An incredulous whisper swept through the room. “Who on earth has that much money? To casually drop a billion dollars-he must be insanely rich!”
As the whispers grew louder, someone near the stage responded with a hint of awe. “The bidder is none other than the enigmatic founder of CR Corporation.”
Murmurs of recognition and astonishment buzzed around.
The founder of CR Corporation was a titan who had dominated the global rich list for years. His financial prowess was legendary.
The auctioneer, a gleam of excitement in his eyes, seized the moment. As the representative of the auction house, he was eager to milk this spectacle for all it was worth-not just for the hefty commission, but also for the prestige it would lend the auction house.
He turned his attention to Adela, whose face was a mask of conflicted emotions.
“Ms. Greville, your admiration for this piece is clear to all present. With the bid now at one billion, what will your next move be?”
Adela clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The necklace was the reason she was here, a gem she had longed to claim as her own. But one billion dollars? That price was a gulf too wide to cross.
With a mixture of desperation and hope, she cast a pleading look toward Collin’s box. “I’ve been longing for this necklace for quite some time, sir. Would you consider letting it go? I would gladly make it up to you, perhaps with a personal visit to CR Corporation to express my gratitude.”
From the shadows of his box, Collin’s response was a blend of resolve and gentle finality. “I’m afraid not, Ms. Greville. I intend this necklace as a special gift for my wife.”
Collin’s offhand remark sent shockwaves through the room.
“Did I hear that right? Did the founder of CR Corporation just mention his wife? He’s married?” someone blurted out in disbelief.
“No way! This is huge! How has no one ever heard about this before? He’s kept it under wraps that well?”
“Who on earth could be lucky enough to marry the founder of CR Corporation?” a woman murmured, her voice laced with jealousy.
The moment the realization settled in, the women in the room couldn’t suppress their mix of envy and admiration. After all, this wasn’t just any man-it was the billionaire tycoon behind CR Corporation. He was a man wrapped in mystery, one of the most powerful figures in the world.
In Grester alone, countless socialites had fought for the mere chance to meet him. Not a single one had succeeded. To become his wife wasn’t just luck. That was the kind of dream that defied reality.
And to top it all off? He had just casually spent a jaw-dropping one billion dollars on a gift for her.
As that fact sank in, the atmosphere shifted. Several women started casting pointed looks at their partners, their expectations skyrocketing in real-time.
“Look at that! The founder of CR Corporation personally picks out a gift for his wife. And he drops a billion dollars like it’s nothing!”
“Exactly! And here you are, always griping about how much I spend. Have I ever asked for something worth a billion dollars?”
Put on the spot, the criticized men had no choice but to bow their heads in silent defeat. In front of so many witnesses, there was no way they could argue back.
Still, inwardly, they cursed Collin for making their lives ten times harder. How were they supposed to compete with that?
From now on, no matter what they bought-jewelry, cars, luxury vacations-it wouldn’t be enough. The moment their wives or girlfriends even slightly disapproved, they would inevitably hear the same cutting remark: “The founder of CR Corporation bought his wife a necklace worth one billion dollars that night.”
Even Dustin, seated in the private box, was stunned. “Have you completely lost it? It’s just a gift! A billion dollars? That’s insane! Sure, you’re loaded, but this is beyond extravagant!” he blurted out.
Collin, however, remained composed. His voice was steady as he replied, “A mere billion dollars is nothing. My wife deserves far more than that.”
The gemstone necklace was auctioned off, and moments later, it was delivered to the private box with the utmost care.
Without hesitation, Collin took the necklace and left, with Dustin trailing close behind.
Once they were inside the car, Collin lifted the lid of the velvet box, revealing the necklace inside.
It was a masterpiece-a radiant gemstone with an otherworldly brilliance, its craftsmanship impeccable. The gem itself had been sourced from the polar regions, making it exceptionally rare. Every inch of the necklace exuded elegance, the kind of luxury few could ever afford.
Collin studied it in silence, the weight of his decision settling in. The more he looked at it, the more certain he became-this was the perfect match for Linsey.
Her quiet confidence, her effortless grace-they were one of a kind.
Only a necklace of this caliber could truly complement her.
A thought struck him then: how would she react when she saw it?
Would she be surprised? Overwhelmed?
The image of her delighted smile flashed in his mind, and the corners of his usually impassive lips curved into a faint smile.
Seated beside him, Dustin caught the subtle shift in his expression and fell silent, his emotions complicated.
He had known Collin for years-long enough to believe the man was incapable of sentiment.
Cold, logical, untouchable-that was the Collin he knew.
But tonight? Tonight had shattered that belief.
Who would have thought Collin was actually a hopeless, over-the-top romantic?
As Dustin held back a scoff, he found his curiosity shifting.
He had only exchanged a few words with Linsey that day, barely enough to get a full impression of her.
Just how extraordinary was she to have this effect on Collin?
One thing was certain-he needed to find a chance to properly get to know her.
Collin gripped the velvet box tightly as he rushed back to Vista Villa at top speed.
Hearing the distant hum of an approaching car, the butler frowned, puzzled. It wasn’t until he spotted Collin wheeling himself inside that he spoke up in surprise. “Mr. Riley, I thought you mentioned you might not be coming home tonight?”
Collin’s gaze flicked toward him, his expression unreadable. If it weren’t for the butler’s message, he wouldn’t have come rushing back like this.
“Where’s Linsey?” he asked, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the box.
The butler let out a small chuckle. “Mr. Riley, it’s the middle of the night. She’s been asleep for hours.”
Collin hesitated. Only now did he realize it was nearly two hours past midnight. A quiet laugh escaped him. Of course. Normal people would be asleep by now. There was no reason to wake Linsey at this hour.
“Alright. Let her know to come to the study when she wakes up,” he said.
With that, he wheeled himself toward the study, already shifting his focus to urgent company matters. The butler watched him go, scratching his head, still unsure what had prompted Collin’s sudden return.
Linsey slept soundly until the morning light filtered through her curtains. After washing up, she made her way to the dining room, only to find Collin nowhere in sight. Assuming he hadn’t come home last night after all, she thought nothing of it-until the butler approached her.
“Mrs. Riley, Mr. Riley asked that you go to the study after breakfast.” Linsey blinked in surprise. “Collin came back? This morning?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.