Married a Secret Billionaire
Chapter 437

Janine sighed and looked at the painting quietly.

There were two double-winged fireflies on it, representing Xyla and Rowan. The forest that was the background was where they usually dated.

It would be unnecessary if Xyla were to see it and be reminded of the sad past.

That was why Janine did not plan to buy the painting. She wanted to raise the bidding price to donate more money to charity. It would be the best this painting could do. "Never mind, Cordelia..." She forced a smile. "Actually... Actually, I asked your mom, and she didn't want to come."

"Oh." Cordelia nodded in a daze and put down her phone.

"This was her creation in youth. She doesn't like it. Oh yeah, don't bring this up to her when you go back, lest she overthinks it and thinks of the past."

Cordelia quickly replied, "Mm, I understand!"

Although she could not share it with her mother, she felt proud to see her mother's painting being auctioned today.

"Our honorable guests, the auction will start soon!"

The host stood on stage and introduced with a lively voice, "The first auction piece, The Fireflies' Light!"

There was already someone bidding for it below the stage. Cordelia looked at Janine, and the latter responded with an encouraging smile. "Raise your bid paddle!"

"$300,000!"

The host smiled. "Alright, $300,000 by this lady over here! Any more bids?"

"$450,000!" The voice was shrill.

Cordelia turned over to see Nelly smirking provocatively at her.

"It's fine." Janine smirked. "Just keep bidding against her and lose to her in the final round!"

Cordelia understood immediately and raised her paddle again. "$750,000!"

Nelly glared at her and continued to compete.

In the end, the painting's bid reached $30,000,000. The host was in glee. The higher the price was, the more it showed the success of this auction. It was unexpected that the first piece reached such an astronomical price when they had just hoped for a good opening!

"Ms. Nelly Tanner is bidding for $30,000,000!" The host raised his voice and asked, "Any more bids?"

Cordelia met eyes with Janine and smiled, putting her paddle down.

"$30,000,000 going once!

"$30,000,000 going twice!"

The host scanned the hall and lifted the hammer. "$30,000,000, sold!

"And gone!"

When the hammer slammed down, the guests clamored and got up to applaud.

Nelly went up the stage proudly, not forgetting to give Cordelia a glance as she wore a triumphant smile. She finally got to overshadow Cordelia this time.

"Thank you!" Nelly took the painting from the host.

She did not know what the painting was about or who Xyla was, but the piece of art and its artist must be significant since it could be auctioned.

$30,000,000 was not too much or too little. She was going to take over the Tanner Group soon, so she ought to create some popularity.

A charity was a good place to start. Auctioning the painting would not only make others think that she was graceful and artsy, but it was also a charity and could elevate the company's image.

Nelly flicked her long hair to the back and smiled at everyone. She was going to say something to stay in the limelight when Cordelia walked over to her.

"Ms. Tanner!" Cordelia was beaming. "Congratulations!"

"All thanks to you!" Nelly looked at her with a side-eye. "$30,000,000 isn't a big sum, actually. You have three listed companies under you, Ms. Jenner. Why are you still reluctant to fork out this sum?" "It's not that I'm reluctant. I just think that it's a rare opportunity, and it fits you, Ms. Tanner!"

Nelly's gaze was disdainful.

Cordelia added, "Also, I'd like to sincerely thank you for bidding on this painting."

Nelly snickered. "Cordelia, don't you think it's too hypocritical of you to say that?"

"It's from the bottom of my heart! After all, you bid for my mother's painting. Not only did you obtain it, but you also fulfilled her wish of donating the proceeds to charity. There aren't many who are as kind as you now, Ms. Tanner!"

There was a loud boom in Nelly's head as she stared at Cordelia without a blink.

"Ms. Tanner, you probably don't know it yet." Cordelia smiled. "Xyla is my mother's name!"

"You!"

Nelly turned pale and trembled. It was no wonder Cordelia kept raising the paddle earlier, yet she kept bidding because she did not want to lose to her...

'I was actually played!?'

Some people failed to hold back and laughed openly below the stage, the peals of laughter grating in Nelly's ears.

"All Ms. Tanner's gone through only to be giving someone else a hand!"

"She wanted to put up a front. Can't blame others for that!"

"She's just like her father... paper tiger. They will crumble with just one poke!"

Nelly was furious from the embarrassment, feeling like thousands of bees were buzzing around her ears. She turned around and shouted hysterically, "Shut up! I... I'm not buying it anymore! I don't want it!" "What?" The host looked at her in surprise.

One got to see everything as long as they lived long enough! The host had been in this field for so many years, yet this was his first time meeting someone who won the bid and then refused to buy it. "Ms. Tanner, this is against the rules!" The host chuckled. "The hammer goes down, and it's sold. You-"

Before he finished speaking, the Tanner Group's finance director jogged over with a smile to ask for credit.

"Ms. Tanner, all done! $30,000,000 has been transferred!"

"What did you say!?" screamed Nelly.

The finance director was baffled. "Didn't we bid for the painting? It's $30,000,000, right? The bank disallows such a huge transaction, and I went through my brother-in-law to make sure the sum went through straight away-"

"Scram!"

It was as if Nelly went crazy as she slapped the finance director and then targeted the host to hit him next. The stage fell into chaos.

Cordelia took her escape amidst it while dozens of security guards rushed in. The Tanners' bodyguards were lost as well.

It was disastrous both on the stage and below the stage.

Janine discreetly moved Xyla's painting to a safe place backstage and called the person in charge of the art gallery, whom she had contacted in advance.

"Liaise with the auction place regarding the follow-up of this painting," Janine said softly. "The payment has been completed. It'll be too much of an embarrassment if the Tanner Group insists on getting the money back!

"And I hope that your gallery is fully in charge of taking care of this painting!"

"I understand, Madam Baken," the boss said with a smile. "I'll come back to you with a satisfactory answer!"

"Very well." Janine nodded and looked at Cordelia. "Let's go!"

"Mm!" Cordelia left with her but turned back to take another glance at the painting longingly before that.

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