The auctioneer took to the stage promptly, laying out the agenda for the evening. As the introductions concluded, the first item for bidding was swiftly brought forth.A painting of notable renown, recovered from a heap of ruins and thus suffering from faded details. Expert authentication confirmed its authenticity, setting the starting bid at $10,000. For the patrons gathered, such a price was nothing but a drop in the ocean. Even if the painting held little to no value as a collectible, the charitable nature of the auction would ensure bids, if only to maintain appearances. As expected, the bidding escalated quickly, leaping from the relatively humble $10,000 to an astonishing $200,000.Sipping lightly from her glass of fruit wine due to her low tolerance, Wyneth at first found the taste a tad disagreeable. Yet as she continued to sip, she discovered a unique flavor that became somewhat enjoyable."Wyn," Dean said, leaning in closer. "If you see anything you fancy, I'll bid on it

"$5 million..."Everyone present, including the auctioneer, was stunned by the figure. It was not as though they had not seen a $5 million item before, but for a piece with a preceding bid of $1 million to suddenly jump to $5 million, it was ridiculous. And it was just a silver piece, after all.Inevitably, murmurs arose. "Could the silver be of such high quality?""Even if it is, it's just so small. $5 million; that's got to be the ceiling, right?"No sooner had the comment landed, someone bid. "$10 million."The indifferent male voice sounded slowly, causing the crowd to shift their stunned gazes once again to Hayden's position. He sat there with a calm demeanor, the overhead light casting an aura that highlighted his handsome features even more vividly.The crowd could not help but start whispering among themselves."What's going on? Is this thing really worth $10 million?""Who knows? Do they have some insider information?""Unlikely, right? If this thing were truly that v

"You're just what?"A chilling, detached voice echoed from her right, causing Wyneth to jerk her head in that direction. Unbeknownst to her, Hayden had approached, his face an icy mask as he gripped Evan's arm."Who dares to—" Evan had barely finished his shriek when he was prepared to unleash his wrath. But turning his head, he was met with a coldly handsome face—Hayden's. "M-Mr. Hamilton? What are you...?"'Is Hayden standing up for this woman? How could it be him? And why? What kind of connection does this woman have with Hayden?'Evan's mind raced as he spluttered out an apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't know she was with you. I'll avoid her from now on, Mr. Hamilton. Just pretend you never saw me."But no matter how Evan pleaded, Hayden's expression remained stonily cold. Hayden's mood tonight had been sour enough already. Seeing another man attempting to lay a hand on Wyneth was the final nail in the coffin.Seeing no response from Hayden, and his hand aching as if it might bre

As the words left his lips, Dean noticed Wyneth's intent to shed her shawl. His face shifted instantly, and he reached out to stop her, his hand capturing her slender, pale wrist."What?" Wyneth asked, surprised by his action.His expression turned serious. "Don't remove it. There may be people in some of these cars.""But I'm dressed underneath.""That doesn't matter," Dean insisted. "The style of your dress—isn't it a spaghetti strap? It's too revealing."Wyneth reminded him, "Dean, wasn't it you who picked this dress for me? Besides, what era are we in now? It's just a bare shoulder."Still, Dean was stubborn. "It's not appropriate." He scanned their surroundings, then gritted his teeth in frustration. "I won't let those bastards take advantage of my sister." After saying this, he took it upon himself to tighten Wyneth's shawl a bit more. "Wear it a bit tighter. Don't give those sleazy men a chance."This intimate exchange did not escape Hayden's attention. Dexter subtly glan

Hayden was in no rush, his lips pressed together thinly as he waited patiently for her to continue.Samantha hesitated for a moment, then began to speak slowly, "Well, the story goes like this..."During the time when Hayden was unconscious, it was Wyneth who took care of him personally. Despite her young age, she was extraordinarily meticulous. When it came to Hayden's condition, she thought of everything that everyone else overlooked. Not only that, but she also gave her personal protective charm to Hayden, saying it would keep him safe. When Benedict and Gwendolyn learned about this, they praised Wyneth, saying that Hayden was fortunate and would surely wake up soon. But Matilda was extremely displeased when she found out about the charm."What's this nonsense? If these superstitious things worked, then why hasn't my son shown any signs of waking up despite her being a part of our family for so long? All she does is play these silly games with Father and Mother, and they're too o