Chapter 324: Mny stood beside him, her expressionced with quiet mockery as she eyed Allison.


    Exactly.


    If youck the talent and have to rely on a man to pretend youre something youre not, its quiteughable.


    Though it was unclear whether Ken would actually go as far as to throw forty million dors into the fray, Mnys words were a preemptive strike meant to sting.


    She wanted to publicly humiliate Allison.


    If, after that remark, Allison did end up using Kens money to purchase the badge, it would make her theughingstock of the entire room.


    The onlookers, their curiosity piqued, leaned in, murmuring among themselves.


    This price is outrageous.


    If memory serves, while Ms.


    rke is a prodigy in perfumery and has won severalpetitions, her total prize winnings barely scratch 10 million dors.


    I heard she recently joined Charisma Company.


    No matter how high her sry, theres no way she could save that much.


    Keep it down.


    Didnt you hear Miss Johnson? Maybe Ms.


    rke has someone backing her, like Mr.


    Lloyd.


    He could easily pull out forty million.


    But theyre not even together.


    If shes getting that kind of money from him, she must be a gold digger.


    Their whispers floated through the crowd.


    Even the man in charge of the banquet was visibly perplexed.


    Typically, attendees came from wealthy, influential backgrounds and were required to pay a hefty deposit to avoid any sudden changes of heart.


    Allisons presence felt out of ce.


    Nheless, the man maintained his polite demeanor.


    This is a matter between Ms.


    rke and the auction house.


    Mr.


    Stevens, theres no need for concern.


    Industry standards allow a seven-day window for payment after an auction.


    The staff, well aware of Allisons connection to Ferdinand, knew whose side to take.


    Mr.


    Stevens, youre not suggesting Ms.


    rke needs to pay right here and now, are you? A transfer of this magnitude requires time to process, he said with an innocent smile.


    After all, this is a prestigious auction, not some back-alley deal.


    Should a bidder fail to pay, standard procedures would be followed.


    His words were skillfully crafted.


    On the one hand, he shielded the auction houses interests, while also giving Allison a gentle reminder: failure to settle the amount within the allotted time would result in legal repercussions.


    The badge was always intended as a gift for Ms.


    rke.


    Kens voice cut through the murmurs.


    He rarely felt the need to exin himself, but Allison was a different case altogether.


    His gaze, cold as winter steel, swept over Colton and Mny.


    Whether its forty million or four billion dors, Ms.


    rke is worth every penny.


    If it werent for her, when mypany faced a malicious cyber-attack, we wouldnt be where we are today.


    Kens nonchnt tone sent a shiver through the crowd.


    His words rang with truth.


    Had Allison not intervened in time, patching up the gaping holes in their firewall, Charisma Company could have bled nearly a billion in market value.


    Not to mention, Ken owed her in ways that money couldnt touch his life, Lornas life.


    A mere forty million wasughable inparison.


    The ck card was a thank-you gift, nothing more.


    As the onlookers absorbed this revtion, their gossiping shifted into something closer to awe.


    I had no idea.


    Ms.


    rke saved Charisma Company? That exins everything.


    Now it makes sense why Ken is so willing to spend big.


    If I had a perfumery genius who could also pull off cyber miracles, Id give her anythingevenpany shares.


    Shes the kind of talent anypany would kill for.


    Friends are lucky to have her.


    Enemies? Well, theyll… Thats a huge sum of money, but the man in charge is right.


    Theres no rush for her to pay on the spot.


    She has seven days.


    Initially, Coltons argument seemed valid, but it quickly lost steam in light of the facts.


    Anyone as sharp as Allison wouldnt have trouble finding apany to back her.


    With an air of calm, Allison produced another card.


    Mr.


    Lloyds gift is one thing, but this badge is another.


    I prefer to settle everything at once.


    She nced briefly at Colton and Mny, grateful she hadnt revealed her true potential during her three-year marriage to Colton.


    If she had, she would have been drained dry.


    Now, there was no reason to concern herself with sparing Colton any embarrassment.


    Settle it.


    This card holds exactly forty million dors.


    Her eyes briefly met Mnys, and a flicker of amusement crossed her face.


    Miss Johnson, perhaps youre unaware, but some internationalpetitionse withrge cash prizes, especially the first Perfumery Competition in Leswington.


    The sponsors were quite generous.


    Her statement was only half the truth.


    While the prize money for perfumery contests could be substantial, it wasnt nearly enough to amass forty million dors.


    This card was actually one of Cobwebs private treasuries.


    Allison had intended to use that money for other purposes, but now, it seemed the badge was worth the investment.


    Letting it fall into Mnys hands would have been a mistake that no one could afford.


    Allison remained poised, radiating effortless confidence.


    Oh, Miss Johnson, I forgot that you didnt even ce in the top ten of thatpetition, so its only natural you didnt know about the prize money at all.


    However, you actually had the audacity to falsely im my title, leading to years of confusion.


    It wasnt until recently, when I reappeared, that people realized you were never Scarlet Snake.


    Mnys face flushed with rage, her voice trembling with indignation.


    You! .


    .


    .