Chapter Thirty-Three

"Continue with the plan, pay no attention to me," Levi said as he delegated tasks to his subordinates, nonchalantly moving elsewhere himself. Although Levi was the host of the party, he only represented it, leaving the other stages for others to manage. He seemed no different from the guests attending the event.

Max eagerly anticipated the auction, feeling restless to the point of being unable to sit still. Looking around, he noticed many others intrigued by the items up for bidding. Initially confident, Max soon felt discouraged, worrying that he might not have enough money and that others might also desire the piece of land. After all, the attendees of this party were all affluent.

In contrast to Max's mood, Pearl was excited to see the auctioned items, showing no interest in antiques but being particularly drawn to jewelry.

"Next is a piece of land in the outskirts of the city, spanning over 100,000 square meters, as you can see on the screen. Currently, the area has a relatively low population, but in the future, it is expected to undergo significant development... The starting price is..." the lively MC announced, continuously elaborating on the suburban land.

Despite the MC's upbeat tone, the reactions below were notably subdued. Some guests displayed clear dissatisfaction with the 'item' being auctioned.

"What's this? Suburban land? How much could that be worth?"

"Isn't this auction for the company's projects?"

"A piece of suburban land? Surely, no one would want to bid on that. Ridiculous."

Continuous whispers of disdain prevailed, with most attendees showing indifference, making the MC feel somewhat awkward.

"I'll pay..." Max raised his hand and said. A few others also made bids, but unlike Max, they merely quoted prices without genuinely desiring the suburban land.

Max quickly secured the suburban land in his first bid, a simplicity that surprised even him. He thought he would have to engage in a fierce competition to acquire the land, but it turned out unexpectedly straightforward. Moreover, the amount he spent to purchase the land was only half of what Max had initially budgeted.

Pearl congratulated him, saying, "You're amazing, buying the land with just one bid. Our efforts today weren't in vain."

Their goal was the suburban land, and now that it was easily obtained, Pearl didn't want to leave yet. She gazed intently at a sparkling pink diamond jewelry sparkles up there. She gently tugged on Max's hand and whispered, "Darling, I want that pink diamond necklace. You still have plenty of money, right?"

Max, still in high spirits, responded generously, "You like it? Then you shall have it."

The diamond jewelry set, comprising a necklace and a pair of earrings with pink diamonds, was exceptionally beautiful. It was crafted and perfected in the late 19th century by a skilled artisan named Khoa Hoa from China. Not only was the jewelry exquisite, but it also held historical value as Khoa Hoa had no successors, making his creations a rare legacy.

After the MC announced the starting price, many people immediately raised their paddles...

"Yes, this diamond jewelry set belongs to Mr. Max Cooper. Congratulations..." the MC announced Max's name once again.

Having successfully bid for two items, Max gained some attention. Pearl received everything she desired and was visibly delighted, intentionally kissing Max when he wasn't paying attention.

Smiling, Max asked, "Do you like it that much?"

"Of course, I love it. It's not like the jewelry available outside," Pearl replied happily. This piece of jewelry was different, not only for its beauty but also for its historical significance and the fact that it was won in an auction. The high-class people present at this auction covet it, but in the end, its owner is her.

The auction went smoothly, leaving Levi feeling bored. He was hoping for something exciting to happen, but nothing special occurred. He turned to Bella, who had been silent the whole time, and said, "What's wrong? If you like that piece of jewelry, I can buy it for you."

"I don't lack for those cheap items," Bella replied indifferently. However, her words were not about the jewelry but something else entirely. Levi raised an eyebrow, observing Bella's expression, and chuckled, "I don't know what you're up to, but your cold demeanor is quite intriguing."

It was the first time Bella spoke since the auction began.

From her vantage point, Bella could see the entire auction scene and almost all the guests below, yet few paid attention to her, so no one knew she was there. "“I see you as a pervert following me." Bella glanced at the man, deliberately positioning herself where no one would notice her, but he still found her.

Levi shrugged, saying, “I don't know why I want to follow you so much, maybe you're more attractive than that auction act?” He smirked mischievously.

Bella pursed her lips, ignoring him. She had what she needed, and now it was time to leave before this upper-class party came to an end. Given Max's personality, he might stay behind to chat with other guests and build connections, making it the perfect moment for her to leave.

Seeing that Bella paid no attention to him, Levi turned to leave, and she followed suit. "I'll take you home," Levi offered.

"No need, I can get a cab myself," Bella calmly replied. She didn't want any entanglements here and was afraid of being discovered by Max, Pearl, or someone else she knew.

However, Levi didn't understand Bella's concerns. He wasn't pleased with her refusal and treated his dismissively as if he were superfluous. Without waiting for Bella to protest, Levi tightly embraced her waist and pulled her toward his parked luxury car outside.

"Hey, what are you doing? I told you I can handle it myself. Let me go. If you don't let go, I'll scream!" Bella struggled to free herself from the man, but her weak efforts couldn't match his strength. Instead, Levi intentionally tightened his grip, causing Bella to wince in pain.

Levi smirked, saying, "If you want, go ahead and scream. Who knows, your husband and best friend might hear and come to your rescue." He was certain that Bella wanted to leave early to avoid encountering those two, so he teased her by bringing them into the conversation.

As Levi predicted, Bella was infuriated, but she didn't continue screaming. She continued to struggle to escape from him. When he helped her fasten the seatbelt inside the car, Bella finally sat still without further resistance.

Observing Bella's annoyed expression, Levi couldn't help but laugh. "Ha... I'm not a pervert or a kidnapper. Why do you react so strongly? I'm offering you a ride; you can enjoy it without spending money. Isn't that better?"

Bella expressed her displeasure, looking at him. "You really have no integrity. You're trying to force me. And yet, you pretend to be a good person."

One person was angry, the other couldn't stop laughing. Levi continued to chat, but Bella either ignored him or responded casually.

"So, are you not going to tell me why you wanted to attend that auction?" Levi was still curious. Bella not only didn't show up at the party but also observed the auction from a distance, including the moment she had been anticipating. If Levi hadn't known about Bella's presence in advance, he would have been just like the other guests, unaware that she was at the party tonight.

Bella sighed softly. “Don't ask anymore, I won't tell. You can just assume that I came to see the two of them on purpose.”

Levi didn't ask further, but he kept glancing at Bella, then chuckled in a twisted and mysterious manner.