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    “Princess Diana?!”


    James was taken aback by the legendary princess’s unusual fate. His face turned to one of shock as he quickly grasped the implication of his father’s words. He eximed, “Dad, are you serious?”


    With a stern expression, Lord Banks replied, “This is a matter of reputation, and I assure you, I’m not joking in the slightest. I will not allow the Banks name to be tarnished by a woman outside our family.”


    He continued coldly, “While the Banks Family may not be part of the European royal lineage, our reputation holds equal weight to that of any European noble! Anyone who dares to insult the Banks name should not be surprised by my ruthless response! To protect our family’s honor, what do you expect me to do?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    James nodded slowly, understanding the significance of public image, which held paramount importance for royals, aristocrats, and elite families alike.


    His father’s decision to shift the auction offline was a strategic retreat, allowing Deana time for careful consideration. If she chose to boldly participate in the auction, the Banks Family would not hesitate to respond harshly! Sometimes, the goal was to push the other party towards making a significant choice.


    It resembled a standoff; one side, unable to bear the pressure, might unwittingly hand the other a weapon to escte the conflict.


    If the opposing party truly failed to recognize the danger and seized that weapon, it would only serve to finalize their own fate.


    Lord Banks aimed to transition the auction from online to offline for this very reason: to test Deana and see if she would choose life or death!


    Meanwhile, Deana’s longtime butler in Aurous Hill soon received word about the auction moving offline and quickly reported the news to her.


    Deana was taken aback and asked, “Didn’t you mention that simr auctions have been online for thest two years? Why are they switching back to offline now?”


    The butler shook his head and replied, “Second Miss, I’m not entirely sure. From what I gathered, it seems that offline public auctions are deemed more transparent.”


    Deana didn’t dwell on it too much, hesitating only briefly before saying, “Alright, let’s go offline. Has the time and location been confirmed?”


    “Yes, it has!” the old butler quickly responded. “It will be on Monday at 10 o’clock in the Jumbo Pavilion auction hall!”


    “Jumbo Pavilion?” Deana inquired with curiosity. “What’s the background of that ce?”


    The old steward exined, “Jumbo Pavilion is a cooperative venue under our Aurous Hill Cultural and y Association. It mainly deals with various antiques and organizes numerous auctions.”


    Deana nodded in understanding. “In that case, I’ll head directly to Jumbo Pavilion on Monday morning to participate in the auction.”


    However, the old butler interjected, “Miss Deana, I don’t believe it would be wise for you to attend in person.”


    Deana looked surprised. “Why not?”<fn25a5> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?nd-Novel</fn25a5>


    The old butler cleared his throat awkwardly and rified, “Miss Deana, your presence in Aurous Hill has already stirred up trouble in Eastcliff. If you were to participate in this event personally, it would undoubtedly spark even more controversy.”


    Deana smiled faintly, responding earnestly, “The so-called controversy arises from my ongoing marriage to Zayne. Although we are not officially divorced, I have been married to him for over 20 years, and I have never been involved with another man, not even in a casual sense. On the other hand, Zayne ims he loves me while leading a private life, even fathering a daughter with someone else. Why is his behavior tolerated, while my actions would cause even greater scandal?”


    The old butler, with a reluctant tone, replied, “Second Miss, while society has made strides toward gender equality, there are still distinctions in expectations between men and women. In the moral framework of upper-ss society, there tends to be greater tolerance for the male partner’s indiscretions. Many original spouses choose to overlook these actions, and the public rarely reacts to them.”


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