Dazed, Yannis felt her head starting to hurt. Her eyes widened as she stared at Austin.She felt like the world was spinning around her.If the man before her was Austin, who was she leaning on just now?Austin glanced at Vincent with a hint of helplessness.On the stage, the auctioneer had already started calling out for the third time.Right then, the gavel fell.The bid was closed as nobody continued bidding.As the session ended, the auction hall erupted into deafening gasps.The crowd turned their attention to the room on the second floor. They were curious to know who had made such an astronomical offer!The Blue Tears Diamond was indeed rare. Otherwise, it wouldn't have driven Yannis to such madness.However, besides the Blue Tears Diamond, the 200 million bid had also shocked everybody in the venue.Inside the room, Austin stood up, brushed past Yannis, and walked toward the exit.He didn't bother to even cast a glance at her.He had obtained what he wanted and d
Austin was somewhat surprised. He looked at the jewelry box in his hand with a slight smile. "Well, thank you."With that, he left with Vincent.As they departed, the staff, who was responsible for presenting the diamond to Austin, gradually furrowed his brow.He hurriedly made his way to a secluded corner and placed a call."Boss, there's been a change of plans. The Blue Tears Diamond didn't end up in Ms. Clark's hands.""Was it purchased by a gentleman named Austin Campbell?"Jacob's unexpectedly calm voice came out across the phone, causing the staff's furrow to deepen.He replied, "Yes, it was a gentleman named Austin.""Very well. Everything is going smoothly."Beep!The call abruptly ended.The staff member stood there in shock.He thought Jacob brought out the Blue Tears Diamond to impress Yannis.He wondered if it was for Austin instead.Did they misunderstand Jacob's intentions?Meanwhile, Yannis stumbled out of the auction house in a daze. Eyes hollowed, she w
As a local big shot, Jacob quickly learned about the arrival of the Clarks.The sudden appearance of the Clarks left him puzzled at first. But he soon investigated and found out the reason.The Clarks had come for Austin.So, when the Clarks decided to meet Austin at the auction house, he knew his opportunity had arrived.He had made several attempts to win over Austin's heart, but his plans were continuously shattered. After Austin broke his back, he no longer dared to approach Austin.The arrival of the Clark family presented him with the perfect opportunity to win over Austin.Therefore, Jacob generously brought out the Blue Tears Diamond.It was seemingly to please Yannis, but in reality, it was all for Austin.He was confident that Austin would bid the diamond out of love for Cecily.After all, judging from Austin's previous proposals, it was evident that he spared no expense for Cecily."My once-winning hand has been completely shattered. Now, I can only try to mend my
Austin had to admit that the item Jacob had presented him was indeed extraordinary.After putting the Blue Tears Diamond back into the jewelry box, Austin smiled faintly. "This token of goodwill alone isn't enough to make things go back to the way they used to be."Jacob had betrayed Austin several times. But since things hadn't gone horribly wrong, Austin considered showing mercy to Jacob out of gratitude for his past support.He broke Jacob's back to play it safe.Austin's everything was in this city, and Jacob was a big shot here. How could he allow someone else to take control of his territory?He would never let Jacob surpass him!Pulling out his phone, Austin sent a message to Cecily."I got you a gift."Cecily's response came almost instantly."Really? Show me quickly!"Austin chuckled. "If I show you now, it won't be a surprise anymore.""Hmph … Let's see whether you really can surprise me.""Just wait and see. Get some rest soon."After replying to the message, Au
After a brief moment, Austin smiled.Compared to the invitation from the Clarks, this one was more interesting.There was only a phone number and a line of text on the invitation.The text read. "I got business to discuss with you. Jennie Cooper."Putting down the invitation, Austin pondered briefly.Eventually, he took out his phone and dialed the number.The call was connected."Hello, is this Mr. Austin Campbell?" A slightly aloof voice came through.Austin was somewhat surprised. "Yes, it's me. Ms. Cooper, may I ask what business you want to discuss with me?""Let's meet at the Emerald Retreat's Sky Pavilion at 8:00 pm tonight."Beep!The call ended abruptly.Austin was taken aback.Judging from the invitation, he felt that the Coopers' purpose was similar to the Clarks'.But unlike the Clarks, the Coopers were surprisingly straightforward.Compared to the Clark family, Austin was more inclined to meet Jennie.It wasn't because of her straightforwardness, which piqu
As the evening approached, Austin left work right on time.Aldus was already waiting in the car by the roadside.After Wolf and Austin entered the car, they headed straight to Emerald Retreat.Austin didn't pay much attention to who might be hosting the event tonight at Emerald Retreat.If it was Jennie, they could sit down and talk.But if it was Yannis, he could simply leave.In the afternoon, Austin had learned a bit about the Cooper family through Ezra. They were also in the entertainment industry and constantly overshadowed by the Clarks.However, the Coppers had other main businesses except for the entertainment industry. Hence, to be exact, the Coppers were a bit stronger than the Clarks.The two families were already arch-rivals in the entertainment industry.It was no wonder both parties had come with the same purpose in mind."Mr. Austin, it seems that both the Clarks and Coopers have come to build rapport with you. I guess it was right for us to go against the Emer
