The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 126: Crown Jewel Auctions

"Calista Day," Victoria read the name aloud, remembering the time she had met her. 

It was right after the school year had started, and she was out shopping with Mira when Calista had snapped a photo of her at a coffee shop, leading to their brief acquaintance. 

Even though they had only met once, Calista's elegant demeanor had left a lasting impression on Victoria, making her recognize her instantly from the photo. 

Remembering she still had Calista's contact info, Victoria sent her a message, but for some reason, there was no reply.

Meanwhile, Diana and David were at Aventis, attending the Crown Jewel Auctions' fall event. 

Crown Jewel Auctions is one of the oldest and most prestigious auction houses in the world, and this event is its biggest of the year. 

The entry requirements for tonight were strict, with a minimum net worth verification of one million dollars. 

The seating was also arranged by asset level, with the wealthiest individuals seated closest to the auction stage.

The front row was occupied by the world's top billionaires. Diana and David were seated in the center of the first row, giving them the best view of each item up for bid. 

As VIPs, they were accompanied by a translator and a bidding assistant. 

Diana wore an emerald green silk gown with a fur-trimmed coat draped over her chair, adorned with a full set of ruby jewelry, exuding luxury and elegance. 

David, in a matching suit, looked understated and refined. He held Diana's hand, whispering about what gift to bid on for Victoria.

Coincidentally, Brian and Joan had also brought Ella to the auction, though they were seated further back. 

Brian and Joan mainly wanted Ella to experience such a high-end event, and if they found a reasonably priced gift, they planned to buy it for her. 

This was Ella's first time at such an upscale venue, surrounded by the elite, many of whom were far wealthier than the Scott family. 

Ella was fascinated by everyone's attire and couldn't stop taking photos and selfies. 

She knew her classmates rarely attended such events, and she looked forward to showing off the pictures when school started. 

Ella felt she had wasted her previous life thinking the Scott family was out of her league, realizing now that they didn't even rank among the world's richest. 

Determined to seize this opportunity, she planned to use the Scott family as a stepping stone to marry into an even wealthier family.

Ella was happily snapping photos when a gloved server politely asked her to stop. 

Although Ella had studied the language of Aventis, her spoken skills were poor. The server repeated himself three times, but she still didn't understand. 

Brian and Joan, who didn't understand the language at all, had assumed Ella could translate for them, so they hadn't hired a translator. 

The group exchanged awkward glances until the server pointed to a no-photography sign, and Ella finally got the message. 

Reluctantly, she put her phone away, looking displeased.

Joan smiled and said, "It's okay, Ella. If you want, you can sneak a few photos later, and I'll cover for you." 

Although she thought Ella's behavior was a bit tacky, she felt guilty knowing Ella had grown up without her and endured many hardships, making her want to make it up to her.

Ella smiled sweetly and hugged Joan, saying, "You're the best, Mom."

Soon, the auction began. The lights dimmed, leaving only the spotlight on the stage. 

A woman in a red velvet gown took the stage, her hair elegantly styled and wearing black velvet gloves, as she began introducing the items. 

Tonight's auction featured exquisite and valuable jewelry. Diana was particularly taken with a ruby necklace, though she thought the color might be too mature for someone as young as Victoria.

David, uninterested in the current items, noticed Diana lingering on a page and leaned in to look. "This necklace suits you. Let's bid on it for you," he suggested.

Diana gave him a gentle glare. "Aren't we here to find something for Victoria? We have plenty at home."

David wanted to say they could buy as much as she liked, but Diana's look stopped him.

Brian was whispering to Joan, "These pieces have great investment value. We could buy one, as long as it doesn't exceed 1.4 million dollars."

Joan stroked Ella's smooth hand and said, "Ella, if you see something you like, just tell us, and we'll get you a nice piece of jewelry."

Ella nodded obediently, snuggling closer to Joan.

Finally, the auctioneer introduced a purple sapphire bracelet. 

Diana immediately noticed its high purity and rich color, forming a natural and beautiful pattern. Such a unique piece would be perfect for Victoria.

Diana tapped David's hand. "Honey, let's get this one for Victoria." 

She had observed that Victoria liked purple and green, and this bracelet seemed like the ideal gift.

David trusted Diana's taste and also found the bracelet beautiful and lively. 

He signaled the bidding assistant to secure the bracelet at any cost, even if it exceeded the market price. The Hamilton family had plenty of money.

Ella also fell in love with the bracelet at first sight. The light made it sparkle brilliantly, and she had never seen anything so beautiful. 

She was determined to make it hers. Excitedly, she reached out, "Mom, this bracelet is gorgeous! Can you buy it for me?" 

Imagining herself wearing such an expensive bracelet to school, Ella's face lit up with happiness. 

Jasmine had never worn anything so valuable, and Ella was thrilled at the thought of finally surpassing her.

Joan looked at the bracelet on stage, acknowledging its beauty but unsure if they could win the bid. 

Brian nodded, "Let's wait for the starting price. We can give it a try."

The starting price was one million dollars. Brian and Joan exchanged smiles, knowing it was within their budget and left plenty of room for bidding. 

It seemed Ella's wish might come true tonight.