"What?" "Did I hear correctly?" After a few seconds of silence, the crowd erupted into murmurs. People simply couldn't believe the number they heard. The lady who just donated her woolen shawl even priced it at three thousand, but this was emerald, a rare treasure that might only emerge once every tens of millions of years! Was Melanie ignorant, or was she playing games? "I heard that Miss Melanie is attending Elijah's birthday banquet for the first time. Is she deliberately trying to please Elijah because she is seeking cooperation with him?" Some speculated. "She doesn’t have to do that. With the support of the York family and the alliance with the Frost family, Elijah invited her to the banquet. She doesn't need to lower herself." Some opposed. "That's right. This emerald is priceless. Even if she wants to please him, she doesn't need to pay such a high price..." Some agreed. "Quiet, everyone." The host maintained order. After Melanie unexpectedly stated a low pr
Jefford's bid once again shocked the host on stage. "Mr. Yancey bids ten billion! Ten billion! Anyone else? Does anyone want to go higher?" The scene erupted once again. He was indeed from the Yancey family! Although they had been mysterious in recent years and rarely appeared in the country, it seemed that they were asserting their dominance right after they came back. As people whispered to each other, they also closely watched Gabriel's reaction. Everyone knew that this was something donated by Melanie. As her fiance, Gabriel's response was what everyone was most curious about. "Twenty billion!" Gabriel calmly raised his paddle and shouted loudly. Melanie's eyebrows furrowed, and she put her hand on Gabriel's, taking the number plate from him. "Don't bid anymore." Otherwise, she would feel very sorry for him. To let Gabriel spend so much to buy a necklace Jefford gave her, which she then wanted to discard? This didn't make sense! Although tens of millions wasn'
Gabriel stood at the foot of the stage. The audience laughed at the host's joke. "What surprise could there possibly be?" Melanie also played along with the host, lifting her arm and holding Gabriel's hand. "Wow!" The audience sighed with envy again. "I’m so jealous of both of you,” the host joked, extending his hand in a welcoming gesture. "I invite the most affectionate couple tonight to perform the opening dance for our charity ball!" Gabriel escorted Melanie off the stage again. People automatically made way for them, clearing a spot in the center of the dance floor. Surrounded by lights, they were like a perfect couple, attracting everyone's attention. The music began. As people danced freely to the music, Gabriel's hand gently stroked Melanie's back as he leaned close to her ear and asked, "Can you dance?" "Of course!" Melanie was a bit puzzled, not understanding why Gabriel had been so cautious around her these past few days. Seeing her confident reply,
No one noticed, but in another place, Linda's trusted assistant stepped forward and said, "Miss, I think Melanie's behavior today undoubtedly shows that she has completely rejected Jefford. You can reach out to offer her some benefits now." "Mm." Linda nodded, a smug smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Although she wasn't sure if she could reconcile with Melanie, given their previous confrontations, as long as Melanie didn't support Jefford, even if they couldn't be friends, it wouldn't matter. - After the dance ended, Gabriel escorted Melanie to the bar to have a drink. He asked as they walked, "How do you feel? Are you tired?" "The music was uncharacteristically slow-paced, so why would I be tired?" Melanie smiled. Seeing that Melanie's face was not flushed and that she wasn't out of breath, Gabriel finally felt relieved. Just as a few people came to greet Gabriel, Melanie said to him, "I'll go over there and have something to eat first." With that, she walked away
"Bang!" Before Jeffrey could finish his sentence, a heavy punch suddenly came from the side! Jeffrey was caught off guard. He staggered and fell to the ground. "Melanie, why did you come?" Gabriel knocked down Jeffrey and stood beside Melanie, asking with concern. "I was afraid you would cause a fatal accident!" Melanie said irritably. In the blink of an eye, Jeffrey, who had just fallen to the ground, had already stood up. Seeing Gabriel and Melanie standing so close together, his blood boiled! With clenched fists, he rushed forward and aimed another punch at Gabriel's face! "Bang!" Even though Gabriel was prepared, he was still knocked down to the other side of the ring! Gabriel tried to get up to fight back, but his legs gave out. Melanie quickly said, "Stop fighting! Let's go!" The fierceness in Gabriel's eyes softened when he met Melanie's gaze. He nodded, wanting to leave with Melanie. Behind them, Jeffrey's voice was low and frightening. "You're not takin
Gabriel's gaze was so intense as if it contained a flame that wanted to melt the frosty Melanie. But at a moment when she should have felt flustered, Melanie didn't feel her heart racing. She only felt helpless and embarrassed. "I have a family doctor who can prepare medical equipment. Can you accompany me back?" Gabriel pleaded again. He had been holding her hand all this time, and Melanie knew how much he longed for it. She couldn't bear to refuse him like this in front of his subordinates, and she also needed a chance to have a serious talk with him, so she nodded. Gabriel immediately smiled, happy like a child, completely forgetting the pain on his body. - The car arrived at Gabriel's villa in Harbor City. Upon entering, Melanie was surprised to find that the living room was surprisingly similar to her own home. There were fabric sofas she liked, blankets on the sofa, and wool rugs on the floor, both in texture and color just like those in her own home. Even the
"Who is this? Is he trying to get himself killed?" The driver cursed and was about to open the door to drive away the tall man. Melanie stopped him. "I'll go." "Madam?" The driver naturally refused and cleverly glanced at the man blocking the car. He recognized him as Jefford, who had just injured Gabriel! "You can't go!" The driver was even more troubled. "If I don't go, we won't be able to leave tonight," Melanie said, opening the door and walking out. The driver thought to himself, ‘Before leaving, the young master instructed me to make sure Madam was safely inside the Jones residence before leaving. But who would have thought that just a few minutes after leaving, Madam would be abducted by someone, and by that reckless Jefford no less?’ After some hesitation, the driver decided to call Gabriel to report the situation. However, when he took out his phone, he realized that there was no signal at all. Although the villa area was remote, it shouldn't have no signal
Just then, the roar of vehicles racing down the mountain road suddenly came! Melanie's eyes brightened instantly! It must be Gabriel sending someone to rescue her! Seemingly sensing her intention to seek help, Jeffrey lowered his voice and reminded her, "You’d better not make a sound. You wouldn't want Gabriel and the Frost family to see us like this in the woods late at night..." Melanie's eyes narrowed as she glared fiercely at the shameless man. What? Did he think he had her figured out? Even if she might be misunderstood by the Frost family, it was still much better than staying here in the lion's den! With determination in her eyes, she gathered her courage and decisively said, "I'm he... Mmm...!" But before she could finish her sentence, the man suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. "Mmm! Mmm!" She struggled and squirmed under him but her lips were firmly sucked on by him. She was unable to make a sound... Seeing her movements getting more an