Chapter 219
The auction was far from its conclusion. The auctioneer's voice rang out with an infectious enthusiasm, "Our final item for today, the piece de resistance, is none other than the invaluable Queen's Crown."
As the velvet curtain was gracefully drawn back from the display, a crown encrusted with diamonds was revealed, its centerpiece a 50-carat red diamond that glowed with an inner fire.
"The Queen's Crown, adorned with a thousand diamonds and featuring a singular ruby..." The auctioneer's voice trailed off as gasps of astonishment echoed throughout the room. Even the women who were no strangers to opulence and luxury found themselves captivated, their eyes riveted to the glittering spectacle.
"It's breathtaking!" The previously coveted "Pink Heart" suddenly paled in comparison, its allure diminished in the face of such grandeur.
A determined glint sparked in Nora's eyes, a silent declaration that only this crown was worthy of her royal stature.
"Thirty million."
"Forty million."
"Fifty million." The bidding was nothing short of ferocious.
"One hundred million," Anthony's voice rang out, his paddle raised high.
"Anthony..." Nora's brow furrowed as she glanced back. Was Anthony intending to secure this crown for Layla? A hundred million was a mere trifle for the Eilish family, but in Nora's eyes, Layla wasn't deserving of even a cent!
"One hundred and thirty million," Samuel countered.
"Samuel..." Nora gasped. Could it be for her?
Layla, who had thus far remained detached, finally reacted when Samuel placed his bid, her body betraying a subtle tremor.
"One hundred and fifty million," Anthony continued.
"One hundred and eighty million."
"Two hundred million."
The bidding war had boiled down to Samuel and Anthony, the price they were willing to pay far exceeding the crown's actual worth. The attention of the guests oscillated between the two men.
"Two hundred and fifty million."
"Three hundred million," Anthony raised his paddle once again.
Samuel's fist clenched, a slight furrow creasing his brow. His expression was a study in conflict, as if he was wrestling with an internal struggle. Money wasn't the issue, the crux of the matter was...
"Anthony at three hundred million."
"Three hundred million going once."
"Three hundred million going twice."
Nora held her breath, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
"Three hundred million, going three times, sold!"
The room erupted in applause.
As the spotlight shifted to Anthony, he rose, buttoned his suit, and bowed with an air of grace. Extending his hand to Layla, he invited her to join him.
Was the crown intended for her?
Layla was jolted back to reality from her daydream, struggling to comprehend what had transpired.
A three-hundred-million-dollar crown was a responsibility she couldn't shoulder.
"Anthony..." Layla began, shaking her head in protest.
But Anthony took Layla's hand amidst envious stares and Nora's jealous gaze, leading her towards the stage.
"Anthony..." Layla wanted to flee. Her gaze inadvertently sought Samuel, whose face was set in a stern expression-was it because of her?
Her heart pounded in her chest, her nerves frayed.
Surrounded by envious stares, Anthony gently placed the crown on her head. Tonight, Layla was the queen, the object of everyone's envy.
"My queen..." Anthony whispered, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. Layla wasn't abandoned; she was Anthony's most cherished queen.
"Wow, I'm so jealous."
"Compared to this, Nora's 'Heart of Pink' just lost its shine."
"Tonight, Anthony's mysterious girlfriend is the woman everyone's envious of."
"Right? With Anthony displaying such public affection, it seems like they'll be getting married soon. Maybe even before Nora does, and she's been dragging her feet for years without tying the knot."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Nora's face contorted, her fingers digging into her thigh so fiercely she nearly drew blood.
As Layla stepped out of the hotel, her mind was a blank canvas, still struggling to process the evening's events.
"Your hands are so cold," Anthony remarked, enveloping Layla's hand in his own warm grasp.
"This crown is too precious, I can't accept it," Layla protested, feeling the weight of the crown as a heavy burden on her heart. It was so overwhelming that it made it difficult for her to breathe. She attempted to remove it hastily, but Anthony gently pressed her hand down.
"This is a gift I'm giving to you," he insisted.
"I can't accept it, it's too expensive," she argued, her mind reeling at the astronomical figure.
Three hundred million!
"No matter the cost, it's not as precious as you," Anthony countered, his smile soft in contrast to her anxiety. "I saw an old friend, I'm going to say hello, just a second."
"Anthony..." Layla's voice trailed off, the weight of the crown seeming to crush her.
Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed from behind. Layla, with her martial arts training, quickly sidestepped.
Nora swung at the empty air, nearly losing her balance. She glared at Layla with fury. "Give me back the crown."
"This was a gift from Anthony. No one but him can take it back," Layla retorted, standing her ground.
"That's the Eilish family's property, Layla, and you're not worthy!" Nora spat.
"Whether I am worthy is not for you to decide," Layla shot back, refusing to be bullied.
"Layla, you gold-digger, do you deserve that crown? People like you, from the bottom rung, are destined to live in the mud," Nora sneered.
"I will not live in the mud. Not ever," Layla declared firmly, her resolve unyielding.
"So Samuel and Anthony are just your stepping stones? Are you using them to climb into old money? How cunning of you, Layla. Dumped by Samuel, you turn around and seduce Anthony. I'll tell you, Layla, the poor will always be the poor. Your mere presence would be a stain on the Eilish family's reputation, a laughingstock, and I won't let you tarnish our name," Nora ranted, her words sharp and venomous.
"You're not worthy of Samuel, and even less of Anthony. You're a devil, stop bothering Anthony, or I won't be so lenient," Nora threatened. Despite Nora's aggressive demeanor, Layla maintained a cold composure, "It's Anthony's right to be friends with me. And who I befriend is none of your business."
"You, slut-," Nora, having contained her anger all night, fully erupted, spitting disgraceful words as she raised her hand to slap Layla on the face.
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, her wrist was intercepted by Layla, who instinctively went to return the slap. However-Layla was stopped.
"Samuel."
Layla had never imagined that Samuel would step in to defend another woman in front of her.
Samuel moved in front of Nora, taking hold of her wrist.
The hurt Layla felt tonight was too much.
"Samuel, she hit me," Nora quickly hid behind Samuel.
"She hit me first."
"I was just reclaiming the Eilish family's property, to tell you the truth. Layla, you don't deserve a crown worth three hundred million."
"Don't go on about what I do or don't deserve. Being rich doesn't make you noble," Layla retorted.
Nora shot back with scorn, "I am nobler than you. I've seen plenty of women like you, shameless for money, selling their looks and bodies, vain and materialistic."
Samuel ignored their quarrel, breaking away from Layla's grip, and turned to take Nora's hand.
Nora's heart leaped with joy.
This was the first time Samuel had taken her hand, and she quickly intertwined her fingers with his.
Layla felt an even deeper wound.
"Boss." Mr. Vandella bowed his head to open the rear car door, unable to bear the scene before him.
Nora got into the car.
Samuel lifted his leg.
"Samuel..." In an urgent tone, Layla called out to him, her fingers clenched tight, eyes reddened with emotion, "If you leave with her now, then it's completely over between us."
Layla was gambling!
She was gambling on the love they once shared, gambling with everything she had!
However, inside, Layla was panicked, as if stuck in quicksand.
Layla was afraid...
It was like waiting for a verdict from fate.