Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 674

"Tonight, Everwood Villa Estate is going to fall right into the lap of the Patrick Group." Whitney thought of Jason's defeated figure, and it left a sour taste in her mouth.

"How do you know that?" Sandy asked, curiosity knitting her brows.

Whitney lowered her voice, sharing the scene she had witnessed earlier.

Sandy's eyes widened in outrage. "That Wade is shameless. Everwood Villa Estate, such a sprawling piece of land, rumored to be in a prime location-how many tycoons dream of owning it? A mere 30 billion wouldn't even scratch the surface! They're really strong-arming here. What if we step in, hike up the price to, say, 50 or 60 billion?"

Whitney couldn't help but laugh at her righteous indignation. "And what if no one else bids after us? Are you buying, or am I?"

Sandy's face turned red.

She mused, her gaze admiring Whitney's beautiful eyes, "Sis... if you really despise that scoundrel Ludwik, let's not get involved. Mr. Nelson did say we're just here to watch the drama unfold. Besides, I heard Wade plays dirty. If he finds out we're inflating the price, he won't let us off easily."

The subtext was clear: don't invite trouble.

Whitney remained silent.

-

Soon enough.

The auctioneer's voice boomed from below, "Next up, we have the most prestigious estate in Harmonia Country, second only to the Presidential Mansion. Spanning over a million square feet, nestled against snow-capped mountains and beside a serene lake, with its own golf course and airstrip, not to mention the stables and orchards that boast year-round beauty. Introducing the Lippert Resort, the epitome of luxury, where even the simplest vase is worth millions. Surely, every successful magnate dreams of such an estate! Bidding starts at 30 billion!"

The auctioneer finished with confidence.

A bid came from a box immediately, "30 billion and one hundred dollars."

"Who's that? Ha, you're too stingy! I'll go 30 billion and two hundred," another chimed in, topping the previous bid by a mere hundred dollars.

"I'll add a thousand! Everwood Villa Estate, that's all it's worth."

The auctioneer, face flushed with embarrassment, had never encountered such a scenario-million-dollar mansions being bid up by mere dollars.

The rich patrons below, mocking and jeering in unison, seemed to be there just for kicks.

"This is outrageous." Sandy slammed her fist on the table. "I wonder if any of the Lipperts are here? Hearing their estate being mocked like this must be infuriating." Whitney looked down, thinking of Jason, who was gravely ill.

"If only I had the money, I'd offer 40 billion!" Sandy clenched her fist.

Whitney found her naivety charming, saying, "Those tycoons bidding just now, all of them would genuinely want to buy if not for having to tiptoe around Wade."

"From the other box, 30 billion and ten thousand!"

Another voice rang out, and Sandy didn't catch on, but Whitney paused abruptly.

That voice... it sounded like Bryce?

Whitney turned, a hint of change in her expression, but the boxes were too secluded to see.

Yet, knowing Bryce for years, she couldn't be mistaken.

She was surprised he attended the auction without mentioning it. Somehow, it disappointed her.

In her eyes, Bryce was a gentleman, much like her grandfather. Even if he detested Ludwik, bidding just ten thousand more seemed beneath him, a move to kick someone when they're down. Could the Patrick family have pressured him too?

After Bryce's bid, silence fell. No one dared to raise the price further.

The auctioneer was on the verge of tears, having expected the estate to fetch a fortune.

"Any more bids? 30 billion and ten thousand, going once..."

"I bid 60 billion!" Whitney suddenly spoke up, disguising her voice.

Her bid sent shockwaves through the crowd, all eyes turning toward her shadowy box, though no one could see clearly who was inside.

A scoff came from a neighboring box, surely Wade warning them.

Whitney rolled her eyes, while Sandy gasped, "Sis, that's way too high! What if, like you said, Wade backs out? 60 billion, can you afford that?" "Cough. The Sheldon family can, right?" Whitney was bluffing, not thinking it through.

Sandy gave her a look, "You're really not afraid of crossing the Patrick family now? You still want to help Ludwik, huh? Talk about being indirect."

"Who said that!" Whitney shot back, clearing her throat, "I'm just inspired by your sense of justice. Besides, if I bite the bullet and buy it, I could flip it later for a tidy profit, right?"

Sandy actually found her reasoning sound, "Sis, you're a master of persuasion."

"I bid 60 billion and one hundred dollars!" came a voice from outside.

"That's Wade," Whitney said with disdain.

Sandy was livid, "I'm so close to cursing out loud. Wade, now the richest man in Harmonia Country, and he bids a hundred dollars? Really?"

Whitney sneered, "You have no idea. Before the Patrick Group took down the Lipperts, Wade was just Jason's incompetent uncle. A man who climbed his way up through deceit and manipulation will always be stingy once he's made it." "To think someone like him is the richest in Harmonia Country. It's a travesty. Ludwik should remain the premier young master," Sandy ranted, then emboldened, "I bid 62 billion!"

"$60.2 billion plus a hundred!"

Once again, it was Bryce's voice echoing through the room.

Whitney frowned, her irritation visible. If she had felt compelled to speak up earlier due to the Patrick family's aggressive bidding strategies, what was her excuse now?

For the first time, she felt a profound disappointment in Bryce. His willingness to kick someone when they're down left her questioning his integrity.

The room fell into a brief silence until a voice from another direction cut through, "Two hundred billion, it's mine."

The statement sent shockwaves through the auction hall.

Two hundred billion? That was an astronomical figure, even for this estate, which at most could be valued at a hundred billion.

It was a staggering overbid.

And after Wade's warning, who would dare to challenge the Patrick Group with such an audacious bid?

The most mysterious part was that the voice, though clearly male, sounded digitally altered.

The bidder clearly didn't want his identity known, adding an air of mystery to the proceedings.

Whitney was stunned, yet something about the voice seemed familiar, almost childlike. Was she hearing things?

The auctioneer, too excited to form coherent sentences, quickly proceeded, "Two hundred billion for the first time, two hundred billion for the second, two hundred billion for the third... Any more bids? Sold!" Sandy was gobsmacked, "Who in the world would place such a bid?"

"Two hundred billion, I've never even dreamed of such an amount! Sis, do you recognize the voice?"