Austin was shocked to see the two families present.He was completely caught off guard.He shot a sideways glance at Jacob, who quickly approached him with an awkward smile. "Mr. Campbell, I'm really sorry about this.""You can leave now."Austin nodded.Although it was a simple response, his words caught the attention of Terrence, Yannis, and Jennie. They were all surprised.Austin spoke as though he was commanding someone inferior to him.Their gazes changed as they stared at him.Once Jacob left, Terrence stepped forward and approached Austin. "Mr. Campbell, please take a seat.""Yes, Mr. Campbell. Please take a seat."Yannis smiled brightly. Her demeanor was now warm and inviting. It was a stark contrast to how she behaved earlier.Austin was speechless. He stole a glance at the woman on the opposite.He wondered why she was so indifferent.Faced with both Terrence and Yannis' insistence, Austin had no reason to refuse. He took his place between them at the head of the
Under the pressure from Terrence and Yannis, Jennie also took a few sips. Her face flushed slightly.While Austin was eating, Terrence seized the opportunity and cast a sidelong glance at Jennie.Then, he exchanged a meaningful look with Yannis. Suddenly, his gaze turned determined.He then chuckled and said he needed to use the restroom before getting up to leave.No one noticed anything unusual, not even the vigilant Aldus and Wolf.Once outside the pavilion, Terrence stretched lazily and breathed a sigh of relief. His breath reeked of alcohol.At that moment, his eyes were clear, and his expression was calm. He didn't seem drunk at all.Terrence glanced back at the pavilion with a firm gaze and strode away."Now, it's time for desperate measures. Jennie Cooper, you might be able to defeat Yannis, but you're no match for me. Tonight, you will lose!"In no time, he had Jacob bring him a bottle of Romanee-Conti.After Jacob left, Terrence retrieved a small packet from his poc
Austin never expected that Nancy would come back.As he returned to the Tetra Club, he remained sullen, his eyes dark with unresolved anger.Seeing Austin like this, Cecily felt a pang of sadness.She gently tried to comfort him, "It's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you, and we have our baby on the way.""I can't just let it go," Austin shook his head."The best I can do is not seek revenge against them, but to truly forgive and forget—I can't do that."The actions of Nancy's family were still fresh in his memory.Austin wasn't someone who sought revenge for every slight, but he was far from the kind of person who could simply forgive and forget, moving on with a carefree "Hallelujah."Dahlia's despair as she lay in bed, the arrogance and cruelty of the Welch family…In the eyes of the Welch family, Dahlia's life wasn't worth as much as Harvey's wedding.Even when the time had passed and he was about to finally be happy with Cecily, the Welch family not only dem
After leaving this city, Nancy put in a tremendous amount of effort to "rebirth" herself.Meeting Ethan had shown her a different side of life.While he wasn't part of the uppermost echelons of wealth and power, he had enough. Most importantly, he treated her with the utmost respect.She understood Ethan's background, which made that respect all the more valuable.A man of his stature could have any woman he wanted in his bed the same night.Yet Ethan had shown her incredible patience, making her question whether the rumors about him were true.Tonight, returning to this city was her way of bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future.After all, people need to look forward, don't they?Meanwhile, Ethan was feeling more dejected than he'd ever been.Lying in his luxurious bed in Brook Villa, he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.He had hoped to establish a connection with Austin. A figure like him would be incredibly valuable to have on his side.He tho
The river breeze was cool, and the lights reflected on the water flickered softly.The figure in front of them wore a long black coat, standing quietly by the railing. Her fair, delicate profile, partially obscured by a few strands of windblown hair, carried a hint of melancholy."Sir, Mrs. Campbell, is something wrong?" Aldus noticed the change and quickly stepped forward to inquire."Let's go home," Austin suddenly said, his previously cheerful expression now somber, with a touch of disdain.Go home? They had just arrived.Aldus was surprised and quickly followed Austin's gaze. When he saw what Austin was looking at, he immediately understood.Without a word, he turned to leave with Austin.But a soft hand gently grabbed Austin's arm."It's been so many years, aren't you going to say hello?" Cecily asked."I have no desire to greet her," Austin said, his disdain clear and unhidden.Three years of marriage, filled with nothing but pain.Even when Dahlia was gravely ill, Nan
