Chapter 21
She acted like she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to buy it.
Seeing Isabella’s frustrated expression, Ivana felt her blood boil. She thought, Why is this bitch still pretending?
Since that was the case, she decided to stir things up even more. Looking at Isabella, she stomped her foot anxiously. “Isabella, don’t do this. The guy you scammed last time didn’t even give you any money. How can you pay for the bracelet!”
Scamming people too? The bystanders were now looking at Isabella with extreme disgust. “What kind of scum is she, to do something like that?”
Isabella’s face darkened. She retracted the card she had just handed over and glared at Ivana, as if unwilling to back down. In a soft voice, she said, “You keep saying I don’t have money. How about this? Let’s bid on it. The highest bidder wins, okay?”
Ivana was momentarily stunned. ‘Bidding? Is she trying to save face? She has always been neglected, and even her identity as Dr. Lovett was fake. If this bitch wants to play, I’ll play with her. I’ll crush Isabella once and for all, so she won’t disgust me like a cockroach anymore.
Just as she was about to agree, the sales assistant interrupted, “Sorry, this is an official counter. We don’t allow private bidding.”
Though the assistant wanted to sell for a higher price, company policy was strict. If it was discovered that customers were bidding, she might lose her job.
Isabella raised an eyebrow, feeling that the sales assistant had at least some principles. However, this didn’t interfere with her plan.
She looked at Ivana again and suggested, “In that case, we’ll bid privately. If the amount exceeds the listed price, we can choose other items to make up the difference.”
The sales assistant’s eyes lit up, intrigued by Isabella’s proposal. A private bet, followed by buying more items, was completely doable. She was about to make a big profit.
The sales assistant nearly screamed with excitement, already sensing the jealous looks from her colleagues. Clearly, she would become this year’s sales champion.
She urged Isabella and Ivana silently, ‘Hurry up and start the bidding
Seeing Ivana hesitate, Isabella giggled and tilted her head, asking. “Are you afraid?”
Her demeanor immediately made Ivana feel suspicious. But before she could respond, Cassie stepped forward and linked arms with her, puffing out her chest proudly. “Challenge accepted. Do you think a loser like you can compete with Ivana!”
Cassie’s eyes were full of disdain as she looked at Isabella. “Ivana is the true heiress to the Stout family. She has more than enough money.”
Isabella raised her eyebrows. “The fish has taken the bait
She let out a small sigh, glancing at Ivana in a seemingly defeated way, and said softly, “Yes, she really is the true heiress to the Stout family. It seemed like Cassie’s words had hurt her.
Without giving Ivana a chance to retreat, Isabella directly said, “So, the reason you’re not bidding against me is because you’re afraid of me, right?” 2008
Ivana’s eyes darkened. ‘Did this bitch just say I’m afraid? What would I be afraid of? It’s just an auction! If Isabella insists on humiliating herself, why not give her what she wants?
The next moment, Ivana shook her head helplessly. “Since you like it so much, Isabella, I’ll have no choice but to bid against you. If you truly want this bracelet, I’ll buy it for you. After all, you don’t have any money to buy it yourself, do you? You’ll have to buy it under my name.
The crowd around Ivana looked at her with admiration.
“How kind she is! Unlike that other woman, who’s not only promiscuous but also lighting with her own sister. I’m so glad I don’t have a sister like that.”
“If I had a sister like her, I’d cut ties with her immediately! So shameless!”
11:47 AM
Chapter 21
There had already been quite a few onlookers, but when word got out that Isabella and Ivana were about to start bidding, even more passersby gathered around to watch.
“Why is she doing this when she has no money?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s all for show. She’s a vain woman, after all.”
The crowd’s opinion of Isabella was overwhelmingly negative, with nearly everyone criticizing her.
Isabella smiled, completely unfazed. She had heard such judgments countless times before, and they didn’t affect her in the slightest.
But Ivana couldn’t hide her excitement. She thought to herself, ‘Spending some money to humiliate Isabella is worth it. Who does that bitch think she is, being so arrogant?
Isabella casually tapped her fingers on the glass display case and looked at Ivana, her voice soft. “Let’s start with the price of this emerald bracelet, shall we?”
Everyone turned in the direction she was pointing. The emerald bracelet was priced at $150,000.
Although Draxenport had its share of wealthy people, few would spend that much on a piece of jewelry,
Ivana glanced at the price and smirked, confidence gleaming in her eyes. $150,000 was pocket change to her.
She lifted her chin slightly, brimming with confidence, and immediately raised the bid, “$200,000
Isabella responded softly, “$300,000.
Ivana was unfazed. “$350,000.
“$600,000, Isabella said calmly.
“One million,” Ivana countered.
“One million two hundred thousand.” Isabella replied
Ivana’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t expected Isabella to keep raising the bid after she’d hit the one–million mark.
“One million three hundred thousand!” Ivana exclaimed.
The two continued raising the stakes, their back–and–forth escalating until the price reached $2.5 million–an astronomical sum for most people.
The onlookers were already dumbstruck, thinking. ‘Aren’t they family? Does it have to go this far?”
Ivana’s eyelashes trembled, and her grip on her handbag tightened. Isabella only needed a glance to know that Ivana was reaching her limit. She was well aware of exactly how much allowance Ivana had.
Molly might give her plenty of spending money, but even Molly had limits. Hudson was a man who valued money more than life itself; there was no way he’d give Molly full access to the family’s funds.
Isabella looked at Ivana with a faint smile. “Is your wallet feeling the strain?”
Her tone was gentle, but to Ivana, it was the ultimate insult. Isabella’s laughing eyes only fueled her rage further. Gritting her. teeth, Ivana raised her voice, “$3 million!”
Ivana stared at her, only to notice a hint of hesitation in Isabella’s eyes. Ivana smirked inwardly. ‘No matter where Isabella scammed some money from, she must be running low by now. Why else would she hesitate?”
Meanwhile, the crowd buzzed with shock. Three million dollars could buy a top–tier gem at an auction. No one expected to hear such a price in a shopping mall, and they were utterly astonished.
Ivana’s smile grew broader as she looked at Isabella, her tone gracious. “What’s the matter, Isabella? Is your wallet feeling the
strain?”
Cassie chimed in smugly. “How much money could she possibly have? She’s just putting on airs. She’s nothing compared to you!”
Ivana chuckled lightly. “Don’t say that. Isabella just lacks self–control.”
11:47 AM c
Chapter 21
Isabella nearly laughed in exasperation, but she couldn’t deny Ivana’s words. Her lack of control had indeed led her to make foolish mistakes for years. So, she didn’t refute Ivana’s mockery.
Instead, she raised her head slightly, clenched her fists, and put on an expression of great difficulty. “$5 million.”
In an instant, everyone’s eyes widened. Five million?! Who said she didn’t have money? Would someone without money bid $5 million for a bracelet worth $150,000?”
Ivana’s face went pale, and the sweet expression she had struggled to maintain vanished.
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