Chapter 355: I Want to Grow Old with You
When Wren Sutton finished speaking, Adrian Lancaster froze. His brow furrowed slightly—not out of annoyance, but surprise that she would suddenly ask such a question.
Instead of rushing to declare his loyalty, he leaned in and shielded Wren Sutton with his arm, blocking any potential gazes from onlookers.
Adrian Lancaster’s dark eyes stared at her face, studying her intently as if trying to discern whether it was a casual question or if she was genuinely bothered.
He saw that Wren Sutton’s expression was calm, save for a faint, almost imperceptible hint of a test in her eyes.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. He took her hand reassuringly.
"I wouldn’t."
Adrian Lancaster’s gaze was frank and steady, without a hint of evasion. His tone was filled with unwavering certainty.
"I would sidestep her so she couldn’t even touch the hem of my clothes, let alone give her an excuse to cause trouble."
As he spoke, Adrian Lancaster’s calm expression was suffused with an incredibly deep and gentle affection, so solemn it was almost reverent.
"Darling, every word I’m saying comes from the bottom of my heart. I’m not just humoring you, and I’m certainly not lying."
"Please believe me, okay?"
He leaned down, close to Wren Sutton, his warm breath brushing against her ear as he took the opportunity to confess his feelings.
"Darling, I love you. No one can ever replace you in my heart. You are the one and only Mrs. Lancaster. I want to grow old with you and never be apart."
Wren Sutton’s eyelashes fluttered, and her heart began to pound in her chest.
The two of them were pressed close together.
The clean, pleasant scent of Adrian Lancaster lingered around her, gently yet insistently mingling with her own breath.
Hearing his passionate confession, Wren Sutton felt her ears burn.
"I only asked one thing, and you said all this."
Adrian Lancaster pulled her into a loving embrace and gently kissed her forehead.
"Actually, I want to say it again. Darling, I love you."
Claire Bennett happened to witness this scene. She froze in place as the last bit of color drained from her face.
Watching Adrian Lancaster’s tender devotion to Wren Sutton, her heart ached so much she hardly dared to breathe. Tears streamed down her face.
All her meticulously planned advances, tests, and provocations had been utterly shattered.
’Adrian Lancaster has really fallen in love with Wren Sutton.’
Claire Bennett was filled with despair and hatred.
But soon, a raging fire rekindled in her eyes, burning with a world-destroying hatred and venom.
’No need to rush. There’s plenty of time.’
「...」
"Thank you all for your patience. We will now officially begin the auction for the donated collectibles."
The auctioneer’s voice was impassioned as he controlled the pace of the event.
"We will auction the items one by one, in the order they were donated."
"First up for auction is an Enamel appreciation vase from the Georgian Dynasty, donated by Mr. Foster. The starting bid is three million, and each raise must be at least two hundred thousand."
The stage lights shifted, focusing on a porcelain vase with a lustrous, gentle sheen.
Guests in the audience began raising their paddles, and the price climbed steadily, ultimately selling for five million six hundred thousand.
As the applause faded, the auctioneer introduced the next three items: a Yellow Flower Pear Wood Comb from the Renaissance Dynasty, a Porcelain Pillow from the Medieval Dynasty, and a long landscape scroll by a famous modern artist.
Each piece was a treasure of exquisite craftsmanship. The calls of bids rose and fell one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly electric.
The auctioneer spoke quickly, rattling off the final prices for one treasure after another. The flashes of cameras and the clamor of bidding intertwined, pushing the charity gala’s atmosphere to a new high.
So far, Adrian Lancaster and Wren Sutton hadn’t raised their paddles once.
Adrian Lancaster’s gaze swept indifferently over the collectibles on the display stand, completely unmoved.
’They’re all such common things,’ he thought. ’No wonder my wife doesn’t like any of them.’
After some time, a staff member walked on stage carrying the next item. The spotlight fell, and the brooch on the velvet tray instantly caught Wren Sutton’s eye.
It was a sapphire brooch. The centerpiece was a perfectly cut sapphire, surrounded by a halo of brilliant, natural diamonds. An intricate, delicate rose pattern was traced in a vintage gilded style.
