Chapter 944
It was an eye-opening moment for everyone at the auction. It’s so unlike Mr. Yates to be this agitated. This is definitely not an
ordinary piece of jade.
“Why are we not fit to have it? It belongs to my dad. He kept it for more than twenty years. How could you take it away just like
that? Ryan, you’re no different from a bully!” Sisley bellowed furiously.
“Shut up!” Suddenly, a frail voice of an elder sounded.
Everyone looked toward the door at once and saw Bob walking toward the auction stage supported by his butler.
Hera’s expression changed drastically when she saw her grandfather.
“Grandpa...”
She had barely taken a few steps forward when a loud slap rang out across the auction hall.
Bob had slapped Hera across her face. Disoriented by the sudden impact of the slap, Hera staggered a few steps backward. A
trace of blood could be seen in the corner of her mouth.
That was one of the most humiliating moments of the woman’s life. Looking extremely miserable, Hera covered her face with one
hand and said, “Grandpa... You...”
Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she gazed at Bob tearfully.
All she could feel was a hot, searing pain on her cheek. Having been slapped by her grandfather in front of so many wealthy and
influential individuals, Hera desperately wished for the ground to swallow her up.
Sisley immediately stepped forward to support her daughter to prevent her from falling. Simmering with anger, she looked at Bob
and said, “Dad, we can talk this out. Why did you hit her?”
“It’s all because you didn’t teach your daughter well!” Bob roared furiously. “This piece of red jade was Alice’s most prized
possession. She had always carried it with her. I have been taking great care of it and planned to give it to Ashlyn after I pass
away. How dare the two of you steal it and even sell it! How can you still be so self-righteous after committing such an act? The
two of you are a disgrace to the Chapman family. From now onward, you are no longer a part of our family!”
Bob’s chest rose and fell heavily in rage as he spoke. At that moment, with fury vibrating through his being, he wanted nothing
more than to strangle Hera to death.
“Alice? Alice Chapman is the owner of this red jade?” Ryan stared at the old man in shock. “Alice, the daughter of the Chapman
family who was extremely smart and talented?”
The crowd was equally stunned.
Everyone knew about the brilliance of the youngest daughter of the Chapman family back then. However, she suddenly
disappeared without a trace. Word was that she had passed away.
Ever since then, no one among the upper echelons of Lake City brought up her name again.
At the mention of Alice, a few of the elders present could not help but reminisce. “I will never forget how perfect Alice Chapman
was. Not only was her beauty and elegance unrivaled, but she was also well versed in music and arts.”
“Magnecal Tech’s office building was also designed by Ms. Alice. Everything was done by her, including the architecture, interior
design, and furnishing. She was a genius!”
Harvey could not help but sigh. Even the heavens are jealous of her perfection! The Chapman family wouldn’t be thriving if not
for Alice!
Ashlyn remained seated quietly, her face slightly paler than usual.
At that moment, she felt as if she was disconnected from the world around her. All she could see was her mother’s benevolent
face after hearing the descriptions of the woman from those people.
Suddenly, she could feel a warm hand holding hers. “Why is your hand so cold?” A familiar, magnetic male voice brought Ashlyn
back to her senses.
Taking a deep breath, she replied, “I’m all right. Just missing my mother.”
After Bob was done scolding Hera and Sisley, he looked at Ryan apologetically and said, “Mr. Yates, this piece of red jade
belongs to my daughter. I hope you can return it to me.”
“I’ve already paid twenty million for it. Besides, it was officially put up for auction by the Chapman family. The rule is that the item
would go to the highest bidder, and that’s me,” Ryan rejected the old man directly, not wanting to give him any false hope.