Chapter 69 - [Fear] [Embrace]

A/N

Bonus Chapter for reaching 100PS ^^

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[Fear]

The auctioneer frowned.

"Little girl, it's best if you don't lie to us. Your crime will only add up."

I sighed and took a quick peek at Holley and Sophia's 'pretending to be concerned' faces while suppressing a smirk before I threw a sharp look at the auctioneer, which made him flinched.

"That's a serious allegation. I'm sure whoever tipped you will go to jail with you for defamation against my name once I had proven I have a hundred thousand dollars with me," I said without batting an eyelid.

White, pale white was the color of the auctioneer's sweaty face as his eyes widened as they could stretch. They probably didn't expect for a sixteen-year-old girl to talk about the law. They assumed that the moment they mentioned the police, I would panic and cry myself to tears like any normal teenage girl would do.

I hurled a smirk at Sophia's uneasy expression.

"Little girl, if you can pay us now, then we will forget this whole matter," The auctioneer said, tapping a handkerchief on his oily face.

I stifled a laugh. "Funny, you're so sure that I don't have the money and is ready to take me to jail without making sure first whether I have the money or not." I leaned forward, and the corner of my lip kicked up a smirk at the fidgeting man.

"Do you think that just because I'm a teenager, you can easily scare me? How about I let you taste what fear is really like?" I held my phone, set the sound to max, and played the recordings from the time when Sophia whispered something to her father.

Hmp! Do you think living for more than seventy years in the past, I haven't learned a single thing?

It was soundless –– utter silence. The auctioneer's face crumpled like a white sheet of paper.

Sophia's eyes were about to pop out from their sockets like she saw a ghost. Holley and Nixon were shooting daggers at me while Zoe's held me in admiration and amazement.

"T-t-that's––" The auctioneer stammered.

"Evidence of course," I said, "of you slandering my name." I shot a cutesy smile at Sophia. "Together with the one who tipped you."

Sophia was taken aback and held her mother's dress as she shot Nicholas a pleading look.

And the knight and shining armor came to her rescue. "Leanna, I'll pay the hundred thousand dollars, let this matter go," Nicholas said, shooting a friendly smile my way. "Do it for everybody who participated and looking forward to this auction."

Nicholas's voice was calm and pleading, yet all I heard were pretentious egoistic tone.

"Wow, that's young master Farrell for you."

"So considerate of others."

"It's a shame, though. He's wasted on Zoe."

"I don't know what he sees in that girl."

I frowned, wanting to retort, but Zoe held my hand. "Leanna, that's for the best. There are still some paintings left to be auctioned."

I raised an eyebrow and beamed at her. I heard echoes of people breathing sighs of relief, including the auctioneer.

"I heard defamation would cost you hundred thousand dollars and imprisonment for two years depending on the gravity," I said, smiling.

. . .

. . .

Hmp! Do you think I'll let this matter off just like that?

I stared over at the auctioneer. "Well? If you can give me a hundred thousand dollars' worth of compensation, I'll let this matter go."

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[Embrace]

"Leanna, I'll pay you the hundred thousand dollars as compensation for this mess up. Why don't you let this matter go? I don't want to see my fiancée's family auction get ruined," Nicholas said, voice remained calm and pleading.

"Young master Farrell is a fine young man."

"Indeed. If he were single, I would marry him to my daughter."

"Such a waste."

I beamed my sweetest at Nicholas. "Two hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Farrell. Don't forget the painting."

Nicholas's eyelid twitched before he forced a smile. "Done then."

"I hope you won't go back on your words. You clearly saw what happened if someone tried to cross me," I threatened.

Nicholas smiled, and the whole room returned to its former jolly atmosphere. Another replaced the auctioneer as the latter fainted from too much stimulation.

After two more paintings sold, the auction finally ended. People gathered around Arnold and Emma Collin along with Holley and Nixon.

I took the opportunity and sneaked my way into the restroom. But before I did, Zoe grabbed my hand.

"Thank you for buying my painting," she said, face a little flush. She stared at me with an intensity that I didn't saw before.

"Did you invite me to this auction because you know this is going to happen?" I asked.

Zoe didn't immediately reply as she stared into my eyes before she bit her lip and nodded her pretty head.

She sighed, releasing my arm. "You probably already notice that I'm not accepted in my family nor in high society. My mother died, and my father remarried. Sophia is my stepsister, not by blood. When my father remarried, Emma already had Sophia from her first husband. It was supposed to be Sophia's charity event, but she dragged me into it. Wanting me to be the laughing stock in front of these people. I can't let that happen, so I was glad that someone took notice of my painting. A potential buyer."

My eyebrow rose. "And exactly why are you telling me this?"

"Because . . . I wanted you to know why I did it. I'm sorry I pulled you into this. You got humiliated together with me instead."

"Do I look like I was humiliated to you?"

She smiled. "No . . ." She then lowered her head and, whispered, "I wish I can be as carefree as you . . ."

There was silence for a moment before my voice cleaved through. "You know, you smile a lot, talk a lot, yet you never seem to be having any real fun. You can't prevent people from gossiping about you, so might as well give them something to gossip about, right? Just like your paintings, be wild and rebellious. Embrace your craziness and live each day like it's your last."

I winked at her and scurried into the restroom.

----

When I reached the restroom, my forehead creased to find it was crowded.

I recalled there was another toilet upstairs when I checked the fire exit layout of the building.

Couldn't hold the forces of nature, I raced to my feet up the stairs and released an audible sigh when there was no one in the restroom.

After done doing my business, I descended the stairs when something caught my attention that broke my stride. A reflection of two people, kissing and hugging inside the men's toilet as they scrambled to open the cubicle door and shut themselves inside.

I blinked.. All the blood hurried to my head as my nose fumed with anger.