After a busy day, just as Austin was about to finish up, a new invitation appeared on his desk."Who delivered this?" Austin asked."Ethan," Wolf replied.Austin chuckled, didn't bother opening the invitation, and instead tossed it directly into the trash."I've got to get home to Cecily."When he returned to the Bamboo Parlor at Tetra Club, Raquel had already prepared a delicious dinner.The dishes were beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.After dinner, Austin and Ezra stepped out into the courtyard."Mr. Lockwood, any news from the Campbells about my dad?" Austin asked, the text message from Walter still weighing heavily on his mind.Considering the Campbells' efforts to find Walter, and given their intelligence resources, they should have been some leads by now.But Ezra shook his head. "Nothing, Not a trace.""The Campbells' intelligence network has never been this weak, has it?" Austin frowned, speaking in a low tone.Ezra gave a wry smile. "
"Childhood?"Austin stopped his workout, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled bitterly.His childhood had been bleak.Only Dahlia had brought some light into the darkness.Seeing Austin's pained smile, Aldus immediately realized his mistake.He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Sir. I spoke without thinking. You don't need to answer that.""It's fine," Austin replied, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and inviting Aldus to sit with him.Once they were seated, Austin slowly began to speak. "There's not much to tell about my childhood. It was mostly just being called an 'illegitimate child' and living day to day, never knowing where my next meal would come from."If it weren't for my mom fighting tooth and nail to raise me, I'd probably be dead by now."With just a few simple words, he conveyed a world of suffering.Aldus felt a wave of guilt. He had only been trying to find clues from Austin's past that might explain his exceptional combat instincts and incredible physical
Austin's gaze softened as warmth flooded his heart.Who hasn't longed for a light left on just for them in a sea of lights? But in reality, how many actually have that?Cecily did that for him.Given her background, the fact that she went to such lengths truly surprised Austin.In the three years he spent in the past, he had never experienced something like this.His nose tingled with emotion as he pulled Cecily into his arms, speaking softly, "Thank you. Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.""Alright, alright, I asked Raquel to prepare breakfast earlier this morning. You go to the dining room, and I'll have her bring it over," Cecily said as she gently slipped out of Austin's embrace, her graceful smile lighting up her eyes."Doesn't Bamboo Parlor have a kitchen?" Austin asked, curious.Cecily gave him a playful look. "The chairs in the living room are so hard, and you spent the whole night on one—how could you have slept well? If Raquel had been clattering around
The room fell into a heavy silence."Deactivating the phone number… was Dad trying to prevent me from tracking his location?" Austin murmured with a frown.Ezra pondered for a moment, his voice low and serious. "Perhaps he was more concerned about someone else tracking him."Austin's eyes widened in realization.Of course—if Walter could send him a message to let him know he was safe, he wouldn't be worried about Austin tracking himDeactivating the phone was likely to prevent others from tracing his location."But who is he trying to avoid?"Ezra shook his head, remaining silent.Having followed Walter for many years, he knew the man's temperament and habits. But this time, he was truly baffled.He couldn't even begin to piece together a clue.Taking a deep breath, Ezra forced a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I'm at a loss this time, sir. There's no sign of anything unusual from the Campbells either."This statement only deepened Austin's confusion.If there were anyone who cou
Austin knocked softly on the door.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of shuffling from inside.Ezra opened the door, his face full of curiosity. "Sir, what's going on?"Austin quickly made a shushing gesture, worried about disturbing Cecily.Then he gently pushed Ezra back into the room."Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Lockwood," Austin said.Ezra smiled. "It's no trouble at all. The older you get, the less you need. I was just reading."Austin glanced at the book on Ezra's bedside table and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.This old rascal!Ezra blushed and quickly shoved the book under his pillow.Austin sat on the bed and pulled up the text message from Walter, showing it to Ezra."I just received this message."When Ezra read the text, his eyes lit up with a sharp gleam, and he was overjoyed. "This is from Mr. Walter!"Austin nodded, his expression serious. "But I've sent several messages back, and there's been no reply. I called twice—once it was immedi
"The underground king of Eastbrook bows down."This news swept through Eastbrook like a storm.Ethan knew that by doing this, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city. But he also knew he had no choice—he had to do it!Even if he became a joke, he would remain the underground king. But if he refused to lower his head, he would end up a dead man.He understood the situation perfectly.In fact, that very night, a message was released from Brook Villa.No one is to compete for the land!This is a clear warning to all real estate companies in Eastbrook. It was also a gesture of goodwill toward Austin.But Austin didn't pay it much mind.If not for Derrick's involvement, he had no idea how Ethan would have responded—but Austin knew his response would have been much tougher.A mere city's underground king? He didn't even compare to the richest man in Basin City or the capital—he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes!After leaving Brook Villa, Austin didn't linger