Sienna Everett whipped her head around to look at Julian Forrester, her clear eyes filled with shock and amazement.
’You just said you weren’t the one who told Samuel Sutton to go downstairs!’
Julian Forrester: "..."
He gave Samuel Sutton an expressionless glance.
Samuel Sutton’s excitement hadn’t completely faded when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
’Huh? What’s going on?’
’Did I say something wrong...?’
Items at this type of auction were generally presented in ascending order of value, so the later an item was, the higher its price.
An antique piano was now up for auction.
Preserved since the Middle Ages, it was quite valuable, with a starting bid of five million.
Shannon Everett had her heart set on this piano.
After failing to win the Princess Crown earlier, she was determined to get this piano.
Wyatt Everett couldn’t bear to see Shannon disappointed again. After all, she was the only sister he truly acknowledged.
So this time, Wyatt was determined to win the piano. He raised his paddle again and again, and within a few minutes, the bid had reached ten million.
Seeing this touching scene of sibling devotion, Sienna Everett’s eyes darted around before she turned to Julian Forrester and asked, "Can I bid?"
"Of course," the man said, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You like this piano?"
"I don’t," Sienna Everett said, shaking her head. She raised her paddle and called out, following the previous bid, "Twelve million."
Hearing this price, the auctioneer immediately looked toward the second floor and excitedly repeated, "Miss Sienna Everett on the second floor bids twelve million!"
The Everetts all frowned deeply at the mention of Sienna Everett’s name.
Wyatt Everett’s expression turned frigid. "That little wretch! Does she have no shame? How dare she bid? Is she trying to steal what Shannon wants again?!"
Infuriated, Wyatt Everett raised his paddle. "Thirteen million!"
"Thirteen million! Mr. Wyatt Everett, paddle number 20, bids thirteen million! Are there any other bids? Piano lovers, do not miss out!" the auctioneer boomed.
"Eighteen million," Sienna Everett countered nonchalantly.
A wave of sharp gasps swept through the venue at her bid.
’Jumping the bid by five million at once... This Miss Sienna Everett is really something else.’
Wyatt Everett hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and raising his paddle. "Nineteen million!"
Sienna Everett unhurriedly matched him. "Twenty-four million."
’Damn, another five million.’
The auctioneer’s face was flushed with excitement. "Twenty-four million! Miss Sienna Everett on the second floor bids twenty-four million! Mr. Wyatt Everett, paddle number 20, are you going to raise your bid?"
Wyatt Everett hesitated again. He had thought he could win the piano for a little over ten million, but now the price was well over twenty million, far exceeding what he was prepared to pay.
Morgan Everett’s face turned ashen with rage. He glared toward the second floor. "That accursed child! She’s doing this just to take what Shannon wants!"
Shannon Everett bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes as if she were about to cry. "Dad, if Older Sister wants it, just let her have it. I’ll be fine."
"My dear daughter, don’t say that." Morgan Everett’s heart ached for her as he gently patted the back of her hand. "You loved the Princess Crown so much, and you didn’t get it. How could I possibly let you be disappointed again?"
He then looked at Wyatt Everett. "Wyatt, keep bidding."
Wyatt Everett nodded and raised his paddle again. "Twenty-five million!"
At this price, the other guests in the hall had fallen silent. No one else was bidding.
After all, not everyone could afford to spend over twenty million on a piano.
A faint, bewitching smile played on Sienna Everett’s lips. "Twenty-eight million."
The auctioneer immediately looked toward Wyatt Everett. "Mr. Wyatt Everett, Miss Sienna Everett on the second floor has bid twenty-eight million! Will you raise your bid?"
Wyatt Everett winced. Honestly, spending over twenty million on a piano was really not worth it.
But the thought of being bested by Sienna Everett was even more humiliating.
Especially since this was the piano Shannon wanted.
Shannon Everett noticed his hesitation. Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she said in a choked voice, "Third Brother, don’t bid anymore. I don’t want the piano. I’ll let Older Sister have it."
Wyatt Everett hadn’t wanted to bid again, but the sight of Shannon Everett’s tears softened his heart. Steeling himself, he raised his paddle. "Thirty million!"
Seeing this, a flicker of triumphant glee flashed in the depths of Shannon Everett’s eyes.
This was a tactic she had mastered. As long as she put on a show of being sensible and forbearing, feigning retreat to ultimately get her way, the Everetts would satisfy her every desire.
After placing his bid, Wyatt Everett immediately pricked up his ears.
The other guests in the hall also held their breath, waiting to see if the Miss Everett on the second floor would bid again.
’Thirty million for a piano... It’s really not worth it at all.’
Sienna Everett watched Wyatt Everett’s back. It was ramrod straight; he was probably breaking out in a sweat by now.
Knowing Wyatt, this price was likely his absolute limit.
’If I bid again, he most likely won’t follow.’
Sienna Everett’s eyes curved up slightly, a faint smile touching her lips as she slowly lowered her paddle, making no further bids.
Seeing this, the auctioneer raised his gavel and announced loudly, "Mr. Wyatt Everett, paddle number 20, bids thirty million! Any more bids? Going once at thirty million! Going twice! And for the third and final time...!"
With a final, decisive BANG, the auctioneer brought down his gavel.
The sale was final.
The auctioneer was absolutely ecstatic. "Congratulations to Mr. Wyatt Everett for winning this antique piano for thirty million! Congratulations!"
Wyatt Everett instantly let out a sigh of relief, raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
’If Sienna had bid again, I definitely couldn’t have kept up. At least she knows when to quit.’
Morgan Everett also let out a sigh of relief.
Just then, whispers broke out among the surrounding guests.
"If you ask me, spending thirty million on a piano makes him a real sucker!"
"Exactly. That piano is worth ten million, tops."
"That Wyatt Everett guy must have more money than sense!"
"Hahahaha! Only a chump like him would spend thirty million on a piano!"
"And look at the auctioneer! He’s grinning from ear to ear!"
...
Hearing their mockery, the color drained from Wyatt Everett’s face.
It slowly dawned on him. Sienna hadn’t wanted the same piano as Shannon; she was deliberately driving up the price!
She had deliberately made him spend a fortune on that piano, deliberately made him look like a fool!
Thirty million, just thrown away like that!
Morgan Everett realized it at the same moment. He shot to his feet in a rage, but seeing all eyes on him, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and sit back down.
Auctions like this were final. There was no backing out.
They were stuck with the label of being suckers.
「In the second-floor private room.」
Watching Sienna’s play, Samuel Sutton was in absolute awe. She had effortlessly made the Everett Family bleed, forcing them to waste so much money for nothing.
And they couldn’t even complain, forced to swallow their pride and accept the label of being suckers.
That move was absolutely brilliant!
Sienna knew full well that under normal circumstances, Wyatt and Morgan wouldn’t have been so easily provoked. But when it came to Shannon, they always lost their composure.
’They want to give Shannon the best of everything, even if it means trampling me, their own flesh and blood, into the dust.’
’That’s why the moment I started bidding, Wyatt rushed to defend Shannon, showing his blatant favoritism. For me, his real sister, there was only endless blame and suspicion.’
Sienna understood the reasons, but it no longer saddened her as it once would have. She had long since seen the Everett Family’s true colors.
’Besides, the real show was just getting started!’