Ch. 56..60: Inherit Billions Chapter 56-60
Chapter 56
Undress Finished
Eden had recovered and teased, "That's right, your physique has always been good. Maybe you should contribute a sample. Take off your shirt for the scan. Seraphina, aren't you curious to see which android might get Orion's physique?" Seraphina stood up, her face expressionless, and said, "Not interested."
She turned and wanted to leave the lab, but the tiger in her arms suddenly jumped down. It ran to Orion's feet, rubbed against his shoes, clutched his pants with its tiny paws, and swayed adorably. "Daddy, pick me up!" Seraphina turned around in shock. Orion still wore a cold expression, holding the tiger by the scruff of its neck. Its four legs flailed in the air, clearly uncomfortable. The tiger protested, "Don't grab my neck! It hurts!" Annoyed, Orion pushed the tiger against his chest, appearing completely unfazed by its behaviour. He appeared to have a deep understanding of the tiger. Orion looked up at Seraphina, and he was about to say something, but she gave the tiger a cold glance. Then she snorted and left directly.
Eden observed Orion's darkening expression. He couldn't help but chuckle. "She liked the little cutie so much earlier. I was worried she'd ask to take it home. But the moment you touched it, she lost all interest." Orion shot him a cold look. Eden touched his nose and wisely shut up.
As soon as Seraphina stepped outside, she received a call from Olivia, who was at a nearby shopping mall and invited her to join for a meal.
Seraphina was annoyed; she agreed immediately. She told Thomas and headed straight to meet Olivia.
They went to a newly opened barbecue restaurant. Olivia had made a reservation, so they didn't have to wait. They ate heartily and fully enjoyed the meal. As they were finishing, Olivia checked her phone and burst out into laughter. She handed her phone to Seraphina and said, "Look at this idiot!"
Seraphina glanced at it. Hansen had posted a photo on social media where he cropped a photo of her and Orion dancing to make it look like he was dancing with her. He even captioned it: 'We are the perfect match!' Surprisingly, Orion had left a comment.
Chapter 57
The Black Card
Finished
Seraphina had blocked Orion long ago, cutting off all contact. She was surprised to see his name pop up in Hansen's social media account. The world was really small.
Orion commented: "Trying to imitate greatness but failed miserably.
The insult wasn't too harsh, but it was certainly humiliating.
Hansen was fuming.
Seraphina rolled her eyes and said, "Hansen must be bored, isn't he?"
"Everyone can see that he really likes you. Maybe you should give him a chance. It would drive Orion crazy too."
"Don't fish off the company pier. If I liked him, I would have made a move already. Don't talk nonsense!" Seraphina frowned, and she thought she needed to find a way to deal with Hansen's advances.
"Then forget about him. I found a necklace I really like. Come with me to check it out." The girls' conversations were endless.
Seraphina nodded. Shopping always lifted her spirits. The two of them carried the strong smell of barbecue and headed straight for the jewellery store.
Olivia had already reserved the necklace. Once the staff brought it out, as expected, it was stunning.
"This necklace is the final piece by the famous designer Pire. You ladies have excellent taste. Would you like to try it on?" The salesgirl could tell they were distinguished customers based on their attire, and she was generous with her praise. Olivia nodded and handed it to Seraphina. "You try it first."
They didn't care who would buy it; they were sisters. Although Seraphina didn't often go shopping, she had no shortage of jewellery. On every special occasion, her brothers' gifts would fill a warehouse. The latest pieces always found their way to her. But the thrill of shopping seemed more appealing. Just as she was about to try it on, someone behind them sneered.
"Can she even afford it after trying it on? Be careful not to let it pick up her scent, or you'll never sell it It was Hannah and her friends, who had coincidentally walked into the same shop, who noticed them. Then Hannah was unable to resist commenting on their lingering barbecue smell.
Hannah had been so upset after losing to Seraphina last time that she hadn't eaten for days!
Olivia's face darkened with anger, and she asked, "What's it to you?
and to buy this necklaces Hannah confidently strutted over and declared. Everything I let anyone else try it on. I don't want it to get dirty!
och pocket money does your sugar daddy give you?
The Black Card
""Lady! Wrap it up for me."
3.45%
Finished
Seraphina set the necklace down and spoke coldly. Her eyes flashed a warning at Hannah. Hannah was stunned, remembering the fear from the other day, but quickly regained her confidence.
