Vivianne assumed Frederick only wanted to leave this place of sadness because of his divorce.It proved that he held no true place for her in his heart; otherwise, he wouldn't abandon her so abruptly."We've reached the place. You can leave now," Vivianne said coldly after dropping Frederick off at the hilltop mansion.Frederick nodded and exited the car before walking toward the mansion. His mind was consumed with the impending journey to Valyr City and confronting the York family. He paid no attention to Vivianne. Her eyes were already welling up with tears.Watching Frederick disappear into the villa, Vivianne slammed her fists on the steering wheel as she cursed him."He never cared about me. Just go, and don't come back!"Tears streamed down her face and fell onto the steering wheel. No longer able to contain herself, Vivianne slumped over and sobbed uncontrollably.…At the Miller mansion, Priscilla sifted through her wardrobe. With the auction approaching, she needed t
Priscilla picked up one of the origami lucky stars, and a wave of memories washed over her.As a child, she'd always believed these little stars could carry her through a magical ocean of fairy tales at night. After her marriage, she had shared this whimsical childhood dream with Frederick, and he had surprisingly remembered.Priscilla shook her head gently. Yet, what did it matter now? Despite his thoughtfulness and attention, none of it could change the truth.After all, he was still a man without ambition or success.Just as she was about to toss the star away, she caught a glimpse of something through the paper; there seemed to be writing inside. Curiosity piqued, she carefully unfolded the star and discovered a line of tiny script.Priscilla unfolded several more stars, each holding a message."Honey, you leave early and come home late. It's been half a month since you've had breakfast. No matter how busy you are, take care of yourself.""It's your birthday today, honey.
"A lot about life only makes sense when you're older. Get yourself ready. I'm taking you to the Smith family auction to broaden your horizons. Then you'll see how little you understand right now."Priscilla saw her younger, naive self reflected in June.Determined to keep June from marrying a man without ambition, she wanted to introduce her to the world of wealth and power—a world where money was everything.June pouted but nodded obediently. "Then I need to find a place to keep Frederick's origami lucky stars first."With that, she carefully carried the trash can away.…At Hilltop Mansion, Frederick packed two changes of clothes and prepared to head to Valyr City.He needed answers about his parents' deaths, and the York family was the key.Just as he stepped outside, a fiery red Ferrari screeched to a halt.The car door opened, revealing a pair of slender legs under a flowing red cocktail dress. Every time Frederick saw Scarlett, she was dressed in red. He wondered how m
Frederick had no choice but to open the door and enter the mansion with Scarlett.Once inside, Frederick quickly asked anxiously, "Do you have a plan?"Scarlett's enchanting eyes held a hint of a siren's smile. "Darling, why are you always in such a rush?""I have no time for idle chatter," Frederick retorted, his expression remaining cool and distant.Scarlett shook her head reluctantly, her voice coquettish. "You have no sense of romance."With a resigned sigh, Scarlett's playful demeanor subsided."Do you happen to know about the Stanva City auction in a few days?' she asked, her voice now serious."The auction hosted by the Smiths in collaboration with the Monroes?" Frederick replied with a subtle nod.Scarlett's eyes sparkled with surprise. "So, you do know of it?" She hadn't expected Frederick, a man seemingly focused on combat and medicine, to possess knowledge of such high-society affairs.Frederick nodded again. "How is this connected to the York family?"She expla
Scarlett's smile widened at Frederick's words.She leaned closer, her position subtly shifting from casual to seductive. "Oh, but aren't your matters mine as well? Why would I seek anything in return?"Frederick looked at Scarlett incredulously, not believing that someone who operated in such circles would help him without reason.Scarlett changed tactics. "Then, my matters are yours too, right? If I needed help, you'd offer it... wouldn't you? After all, we're practically family.""I treated Tyger last time because of Vivianne," Frederick replied, his tone cool."This time, it'll be one favor for another. That'll even out the score between us."A flicker of disappointment crossed Scarlett's eyes. She'd hoped to bring Frederick closer, but it seemed his interest wasn't as easily swayed.However, they would travel to Stanva City together. With such frequent interaction, she was confident his heart would eventually soften toward her."I'd like you to treat someone for me after we
