Chapter 68

Elise stared at the bank card in her hand. Her fingers were still trembling.

Daniel had left as though delivering seventy million dollars were an ordinary errand. Apparently, to Julian, it was.

Before going, he had offered one last reassurance, perhaps afraid she would refuse. “You can think of it as Mr. Whitmore giving you part of your father's inheritance in advance, miss.”

Elise had nodded in a daze. She'd only come to an auction to buy gifts for her brothers, and Julian had responded by throwing money at her.

Did he think she'd spent everything and needed a refill?

The pain of watching her balance shrink vanished. She was rich again! Having an older brother was wonderful.

Now she could bid on Theo's gift without worrying.

Beside her, Qi Yaqiu had been listening with all the attention a juicy conversation deserved. She hadn't caught much, only “seventy million” and “inheritance.”

The woman had inherited seventy million dollars?

Everything the Qi family owned put together wasn't worth that much.

Elise won the antique cufflinks. Then the auction moved on to its final lot.

The Fancy Vivid pinkish-purple diamond weighed 10.09 carats and had a perfect cushion cut. Its starting price was $4.9 million.

Pictures of the dreamy stone had drawn attention from society women as soon as the catalog appeared. Some had come prepared to spend whatever it took, holding back through the earlier lots for this one. The auction house had made certain everyone knew it was coming.

When the auctioneer announced the diamond, conversation broke out across the room.

“Almost five million just to start? That has to be for the Mu family.”

“They haven't bought anything yet. Maybe they've been waiting for it.”

“But isn't Mu Chuan uninterested in women's jewelry?”

The stone was plainly suited to a woman. No one had heard of a woman in Mu Chuan's life, and it seemed unlikely he'd buy it for a collection.

“Then is he buying it for someone? Who?”

“Who knows? And it's not just him. Julian Whitmore bought a lot of jewelry at an auction before this. People say the man who never looks twice at a woman must have someone hidden away, and he's buying presents to keep her happy. He's here again, and he hasn't bid on anything yet. He must be waiting for the diamond too.”

“I'd love to know who got all that jewelry. She couldn't wear it all in a lifetime.”

“Mu Chuan and Julian Whitmore both waiting for the last lot? This should be fun.”

Elise studied the diamond on display. Its pink-purple color was exactly the sort of thing a girl could dream about. She liked it, but the opening price was far too high. Even if it had been cheaper, she wouldn't have bought it. She could spend freely on other people; spending on herself was another matter.

Upstairs, Mu Chuan stood at his box window, watching her. The moment she'd seen the diamond, she'd leaned forward, curiosity showing on her face.

He smiled. The diamond was the reason he'd come today, and seeing her reaction put him at ease. If he won it for her, she'd surely be happy.

Pei Yi entered and leaned close to report what he'd just learned.

Mu had looked into the Whitmores after meeting Elise. He knew who her brothers were and had learned something of how they had neglected her before coming to cherish her. When he'd seen Julian's butler speaking to her downstairs, he'd sent Pei to find out why. Julian, concerned that Elise might run short of spending money, had sent her more.

The news left Mu with an ache of envy. Julian could give her money openly because he was her brother. When would Mu be able to do the same?

He'd worried about her funds while watching her bid. He knew she had money, but he wanted nothing more than to pay for her himself. Perhaps one day he could offer her his money openly without frightening her away.

He was glad she had a brother who doted on her. But what would that brother think if he learned Mu was pursuing her? Mu's reputation outside the family was hardly good.

Before he could dwell on it, bidding began. He glanced at Pei, who nodded and took the paddle to the window. Mu settled onto the sofa, crossed his long legs and tasted the red wine in his glass, keeping the room below in view.

“Our final lot is the pinkish-purple diamond, opening at $4.9 million,” the auctioneer announced. “Bidding is now open!”

“Five million!”

Pei's raised paddle set the room buzzing again. The guesses had been right: Mu Chuan had come for the diamond.

Qi Yaqiu's face changed. Who was he buying it for? He hadn't even been willing to see her, so she couldn't pretend it was meant for her. Yet she'd never seen another woman beside him.

A sense of danger came over her. She gripped her shawl tighter.

Elise heard the talk around her and learned that Mu was bidding. With her brothers' presents secured and nothing else to do, she stayed to enjoy the spectacle. Mu Chuan really was rich. The price would surely rise several times over its opening bid; she could never bear to spend that much herself.

As she was thinking this, the auctioneer gestured toward another box on the third floor.

“Five point two million!”

Elise turned. Daniel stood at the other window, paddle raised.

Julian wanted it too?

Mu could do as he liked with his own money, but her brother was buying something this expensive as well. Elise frowned, feeling the cost on his behalf. It was outrageous.

Julian's gaze swept toward Mu's box. He tightened his grip on his glass and signaled Daniel to keep pace with every bid.

Mu Chuan had approached his sister without Julian knowing and given her an invitation to the charity event. Why go to such trouble unless he intended to court her? And why bid for the diamond now, if not to win her favor?

Julian wouldn't let him have his way.

The diamond was also why Julian had come. Elise must be growing tired of the jewelry he'd given her before, and this lovely pink-purple stone looked like something she would enjoy. Yet Mu had chosen to compete for it.

The Mu family might be more powerful than the Whitmores, but Julian didn't care if protecting his sister meant offending Mu Chuan. Anyone who tried to take advantage of Ellie would answer to him.

The two sides traded bids without giving ground. Once the price passed $7 million, the noise below grew louder. Everyone assumed Julian was buying the diamond for his mysterious lover, while Mu's intended recipient remained a mystery. With each raise, the tension in the room mounted.

“Seven point three million!” Pei called, lifting his paddle.

Daniel raised his almost immediately, as if programmed to respond the instant Pei moved.

Pei frowned. He could feel the hostility from Julian's box too. “Mr. Mu, this...”

Mu's brows drew together. Was Julian really going to such lengths to buy a present for that mysterious woman? The diamond would be much better given to Elise.

He lifted a hand, his expression cool, and told Pei to continue.