There were so many people with her, and the store's security guard was nearby; they wouldn't let Seraphina make a move.
"I said, I want to buy this necklace." Hannah was determined to deny Seraphina what she wanted.
The salesgirl hesitated and said, "These two ladies were here first."
"What did you say? I'm a VIP customer here, entitled to the best treatment. What I want must be given to me first." Hannah shot a triumphant look at Seraphina.
The store's policy indeed gave VIP customers priority.
The salesgirl looked apologetically at Olivia and Seraphina. She was about to take the necklace away when Seraphina lightly placed her hand on it and smiled.
She pulled out a black card from her bag. Only ten socialites worldwide received this limited-edition VVIP card, recognised by all luxury brands worldwide. Even certain royalty couldn't get their hands on it. It was incredibly rare and valuable. With this card, she could enjoy the best treatments from all sorts of luxury brand shops around the world.
That salesgirl was momentarily stunned. She said, "Miss, I'll wrap it up for you right away."
She ignored Hannah and quickly set to work.
Hannah, still in shock, reluctantly asked, "That must be fake, right? Don't let her fool you!"
Though she had never seen or touched it, this card's legend was well-known among socialites. Photos occasionally surfaced, and everyone remembered them vividly.
Seraphina's card was indeed that legendary card!
How did she get it?
Why?
Why does Seraphina have that card?
The store manager immediately came over to escort Hannah out of the shop. He said, "Please leave now. We need to serve this customer exclusively."
Seraphina sneered coldly, while Olivia couldn't hold back and scolded, "Get her out of here! She's an eyesore!"
Chapter 58
Finished
Seraphina smiled dismissively but was reluctant to talk much. She said, "You don't have to thank me. I'm helping Sarah."
"No wonder she said you'd definitely help. You two must be good friends."
"Very good." She didn't want to elaborate.
Bruce sensed her lack of interest and didn't push further. They arrived early at the venue for the charity gala. Seraphina went to change into her dress while Bruce waited outside.
This private charity gala wasn't just for celebrities; i was a gathering of many notable figures. As soon as Seraphina entered with Bruce, she spotted Theresa and Hannah surrounded by people. Raising an eyebrow. She figured if they were here, Orion probably was too.
They just wouldn't go away!
The highlight of the event was the charity auction. Seraphina had no intention of participating, but Bruce was quite enthusiastic. He bid on almost every item but won none.
Curious, she leaned in and whispered, "Did they hire you to drive
up the prices?"
Otherwise, why did Bruce just raised the bid without winning anything?
Bruce pursed his lips and smirked mysteriously. He revealed, "Sarah told me to increase the opportunity for people to see me, and she said this would get me noticed." Seraphina was speechless.
She shifted her gaze, and soon it was time for the final item. An image of an emerald-adorned smoking pipe appeared on the large screen. It was an antique piece, and the emerald looked bright with a lustrous green hue. Seraphina squinted because she thought it was familiar. She had seen it in the chapel at the Dros Estate. She was shocked as she realised it was Ramona's treasured possession.
This heirloom had been passed down from generation to generation. He never allowed anyone a close look, yet here it was up for auction.
Her mind raced. She scanned the room but didn't see Orion. However, she noticed Theresa and Hannah exchanging smug glances, basking in the attention.
Realisation dawned on her, and a deeper smile formed on her face. This was a scam for a scam.
Few people here would recognise its true value, likely thinking it was just an ordinary pipe.
Steal it, auction it, and buy it back. They'd gain both money and reputation.
"Truly deserve to be someone from an affluent family. I was truly a privilege that he was willing to donate such a precious item. Alright, the bidding starts at 450,000. 450 thousand?
shina chuckled. Ramona's beloved pipe worth only 450 thousand?
GBB.
A Favour
Theresa raised her paddle and said. "450 thousand once...
"600 thousand once..."
9 x 45
Finished
Seraphina lowered her gaze and stopped hesitating. She then decisively raised her paddle to place a bid. He declared, 1.5 million- 374
A Favour
Finished
Seraphina smiled dismissively but was reluctant to talk much. She said, "You don't have to thank me. I'm helping Sarah."
"No wonder she said you'd definitely help. You two must be good friends."
"Very good." She didn't want to claborate.
Bruce sensed her lack of interest and didn't push further. They arrived early at the venue for the charity gala. Seraphina went to change into her dress while Bruce waited outside.
