Chapter 122 Fierce Battle
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“Twenty–five million! Twenty–five million once! Twenty–five million twice! Twenty–five million three times! Congratulations to Lot 34 for winning the pink diamond.”
The hammer came down with a solid thud, sealing Zacharias‘ claim on the diamond.
Yet, he felt no triumph.
Normally, applause and murmurs of admiration filled the room after such bids, but now silence stretched across the hall, heavy and awkward.
Everyone was probably wondering who in their right mind Lot 34 could be.
“Zach, your dedication to Anne is really impressive. Even I have to admire it. I’m sure she’ll forgive you once she sees the pink diamond.”
Selina placed her hand gently on his, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. Her presence was calm, almost fragile, like a quiet, patient flower in bloom.
A set of ruby jewelry appeared next, gleaming under the lights.
Selina’s eyes sparkled. “Wow, that’s stunning.”
She thought that if Zacharias could spend twenty–five times the value of the pink diamond for Anneliese, then buying this ruby set for her was hardly surprising.
But Zacharias‘ focus was elsewhere. He straightened suddenly.
“I’ll finalize the transfer.”
His urgency to claim the pink diamond and to see who Lot I was pulled him forward.
He didn’t even glance at Selina as he walked away.
Selina pressed her lips together, frowning, her chest rising and falling sharply, then
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Chapter 122 Fierce Battle
she followed Zacharias out.
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At Lot 1, Anneliese stifled a laugh behind her hand, amusement flickering across
her face.
Watching Zacharias throw twenty–five million at the pink diamond made her pulse race with excitement.
Even if he eventually gave it to her, the frustration she once felt had dissolved entirely.
“You did that on purpose. He could’ve quit bidding at any moment, you know.”
Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Jonathan. He raised an eyebrow.
“If he quits, we’ll just call it charity. That works too.”
But Zacharias wasn’t about to quit.
Those who understood rivals best knew: he would never surrender easily.
Even if he did, it also worked in Jonathan’s favor. He could show how shallow Zacharias‘ resolve was.
Jonathan looked at Anneliese’s bright, sparkling eyes and grinned. “It’s about to get even more interesting.”
“Really? How?”
She leaned forward slightly, her hand covering her mouth in curiosity, eyes demanding an answer.
Jonathan leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“Take a closer look at the diamond.”
Anneliese grabbed the tablet on the table, the screen alive with live auction updates.
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Chapter 122 Fierce Battle
She swiped to the pink diamond’s listing and froze in astonishment.
“This isn’t mine!”
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The stone was almost identical in shape, size, and carat, but the color was slightly duller and the clarity a touch lower. It wasn’t her wedding diamond.
Jonathan nodded.
“I had someone swap it at the last minute. Your pink diamond was privately sold just now.”
Anneliese’s eyes widened. “So, when you stepped away earlier, you were doing that?”
He nodded again.
“I didn’t expect Zacharias to show up at the auction. I just had a similar diamond ready. Swapping it for display was easy.”
He spoke as if it were casual, but Anneliese understood the effort and precision it must have taken.
She hesitated, murmuring, “It was just a little idea of mine… It’s not that important.”
Jonathan’s gaze didn’t waver.
“No, it is important. Since I promised to handle it, I wasn’t going to let it return to trouble you.”
Warmth and a sharp ache spread across her chest.
No one had ever made her feel this valued–not Zacharias, not the White family.
He had not only kept his promise but had outsmarted Zacharias entirely.
She could barely imagine his face when he realized twenty–five million had been spent in vain.
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Chapter 122 Fierce Battle
Anneliese blinked, whispering softly, “Thank you.”
Her eyes drifted to the auction screen again, lingering on the ruby set.
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She reminded herself that Jonathan’s skill and efficiency had done this, and her racing heartbeat slowly began to settle.
“Do you like it?”
Jonathan noticed her focused stare.
She nodded. He raised his paddle.
Four million. The ruby set was his.
Anneliese assumed it was a gift for his family or another charitable gesture. She didn’t think much further.
