Chapter 225
The entire platform erupted into chaos.
(Why sell to her specifically?)
(Mr. D.K, your gowns are always auctioned. Why break protocol for her?)
(One billion? The final bid would easily surpass that!)
The heated debate intensified. Isabella Montgomery herself was stunned. Was Mr. Ashford serious? They had met only once, a decade ago, when she was still considered unattractive…
“You heard correctly,” Mr. Ashford stated firmly to the camera. “My decision is final. It is not up for debate.”
Seraphina Delacroix was speechless. She had allocated over ten billion, prepared to crush any competitor. She never expected D.K to simply bypass the auction entirely!
Was this a deliberate insult? A personal slight?
Furious, she typed: (This is unacceptable! I offer 1.5 billion! I stated only I deserve this gown! This violates all auction rules!)
“My apologies,” D.K replied coolly. “I have a preference for the other lady.”
‘Preference’? He would discard established rules based on a mere ‘preference’? He would sell his masterpiece to someone who hadn't even placed a bid?
Blinded by rage, Seraphina threatened: (Mr. D.K, this is a formal auction platform! You must adhere to its rules! The highest bidder wins! Proceed with this, and I will report you for misconduct!)
She was publicly threatening to report him.
In the presidential suite, Sebastian Blackwood frowned at the screen. A single gown causing such an uproar. Why would D.K make such a rash decision? He hadn't even had a chance to bid!
Failure meant a one-way ticket to Africa, courtesy of his brother.
He immediately called Nathaniel. “Brother, we have a problem,” Sebastian said urgently. “D.K just decided to sell the gown to an anonymous user on the live stream. He’s refusing all further bids. I need you to identify this user immediately.”
He recited the username digits.
“One moment,” Nathaniel’s voice was clipped, his fingers already flying across his keyboard. As the data resolved, his expression hardened. The number belonged to Isabella Montgomery.
It was her all along?
A new thought crystallized. “I’ll handle this personally,” Nathaniel stated, ending the call and opening his contacts.
The live stream descended further into bedlam, but Mr. Ashford remained unshaken.
“My decision stands. Further discussion is pointless.”
Seraphina was livid. “Then prepare for the consequences! I will expose you! You have disrespected every bidder here! The court of public opinion will destroy you!”
Hearing Seraphina’s tirade, Isabella’s brow furrowed. Seraphina was notoriously unreasonable, but Mr. Ashford had indeed created this situation. If this went public, he would be crucified by Seraphina’s legions of fans. He could face industry-wide blacklisting.
Mr. Ashford was in his eighties. A scandal of this magnitude could be devastating.