This private charity gala wasn't just for celebrities; I was a gathering of many notable figures. As soon as Seraphina entered with Bruce, she spotted Theresa and Hannah surrounded by people. Raising an eyebrow. She figured if they were here, Orion probably was too.
They just wouldn't go away!
The highlight of the event was the charity auction. Seraphina had no intention of participating, but Bruce was quite enthusiastic. He bid on almost every item but won none. Curious, she leaned in and whispered, "Did they hire you to drive up the prices?"
Otherwise, why did Bruce just raised the bid without winning anything?
Bruce pursed his lips and smirked mysteriously. He revealed, "Sarah told me to increase the opportunity for people to see me, and she said this would get me noticed." Seraphina was speechless.
She shifted her gaze, and soon it was time for the final item. An image of an emerald-adorned smoking pipe appeared on the large screen. It was an antique piece, and the emerald looked bright with a lustrous green hue. Seraphina squinted because she thought it was familiar. She had seen it in the chapel at the Dros Estate. She was shocked as she realised it was Ramona's treasured possession.
This heirloom had been passed down from generation to generation. He never allowed anyone a close look, yet here it was up for auction.
Her mind raced. She scanned the room but didn't see Orion. However, she noticed Theresa and Hannah exchanging smug glances, basking in the attention.
Realisation dawned on her, and a deeper smile formed on her face. This was a scam for a scam.
Few people here would recognise its true value, likely thinking it was just an ordinary pipe.
Steal it, auction it, and buy it back. They'd gain both money and reputation.
"Truly deserve to be someone from an affluent family. It was truly a privilege that he was willing to donate such a precious item. Alright, the bidding starts at 450,000.* 450 thousand?
Seraphina chuckled. Ramona's beloved pipe worth only 450 thousand?
6:59 Wed, Oct 9 GBB.
hapter 58 A Favour
Theresa raised her paddle and said, "450 thousand once..."
600 thousand once..."
Finished
Seraphina lowered her gaze and stopped hesitating. She then decisively raised her paddle to place a bid. He declared, "1.5 million-"
Chapter 59
The Smoking Griffin
The room erupted in a murmur. All eyes turned to her
Bruce looked at her in confusion and asked, "What do you want that for?"
Seraphina smiled and said, "It looks nice, don't you think?"
"I don't think so."
To Bruce, it was just an ordinary pipe. What was so special about it?
Seraphina noticed Theresa and Hannah were glaring at her. She smiled slightly, meeting their gazes head-
1. on.
Both women were visibly startled; they knew she recognised the pipe.
When Seraphina was cleaning the chapel at night, Theresa once took the pipe out and placed it on a high shelf. She hoped Ramona would throw Seraphina out of the family for 'accidentally' breaking it. However, Seraphina hadn't touched it at all.
If it hadn't been for the surveillance cameras in the room, Theresa would have broken it herself and blamed Seraphina. It was a pity that her plan failed, and Ramona valued the pipe more than his life.
She never got another chance.
Hannah had gone to Stotan for gambling, which was why she had to smuggle the pipe for this auction. Seraphina repeatedly humiliated Hannah upon her return. Her loss of dignity was so severe that socialite circles almost shunned her.
She needed to reestablish her position in the social circle. She had to find an opportunity to become the centre of attention again. As the Dros family's eldest daughter, she had to always be in the spotlight!
The charity auction was the perfect opportunity to restore her image and maintain her 'heiress' persona.
Therefore, Hannah had to beg Theresa to secretly bring out the old man's pipe as an auction item. Its extraordinary value would make her the star of the event.
Those who recognised its value were wary of the Dros family patriarch and dared not bid, while those who didn't recognise it wouldn't bid anyway. So, her plan was flawless: put it up for auction and then buy it back herself. It was a perfect show, giving her both pride and substance.
However, they never expected to run into Seraphina here.
Theresa was clearly flustered. Seraphina had bid decisively, and their limit was 1.65 million. Neither woman had controlled the family's finances. They relied on monthly allowances from their husbands and had little personal savings. They lacked the confidence to keep bidding.
Seraphina's presence was unexpected. Theresa had assumed that even if there were bids, they wouldn't exceed 1.65 million, and certainly no one would outbid the Dros family. Seraphina was different.
She was there specifically to challenge them and the Dios family,
G B B.
The Smoking Griffin
"1.65 million, first call!"
The auctioneer's eyes sparkled as he called out.
Hannah clutched Theresa's sleeve, as if she were whispering something urgently.
