The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 317

"Damn it! That obnoxious woman actually dares to challenge us?" Jasper's face twisted with annoyance as he ground his teeth. "Haynie, keep raising the bid! I refuse to believe she can outmatch you!"

Stella's voice was calm but clear. "My budget is eighty million. If Mr. O'Brien bids higher than that, the necklace is his. But if his budget falls short, he shouldn't bother competing with me."

She glanced at Haynes and offered a soft, almost teasing smile.

"Either way, you won't win against me."

"Eighty million?!" Jasper nearly burst out laughing. His tone was thick with ridicule. "Stella, you must be dreaming. With your shabby finances, could you even cough up eighty thousand on your own if it weren't for a man backing you?"

Stella's eyes flickered as she looked at him. "Since you're so impressive, Mr.

Wilkinson, why don't you bid the eighty million yourself?"

Jasper opened his mouth but faltered, lost for words.

was

was no way he'd put on a show

had that kind

had gone off. "Oh, I get it! You're trying to trick us,

jumped in place, triumphant.

please, but you can't just run

bid high on what I consider worthwhile, and if something exceeds my limit, I simply stop. By your logic, does that mean anyone who ever drops out of a bidding war with you is acting in bad faith?

sly smile played across her lips. "I've won more tonight than you have,

that? Please, you're just living off some

Wilkinson, not every woman

to do with it. So perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to assume the worst about

down on might just

women in the room, while any remaining goodwill

guy's last name Wilkinson? With an attitude like that, I need to warn my

women, there's no way we're working with his family. I'll