An Interesting Woman
Arielle smiled. “Yes, I’m a country bumpkin, yet I have graduated from Maxwell University. Somehow,
you, the high and mighty Ms. Greene, still never seem to be able to catch up to my grades.”
Wendy flushed crimson at the slight.
“Arielle Moore!” she snarled.
“You talk too much,” replied Arielle with a yawn.
“You—”
Before Wendy could complete her threat, she heard her name being called by the principal. “Wendy,
kindly refrain from discussing matters unrelated to the auction, or I would be forced to remove you from
the auditorium.”
In an instant, every eye in the crowd was drawn to Wendy.
Succumbing to the hostility of the gazes by her fellow schoolmates, she slumped into her seat.
“Seven million!” Cecilia shouted.
“Seven million?” repeated Marcus in a daze.
The piece would never fetch seven million even after Nicholas’ death!
“Ten million,” Arielle said without hesitation.
Wendy and Cecilia gaped at her while the other students were quivering in anticipation.
Ten million is no laughing matter.
“Master Arielle…” Terry gazed up at her, his eyes shining with admiration in the dim auditorium light.
Arielle gave a tiny smirk, secretly enjoying the effect she had caused.
Marcus’ hand shook as he grasped the gavel. “Ten million going once, going twice…”
Cecilia clenched her fists.
I do not have ten million just lying around for me to use in my feud! I can think of better ways to spend
that kind of money instead of some silly marble sculpture.
Susanne’s bemused voice interrupted her internal debate. “It sure looks like you’re being outbid by a
country bumpkin, Mrs. Greene!”
That remark seemed to act as a stimulant. Biting down on her lip with fierce determination, Cecilia
decided to go all in. “Fifteen million!”
Despite doing his best to maintain his professionalism, Marcus could not conceal the amazement in his
eyes. “Fifteen million going once…”
As he spoke, he found his gaze inadvertently drawn toward Arielle, who simply shrugged and lowered
her paddle.
“Fifteen million going twice… Sold! Congratulations, madam, and thank you very much for your
generous contribution. Kindly make your way to the back to make the payment after the auction ends,
as well as to obtain the certificate of your participation in tonight’s event.”
Cecilia gazed at Arielle, clearly still dazed at what had transpired.
It feels like I have been fooled by Arielle.
Wendy, on the other hand, was adamant that Arielle had toyed with them. Turning back to gaze
viciously at the latter, she spat, “Weren’t you going to buy the piece? Why did you back down?”
Arielle sneered in response. “Oh, I’ve changed my mind.”
It is becoming too expensive for a gift, anyway. Teddy might refuse it if he finds out how much it costs.
I’ll just think of it as taking pity on the Greenes by letting them have it. Besides, it feels great getting a
couple of punches in.
“You…” Wendy was so angry that her chest puffed up alarmingly, though she could not do anything
about it.
Oh, forget it. At the very least, this amount spent could be used as sending a message to the world that
we have managed to crush Arielle in a bid and that our wealth far exceeds hers.
Her notions of self-comfort were quickly quashed by Terry’s scornful remark. “That woman must be out
of her mind to spend fifteen million on a sculpture!”
The other students chimed in, “That’s right! What a fool!”
Wendy scowled as she clenched her fists so hard that her nails drew blood from the flesh of her palm,
yet she did not feel any pain.
Meanwhile, Aaron smiled to himself from the back of the hall.
“How interesting…”
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