A flicker of triumph flashed in Juliana's eyes as she nodded. "Yes, Sebastian, you've treated Anastasia far too well. She doesn't know how lucky she is." Sebastian's expression finally cased. Taking the chance, Juliana added softly, "Sebastian, that pearl necklace..." He didn't reply but took his seat beside Anastasia instead. The first item of the auction was brought out: a pearl necklace, strung with South Sea pearls, their soft luster glowing warmly beneath the lights. Anastasia loved it at first sight. The starting bid was two million. Without hesitation, she lifted her paddle. "Three million." To her surprise, Juliana raised her own paddle. "Three-point-two." She grew up a poor student in the mountains, and she's been working less than a year. Where would she get that kind of money? Anastasia lifted her paddle again. "Five million." Juliana faltered, glancing her way. Her reddened eyes brimmed with grievance as she whispered, "Ms. Abbott, you have so much money. You can buy any jewelry you want. It's just a necklace-why do you have to fight me for it?" Anastasia laughed lightly. "This is an auction. The rule is simple-the highest bidder wins. What's with the aggrieved act? Everyone has their place in this world, Juliana. This isn't yours." Juliana bit her lip, tears reddening her eyes. "You're right, I don't belong here. I'm just a country girl. I don't deserve to be at a high-society event like this. But this necklace was a family heirloom, lost a hundred years ago. I only wanted to buy it back as a keepsake. Why do you have to humiliate me like this?" A family heirloom from a hundred years ago? Really? Anastasia thought the lie was almost insultingly sloppy. The guests around them began whispering, pointing subtly at Juliana. Her face went pale and blotchy with shame. Just then, someone approached the auctioneer from backstage and murmured in his ear. The auctioneer blinked, then raised his voice to announce, "A ceiling bid!" Gasps rippled through the crowd. In auction terms, a ceiling bid meant someone had decided that as long as a particular person wanted an item, they would keep raising the price until all other bidders backed out-ensuring that person took it home at the highest possible price. "Who placed the ceiling bid?" someone asked. The auctioneer's gaze fell on Juliana as if he had spotted a heiress with limitless wealth. He smiled broadly. "It was placed for Ms. Sage. This pearl necklace tonight will be ceiling bid on her behalf." "Could she be a long-lost daughter of some old money? That would explain the shot." 1/4 1:50 pm DDDD. "Or maybe some nouveau riche has taken a liking to her." Speculation spread across the room. Juliana turned to Sebastian, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. At last, with the ceiling bid in place, she seemed to have the upper hand. She lifted her chin proudly "Anastasia, are you still going to fight me for it?" Anastasia stiffened, disbelief flashing across her face as she turned to Sebastian. Just a minute carlier, while she and Juliana had been bidding back and forth, Sebastian had been fiddling with his phone. Then suddenly, someone stepped in to place a ceiling bid-for Juliana. And as Anastasia looked at him, Sebastian's screen conveniently went dark. Her eyes closed briefly, fingers trembling at her side. The Kairos family might have wealth, but Terrence had never given his son a penny. He had wanted to ensure Sebastian didn't grow into a spoiled heir who squandered money without thought. Every coin Sebastian spent came from Skycrest Corporation-her father's company. He fed off her family, yet still tried to tear them down and leave nothing standing. How could anyone be so cruel? The suffocating atmosphere pressed in on Anastasia from every side. Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Under the stunned eyes of the crowd, she raised her paddle again. "One hundred million!" If Sebastian had arranged that ceiling bid for Juliana, then she would help him play it to the bitter end. The number sent the auction hall into an uproar. The atmosphere surged into frenzy as the auctioneer's grin stretched car to car. A single pearl necklace fetching a hundred million-unbelievable, outrageous. Sitting beside Anastasia, Sebastian's composure cracked. If she kept bidding like that, he might very well lose everything over a pearl necklace. Fortunately, Anastasia soon rose from her seat and left the hall. Sebastian wanted to chase after her, but Juliana tugged at his arm. Her gaze was soft and full of meaning. "Sebastian, I never thought you'd place a ceiling bid for me..." In truth, Sebastian was already regretting it. He had money, but he wasn't a fool. A necklace worth barely a few million had just been driven up to a hundred million by Anastasia's stubbornness. Still, he had promised Juliana he would help her reclaim the so-called family heirloom. Thinking back, he realized Anastasia rarely wanted things. He shouldn't have gone against her. A pang of guilt stirred in him, and he shook Juliana off to chase after Anastasia. But outside, she was already gone. Anastasia had left the auction because Timothy called. He said a buyer for Skycrest Corporation had surfaced and wanted to meet. "Who's the buyer, Mr. Clark?" Anastasia had expected the process to take time. After all, transferring shares of such a large listed company wasn't simple. Few had the financial strength, and those who did rarely dared cross the Kairos 2/4 1:59 pm D D D "It's Concord Capital. But the conditions still need to be negotiated. Their boss is only expressing initial interest for now." Anastasia froze. Concord Capital, in the past few years, had snatched more than a few deals out from under Skycrest Corporation, and Sebastian often spoke of them as mortal enemies. Anastasia didn't know much about business, but she knew their boss kept a low profile, rarely appeared in public, and was rumored to have ties to the military. Beyond that, she knew little. By evening, Anastasia arrived at the private club where the meeting was arranged. To be safe, she came a full hour early. As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed several familiar luxury cars parked out front. Sebastian and his band of rotten influences are here too? Since leaving the auction, Sebastian had called her multiple times. She hadn't answered any of them. A server approached, asking if she had reserved a private room. Out of habit, she gave Sebastian's usual suite number without thinking. When the door swung open and she stepped inside, the chatter cut off at once. Sebastian sat in a black shirt, the top buttons undone, a cigarette between his fingers, and a glass of wine in his hand. At the sight of Anastasia, he stubbed the cigarette out immediately and came toward her. "Anna, what are you doing here?" The faint smell of alcohol clung to him, and through the open collar, the shape of his chest was visible. There was no denying it-Sebastian was strikingly handsome. Among the other young heirs, his presence stood out effortlessly. His so-called "buddies" scrambled to greet her. "Anna, come in. Sebastian was just talking about how much he missed you." "Yeah, what spell did you cast on him? He hasn't stopped thinking about you." "Who do you think you are, calling her Anna? She's Sebastian's woman-show some respect!" Anastasia ignored their teasing. Realizing she had entered the wrong room, she turned to leave, but Sebastian quickly caught her wrist. "Anna." Her eyes locked on his. "Weren't you parading around with Juliana? Why bother holding on to me?" Juliana was present as well. "I didn't invite her," Sebastian explained. "See that girl in blue? She's Ethan's new girlfriend. It's her birthday. Juliana only came because that girl invited her." 3/4 1:59 pm D Sure enough, Juliana sat beside the girl in blue, far from Sebastian. It seemed plausible enough. But Anastasia didn't care to decide whether his words were true or not. She wanted to go. He wanted her to stay. The air between them turned delicate, brittle. Someone caught the shift and laughed. "What's wrong, Anastasia? Having a spat with Sebastian?" 19 4/4 1:59 pm The Rose Who Chose His Rival Over Him +8 Pearls ་