Chapter 280:

Someone muttered, "Did Mrs. Bennett bother Mr. Ward?"

"But Mr. Ward is smiling," another whispered. "Does he smile when he's upset?"

"Could this be his way of flirting?"

"Who flirts by competing with a woman? Shouldn't he be pampering her?"

"You never know with Mr. Ward..."

Alice increased her bid by $1 million each time. When the bidding reached $100 million, a hush fell over the room. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Alice, awaiting her next move. She met their gazes, weighing her chances against Caden's. Given his wealth, his victory seemed assured. It would be prudent to withdraw, preserving her pride.

Caden regarded the necklace indifferently, but determination shone in his dark eyes. He realized that winning today would mean Alice would never accept the necklace, even if he offered it—he'd likely throw it away. The thought amused him. He smiled as the auctioneer announced, “100 million dollars, at one o’clock.”

Alice remained silent. The auctioneer glanced in Caden's direction. "$100 million for two. Any more bids?"

Alicia declared, “200 million dollars.” The auctioneer nearly jumped. Her bid stunned everyone, even causing Caden's heart to skip a beat. His casual tone, however, immediately caused a commotion. Caden closed his eyes briefly. $200 million… it was enough to leave Alice breathless. She had truly challenged him, showcasing her resilience.

Alicia watched silently, waiting for Caden's response. Meanwhile, she had to attend to Monica, who fainted upon hearing the bid. When the gavel finally fell, applause erupted. The gem was Alice's. After Monica recovered, Alicia went backstage to arrange payment, where she encountered a polished and successful auction investor.