Jacob chauffeured Frederick, Tyger, and Scarlett to Stanva City.It took three hours for the trio to arrive. Tyger sat in the passenger seat, while Frederick and Scarlett sat in the back.Once in the car, Scarlett leaned on Frederick's shoulder and slept throughout the journey. Frederick had never been to Stanva City and knew nothing about it.Tyger and Jacob, who had spent years navigating the underworld, were quite familiar with Stanva City from their younger days. Tyger explained to Frederick, "Mr. York, once we get out of the car, we'll head straight to the Monroe Pavilion.""The Monroe Pavilion?" Frederick asked, the name catching him off guard.Tyger explained calmly, "Mr. York, do you know why the Smith family chose to collaborate with the Monroe family for the auction in Stanva City?"Frederick shook his head. "Is there a reason?"Tyger smiled. "The Monroes, while influential in Jenaire City, aren't the only powerful family there. The Smiths chose them for a specific rea
Frederick had understood Scarlett's point before she even finished.An auction on a cruise ship, isolated and far from any authorities, made it nearly impossible for thieves to escape. Moreover, disposing of a body at sea by feeding it to sharks was far easier.Suddenly, a flicker of darkness crossed Frederick's expression.Seeing the change in Frederick's expression, Scarlett quickly spoke up, worried that he might be afraid to attend the auction. "Don't worry, the Smiths only target those who cause trouble. We'll be perfectly safe attending. Plus, with my father's connection to the Monroe family, we have extra protection."Frederick shook his head. "That's not what concerns me. In fact, a cruise ship venue plays to my advantage."Scarlett and Tyger both looked at Frederick oddly, not understanding why he found having the auction on a cruise ship so fitting.Frederick continued indifferently, "If we encounter the Yorks, and they refuse to cooperate… Well, a cruise ship provi
The security guard's single punch sent the drunkard sprawling. He then skidded across the ground for a distance. Wiping his hands on his uniform, the guard scoffed. "Trying to act tough in the Monroe Pavilion with so little money, huh? You were told to make an appointment and get in line! Just follow the rules. Mr. Sirius would have my hide if I let you in."Witnessing this, the drunkard's underlings were terrified. They quickly scooped him up before fleeing.They were from Valyr City, and they were savvy enough to understand the implications. The presence of such a capable guard made it apparent that the hotel's owner was not someone to trifle with.Their boss, who was in town for business, had heard about the Monroe Pavilion and decided to check it out, only to walk into such a scene.Frederick was taken aback by what he saw. He recognized the Monroe Pavilion's assertive control. Even arriving with a million in cash didn't spare you from a beating if you lacked an appointment.
Mary's case was the most severe, while Ivan's symptoms were the mildest, and Frederick could roughly deduce the sequence of transmissions among them. It was clear that Mary infected Nigel, who then passed it to Kimberly, then finally passed it to Ivan. Frederick also saw that Ivan was actually a decent person who unfortunately ended up being betrayed and infected. However, Nigel was primarily worried that Ivan might start trusting Frederick, as he wanted Ivan to believe in his capabilities to carry out his plan.Originally, he intended for Mary to insult Frederick for being poor and unskilled, but she ended up attacking him for having an unpleasant odor, which backfired when Frederick exposed her for contracting syphilis. Now, Nigel had no choice but to take matters into his own hands, he then said to Frederick, "Hehe, Frederick. We all know Ivy is a director, what exactly do you do to be worthy of her?"Nigel assumed that Frederick was just a low-level salesperson, something
Hearing Frederick's words, Kimberly jumped with joy and stopped crying. While wiping her tears, she pointed at Mary, laughing and said, "You're covered in syphilis, yet you're making fun of me.""Slut, I wonder how many people you've slept with!" After being pointed and insulted, Mary was furious and she was ready to fight Kimberly. "You bitch! I am going to teach you a lesson!" At this moment, Nigel felt terrible. If Mary was diseased, he'd be the first victim. He grabbed Mary and shouted, "Bitch, let me teach you a lesson first. Now I know why you always wanted the lights off! I thought you were shy, but you just didn't want me to find out."In a fit of anger, Nigel slapped Mary hard across the face. Just as Mary was about to explain, she was interrupted by another slap. Holding her face, she yelled angrily, "Nigel, how dare you hit me?! Do you want me to expose all your little schemes and tricks?"Nigel froze in horror; if Mary exposed him, it would have been disastrous.
