A Crazy Wife

Before leaving in the afternoon, Hannah Joseph makes up in the room.

Chester Shahbaz stays at home, sitting in front of the window and reading a book. When seeing her in front of the mirror, he asks, "Why do you go to the auction?" "It's boring to stay at home."

Hannah Joseph replies casually, "it's nothing to go out for a walk."

"Is it?" Chester Shahbaz looks at her back and says, "I'm going to the city hall this afternoon. You can come with me."

Hannah Joseph's action of foundation make-up pauses slightly.

"I've agreed with mum and it's not appropriate to break the appointment. Mum asks me to help her identify the authenticity of those jewelry, calligraphy and paintings."

Chester Shahbaz doesn't show his attitude but says something casually, "I remember you didn't like going to such an occasion."

Hannah Joseph used to be submissive, probably because she was raised at home and wasn't exposed to the world. She was always like standing on pins and needles when she went to these occasions, but the more afraid she was of making mistakes, the more likely she was to make mistakes. She often made jokes. As time goes on, she even resisted these parties.

But now Hannah Joseph not only deals with the banquet easily but also knows how to appreciate antique calligraphy and painting. Anyone else may really think she is a daughter raised in a rich family.

"In these two years I have got to know that since I marry to you, I have to deal with these occasions in the future."

Hannah Joseph calms down and says in a calm and unhurried voice, "it's better to see more than to be laughed at by others later."

Chester Shahbaz stares at her for a moment. He fixes his eyes on the book again, saying lightly, "After three years in prison, you have got to understand many things."

He doesn't dispel his doubts but only tests her. Following the clues of these days, it's not hard to find that Hannah Joseph is excessively interested in all the things related to the Green group. As for her hostility to Leo Bruce, Chester Shahbaz raises eyebrows slightly.

Is it because of Sherry Green?

At the auction, Hannah Joseph and Lily Pons benefit from the Shahbaz's family and sit in a very good position.

The elegant room on the second floor faces the auction desk right.

Shortly after she is seated, Lily Pons's confidant, a middle-aged woman from the Shahbaz's family called Fanny, just comes back from the outside and whispers close to Lily Pons's ear,

"Mrs. Susan is next door to us."

Hannah Joseph is close to her, so she hears it clearly. Probably Fanny doesn't intend to hide it from Hannah Joseph.

Lily Pons nods and looks at the partition wall thoughtfully, as if she could see people through the wall.

"What's the background of Mrs. Susan? Can't she be convinced if your husband moves out of the Shahbaz family?"

"You don't understand." Lily Pons frowns. "Mrs. Susan is a woman hard to deal with. She is very independent. In the circle, she makes friends without asking her family background as long as she likes. If she doesn't like anyone, it's no use trying to please her. Many people suffer loss because of her."

"Such a woman must have offended many people."

"Yes, there are many people, but she has abilities. Well, Bryant has asked me to flatter her this time."

When it comes to this, Lily Pons seems to be angry. "Well, how to put it, obviously it's a matter of apologizing to dad, but Bryant forced me to come to flatter her."

Hannah Joseph hears from Lily Pons and Fanny that she doesn't plan to take pictures of the things Bryant Shahbaz explains.

"I am afraid that Bryant's plan will be destroyed."

"Don't worry." Lily Pons glances at Fanny, "When there is no other solution, Bryant has to yield to persuasion of his father. You know why I have stayed at home for those years."

Fanny winks at her over and over again. Lily Pons remembers that Hannah Joseph is still close to her. She frowns and turns around to warn her, "When you get back, you know what to say and what not to say."

Maybe they don't think Hannah Joseph know anything about business, so they don't scruple about her. After hearing the warning, Hannah Joseph has a very witty smile, "Mom, actually I don't understand what you said."

Lily Pons sneers with her eyes showing a little bit of contempt. "Well, you benefit from the virtues your mother has accumulated before so that you are able to know jewelry, calligraphy and painting. Otherwise, how can you know these things?"

Hannah Joseph pinches her hand secretly but forces a smile.

The Shahbaz's family has been trampling on Hannah Joseph for too long. It's a long way for her to really stand up.

