise. He’d love to end our engagement. If my family wasn’t useful to him, he wouldn’t have bothered with it in the first place.”

Laughing at the thought, Freya added, “Believe it or not, I bet Kieran plans to take over the Dawson Group within three years, dump me, and then marry Eloise.”

Ronan caught the hint of self-mockery in Freya’s eyes, replying slowly, “From what you’re saying, he sounds like a real jerk. No wonder you despise him.”

As the auction commenced, the prime real estate of Echo City was saved for last. The early offerings, mere plots for private villas, were of little interest.

The auctioneer announced, “Southern Suburb plot, 8 acres, starting at 100 million!”

Kieran’s sidekick, Jarrett, bid on his behalf. “120 million.”

“150 million,” came Freya’s voice, drawing scornful looks.

Kieran scoffed coldly at her attempt to grab his attention, which he thought was predictable.

“200 million,” he declared, unfazed.

“250 million.”

“300 million!”

The bidding war escalated, prompting Eloise to frown. “Kieran, that plot isn’t worth this much.”

Chapter 33