Chapter 1928 Sound Like Strangers


    Cecilia''s gaze drifted toward the crowd,nding on Phoebe Chelsea''s mother- who was scanning the room with quiet interest, as if assessing the crowd.


    Charlotte frowned slightly. "Screening for what?"


    Cecilia didn''t look away. "Chelsea''s parents have been searching for a suitable husband for her. If I''m right, this auction isn''t just about fundraising. It''s a subtle test to gauge the wealth and influence of potential candidates... or rather, their families."


    Chelsea''s parents were no fools. They would never let their daughter marry a mere social climber.


    Though their fortune was vast, they had no intention of handing it over lightly. Instead, they used this elegant evening as a quiet vetting process, seeking a man whose background and status matched theirs.


    "So that''s what this is about," Charlotte murmured.


    "I''m only specting," Cecilia replied calmly. "Whether that''s truly their intent, I can''t say for sure."


    Charlotte nodded thoughtfully. "Still, it makes sense."


    On the auction stage, the hostunched into an enthusiastic ount of the ne''s origins and storied past. His voice rose with excitement as he described its royal lineage and exceptional craftsmanship. Then, atst, he dered, "And now, let the bidding begin!"


    The guests in the room were no ordinary folks. They were wealthy, influential, and ambitious. Many of them instantly understood this was more than a chance to own a rare piece of jewelry. It was a chance to impress Chelsea and her family. And so, the bidding war began.


    "Ten million."


    "Fifteen million."


    "Twenty million."


    The numbers climbed rapidly, each bid escting by increments of five million.


    Cecilia''s eyes narrowed slightly. She noticed someone discreetly recording each bid as it was called out. So her hunch had been right. This auction was more than it appeared on the surface.


    Just then, a light tap on her shoulder made her flinch.


    Startled, she turned and found herself face to face with a grinning Magnus.


    "Cecilia," he whispered.


    She blinked, then quickly gathered herself, frowning. "What are you doing here?”


    Magnus sighed dramatically. "Don''t even ask. It took a miracle just to get in. I went through all that trouble just for a glimpse of Chelsea."


    Cecilia was genuinely surprised that he still hadn''t given up.


    "Oh," she replied coolly.


    Magnus leaned in, lowering his voice. "Cecilia, could you lend me fifty million?"


    Cecilia stared at him, stunned. "What on earth do you need that kind of money for?"


    "I want to buy that ne," Magnus said matter-of-factly.


    Cecilia blinked, momentarily speechless. She hadn''t expected her younger brother to be so calcting, aiming to win the ne as a way to impress Chelsea and her family. Apparently, he wasn''t as na?ve as she''d thought.


    “That''s far too much," she said, troubled. “I''ve already drained my savings helping you clear your debts. I really can''t afford to give you more."


    Magnus looked at her in disbelief. "But you''re the CEO of Jamieson Group. Also, didn''t Nathaniel give you anything?"


    Cecilia''s brows knit, irritation


    flickering across her face. "Magnus, you''re an adult. You can''t keep depending on others. Same goes for me, too. Just because I have some status now doesn''t mean I want to live off someone else''s dime."


    Her words held an underlying meaning.


    Magnus froze. Her message hadn''t been loud, but it was clear enough. She was calling him a leech. For a brief moment, difort flickered across his face.


    Magnus didn''t dare protest outright. He simply muttered under his breath, "It''s not like I won''t pay you back."


    Cecilia turned to him, her voice calm but pointed. "Do you even remember how much you owe me?"


    His face stiffened. He hesitated for several seconds before replying, "We''re family. Should you really be so... calctive?"


    "Even family should keep their ounts clear. And let''s be honest, we''re not even rted by blood." Her tone sharpened, cutting through any remaining ambiguity. "When I Helped you pay off yourst debt, I''d already done more than enough. The Smith family raised me until I was twenty, but I''ve repaid them far beyond what it cost to raise me."


    If we were to truly tally things up, the money Magnus and Pa had bled from me


    over the years could''ve easily supported tens of thousands of orphans.


    "Cecilia, you make it sound like we''re strangers," Magnus said, his voice low and careful. He didn''t want to ''el truly anger her. After a moment of silence he sighed in defeat. "Forget it. I won''t ask to borrow money anymore."