After the start of the auction, first of all, all the auction products, which are basically private collections of the Green family are introduced briefly. Leo Bruce explains that the formal procedures have been performed, and that these collections were intended by Chairman Green for charity before his death.

It's true that Mr. Green did draft a project plan for charity before his death, but he didn't have a specific list of the things at auction. Now that is decided by Leo Bruce.

While seeing among those auctions, in addition to her father's collection of calligraphy and painting antiques, there are three sets of jewelry that her mother and she had worn, Hannah Joseph' eyes brighten. After the auction begins, when she sees the collection that are far below the market value bid and plundered by many people, she feels sad and angry but calms down by biting her teeth, "Mom, bid for this painting."

Hearing it, Lily Pons glances at her, "Why should I bid for calligraphy and painting? I'll bid for jewelry which can be worn in future. What's the use of calligraphy and painting?" "There is jewelry at any time, but if you miss the calligraphy and painting, it's hard to get it. It's the real work of Thomas Smith. Grandpa will be happy if you take it back to him."

"Really?" Lily Pons shows her interest, "The work of Thomas Smith...can be bid for? Didn't you say it was fake last time?"

When it comes to Thomas Smith, Lily Pons thinks about what happened at the wedding banquet that day and has a lingering fear.

"But that painting is fake, and this one is true."

Hannah Joseph looks determined, "Can they still make up the numbers with fake ones at the auction? And this time, the account has been cleared, so everyone knows that we get it at the auction, and we will certainly not fall into the trap."

Lily Pons is very happy, "yes, that's for sure."

At the same time, she takes a look at Mae close to her, who gets her meaning quickly and joins the bidding group, holding a board of bidding.

At last, Lily Pons succeeds in bidding for a real work of Thomas Smith with a price of 5 million dollars.

At the moment of hammer hitting, Hannah Joseph's mind is settled.

Dad, I am sorry. I can only barely keep the painting you cherished.

There are a lot of things in the auction. Almost all of them are sold as soon as they are showed. But no one bids for the jewelry Sherry Green and her mother used to wear.

The three sets of jewelry were designed by Sherry Green herself. They were valuable collections both in materials and design, but Sherry Green and her mother died accidentally. "Ignore the jewelry which was worn by the dead. Bad luck."

"Yes. The jewels should not be showed because they are not designed by a famous designer."

There is a lot of discussion in the whole auction hall.

"The necklace's starting price is 50,000. Does anyone want to bid?"

After many times of enquiry, there is still no answer in the venue.

Hannah Joseph is biting her teeth. She endures as she does not want to be seen different by others. She lowers her head to hide her red eyes. Her knuckles are pinched white.

"Five hundred thousand!"

A clear female voice stands out from the voice of discussion and the whole audience is in an uproar.

Hannah Joseph raises her head abruptly and follows the voice.

In the seat area of more than 100 people on the first floor, a woman wearing sunglasses and scarves in the corner holds a price calling sign and stands upright. Although she wears sunglasses, Hannah Joseph still recognizes her identity from her voice.

All of a sudden, her eyes are red.

From 50,000 to 500,000, it's ten times' span. Besides, it's a necklace that no one cares about. All people are shocked and look at the woman with a lot of money at the same time.

Someone with sharp eyes recognize her.

"It's Queenie Gavin."

When she hears the name, Hannah Joseph's eyes are instantly wet, filled with tears. She is afraid of being seen by Lily Pons, so she turns her head hurriedly. She only dares to secretly look at the girl on the first floor with the remaining light from the corner of her eyes.

That is Sherry Green's best friend before she died.

Hannah Joseph obviously sees that Queenie Gavin is holding the sunglasses in the eyes of the crowd, slightly lowering her head, as if she is in a low mood.

The person in charge of the auction has already hit the first hammer shortly after the discussion starts, "This young lady offers five hundred thousand, and five hundred thousand for one time..."

"A million."

Another voice comes from a box on the second floor. That is a male voice, a bit hoarse. A person has always fooled around, but his voice at the moment is a little sad.‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