Chapter 192: Looking for Trouble?
On the night of the auction, Arabella Donovan wore a light-colored dress with a white trench coat, giving her a slightly more composed look than usual.
"Lovely. Our Serena is so pretty, she looks good in anything. But won’t you be cold wearing so little?"
"Not at all. It’s insulated, so it may look thin, but it’s actually quite warm."
"That’s good." Guinevere Preston was finally at ease, smiling warmly as she stroked Arabella Donovan’s hair. "You should head over early, then, to avoid traffic and miss the excitement. Come back right after the auction. Don’t stay out too late. Your granduncle and I will be home waiting for you."
"Oh, you don’t have to do that. I have no idea when it’ll be over. You two should go to bed early. Don’t wait up for me; I’ll come straight back as soon as it’s finished."
Dennis Donovan and Guinevere kept a regular schedule, going to bed and waking up early. They were usually in bed before ten at night, so waiting for her would mean staying up late.
Dennis Donovan chimed in with a few words of advice, then, as if remembering something, he added with concern, "Usually, you need to verify your assets to attend these auctions. This auction house has a minimum requirement of ten million. I had someone deposit two hundred million into your black card a couple of days ago."
"Remember to use your grandfather’s money this time. Don’t be shy about it. You’re a Miss Donovan of the Donovan Family. When you’re out and about, you represent my reputation. We can’t have outsiders looking down on you..."
Dennis Donovan rambled on, but Arabella Donovan barely heard a word. Her mind was stuck on the first thing he’d said.
’How... how much? Wait, you need to get your assets verified for an auction? And the minimum is ten million? Are the pillars inside made of solid gold or something? Otherwise, how could it be worth that much? No wonder Uncle said his family couldn’t qualify for this kind of auction. A net worth of over ten million isn’t something you just stumble into.’
’More importantly, if the verification only requires ten million, why on earth did you put two hundred million in there, Grandpa? And you’re so casual about it! You make it sound like it’s not two hundred million, but twenty cents!’
This was precisely what Dennis Donovan had in mind when he transferred the money; he had deliberately sent a much larger amount.
Now, hearing Arabella’s thoughts, his eyebrows shot up, and his expression was one of pure delight.
Guinevere Preston saw it all and shook her head with a soft smile. "The auction features rare treasures from all over the world, so of course they’ll be priceless. That’s not a lot of money, really. Just buy whatever you like. There’s no need to save money for your granduncle."
"That’s right! If it’s not enough, Grandpa will wire you more."
"No, that’s not necessary! This is more than enough."
’I’m just going to buy one thing, not a whole building. Even a building might not cost this much!’
Arabella Donovan, clutching her little stack of cards, picked up Brandon Jennings and headed toward the auction.
The Pavilion of Many Treasures auction house was located halfway up a mountain in Brynn. From this vantage point, you could see a panoramic view of Brynn’s most prosperous districts.
Rumor had it that to build the auction house, the mysterious owner of the Pavilion of Many Treasures had purchased the entire mountain.
Keep in mind, this was a mountain on the outskirts of Imperia, a testament to the owner’s unfathomable wealth and influence.
Although the auction was officially scheduled to start at eight, there was a pre-auction preview of the items, which is why Arabella Donovan and her companions arrived around seven.
Most of the guests interested in the lots had already arrived. The outer exhibition hall was bustling with people. They were there not only to see the treasures about to be auctioned, but also to network. After all, it wasn’t often that so many tycoons from all over gathered in one place. It was a far more convenient way to forge partnerships than attending private banquets.
This was precisely why invitations to the auction were so sought-after, with people fighting tooth and nail for a chance to get inside.
The treasures were valuable, to be sure, but if one could meet an influential patron or two, the future returns would be immeasurable.
The moment Arabella Donovan and Brandon Jennings entered, they drew a great deal of attention. This was mainly because they were complete newcomers. Most attendees had done their homework; while they might not know everyone, they were rarely completely in the dark about the other guests.
These two unfamiliar faces were like sheep that had wandered into a pack of wolves, exuding an air of both mystery and discord.
Arabella soon noticed the strange looks. She raised an eyebrow and leaned toward Brandon Jennings to ask, "Why is everyone staring at us? Is there something on my face?"
Brandon Jennings had, of course, also noticed the blatant stares and guessed the real reason for their focus on Arabella.
But when he met his younger cousin’s clear, bright eyes, he thought for a moment and decided on a simpler explanation.
"They’re staring because we’re young. Look around this hall. Most of the people here are around my parents’ age. There are very few people our age, and someone as young as you is practically unheard of."
This was true. Most of the attendees were prominent, successful individuals, the majority of whom were in their forties and fifties.
The few people who were around their age were mostly there with their elders to broaden their horizons.
But Arabella Donovan was different. Though she came with a group, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that she was the one in charge.
Just as Brandon Jennings said this, someone passing by overheard their conversation. He gave Arabella a once-over and then approached them. "Pardon me for asking, but you two are...?"
He was the first person in the hall to approach them. Arabella looked up at the young man and the entourage of men and women behind him, a flicker in her eyes.
’Oho! I’ve been in Brynn for a while now. Has someone finally lost their patience and decided to come looking for trouble?’
Brandon Jennings tensed, his gaze turning wary and defensive. ’This guy... he’s not here to make friends, is he?’
"My surname is Donovan, and this is my cousin, Jennings."
Such a vague introduction clearly wasn’t enough to give the onlookers any real information about her identity. Timothy Donovan narrowed his eyes and said with a faint smile, "Donovan? As in Forrest Donovan? Perhaps we’re from the same family. I wonder, where is Miss Donovan from?"
Arabella saw right through his little game. A faint, unreadable smile touched her lips. "I’m originally from Stroven City. As for Brynn..."
Arabella stared at Timothy Donovan without saying a word. At her side, Howard perceptively chimed in, "The Young Miss is of the Ninth Master’s household."
"The Ninth Master? You don’t mean the Ninth Master who lives at 9 Vistagrove Avenue?"
"That Ninth Master is indeed a Donovan, and this young lady is also a Donovan... Don’t tell me she’s his descendant?"
"But I heard the Ninth Master never married, let alone had children. He devoted his life to waiting for his long-lost love. This Miss Donovan must just be a distant relative from his clan, right?"
"Ah, but that’s where you’re all mistaken! The Ninth Master’s long-lost love? He found her!"
"What?!"