Kimberly heard her laughter, and body odor had always been a sensitive issue for her; a wound she'd tried to cover up over the years. For Frederick to bring it up in front of everyone felt like rubbing salt into an open wound. Yet what hurt even more was Mary's laughter; as a fellow woman, it felt like salt to the wound, then roasting it. Kimberly was furious, pointed at Mary and said, "What are you laughing at? Do you want me to come over there and shut you up?"Mary felt wronged, she had only let out a reflexive laugh, but now Kimberly's anger was directed at her. "Did I laugh at you? What proof do you have that I laughed at you?""You're the one with body odor, yet you're taking it out on others. You're such an unreasonable woman!"Kimberly grew even angrier after hearing Mary's retort. "You're the one with body odor, your whole family has it!" "Look at what you're wearing, it's like you just threw on two pillowcases. You're a shameless woman, just trying to show off t
When everyone heard Ivy's words, they laughed even more. Her words effectively confirmed that Frederick did indeed have an unpleasant odor. It wasn't entirely her fault as Kimberly's words had been a bit of a trap. "Haha, if you smell, just take a shower and don't embarrass yourself here.""With all that cheap stuff on, no wonder he has a smell."Hearing this, Frederick simply gave a slight smile and then asked Mary and Kimberly, "Are two really that fragrant?"Mary and Kimberly lifted their heads proudly after hearing Frederick's words. "Why don't you ask everyone here, ask them if we smell good or not?""Exactly, go ahead and ask."Both of them considered themselves beautiful, and of course, they would smell pleasant. The men around them quickly chimed in, especially those eager to admire Mary, who was dressed in a way that gave them a bit of eye candy. "Of course, they smell good. How could these two beautiful ladies not smell good?""Hehe, Frederick with his cheap, th
In a hidden corner, Nigel said to Mary, "Damn it, that bumpkin Frederick keeps stealing my spotlight. I am worried that our plan won't go well later.""You should help me humiliate him properly, and Ivan's girlfriend will back you up."Mary pursed her lips and said to Nigel, "Every time something comes up, you just ask me to handle it. My bag hasn't been bought yet, and you've lost 300 thousand dollars"Although Nigel was annoyed by Mary hitting a sore spot, he kept his tone calm and replied, "Help me humiliate Frederick and talk him down in front of Ivan. After that, leave the rest to me. Once it's done, I'll get you more than one bag, I could get you ten bags and it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care about that small amount of money. You saw that Porsche just now, right? I wouldn't mind burning it if I had to." Hearing this, Mary was delighted and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, babe." She hadn't realized that Nigel was so wealthy and even had a Porsche. Up until th
Knowing Martin as someone who knew a lot about wood, everyone immediately looked as though they were ready for a good show. They were convinced that the Saint George statue couldn’t possibly be made of anything valuable.Martin let out a strange exclamation. "What the hell!"Kimberly, thinking that Martin was angry, quickly said, "Mr. Lawson, tell us what’s so disastrous about this wood. Are you saying it’s just a piece of junk?"Contrary to expectations, Martin replied angrily, "I’m saying that whoever preserved this Saint George statue was a jerk. This is genuine sandalwood, and yet it’s completely neglected, covered in dust."Most of the group had no idea what sandalwood was worth, but judging by the name alone, it sounded impressive.Kimberly asked curiously, "Mr. Lawson, are you saying this is really antique wood?"Martin examined the statue carefully, scrutinizing every detail. "Judging by the texture, this carving must have been made at least 150 years ago."Everyone was
"The Saint George statue was indeed a fitting choice for a karaoke." Nigel chuckled, turning to Ivy.“Why didn’t you just go on Amazon and buy a new one for a few dozen bucks? This one is obviously second-hand. Or was it picked up from some junk stall?”Frederick heard Nigel’s mockery and nodded in agreement, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re not wrong. This statue actually was picked up from a street stall.”“At the Treasure Hall in the antique trade market, no less. And yes, it’s an antique.”The truth was, the statue was from the Victorian era. Even the owner of Treasure Hall, Dominic, had recognized its age but dismissed it as worthless, tossing it onto a stall outside.Frederick had picked it up casually, thinking it would come in handy one day, and now it was the perfect gift for Ivan.Hearing this, Nigel burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. “An antique? Treasure Hall? You’re really trying to fool us.”Kimberly chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she glance
The group’s attention was fully captured by Frederick’s words, their eyes all on him. Nigel, knowing that Kimberly had informed Ivy at the last minute and that she likely didn’t have a gift, sneered at Frederick."Well, if you’ve got a gift, go ahead and show it.""Considering Ivy and Kimberly’s relationship, the gift should be pretty decent, right?"Everyone was now staring at Frederick with anticipation, curious to see what kind of gift he could produce.Ivy, on the other hand, was completely flustered. She hadn’t handed any gift to Frederick, though she understood he was trying to help her out of a tough spot. But wasn’t this making things even more awkward?Nigel continued to press him, "Where’s the gift? Come on, take it out already.""After all this time, you still can’t take it out. Don’t tell me you don’t even have one."Frederick glanced at Nigel with a calm smile. "Oh? Are you planning to bet 300 grand with me again?"Nigel froze. There was no way he had another 300 t
Ivan was deeply moved, feeling as though all the unpleasantness from their school days had been swept away. A sense of childhood nostalgia, unique to old classmates, welled up within him.The crowd continued to shower Nigel with praise, giving him thumbs up one after another."A gift worth 10 grand is no small amount. Nigel is truly generous.""That’s right. These days, even classmates hesitate to prepare gifts, but Nigel has shown such generosity.."Most of the attendees had come because of their connection with Kimberly. Each had prepared gifts with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars. Compared to Nigel’s grandiose gift worth 10 thousand, their contributions paled in comparison.Hearing the compliments, Nigel waved his hand dismissively, feigning modesty. "It’s nothing, really. After all, Ivan and I are good friends from way back."Then, Nigel’s expression shifted slightly as he added, "Speaking of good friends, I’m sure it’s not just me and Ivan here who share a special b