?Chapter 148:

    “Even if I can’t win the jewelry, I still want to see Vincent pay through the nose.”

    Neil had a clear expectation of the auction price, and it had now reached his limit. Even though it stretched his finances, he was determined not to let Vincent win easily.

    He lifted his paddle again, his eyes showing a hint of resolve. “450 million.”

    His demeanor was entirely different now. Previously, when he raised his paddle, he had considered hispany’s avable funds and what he could realistically afford. But now, his motivations had shifted. He simply wanted to annoy Vincent, without worrying about the financial repercussions.

    At that moment, Vincent raised his paddle again. “500 million dors.”

    Neil scoffed. This was his chance for revenge. He was determined to make Vincent pay dearly.

    “600 million dors!” Without hesitation, he shouted the amount, his voice booming.

    His extravagant bid caught everyone’s attention. People around him began to murmur.

    “I thought the Wheeler Group was almost bankrupt. How does their president have the money to bid on jewelry like this?”

    “Rumors aren’t facts. It’s just spection. The Wheeler Group has been around for decades. It’s not that easy for them to go under.”

    “I agree. I heard Mr. Wheeler settled the Bailey family’s troubles with his own money. If that’s true, I doubt the Wheeler Group is close to copse.”

    Neil overheard their conversations. Though his face remained impassive, he was pleased inside. This was precisely his intention. He wanted the auction to change everyone’s perception of the Wheeler Group.

    He had money, and hispany was solvent. The Wheeler Group was far from bankruptcy.

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    As far as the auction was concerned, Neil nned to drive the price up to one billion dors. At that point, it would be reasonable for him to back down. After all, who would spend one billion dors on some stupid jewelry?

    Katelyn looked at Neil quizzically. “What’s up with him? Has he lost his mind?”

    This was the only way to make sense of his erratic actions.

    Her gaze was piercing, like a sword freshly drawn, gleaming with cold intensity.

    “He’s not crazy. He’s trying to pull me into a trap.” As fellow businessmen, Vincent understood exactly what Neil was plotting.

    When the auctioneer nced his way, Vincent shook his head. “Since Mr. Wheeler is so fond of this jewelry set, I won’tpete with him for it.”

    These words caused Neil’s smile to stiffen. He was no longer feeling triumphant.

    Didn’t Vincent like the jewelry set? Why would he suddenly withdraw from the bidding? Now that Vincent had backed out, what was Neil supposed to do? The bid had soared beyond his wildest dreams—it was at 600 million dors! Spending that much on a single collection of jewelry felt like a total waste!

    Lise was speechless at the moment. She took a deep breath to stayposed. If it weren’t for the crowd around, she might have openly called Neil a fool. What should they do now?

    The auctioneer was already looking at Neil expectantly. “Mr. Wheeler, if there are no further bids within the minute, I will dere you the winner. Please proceed backstage to finalize the payment and take the precious set.”

    Neil clenched his jaw.

    He had intended to back out, but instead, he had trapped himself.

    With a puzzled look, Katelyn watched Vincent. She didn’t fully grasp his reasoning but simply remained silent.

    She knew Vincent well enough to trust that he would follow through with what he had promised her. While everyone’s attention was on Neil, Lise suddenly threw herself at him, disregarding how it looked to others.

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