From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

"Ms. Vanderbilt bid sixty million dollars. Sixty million dollars once. Sixty million dollars twice. Sixty million dollars..." the auctioneer continued.
At that moment, Kayla's heart raced. She stared at Paisley, fearing that Paisley would raise her paddle at the last moment.
But this time, Paisley sat quietly, showing no signs of raising her paddle. Even the bidding paddle was left on the table, untouched.
"The deal's done." With the auctioneer's gavel falling, the painting was finally won by Kayla for sixty million dollars.
"Yes." Kayla jumped with joy and then excitedly turned to hug Marissa. "Marissa, this is amazing. I won it." After saying that, she turned to look back at Paisley, her eyes filled with pride as if to say, "Hmph, Paisley, you are still the loser in the end."
Marissa also looked deeply at Paisley, but she was not as happy as Kayla. Instead, she felt a sense of being played.
Paisley quietly drank her water, completely ignoring Kayla's smug expression.
The two teachers sitting at the same table as Paisley were shocked beyond measure. This was the first time they had seen an auction bidding scene up close.
They thought, 'Do rich people raise bids in millions? They treat money as nothing.'
While they were shocked, the two teachers were also excited, thinking, 'It's such big money, and it could help so many girls in the poor village. At least this winter, they could have winter clothes, sanitary pads, and a warm classroom to study in.'
Lucy watched Paisley's calm demeanor and suddenly understood. She leaned closer to Paisley and whispered with a laugh, "So you were deliberately provoking Ms. Vanderbilt."
Paisley did not deny it, but her determined gaze said it all. Yes, she was intentionally provoking Kayla to make her continue raising the bid.
"Ms. Sutton, you are amazing." Lucy first expressed her approval of Paisley's actions, then asked, "But how did you know Ms. Vanderbilt would keep raising the bid? What if she gave up? Wouldn't that mean you would have to buy your own painting?"
"I have my estimates," Paisley replied. She had calculated Kayla's available funds. After all, she had lived with the Vanderbilt family for four years, so she had a good sense of their finances.
Moreover, Paisley thought, 'Even if Kayla ultimately stopped bidding, it wouldn't matter. I could just buy the painting myself. There's no shame in buying my own work. What matters most is being able to help those girls.'
Diana watched the entire auction, and her gaze at Kayla was like watching a fool. She thought, "This fool has been played and is still so pleased with herself. Lauren, is this your precious daughter? But that girl, Paisley, is not an easy person to deal with.'
Diana turned to look at Paisley deeply with a smile of appreciation. Paisley met Diana's gaze. She was neither servile nor arrogant and returned the smile.
According to the auction process, after the buyer signed the contract and paid the deposit, the auction house or organizer would deliver the item to the buyer's home on the same day or the next day.
But Kayla could not wait. She wanted to take the painting and find her idol for a signature. Since Kayla was a member of the Vanderbilt family, the organizer agreed to hand the painting over to her in advance.
The painting that Kayla had longed for was finally in her hands, and her feelings at that moment could only be described as exhilarating.
"Marissa, I'm going to find Mr. Vaire right now." After saying that, she held the painting and walked reverently toward her right rear.
All the guests in the room were watching Kayla's every move, not understanding what she intended to do. Paisley also looked puzzled, thinking, 'Who is she going to meet with my painting?'
Just when everyone was confused, Kayla stood in front of a quirky-dressed man. She looked shy, her eyes filled with reverence, and her voice choked. "I have admired you for a long time. You are my life mentor, and your work is the home of my soul."
"Oh my, is she confessing?" The crowd suddenly stirred, and some even took out their phones to record this shocking moment.
People thought, 'She is the rightful heir of the Vanderbilt family. Did she spend a fortune on a painting just to express her feelings for her love? Wait, who is that strangely dressed man?'
Everyone looked at the nameplate on the man's table and was astonished. 'Is he actually Nion? This is unbelievable. Can such an odd person really create such amazing art?' Everyone couldn't help but admire Kayla.
Someone said, "It seems Ms. Vanderbilt does value the artistic soul above all else. Otherwise, how could she say such words while facing such a man?"
The man was equally surprised by the sudden confession from the top-tier socialite. When Kayla smiled back at him earlier, he thought she was just being polite. He never expected that she actually liked him, calling him her life mentor and soul's home.
He grinned widely, unable to contain his joy. He looked peculiar, and his voice was similarly strange. "I really didn't expect this. Ms. Vanderbilt, you actually like me so much."
Kayla nodded earnestly, tears shimmering in her eyes. "I like you, and I love your work even more."
"My work?" The man was taken aback. "If you like my work, why didn't you bid for it from the start? Instead, it ended up going unsold."
This time, Kayla was stunned. She looked down at the painting she held like a treasure. "Isn't your work right here? I was hoping you could personally sign it for me."
The man looked down, feeling a bit awkward. "Ms. Vanderbilt, are you mistaken?"
Kayla shook her head. "Impossible, how could I be mistaken? Mr. Vaire, please don't joke with me." Saying that, Kayla turned to call Marissa, "Marissa, come over here."
Marissa didn't want to go but, with so many eyes on her, had no choice. She walked over with a stiff demeanor and politely nodded at the man.
"Mr. Vaire, this is Ms. Prescott. She is the one who contacted your assistant and specifically invited you here." Kayla stated.
Marissa's expression changed. She considered many things but did not take into account that Kayla had such a loose tongue.
The atmosphere became awkward. Marissa could only smile stiffly and said to the man, "Yes, Mr. Vaire. I indeed contacted your assistant, Ms. Green, through my friend. My friend is her relative. Ms. Green should have mentioned me to you."
Marissa was very good at crafting such ambiguous answers. As long as the man acknowledged that he had heard from his assistant, she wouldn't be considered lying.
However, the man looked completely confused. "What are you talking about? I'm not Mr. Vaire."
"What?" Kayla and Marissa both exclaimed in shock.
The man smirked smugly, "But since you like me so much, and I am your life mentor and soul's home, why didn't you bid on my work?"
"Which is your work?" Kayla could no longer smile.
The man, still not understanding what was happening, continued to smile in a greasy and self-satisfied way. "It's the first item for auction, that sculpture."
Kayla recalled that hideously ugly sculpture. Though she remained silent, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning and was about to faint.