"I remember."
Noah Nash nodded. "Back then, your life was hanging by a thread. Grandfather Hawthorne used all his resources to find you, but they couldn’t find a trace of you—not even a ghost’s shadow. For a while, everyone thought you were dead. Then, a month later, you came back completely unharmed."
The Nash and Hawthorne families had been friends for generations, so he and Elias had known each other since childhood. The memory of that incident was still fresh in his mind.
"Are you saying the girl who saved you and took care of you was Vesper Grayson?"
Jared Hawthorne nodded, his gaze dark and deep. "Yes. Years ago, Milton Grayson sent her back to Ashmore to live with Master Grayson for a while."
Master Grayson fell gravely ill when he was thirty-five. After narrowly escaping death, he became obsessed with traditional Chinese medicine. Once Milton Grayson was married, he handed the company over to him and went to study medicine under the old doctor who had saved his life.
He has lived on Mount Corvath in Ashmore for years.
"That year, my driver was taking me back when we were tracked and attacked. Our car was forced to a stop on Mount Corvath. The driver held off the assassins to buy me time to escape."
"They had guns. They shot the driver dead. Before I could hide, I fell off a cliff during the chase."
"As it happened, Master Grayson—Henry Grayson—was out gathering herbs with a six-year-old Vesper Grayson. They found me, covered in blood, and he carried me back."
"I woke up seven days later. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a pair of bright, clear eyes. The little girl was as exquisite as a porcelain doll."
"Does it hurt, big brother? Prue will blow on it for you, and the ouchie will fly away."
Her soft, sweet, childlike voice instantly soothed his frayed, anxious nerves.
"Later, after my wounds healed, Henry Grayson sent me home."
"After that, I was sent abroad. I never saw her again. I didn’t even know her name."
"It wasn’t until three years ago that I finally found out who she was. I was going to use the marriage alliance to get closer to her."
"But I never expected her to run off to Ashmore overnight."
"By the time I heard the news and went after her, I was a step too late."
"She already had a boyfriend."
Noah Nash was surprised. "Are you sure about your investigation? You’re not mistaken, are you?"
...
After two days of asking around, Vesper Grayson finally learned about Grandfather Hawthorne’s preferences.
The old man had always loved antiques and calligraphy paintings, especially the works of Thornton, which he was obsessed with.
She had someone look into it and found out that a painting by Thornton, the *Envy Flower Seeking Sentence Map*, was up for auction tonight.
No matter what it took, she had to win it tonight and give it to Grandfather Hawthorne as an apology.
Even if her marriage engagement with the Hawthorne Family couldn’t continue.
The city lights began to glow, neon signs flickering to life.
Vesper Grayson and Shiloh Sloan went to the Apex Auction House.
"I heard a lot of people are here for Thornton’s painting tonight. We probably don’t have much of a chance of winning it."
Shiloh Sloan was worried. Items at the Apex Auction House started in the millions, and a painting by a renowned master like Thornton was incredibly hard to come by.
"Regardless, we just have to do our best."
Vesper Grayson took a deep breath, her eyes glinting with determination.
She had just checked her account balance of thirty million. It should be more than enough to buy the painting.
’Provided no one’s here just to drive up the price.’
On the second floor of the auction house, in a private VIP booth.
Jared Hawthorne sat on the sofa, his legs crossed, his posture refined and elegant.
"I already asked for you. They’re only auctioning Thornton’s painting today. The fan painting will be saved for the next auction."
He handed him a glass of 18-year-old Yamazaki whisky.
Jared Hawthorne took it and had a sip.
It was as smooth as silk on the palate, with the fragrance of sandalwood, honey, and fruit entwined with an oaken finish. The aftertaste was long and lingering.
"Good taste."
"A friend sent me a case from Kyoran. If you like it, I’ll send half a case over to you sometime."
After speaking, Noah Nash’s gaze casually swept over the hall below, and his eyebrows raised slightly.
"Elias, look down to the left."
Following his line of sight.
She was wearing a champagne-colored satin strapless gown. The fabric draped like flowing clouds, clinging to her skin to outline the delicate, graceful lines of her shoulders and neck. The waist was cinched gently, and the skirt trailed loosely on the floor, shimmering with a soft light as she walked. Her gentle features made her appear elegant and tenderly refined.
Jared Hawthorne narrowed his eyes, a deep, inscrutable emotion solidifying in their depths.
Down below, Vesper Grayson seemed to sense something. She subconsciously lifted her gaze toward the second floor.
But all she could see was a row of frosted glass windows shimmering with a faint light. The figures behind them were indistinct, and she couldn’t make out anything clearly.
The lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight precisely on the central auction stage.
The entire room fell silent. The auctioneer walked slowly onto the stage, and the auction officially began.
One lot after another was sold, and finally, the target of the evening arrived.
Her gaze was locked on the center of the stage.
"*Envy Flower Seeking Sentence Map* is a hanging scroll, ink on paper, created by Thornton in 1520. The painting depicts a court lady in a wide-sleeved long robe with an ornate, high chignon, her posture elegant and free... The starting bid is three million."
As the auctioneer finished, the sound of bidding rose and fell around her like the tide.
"Booth number five on the second floor, five million!"
Vesper Grayson quickly raised her paddle.
"Six million!"
In the private booth, Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like your little savior is also here for Thornton’s painting," Noah Nash said, gloating.
"Six-point-five million!"
The bidding downstairs continued.
Seeing Jared Hawthorne remain still, Noah Nash arched an eyebrow. "Grandfather Hawthorne specifically told you to win Thornton’s painting at any cost, even if you have to drive the price to the moon."
Jared Hawthorne said lightly, "His study is already full of paintings. He won’t miss this one."
"Tsk, you’re just spoiling her."
’If Elias didn’t back down, no one else would be able to win an authentic Thornton.’
"Vesper, it’s already at six-point-five million. Should we keep going?"
Shiloh Sloan nervously gripped her arm. "This part is so intense."
"A few words and millions are gone."
"Of course, we have to. It’s my target for tonight."
Vesper Grayson gritted her teeth.
"Seven-point-five million!"
After calling her bid, she watched the second floor with an anxious heart. Seeing no further bids from up there, her heart, which had been caught in her throat, finally dropped as the auctioneer’s gavel fell.
’Whew! I got it.’
Shiloh Sloan was even more excited than she was. Gripping her arm, she said, "Oh my god, that was too intense. I need to go to the restroom. Wait for me, I’ll be right back!"
"..."
Vesper Grayson wasn’t interested in the remaining lots, so she didn’t plan on staying any longer.
"I’m going to handle the paperwork. I’ll wait for you in the car."
"Okay."
Vesper Grayson quickly completed the transaction, instructing the auction house to pack the item and deliver it to the Grayson Residence. Then, she got into her car to wait.
In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a familiar figure walking out of the auction house’s main entrance. The man following him had a hint of a devil-may-care smile on his lips. His black motorcycle jacket accentuated his tall, straight posture, his noble air hidden within the clean lines of his clothes—the very picture of a rich heir, bred in the bone.
Even though the car windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible for anyone outside to see in, Vesper Grayson’s heart still leaped into her throat. Her fingertips curled, and she subconsciously shrank back into her seat.
She watched as the two of them got into their car. The engine started, and it slowly drove past hers.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but just as their car passed by, the man in the passenger seat suddenly turned his head and shot a deep glance in her direction.