Theresa tried to maintain her composure. She shot a fierce glare at Seraphina, as if warning her.
Finished
Seraphina raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, while her eyes fixed on the stage. She was determined to win. "1.65 million, second call!"
The auctioneer looked around the room, which had fallen silent.
No one dared to compete with Theresa for the spotlight or spend money on a useless pipe.
The auctioneer glanced at Theresa as she raised her paddle.
"1.8 million," she said, trying to stay calm.
They had assumed the bidding would stop at 1.65 million, but Theresa was now pushing higher.
"1.95 million," Seraphina countered immediately, aiming to wear down their patience from the start.
Her phone vibrated in her hand. Glancing at the number, she recognised it even without a contact name. Hannah?
Seraphina smirked, rejected the call, and blocked the number.
"2.2 million," Theresa bid again, looking visibly uncomfortable.
The auctioneer sensed the tension between the two parties. The atmosphere was silently electric.
He raised his voice a little and announced, "Alright, 2.2 million. Lady, do you want to continue?"
Seraphina didn't respond. The auctioneer assumed she was giving up. "2.2 million, first call!" "2.2 million, second call!"
Theresa and Hannah exhaled with a sense of relief.
"3 million!" Seraphina jumped in just before the final call.
Did you guys feel unsettled?
Uncomfortable, Theresa looked panicked, whispering furiously with Hannah.
Hannah didn't hesitate, as if she had made a major decision. "4 million!"
Did they think Seraphina's limit was 4 million?
Even Bruce was getting nervous. "Need help?" he asked Seraphina.
The Smoking Griffin
"1.65 million, first call!"
The auctioneer's eyes sparkled as he called out.
Hannah clutched Theresa's sleeve, as if she were whispering something urgently.
Theresa tried to maintain her composure. She shot a fierce glare at Seraphina, as if warning her.
Finished
Seraphina raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, while her eyes fixed on the stage. She was determined to win.
"1.65 million, second call!"
The auctioneer looked around the room, which had fallen silent.
No one dared to compete with Theresa for the spotlight or spend money on a useless pipe.
The auctioneer glanced at Theresa as she raised her paddle.
"1.8 million," she said, trying to stay calm.
They had assumed the bidding would stop at 1.65 million, but Theresa was now pushing higher.
"1.95 million," Seraphina countered immediately, aiming to wear down their patience from the start.
Her phone vibrated in her hand. Glancing at the number, she recognised it even without a contact name. Hannah?
Seraphina smirked, rejected the call, and blocked the number.
"2.2 million," Theresa bid again, looking visibly uncomfortable.
The auctioneer sensed the tension between the two parties. The atmosphere was silently electric.
He raised his voice a little and announced, "Alright, 2.2 million. Lady, do you want to continue?"
Seraphina didn't respond. The auctioneer assumed she was giving up. "2.2 million, first call!" "2.2 million, second call!"
Theresa and Hannah exhaled with a sense of relief.
"3 million!" Seraphina jumped in just before the final call.
Did you guys feel unsettled?
Uncomfortable, Theresa looked panicked, whispering furiously with Hannah.
Hannah didn't hesitate, as if she had made a major decision. "4 million!"
Did they think Seraphina's limit was 4 million?
Even Bruce was getting nervous. "Need help?" he asked Seraphina.
213
GB B.
The Smoking Griffin
Seraphina smiled. She raised an eyebrow and said, "No, this is nothing."
She raised her paddle again. "4.5 million!"
The crowd gasped collectively.
She was done with scaring them incrementally. She wanted them to be too afraid to bid.
Under the flashing lights, Theresa's and Hannah's faces turned pale.
"4.5 million, first call!"
"4.5 million. Second call!"
No one spoke.
Seraphina knew she had won.
"4.5 million, third call! Congratulations to this lady! The money will be donated to school."
Q
Finished
The room erupted in applause, breaking the tense silence. Seraphina graciously acknowledged the crowd, then smiled at Theresa and Hannah, feeling elated.
After greeting everyone, Seraphina and Bruce headed to the back of the room to collect the item. As expected, Theresa and Hannah were waiting for her. However, these two were unwilling to give up and had more tricks awaiting her.
Chapter 60
Their Plan Backfire
The staff politely placed the items in front of Seraphina. She lifted them up for a closer look and noticed a small red stain at the pipe's base. It was genuine.
