Chapter 227: Chapter 227: You Came to Me Yourself
How big is this world, anyway? Why can I encounter him everywhere?
Just as she finished complaining in her mind, the auctioneer announced that the Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup had been sold for three hundred million, and the next item was coming up.
Collecting her thoughts, Ann Vaughn continued to introduce the auction items, but throughout the next phase, she deliberately avoided that scorching gaze.
The auction had been going on for nearly an hour and a half and was finally nearing its end.
The last item up for auction was—
"The Fairy Diamond." Ann Vaughn quietly glanced at the hint card hidden in her palm and found only one sentence explaining the diamond.
Her eyes flickered as she naturally explained, "This diamond originally belonged to a duke from F Country, but later, during the war..."
Since the explanation was brief, Ann Vaughn embellished within reason, and no one realized that she had created the story afterward; they thought everything she said was true.
Finally, "The Fairy Diamond" was sold by a guest from the upper terrace for a price of over one billion.
However, this guest made a request for Ann Vaughn to personally deliver the item.
Since it wasn’t a particularly difficult request, Ann Vaughn thought for a moment and agreed.
"Hello, guest number six, here is the item you just purchased, please inspect it..." Ann Vaughn placed the brocade box containing the Fairy Diamond on the table on the left upper terrace.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, it was pinned down by a large palm.
Ann Vaughn’s delicate brows furrowed, and just as she was about to shake off the hand, she heard that familiar deep voice say, "Ann Vaughn, you came delivered by yourself."
A chill shot through Ann Vaughn’s heart. When she looked up and saw the man’s handsome face, the corner of her lips twitched, "Why are you over here?"
She remembered clearly that he sat on the right terrace, so how did he end up on the left side?
If it weren’t for this, she wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss. Who could have thought that in a highly coveted place like The Gilded Pavilion, this man occupied not one, but two prime spots?!
Simply outrageous!
"What do you think?" Cyrus Hawthorne’s narrow dark eyes seemed to harbor a hint of a smile as his calloused thumb gently rubbed her wrist, trapping her without any way to escape.
The implication in his eyes was deep and direct, without any embellishment.
Ann Vaughn’s heart quivered slightly, but she quickly calmed down, her pretty face steady as she looked at him, "I’m not interested in guessing what you think. Please let go; I have things to do."
She initially thought it would take some effort to make him release his grip, but unexpectedly, the next second after she spoke,
Cyrus Hawthorne released her wrist, glanced at the sparrow-patterned cheongsam she wore, her exposed white neck, and the small stretch of her calf skin, his narrow eyes squinted instantly.
"Wearing so little, aren’t you cold?"
Little?
Ann Vaughn glanced at her long-sleeved cheongsam reaching her ankles, twitching the corners of her lips as she replied, "No need for you to worry."
With that, she turned to leave, only to be grabbed again by Cyrus Hawthorne’s hand.
Cyrus Hawthorne stood up from the sofa, removed his dark coat, and draped it over Ann Vaughn’s shoulders, wrapping her tightly.
"If you dare take it off, do you believe I won’t carry you out of here right now?" Cyrus Hawthorne warned in a low voice, gazing at Ann Vaughn’s reluctant expression.
"What gives you the right to control me?" Ann Vaughn chuckled angrily, pushing him away and striding out of there without looking back.
What gives him the right?
Behind her, Cyrus Hawthorne stuck one hand in his pocket, a faintly amused curve tugging at his thin lips; it was indeed a great question.
Back in the hallway, Ann Vaughn shrugged off the coat, casually throwing it onto a nearby seat.
Sutton Jennings, stepping out of the elevator, immediately spotted Ann Vaughn venting her anger at the coat and chuckled as he walked towards her.
"Here’s the reward promised by The Gilded Pavilion’s owner. Have a look."
"So soon?" Ann Vaughn sat directly on the coat, took the brocade box Sutton Jennings handed her, and opened it.
The owner of The Gilded Pavilion didn’t deceive her; the rare medicinal herbs were of the highest quality and in abundant quantities.
"I owe someone a favor now." After pondering for a moment, Ann Vaughn raised her head, "What does he want me to help with?"
"His son has been in a coma after a car accident, and he hasn’t woken up for two years." Sutton Jennings briefly explained The Gilded Pavilion owner’s plea, "He didn’t meet you in person because he feared you might dislike it, so he asked me to convey the message."
One must admit, the owner of The Gilded Pavilion knows how to handle matters.
Whether Ann Vaughn agrees or not, with these rare medicinal herbs here, she would have to maintain some degree of cordiality with him in the future.
"Give his contact information to Sherry. She’ll help me arrange the time." After a moment’s thought, Ann Vaughn agreed.
Sutton Jennings nodded with a faint smile, then took the brocade box from her, saying, "Go to the lounge and grab something to eat first. I have a few things to handle but will come to get you in a bit."
"Alright, then I’ll wait for you."
With that, Ann Vaughn headed towards the lounge.
After the auction, all guests would gather in the lounge for a short rest and entertainment until it was time to leave.
Ann Vaughn hadn’t noticed that people occasionally glanced at her, focusing solely on finding where the ice cream was.
"Here it is." Ann Vaughn’s bright eyes lit up, and she walked over to grab a freshly made cup of Häagen-Dazs, just about to enjoy it,
when suddenly, a few women surrounded her, startling Ann Vaughn into protecting her ice cream cup immediately.
"Are you Ann Vaughn?" A woman in a designer gown exclaimed, covering her mouth, "It really is you. I thought I was mistaken during the auction!"
"Who would have thought that the internationally renowned Doctor Aquarelle is actually you? In the past, you seemed so introverted and shy in class, but you’re actually so impressive."
"Where do you go for your skincare treatments? Can you recommend it to me?"
"I saw this cheongsam at DR.K’s flagship store; it’s a never-for-sale limited edition. How did you get it?"
"You’re even more glamorous than when you were Mrs. Hawthorne. And to think those who couldn’t get what they wanted spread rumors that you were abandoned, but now, I bet they can’t even muster the energy to be envious."
All the women chattered away.
Ann Vaughn looked at their faces for a while but couldn’t recall which period classmates they were. Nevertheless, she still showed polite answers to their questions.
The women initially thought that Ann Vaughn, having achieved success, would look down on them and have no interest in talking.
After all, back then, they only had a very average relationship with Ann Vaughn.
If the past Ann Vaughn, who snatched her sister’s man, got married in her place, and pathetically got dumped, only invited ridicule and pity—