Its lines were elegant and regal. Despite its age, it remained dazzling, exuding a noble grace and elegance befitting royalty.
Wren Sutton, who had been leaning back in her chair, straightened up slightly. A light ignited in her dark eyes, her gaze locked on the brooch.
The style and quality of the brooch were exactly to her taste.
Adrian Lancaster immediately caught the change in her expression. His once-indifferent gaze softened as he followed her line of sight to the stage, a fond smile gracing his lips.
’No need to ask,’ he thought. ’My wife definitely likes that brooch.’
"The Sapphire Rose Brooch is highly valuable as both a collectible and a wearable piece. The starting bid is five million, with minimum increments of five hundred thousand."
The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, a flurry of enthusiastic bids erupted from the audience.
Many socialites and wealthy women, captivated by the brooch’s beauty and rarity, began raising their paddles. The price soared, breaking the ten-million mark in just half a minute and settling there.
The bidder was a well-known heiress, who gazed at the stage with a determined smile, confident it would be hers.
Just as everyone thought the brooch was hers for the taking, Adrian Lancaster, who had been silent until now, slowly raised his bidding paddle.
His deep, magnetic voice carried clearly across the entire banquet hall, without a trace of hesitation. "Twenty million."
The entire room erupted in a commotion.
Everyone knew Adrian Lancaster was immensely wealthy, but no one expected him to raise the bid by ten million for a brooch. It was an incredible display of extravagance.
"It’s obvious. Mrs. Lancaster must like it, which is why President Lancaster was so decisive and just named his price to win it."
"President Lancaster is a model husband. Mrs. Lancaster is so fortunate."
The heiress who had just bid paled slightly. Seeing the unassailable aura surrounding Adrian Lancaster, she silently lowered her paddle, not daring to compete against him.
The auctioneer was also stunned for a moment before recovering, his voice growing even more spirited.
"Twenty million! Mr. Lancaster bids twenty million! Do I have any higher bids?!"
The room fell silent. No one else bid.
Everyone knew that when Adrian Lancaster wanted something, he never failed to get it.
Besides, it was obvious he was buying it for Wren Sutton, who was right beside him. No one else would dare interfere.
"Twenty million going once, twenty million going twice, twenty million for the third and final time... Sold!"
The gavel fell. The sapphire brooch officially belonged to Wren Sutton.
A staff member immediately came forward and handed Adrian Lancaster an Auction Sale Confirmation form.
"Mr. Lancaster, if you could please sign here."
Without any hesitation, Adrian Lancaster took the pen, signed the form on the spot, and then completed the payment.
Once the staff member confirmed everything was in order, they respectfully handed him the brooch.
Adrian Lancaster opened the velvet box, took out the brooch, and personally pinned it on Wren Sutton, his eyes filled with admiration and affection.
"It’s beautiful. It suits you perfectly."
Immersed in her delight, Wren Sutton’s expression was soft and enchanting. She was so beautiful she seemed to glow.
"I love it. Thank you."
Adrian Lancaster was satisfied. "I’m glad you like it. There are still a few items left. Let’s see if anything else catches your eye."
In her seat nearby, Claire Bennett nearly crushed the decorative rhinestones on her skirt.
’How could a small brooch be worth twenty million?’ she seethed. ’Adrian Lancaster is just spoiling Wren Sutton rotten.’
’I hate it so much.’
’Why? Why does she get everything?!’
There were still a few more collectibles waiting to be auctioned, and the auctioneer continued with the proceedings.
The minutes ticked by, and at last, it was time for the final, grand-finale item of the auction.
The auctioneer picked up his microphone and began to energetically build up the atmosphere. His voice rose in volume, full of excitement and showmanship.
"And now, for our highly anticipated grand finale of the evening: a high-quality, natural, ice-type Imperial Green jade jewelry set! The starting bid is ten million, and each raise must be no less than..."
Before the auctioneer could finish, Adrian Lancaster glanced at his watch, then leaned toward Wren Sutton and took her hand.
"Darling, it’s nine-thirty. Time to go home."