After the Gavel Falls

“Ivan, just keep raising the bid at the auction later. No matter what, that idiot Weston is sure to bid the ceiling price.

“I’ll give you all his money so you can start your business. Don’t worry, he’d never let anyone else win my contract.”

When I heard Gwen talking to Ivan from a distance, I realized that she had regressed, too.

In the past life, I pledged to buy her contract at all costs, so she thought I would do the same thing this time.

I smirked. If they wanted to play this game, sure. I would play along.

Once the gavel signalled the start of the auction, a few older men took their seats with malicious grins.

“I hear that girl is the school idol! Buying her out for a million or so would definitely be worth it!”

“She hasn’t even graduated yet! Fresh meat tastes the best. I wanna play with her too!”

Gwen glared at me and barked under her breath, “Say something!”

I simply avoided her gaze. I did not even look at her.

Ivan sat next to me, his expression smug. “Do you think you’re some sort of savior, Weston Greene? Even if you spend all that money to save Gwen, she’ll only think you’re holding her hostage.”

I chuckled. “If I’m not mistaken, aren’t you millions of dollars in debt?”

I had investigated him in my past life, so I knew he had a ton of gambling debt from the very beginning. Gwen transferred my company and assets to his name all so he could pay off those debts.

Humiliated and furious, Ivan clenched his teeth and raised his auction paddle. “Fifty million!”

On the stage, Gwen looked at him full of admiration, as though he could actually afford that price.

I raised a brow and held up my paddle. “A hundred million.”

The other bidders were stunned. The old perverts from before all put down their paddles. Gwen and Ivan exchanged a sly look of triumph.

However, Ivan was not happy with that. He raised his paddle again. “150 million!”

He looked at me provocatively. “Go on, beat that. Heck, you should just bid the ceiling price and be done with it.”

My lips curved, and I nodded. As everyone watched, I raised my paddle… and then put it down. “No, thanks. I fold.”

With that, I stood up and left the auction hall. Realizing her ploy had fallen through, Gwen caught up to me and grabbed my shirt, her eyes red with panic.

“What are you doing?! Ivan can’t afford 150 million! Go back there and bid the ceiling price!”

Ivan had broken out into a cold sweat, swearing, “Exactly! What the hell are you doing, Weston? What happened to your devotion to Gwen?!”

Even when they begged for my help, they made it sound like a command.

I scoffed. “That’s right. The ceiling price is nothing to me.”

I turned back and raised my hand, indicating I would pay whatever it took.

Gwen harrumphed. “I knew you wouldn’t give up on an opportunity like this…”

However, I interrupted her, telling the auctioneer, “I’m bidding the maximum for that oil painting. Send it to my house later.”

Gwen was so furious her hands trembled. She pointed at me, eyes bloodshot and too angry to speak.

I turned and left without even looking at her.

“Dad, you asked me to go overseas and inherit the family business earlier, right? I’ll do it.”