"Thank you," Seraphina said to the staff member.
She completely ignored the two people standing beside her. Theresa couldn't hold back any longer and let out a cold snort. "Seraphina, do you have your eyes on the ground? Do you not know basic manners when you see an older person?"
How had they treated her before? They never thought she was a junior. Now they want to act like elders?
Seraphina's eyes flickered as she raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Mrs. Dros is here, too. What a coincidence."
Her words were enough to anger anyone.
Theresa's face turned pale with rage. She chided, "You have crossed the line. Did you really think you could disregard me now that you have support? Don't forget, I am your mother-in-law!"
When they hadn't divorced, Theresa never saw herself as Seraphina's mother-in-law. She always saw herself as the master, treating Seraphina like a servant.
Every time Seraphina returned to the estate, Theresa would openly and covertly ridicule her humble efforts to please, making her do chores and scolding her at every turn. She'd paraded numerous socialites in front of her, sharing Orion's contact details to make Seraphina back off. Seraphina had always been a thorn in Theresa's side.
Seraphina couldn't help but chuckle, asking, "Are you getting senile? I divorced your son long ago. Go ahead and be someone else's mother-in-law."
"Seraphina, you're truly disrespectful. How can you talk to an elder so disrespectfully?" Hannah couldn't help but interject. She had been deeply wounded by Seraphina's previous retort and now felt intimidated every time she saw her." With her mother here, she felt emboldened.
The atmosphere grew tense. Seraphina's smile faded. She glanced coolly at Hannah and asked, "Are you trying to lecture me?"
Hannah shrank back, falling silent, and looked at her mother.
These two had initially planned to give Seraphina a hard time, then coax her a bit and take the pipe away, but Seraphina wasn't playing by their rules.
Had there not been staff in the room, Theresa would have approached this more directly long ago. She had no patience for such entanglements.
Theresa was growing anxious, and she said, "Seraphina, I'll give you 4.5 million for the pipe! I'm leaving
with it."
She had already contacted Orion. The truth couldn't be hidden. If Seraphina took the pipe, not only would Ramona be furious, but her husband wouldn't let her off either!
GB B
Their Plan Backfire.
Finished
Seraphina paused and said with a smile, "If you had 4.5 million, you should have offered it during the auction. It's too late now. "I've contacted Orion. He'll be here soon."
Theresa knew how obsessed Seraphina was with her son. Once Orion arrived, Seraphina would surely relent just to see him.
"It doesn't matter if he comes or not. The pipe is mine."
Seraphina smiled. Did they think she was still the foolish woman from three years ago?
Did they think just hearing Orion's name would make her forget everything?
"Seraphina, 4.5 million isn't a small sum. Can you really afford it?"
She didn't believe that Seraphina, who once entered the Dros family penniless, could easily come up with
4.5 million.
Back then, she showed up with no money and faced much disdain. Theresa had felt utterly humiliated by such a daughter-in-law.
Although her daughter claimed Seraphina had many men around her now, no one would be foolish enough to spend so much money on a divorced woman, right? Seraphina smirked and pulled out a black card from her bag. She handed it to the staff and said, "Swipe the card."
She did it without hesitation.
"Of course, Ms. Cross." The staff took the card with both hands.
Theresa and Hannah stared at her with pale faces. Panicking, Hannah turned and frantically dialled some numbers in the background.
Who is she calling?
Orion?
Seraphina smiled. No one could change the outcome!
4.5 million was spent in a second, but Seraphina displayed no hesitation or doubt.
She could even offer more if she wanted, as long as she felt like it.
"What use do you have for this pipe? Why spend so much on it?" Theresa softened her tone, trying a different approach.
"I simply wanted everyone to have a look. You know it's Ramona's lifeline. Without it, he might not
survive. Do you really want to see him suffer in his old age?"
Theresa began to cry as she gave her speech.
Who is she putting the show on for?
Their Plan Backfire
Seraphina watched coldly and found it amusing.
Finished
"If it's his lifeline, you putting it up for sale is killing him, isn't? If he has a miserable old age, it's your fault, not mine. Why am I supposed to worry about it?
"I bought it fair and square. Everyone here can attest to that. Ramona had been a force in the business world. He knows the meaning of 'integrity."
"It's done, Ms. Cross." The staff carefully returned the card to her.
Seraphina took it and signed her name on necessary documents. Just like that, she officially owned the pipe.
Then, the door suddenly swung open.