Ashlyn was surprised when she saw the last item of the auction: an excellent landscape painting from the 12th century. Its starting price was 3 million dollars. Devin confidently raised his paddle and set the bid price at 4 million.
But Devin wasn’t the only one who came for this painting. Gordon and Devin battled silently, each one taking turns raising their paddles. After mere minutes, the price skyrocketed to 7.5 million.
Gordon was the last to bid. Ashlyn thought Devin would raise his paddle again, but to her surprise, he sat in his seat motionlessly.
Ashlyn was stunned. “Mr. Stanley?”
Devin turned to look at Ashlyn with a mischievous smile. “It’s not worth it. I’m going to let the idiot buy the painting.”
Ashlyn smiled in approval. “You’re a fast learner, Mr. Stanley.”
Devin shot Ashlyn a charming smile and winked. “I learned from my future girlfriend.”
Devin’s dazzling smile could light up a room, instantly captivating anyone who saw him.
Ashlyn was a cool and confident woman, but seeing Devin’s smile made her slightly flustered.
To hide her blush, Ashlyn turned her face away from the handsome man.
The auctioneer announced the final bids. The snuff bottle, which was worth less than 3 million, was sold at 4 million. The painting, which was worth less than five million, ended up being sold at 7.5 million. Both of which were won by Gordon.
Gordon had to be out of his mind tonight. Even Aiken knew that the painting wasn’t worth that much, but he refrained himself from making any more comments when he saw Gordon’s annoyed expression.
When the auction was over, they four crossed paths at the staircase of the auditorium.
Aiken greeted them politely. “Good evening, Ashlyn.”
“Hello, Mr. Evans,” Ashlyn replied with a faint smile.
Without sparing any other niceties, Ashlyn nodded and left with Devin.
Gordon watched them leave. Seeing them together made him feel inexplicably annoyed, so he stormed out of the hall.
Ashlyn got inside the Cayenne and waited for Devin to start the car. To her surprise, Devin didn’t move and just looked at her from the driver’s seat.
Confused, Ashlyn looked back at him questioningly. Devin smiled and commented, “Not bad.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
Devin didn’t explain, but proceeded to start the car. “You hungry?”
“Not really,” Ashlyn answered nonchalantly.
Devin glanced at Ashlyn and smiled, but he didn’t say anything more.
Half an hour later, Devin pulled to a stop in front of Ashlyn’s apartment building.
Just as Ashlyn unfastened her seat belt, she saw Devin holding out a gift box in front of her.
She raised her eyebrows, her curiosity piqued. “What’s this for?”
“Consider it a token of my appreciation.”
Ashlyn didn’t accept it right away. “Is it a token or a gift?”
“What’s the difference? Whatever it is, it’s for you.”
Devin looked quite confident. Immersed in his charming eyes, Ashlyn didn’t have the heart to get angry.
But Ashlyn never accepted presents from guys, so she politely shook her head. “I appreciate it, but I can’t take this.”
Devin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he didn’t try to force her.
Ashlyn stepped out of the car and waved to him goodbye. “Be careful on your way home.”
“And what if something bad happens to me?”
Stunned, Ashlyn was rendered speechless.
It was the first time that she had heard someone jinx their own self.
“Hey, I’m just kidding. I know you can’t wait to get rid of me, so just go home.” Devin smiled reassuringly.
“Well… Okay.”
Ashlyn closed the car door and walked to her apartment.
Devin didn’t drive away until he was sure Ashlyn made it to her apartment. Alone in the car, he smiled to himself happily.
Not long after Ashlyn got home, she received a text from Jessie. “Go check the Internet. What happened at the auction is trending. I wonder if Gordon and Devin competed to impress you.”
Ashlyn rolled her eyes and checked the Internet. As Jessie said, the news that Devin and Gordon had bidden for the same items had become a hot topic.
Unlike before, Ashlyn, for some unknown reason, became the cause of their battle.
Of course, Ashlyn didn’t care about the others’ opinions. After all, in their eyes, she was too humble to match either of them.
Ashlyn didn’t think too much about it and texted Jessie back. “Just forget it.”
Ashlyn’s simple reply clearly explained that the battle between Devin and Gordon had nothing to do with her.
But some people didn’t think so.
The following day, Talia informed Ashlyn that Nathaniel had come to visit her. At first, she didn’t believe her, but judging from Talia’s serious expression, she knew it to be true.
Ashlyn put down the document in her hand and said resignedly, “Let him in.”
Truth be told, Ashlyn didn’t want to see Nathaniel at all.
But she had no choice but to invite him into her office since he was already there.
It had been nearly half a year since Ashlyn’s divorce, so she hadn’t seen Nathaniel in around 6 months.
Nobody in the Jones family was easy to get along with, except Gordon’s mother.
Denise had always thought that Ashlyn didn’t deserve her brother. Thus, throughout Ashlyn’s marriage to Gordon, Denise played dirty tricks on Ashlyn many times.
And Nathaniel wasn’t as righteous a man as he projected. Not long after Ashlyn married Gordon, he gave her a book of the family rules. Nathaniel explained that the Jones family was prominent in Courtbush, so its members were not allowed to make any mistakes.
Around the time Ashlyn got married, Nathaniel had retired from Crowbar Technologies and left the company’s affairs to Gordon and Leon. This meant that Nathaniel could just stay at home and do nothing. Whenever Denise framed Ashlyn, Nathaniel wouldn’t question her and would punish Ashlyn without fact-checking first.
Ashlyn could still remember all the punishments she had received from the old man.
After the divorce, Ashlyn wanted to cut off all ties with the Jones family.
But fate had other plans. Nathaniel had come here to see her specifically.
Nathaniel strode inside her office with a gloomy expression. The second he saw Ashlyn, he suddenly had the urge to slap her across the face, but he held himself back.
Ashlyn leaned against her backrest and looked the old man up and down. “Mr. Jones, what can I do for you?”
“It’s only been a few months but you’ve already forgotten about the family rules. Why didn’t you serve me a cup of coffee after I came in?”
Ashlyn’s eyes widened and she laughed in disbelief mixed with disdain. “Does this place look like a cafe to you? Go downstairs and turn left. You’ll see a cafe that sells coffee over there.”
“Ashlyn!” Nathaniel roared, his face turning purple from anger. “You are disrespectful and presumptuous. How dare you disgrace the Jones family! Believe it or not—”
“Excuse me, Mr. Jones. Have you forgotten that Gordon and I are divorced?” Ashlyn smiled sweetly, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “This is my workplace. If you have something to say to me, then say it. Otherwise, please leave. I’m not a patient person. You’d better spit it out now.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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