"Twenty thousand dollars!"
"Forty thousand!"
People were starting to be amazed by the increasingly high bidding price for a Renaissance painting.
"Seventy thousand!" Illana raised her right hand with a meaningful smile, feeling confident for a few seconds because no one seemed to intend to bid higher than her.
She deliberately waited for the last moment to get the painting.
"ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!"
"WHOA..."
Almost all the guests at the charity auction were stunned, looking at the owner of the voice who had managed to grab everyone's attention.
A Renaissance-style painting was being fiercely bid for, and Illana was shocked to find out that the bidder who had overtaken her was Mark Griggori, her ex-husband.
They locked eyes for a few seconds, Mark smiled at the woman, but it wasn't a warm smile like someone greeting another person, but rather a smile full of arrogance because he had defeated Illana again, even in front of many people.
Illana's hand dropped, her heart beat faster, her breathing quickened, but she tried to calm herself down.
She had to act normally, bidding for an item at an event like this was a normal thing.
"Miss Illana, he beat you," Grace said, taking a deep breath. "Don't you intend to bid higher?"
"llana shook her head. "It's okay if he really wants it."
"MR. MARK GRIGGORI, WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION FOR BIDDING SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR THIS PAINTING?"
The man in a black suit stood up, confidently stating in front of many people.
"I want to give this painting as a gift to my girlfriend, Deborah Wilson."
People thought Mark was doing something romantic, watching how Deborah's face lit up and hugged Mark, as if the situation was in their favor.
However, this became the biggest reason for Illana to withdraw and leave the room, a calmness she had tried to maintain finally collapsed.
"Miss Grace, I want to go to the restroom for a moment."
"Should I come with you?"
Illana shook her head. "No, I'll be right back."
She stood up and walked out of the room while people were busy celebrating the happiness between Mark and Deborah.
Illana lied, she didn't go to the restroom, she actually left the building, escaping the mockery that hurt her.
There were three other valuable items being auctioned before the Renaissance painting, but why didn't Mark bid on them?
Why did he raise his hand when Illana was bidding?
"I once told him that one day I would buy a Renaissance-style painting because I loved it, I'm sure he remembers that. Our marriage only lasted two years, it's not too long, is it? Why did he snatch something that should have been mine?"
"Maybe because it's a charity auction, so he felt he could do it, he bid higher, and Mark got it."
Lucas tried to think logically, there was a cause and effect, Mark's attitude wasn't a fatal mistake.
"Why didn't you bid higher than him? You would have gotten the item, Illana."
The woman had stopped crying, she didn't know when, because throughout the journey to this place, Lucas had been silent, watching the road surrounded by many tall trees.
Keeping his promise to Illana, Lucas brought the vehicle to the side of a cliff, the night atmosphere with all its calmness was finally achieved.
Illana breathed deeply, her gaze was dull, directed outside the window.
"Even if I could, but I'm sure Mark wouldn't stop. It looks funny to fight over an item with your ex-husband in front of many people."
"It seems like you're very happy to lose."
"I'm just avoiding arguments, there are many company directors there."
"It's fitting that Deborah got it easily." Lucas continued the previous sentence, then turned to her. "Am I right?"
Illana looked annoyed. "Do you think I'm like that, Uncle?"
"Am I wrong?"
"Wrong?" Illana laughed dryly. "Is it because we share the same Griggori surname, so your way of thinking is like theirs?" She narrowed her eyes, convincing herself that her argument was correct.
"Yes, it's proven. Maybe after this, you'll also belittle people's feelings or wounds, you're the same as your nephew."
"I'm not belittling the feelings or wounds you've received." He paused his sentence. "What I mean is, why bother with someone who has left you for another woman? Why keep thinking about it nonstop if you know it will only hurt you?" Illana swallowed hard, remaining silent. "Forget Mark, Illana. Forget him using any method you can, he's already moved his feelings to another woman, so why are you still stuck in the same place?"
Illana blinked and looked away. "I never thought you'd say something like that."
"Yes, when I was in high school, I read a romance novel belonging to my friend's girlfriend after she hid it. This isn't important information, but you can know a bit that I'm not as stiff as others think."
"True." The woman nodded. "To me, you also don't seem scary or threatening. Is it because we're related, Uncle?"
"Hey. Honestly, I don't want to consider you like a niece or former niece. Our age difference is only seven years, right?" "Yes. I'm thirty, and you're 37."
"Exactly, so let's talk casually. Don't feel pressured when you're around me. I'm very happy to consider you as a younger sister, more precisely, a younger sister."
Meeting Lucas at the charity auction tonight was quite fortunate and calming for Illana, he managed to dispel her tears and entertain herself.
"May I give you some more advice?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Be arrogant, Illana. Like you always do in front of many people, arrogance can be a shield to protect yourself, making others keep their distance and hard to disturb you. Never make anyone your close friend."
"Wait, you've just made me your friend, haven't you?"
"Are you sure a thirty-year-old woman would ask that?"
"I'm serious."
"I feel sorry for you, besides, you're not someone I need to be wary of. Don't be like me, my own brother betrayed me and put his younger brother in jail after many protections I did for him. My trust level towards someone becomes very low, I started to limit myself and be more cautious."
"Then, do you trust me?" Illana's question made Lucas silent, but he smiled slightly, looking at the woman.
Illana felt disturbed, so she looked away.
"Do you intend to do something bad to me?" Lucas asked.
"No."
"Besides, why be afraid of a weak woman like you."
"Weak, huh?" Illana was offended. "Why does your way of speaking keep changing? You're very annoying!"
"I'm just like this. Didn't you say I'm annoying?"
"You're indeed annoying, Lucas!"
Lucas burst out laughing. "Should I record it?"
"You're indeed a scoundrel, Lucas!"
***