Chapter 122:
Glasses continued to clink in the midst of so much glitz and sophistication. Millie slipped into a quiet corner, lifting her champagne glass and letting the breeze brush past her. Fragments of conversation drifted on the wind from all sides.
“The third auction item caught my eye—a diary written by a courageous young girl battling illness. It deserves a place in someone’s collection.”
“I feel the same way. Some of these children’s drawings show real promise, but their tough situations hold them back from getting any closer to the world of art.”
“My hope is that this charity event will raise enough funds and bring some comfort into their lives.”
“Whenever the Evans Group hosts a charity gala, I trust them. They always set aside generous funds, so I never worry that the donations won’t get to those in need.”
“That’s a relief. So, what are you hoping to bid on during the second half of the night?”
“Honestly, I’m more interested in the competition. I want to see whether the bidders holding badges 888 and 823 go head-to-head!”
“Same here! The suspense is killing me!”
“Maybe we should all place bets on who takes the prize.”
Excitement buzzed through the crowd as more people jumped in, their early whispers replaced by animated voices. Every guest wanted to join in the fun.
While the crowd speculated, Millie stayed quiet, soaking in the lively energy around her.
Suddenly, someone stepped in front of her, casting a shadow over the light. Turning, Millie saw Brandon standing there, a frown creasing his brow. Behind him, the shouts and laughter of the betting pool carried on, while his gaze remained dark and searching.
He broke the silence with a single question. “Why did you do it?” They both knew he meant her bid on the tanzanite.
Meeting his eyes, Millie offered no answer and instead threw the question back. “What about you? Did you do all this for Vivian?”
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Brandon said nothing, his mouth drawn in a firm line. Until that moment, he hadn’t really thought about his reasons.
Just like always, he acted on instinct and rarely stopped to wonder why. For him, that was enough. However, when the masked woman questioned whether he was doing this for Vivian, he couldn’t honestly agree with her in his heart.
Deep down, he simply couldn’t stand the thought of the tanzanite ending up in anyone else’s hands. That was the only thing he truly understood. As for the reason behind that feeling, he had no explanation.
Standing in front of him, the woman seemed delicate and frail, the wind making her appear even more fragile, almost like she could be swept away. Almost without thinking, he asked, “Has it always been like this?”
When her eyes showed confusion, he added, “I mean, has he always pushed you too far and forced you to keep working, even when you’re unwell?”
A slight lift of her eyebrows showed that Millie didn’t follow what Brandon was getting at. After a few moments, she replied, “Mr. Watson, are you actually… worried about me?”
She chose the word “worried,” not just “cared.” His mouth pressed into a thin line, and he offered no reply.
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