Third person's POV
Matilda was eagerly anticipating the sight of Derek's frustration and agony.
The conditions she set were deliberately tricky. If Derek didn't pay, there would certainly be other men willing to bid.
Thus, the initial unmasking fee was a must for Derek.
The ten million was merely the starting price and, in reality, a clever way for Matilda to test the depth of Derek's wealth.
She pondered to herself that if Derek could easily come up with the money, it would only buy a kiss, and the subsequent bidding for the right to use would undoubtedly require an astronomical sum. What would he use to continue competing then?
On the other hand, if he saved the money for the later bidding, Tabitha would inevitably be kissed by other men.
No matter how Derek chose, Matilda was determined to disgust him thoroughly and make him suffer in this cruel game.
However, despite all her scheming, Matilda never expected that Derek had been born into endless wealth.
While some might say he was emotionally lacking, no one could question his affluence.
Derek inwardly sneered, not that he looked down on the people present, but in his eyes, all their wealth combined was negligible.
Of course, if it were a simple auction, Derek would indeed have no fear.
What worried him was that Matilda would maliciously disrupt the process, deliberately setting up obstacles and stumbling blocks against him.
The base price of ten million dollars instantly excluded ninety percent of the people present.
Although everyone on this ship was well-off, spending ten million dollars for an uncertain kiss seemed foolish to them.
They were all sure that once someone spent the money, Tabitha's appearance would eventually be revealed to everyone, so most chose to wait quietly for the second round of real bidding and then act according to the situation.
Nevertheless, there were those ten percent who didn't mind the money, following the philosophy that money could buy whatever they wanted, just for the thrill and satisfaction in this special "game."
"11 million," a voice broke the silence.
Then, another voice responded without hesitation, "12 million."
The bidding increments were in millions, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.
At this moment, Tabitha's consciousness was still hazy. She struggled to lift her head, her eyes searching the crowd. Seeing Ayla safe, she breathed a sigh of relief.
But soon, she realized the dangerous situation she was in.
Many questions arose in her mind. 'Had Wilmot arrived?'
Her gaze slowly moved across the venue, which was filled with hundreds of people, all wearing mysterious masks. Under the influence of the drug, her vision was blurred and unfocused, making it impossible to recognize anyone.
"Mommy," Ayla whispered, her voice tinged with fear and unease.
"Baby, don't be afraid. I'm here," Tabitha tried her best to comfort Ayla, even though she herself was in danger.
Derek sat in the corner, his eyes tightly fixed on the big screen. When he saw Tabitha struggle to mouth those words, it was as if a sharp dagger had pierced his heart, causing him unbearable pain.
His hands clenched involuntarily, so tightly that his palms were punctured by his fingernails, blood slowly seeping out, yet he was oblivious.
At first, everyone was eager to bid, but as the price kept rising, the number of bidders gradually decreased.
Derek slightly turned his head and gave Forrest a meaningful look. Forrest understood immediately and quickly made a discreet gesture.
Then, a previously silent, unfamiliar person in the venue slowly raised his bidding paddle, his voice steady and forceful, "Twenty million."
This sudden high bid instantly quieted the entire venue.
When he joined the fray, the noisy bidding stopped abruptly, leaving only a few still competing.
Derek leaned close to Forrest's ear and whispered, "Check this person out."
His eyes revealed a hint of vigilance and doubt. The sudden appearance of a strong competitor at this critical moment made him cautious.
"Yes," Forrest immediately sprang into action, using his superb intelligence-gathering abilities to quickly find out the other party's identity.
He slightly lowered his head and reported to Derek in a hushed voice, "He's Mr. Rios, the second son of the Rios family."
The Rios family held a significant position in Seattle.
If the Black Thorn Pack mainly engaged in business activities on the surface, the Rios family was quite different. Most of its descendants were involved in the political arena, skillfully dancing on the political stage, possessing extensive influence and deep networking resources.
The Rios family had many descendants, and most members followed the family rules, keeping a low profile.
For years, an unspoken understanding seemed to exist between the Greenwood family and the Rios family, each growing and developing within their own domains.
This peaceful coexistence had lasted for decades.
Derek was well aware of the Rios family's influence and had always deliberately avoided conflicts with them.
However, the sudden appearance of Mr. Rios here made Derek feel that the situation was becoming increasingly complicated and difficult to handle.
His brows furrowed tightly.