Chapter 10
At a private auction house, elite businessmen and wealthy tycoons were all eagerly discussing the rare item that was about to j
Clifford entered the private suite at the final moment, his heavy footsteps echoing just as the auction was about to begin.
“Clifford, why are you so late? Isabelle grabbed his hand and quickly pulled him down to sit beside her.
“Grandina, something urgent came up at work.” He rubbed his temples as he spoke, exhausted.
Isabelle’s expression softened with concern, “Clifford, you don’t have to handle everything yourself. Let others handle the work. Your only priority now should be Tania and the baby!
“Lank, this is what I’m planning to bid on, a vintage locket with the twin doves Imagine how adorable it’ll be when 1 gift it to my grandson or granddaughter
He glanced down at the catalog and smiled faintly, but then something flickered in his expression, and the wannch quickly faded. “Thank you, Grandma. I’m sure Tania will love it,”
“She’s such a good woman.” Isabelle beamed. “Unlike Tessa, who can’t bear children. She even broke the family’s heirloom! Honestly, we’re better off without her
She snorted in imitation and went on, “If you hadn’t insisted on her back then, do you think would we ever let you marry her?
At the mention of Tessa, a sharp ache stabbed at Clifford’s chest. It felt hollow. “Grandma, Tess didn’t mean to. We were the ones who kept things from her..
Isabelle huffed and said, “You spoil her She refused to have a baby and threw tantrum when she pleased without considering her position!”
The more she talked, the angrier she became. She slammed the catalog shot and sankback into the chair with a final, cold declaration. “Tania is the better choice!
Clifford could only for a smile and sit in silence, waiting for the vintage locket with the twin doves to go up for auction.
“This vintage locket with the twin doves is said to be handcrafted by a royal jeweler during the late 18th century, the auctioneer announced. “With entwined doves carved in exquisite detail, it is a rare and treasured artifact. The starting bid is five million dollars!”
Isabelle lit up and immediately reached for her paddle, but Clifford gently steadied her hand “Grandma, since you want to give it to Tania, I’ll make sure we win it.
He mapped his fingers and went straight for the winning bid.
“That’s it. He just shut it down.” The auctioneer struck the gavel. “Sold! Congratulations to our honored guest. Your vintage locket with the twin doves will be delivered to you shortly!”
Isabelle clapped in delight. “Clifford, this is wonderfull”
He smiled at her and rose from his seat. “Now that we’ve secured it, head back to work first.”
isabelle nodded, affectionately squeezing his hand. “Take care of yourself, Clifford. If amthing happens to you, what would I do?”
‘Don’t worry, Grandma low my limits.” As he walked out, he checked his watch, letting out a long sigh
Then a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Once Tania had the baby, he’d take some real time off to be with Tessa. “I’ve let her down too much lately. Even if she can be a little immature…..”
Just then, a flash of pale yellow caught his eye,
A pregnant woman hurried past him and slipped into a nearby private suite
“Tania?” be called out, uncertain. But the woman didn’t turn back, vanishing into the room without a trace of her usual cautious demeanor
His brows drew together, and he slowly stepped toward the door
she must have been in such a qush that she hadn’t even closed it properly. The door hung slightly aja
Voss from inside drifted ot
“Mr. Grey, this baby is yours. Are you really going to abandon us?”
The familiar voice pierced clifford’s ears like a lightning strike. His eyes widened in disbelief. It was the voice of the same woman he’d personally made sare was taken care of at the hospital until she gave birth.
“You again? Didn’t already tell you that I didn’t want it?” From his voice, Clifford figured that this “Mr. Grey” was a man in his 605.
“No matter what I did, couldn’t get rid of this baby. Now that I’ve decided to go through with it, you owe me child support.” Tania’s voice was no longer the soft, sweet bone clifford knew. It was sharp and vens
She let out a cold laugh, her words laned with malice. “Otherwise, I’ll take this straight to Mrs. Gery,”
At the mention of his wife, Elliot Grey instantly lowered his voice. “How much do you want?”
The smiled, raised two fingers, and waned them in the air. “Two hundred million dollars”
Elliot gasped and snapped, “Are you blackmailing me? You wicked woman! You’ve already latched onto the Jones family. Are you trying to extort me, too?” “But this is your child, Mr. Gory. You were t the one who screamed at me at that banquet. I had no choice but to drag Clifford, wear a dress just like his wife’s, i tricklim
“Later, I learned that he was overseas on a business trip, so I staged that car accident and risked my lite to save him. That’s the only reason he brought me back here and accepted my child. Mr. Gory, the Joneses are treating me well now, but the moment this baby is born, they’ll find out that it’s not Clifford’s. And when that happens, you and I are both going down
“So this is your last chance. Give me the two hundred million dollars, and I’ll take the baby and disappear. You’ll never hear from me again.”
Hercruel, trumphant laughter echoed through the door and into Clifford’s ears.
“What? The baby’s not related to the Jones family?
Aloud shattering noise cut through the auction house. All eyes hamed toward the sound.
The vintage locket with the twin doves that Clifford had just placed the winning bid on was now broken on the floor.
Labelle looked stummed and furious. She questioned, “is that baby really not yours?”
