Sharon’s lips thinned, and she wore a bitter smile. “However, sometimes I really do admire you. At least you have freedom, unlike me. All my life, I was forced to learn etiquette and music.” She sighed.Nathan opened his mouth to say something. However, he stayed quiet. For some reason, he got the feeling that Sharon’s words were a little… fake.North was mildly interested as she watched Sharon put on her show.The way she framed herself as superior really made North want to puke.Because North had been banished to the country when she was younger, she had never been to the etiquette classes of the upper class. That was why Sharon could attack her confidence. North looked up coldly and said, “That’s true. I never got as good an education as you did, Ms. Sharon. That’s why you need to keep an eye out. I have never been well-bred, and I have a bad temper. So, you should think carefully before you provoke me.”Sharon’s face suddenly went pale.Nathan could barely maintain his arro
Sharon stuttered, “I-It just s-slipped my mind… Nate, I didn’t do it intentionally.”North clicked her tongue. “If you say it slipped your mind, Ms. Sharon, then you must really have only forgotten to mention it. Gerald, let’s go to the auction hall.”Gerald glanced at Sharon dully. “Take care of yourself.”Sharon stumbled a little and swayed on her feet.Once Gerald and North left, Sharon clenched her fists. She felt resentful as tears began to fall. She wailed, “Nate, I didn’t know North hated me so much. Gerald and I are only friends. Maybe I shouldn’t have come back to the country…”Nathan did not comfort her as she had expected. Instead, he asked, “Sharon, did you really not tell me they were married because you forgot to?”Sharon’s body went rigid. She sounded even more pitiful as she asked, “Do you doubt me too?”Nathan hesitated for a moment and found that he really could not bear it. “Sharon, when all is said and done, you and Gerald already broke up. He has his own fam
North frowned. She turned and saw Mike standing there. She said, “Gerald, do you hear a dog barking?”“It’s you!” Mike could not help but lose his temper. “Gerald, you must be here for the final lot of the auction, right? Do you want the land in Southvale?”The land in Southvale? North blinked. She had heard Patricia and Mike mention this plot of land many times. Had they still not been able to obtain it?Gerald did not even look up. “F*ck off.”“Gerald, what are you so haughty about?” Mike hated Gerald’s unaffected demeanor the most.Back when Gerald had newly returned to the Howard family, he was a malnourished beggar without a home, while he was the superior heir of the Howard family! Yet, when Gerald looked at him with that cool expression, it made Mike feel a wave of shame and rage.He gritted his teeth. “Gerald, don’t you really want to know where that person from four years ago is? I have news about her! I’ll tell you if you let me have the land in Southvale!”North abr
Veronica’s expression turned stiff. She never expected that Gerald would come to North’s aid. For a moment, she found that she had no way to get out of this situation. “B-But…”“Sorry, Gerald. Veronica misspoke.” Sharon walked over rapidly. She looked regretful as she said, “As a token of apology, you can tell me what you’re interested in, North. I’ll buy it for you. Please don’t take things up with Veronica.”North lifted an eyebrow. Sharon was truly capable of taking several insults. She was about to speak up when Gerald rejected the offer offhandedly. “If there is something North likes, I will naturally pay for it. There’s no need for the Lane family to intervene.”Sharon’s expression shifted. “Gerald, that’s not what I meant. I was only afraid… Forget it. Veronica, let’s go.”North mentally flipped them off. What in the world was going on? Was this b*tch not satisfied after provoking her once? Did she want to go another round?Was she mocking her for being poor?North eyed
Veronica said disdainfully, “You’re right. Sharon, you’re a kind person. You naturally don’t know that some people can do anything in the name of money. They’re absolutely disgusting.”Sharon smiled in delight. Soon, the auction began.The first auction lot was a fountain pen. It was a normal pen, but it had been donated by a teacher. It symbolized the hope for the future of the schools in the mountain villages.The pen, which could be bought for a few dollars at a shop, was purchased by Sharon for 100,000 dollars. Someone nearby could not help but exclaim, “Ms. Sharon is truly kind!”“That’s right. Although this fountain pen has sentimental value, it’s just a plain pen. It won’t be of much use even after being bought. But the fact that Ms. Sharon can spend this money proves how much she’s willing to contribute to the kids in the mountain villages.”“Unlike a certain someone… The auction has already started, but she’s still napping.”Sharon looked over at North in glee. Besid
The entire auction hall plunged into a dead silence.Sharon’s expression went stiff as everyone came back to themselves and exchanged looks with each other.Ten million dollars? North Myers?!How could it be that North had bid ten million dollars for the watch in one go? Had Sharon not said that North could not bear to spend the money? Why were things not as they were supposed to be?North seemed to have predicted the silence in the hall. She said blandly, “Is there something wrong with this price of ten million dollars?”Only then did the auctioneer react. “There’s no problem. Ms. North has bid ten million dollars. Are there any further bids?”Sharon’s expression instantly turned nasty. She was so angry that her whole body trembled. What was North trying to do? Sharon had already made a bid of five million dollars. Why did she have to raise the bid? Did North really want to go against her?!Veronica was outraged as well. She did not even think before she cried out, “Are you n
Veronica was still speaking. “Sharon, Mr. Gerald loves collecting old paintings. If you buy it, he might borrow it to admire and make sketches of. Isn’t this your chance?”Sharon’s heartbeat sped up. That was right, Gerald would love this painting. She had to win it!Soon, Sharon and another man pushed the painting’s price up to twenty million dollars.After the man gave up, the auctioneer started the countdown. Sharon looked over at North nervously.This time, North did not even glance at the painting. She did not seem at all interested in it. Sharon let out a relieved breath.Veronica said tauntingly, “See, Sharon? I told you she’s just biting off more than she can chew. She has run out of money. There are still many other treasures after this. It’s such a shame that some people won’t be able to buy any of them.”Sharon had the feeling that she had gotten one up on North. “Veronica, it’s just that North doesn’t like paintings.”Veronica scoffed. “She doesn’t like paintings?
Gerald spread his legs comfortably and folded his hands before placing them in his lap. There was amusement on his face, but when he looked at Sharon, his expression turned frigid. His tone was bland as he said, “Reasonable? But why can’t North buy these items if she has the money to do so?”Sharon’s expression changed drastically. She stared at Gerald in disbelief.Veronica was frustrated. “B-But it’s obvious that North is just jealous of Sharon! Based on her financial abilities, she can’t compete with the Lane family at all. Still, she wants to steal the items from Sharon! She’s shameless!”Everyone went silent around them.North gave a slight chuckle and broke the silence.“Ms. Lane, if I don’t spend any money, I’m unkind. If I place bids, then I’m biting off more than I can chew. When I can pay, suddenly I’m jealous of Sharon.“Why is it that everything you Lanes say is the most reasonable? I’m simply donating money to the mountain villages, but the Lane family is calling m