Chapter 114 lan, my brotherâs just spinning tall tales, donât mind him. Weâve got plans for lunch, so we wonât be joining you, Heidi said with a rush in her voice. The two of them quickly disappeared from sight.
lan watched their retreat, a gnawing suspicion growing within him.
Why was it thei Edwin was in the loop while he was left in the dark? When exactly had Edwin and Clara gotten to know each other?
Suddenly, he recalled the day Clara had gone out of her way to pull Edwin aside when she was donating blood for Heidi.
Whatever they had discussed remained a mystery to him.
Fuming over these thoughts, lan scooped up a snowball and hurled it across the field. Just then, Dawson pulled up to give him a lift. One look at lanâs thunderous expression, and Dawson knew there was trouble in paradise with Clara.
âMr. Hayes, sometimes you gotta sweetâtalk the ladies. Sometimes, a meaningful gift does wonders. It beats getting on your knees with a peace offering. Last time my girl was mad, I got her a necklace, and she was all smiles again in no time. I heard thereâs this rare treasure up for auction tonight, and they say. whoever gets their hands on it is set for a perfect life. If you win it for Attorney Clara, sheâs bound to make up with you.â
A slight easing of the storm on lanâs face was visible at Dawsonâs words. Images of past gifts he had given Clara danced in his head. She would always hug him excitedly, planting kisses on his lips, cooing, âlan, I love you so much.â
Every time she said those words, he couldnât help but feel aroused all night long. Even when she cried for mercy, he couldnât hold back.
Before, he thought Clara was just playing games, but knowing now that those words came from her heart, an unexplained ache surfaced in his chest.
âReserve a seat at the auction,â he said coldly.
That evening, the auction hall was a beehive of elites and high society, all buzzing about the muchâtouted treasure.
When the dazzling gem appeared on the big screen, lan was stunned. His eyes fixed on the bloodâred ruby necklace, a chill radiating from his gaze. The air around him seemed to drop a few degrees.
Dawson was equally shocked. He could never have imagined that the mysterious treasure, hyped by the media for days, was the âTears of an Angelâ necklace that his boss had spent a fortune on for Clara during a trip abroad the previous year.
He remembered the event vividly. His boss had vied fiercely with a local tycoon for the necklace, finally securing it with a bid of a hundred million.
Why was it now up for auction?
Dawson tried to defuse the situation, âMr. Hayes, this canât be Attorney Claraâs doing. Remember the website where she last sold stuff? The necklace wasnât listed there.â
lan clenched his fists, veins bulging on the back of his hands. If Clara had indeed sold off the treasure he had worked so hard to obtain/he would never forgive her.
âFind out where it came from,â he ordered tersely.
âYes, right away,â Dawson replied.
An hour later, lan reclaimed the necklace with a twoâhundred million bid.
Dawson had also uncovered the truth. Leaning close, he whispered, âMr. Hayes, the necklace was purchased by Winsome Pawn for ten millionâ
Hearing the price, tan felt a vein in his forehead threaten to burst. A hundred millionâdollar treasure sold for o mere ten million? How desperate was she to rid herself of his gifts? To cut ties with him?
Suppressing the rage boiling within, he asked in a cold tone, âDid Clara sell it?â